I moved to the east coast about three years ago from Utah. I had spent my life living in Utah with the Provo River and 20 inch brown trout 30 minutes from my house and grew up fishing and guiding on the Green River & Provo River. I have travelled quite a bit chasing fish throughout the western U.S., British Columbia, Mexico, Belize, the Bahamas and other places. I knew when I moved here, that hitting the evening caddis hatch 20 minutes away was no longer a reality and I had to find new ways to get my “fix.” I knew there was fishing around, but I discovered that the fishing opportunities were more plentiful than I ever imagined and incredibly diverse. Everything from trout streams, to steelhead to the wide open saltwater, the opportunities are limitless and I have been lucky enough to have some incredible fishing experiences. I love all of these different types of fishing and as the season progresses there is always something to look forward to and difficult choices to make over which direction to go.Out of the various fishing experiences I have had since moving here one of my favorite occurs in the late summer and into fall, we call it chasing “hard tails” (bonito, false albacore & tuna). This is high speed, fast paced, adrenaline charged, demanding and challenging fishing. These fish move at mach speed, ripping through bait schools pushing them to the surface and exploding on them frequently with so much velocity and momentum that they fly completely out of the water. The closest thing I had experienced was the roosterfishing of baja which draws many similarities. There is nothing quite like lightning fast, ocean predators fired up chasing baitfish. I have had some incredible encounters with these fish and the crazy scenarious that occur when you are chasing them and look forward to every time I get the opportunity. Fishing for these fish is a constant and evolving game of trying to find the fish, predict what direction they are going and hope that they stay up and don’t change direction. Once you figure this out (or think you figure it out), you have literally seconds to make the cast, strip like crazy and if it all comes together connect with one of these speedsters. Once you hook up, your line clears and the fish is speeding away and into your backing in seconds. The sheer power you feel when attached to one of these fish is awesome! Your adrenaline is pumping and all of the hard work that went into it pays off. There is nothing quite like chasing “hard tails”. The season has just began and I can feel my adrenaline pumping right now just thinking about it. I can’t wait for the next time out on the water trying to hold on in Jeremy’s surfboard (skiff) launching over waves trying to get to the next blowup or jumping around on the jetty rocks trying relentlessly to get the fly in front of one of these speed demons!
Kory,
Well earned fish man. On the fly, no blind casting, no “running and gunning”, absolutely calm conditions … and you were able to get 1 cast off when it mattered. Not easy to do, and anyone who has fly fished for bonito knows how fickle and fleeting these fish can be. Up, down, here, there and then gone. Like you, I enjoy figuring out the puzzle. Trying to pattern the fish and not “chasing” them .. rather, trying to figure out the pattern they are on and where they are going to appear next. It’s really a game of best guesses and studying the fish to see what direction they are moving in, what the current and wind is doing and how that will affect the set-up, where the bait is, etc.. As you know, its a game of factoring in all of the different elements and making the best guess possible. And, when it all comes together (as it definately did in the video clip) it is so rewarding. And, like most forms of fly fishing that I like its total teamwork. Just like a guy on the polling platform when bonefishing .. it works best if you have 1 person with the fly rod and one person setting up on the fish. Great work bro. – looking forward to fishing the albies with you this year.
Very cool clip. Hope to x paths with some hard tails someday. Glad you like the variety of the right coast too!
Corky-
Gread video clip! Blind casting is one thing but visually chasing and hunting looks like unbelievable fun. I hope to get a chance to do it sometime. For now, evening caddis on the Provo will have to do…..
Atta boy Kory. Glad you found a new opportunities in the East. When I lived back there I never got a shot at the hard tails, I wish I had, it looks like a blast. When people speak of chasing tuna, albies and bonito they are all business. Being completely green to the subject I can only imagine how much fun and addicting they can be. Nice Hook up…hopefully see ya on a steelhead river this fall/spring.
kory – that clip is great, love watching them come flying out the water like that. definitely gets the adrenaline pumping.
Love the game and have had a blast playing it with you bro! Can’t wait to chase albies with you and it won’t be too far off! I was lucky enough to get that cast off when it mattered, but i had plenty of flustered flailing as well but that is what makes it so much fun. You get so amped up and psyched that it takes everything you have to stay focused. Can’t wait for the next round!
Kenner, It is awesome, i have told you that you need to come out and see what the east coast has to offer and you should take advantage! The evening caddis on the Provo aren’t anything to complain about, just a little different game.
You should make a trip out when it is happening bro, you would love it! I have been lucky enough to have some great days fishing for them, but I have also spent hours and days waiting and looking getting beat up by waves, boats and sun with nothing but exhaustion to show for it. It isn’t easy, but when it comes together it is insane! And you will definitely see me on a steelhead river this fall/spring and that is right around the corner. Can’t wait as I love that game too!
nothing like em! The east coast has an amazing diversity and I have had a blast enjoying it.
That morning was incredible. I actually hooked something like 5 or 6 fish in that same scenario in a matter of an hour or so and all of them came unbuttoned, not broke off just dropped the hook…another aspect of the difficulty of the hard tail chase. I was ecstatic when i finally landed one!
Well deserved fish Kory, you made that look ridiculously easy. Very difficult to maintain that level of composure as you watch them get closer and closer, that was incredible…my heart was literally pounding. I’m really glad you have maximized your time out here in the East and pursued so many different species, in so many different environments through all seasons. I’m looking forward to the first tug this fall. “Keep Breathing”
I was lucky with phenomenal conditions especially that first morning. It was like a lake out there and fish were all over. Sometimes it comes together like that, but more often it doesn’t….which adds to the fun! If it was always easy, it would be boring right? I have had some great times out here and look forward to many more. You have been a big part of it, always great fishing with you bro! “Keep Breathin” LMAO!
Love the video, no scenery, no long conversations or other fluff, Just retrieve, hook up and a picture of the fish. Fast fish are always fun, I love catching Bones for that reason but have yet to catch a Bonito.
high voltage energy…really well done brother not easy to get it all lined up with the shot and the take and the fish well earned speed demon brother, hope to seen you soon for the albies, cheers Alex