Can’t wait to get my copy at Somerset this January!
It’s hot off the press…
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pic of the day…
A 10.4 boga weighed Hawaiian bonefish by Glenn Ueda. Photo courtesy of Glenn Ueda
This is our buddy, Glenn’s explanation as only he can tell the story: A fish of a lifetime!
Nice casual start this morning, long way around the island, picture taking, cloudy and windy though, oh-oh, find the beach access, waist deep to start but slated to fall, wind-drizzle-wind-sun-wind, clean bottom except for weedy clumps, so no fish to be seen, got to find conditions, knees go dry, find the shallows and the hunt begins, almost step on big one, huge sand cloud, the search goes on, it’s 1:25 pm, low tide in two hours, eyes burning, scanning in glare, grey-tan mud plume, thirty feet away, barely discernible, silver baseball glove-sized tail, roll cast to load rod, lead fish by eight feet, let medium bead chain eyes do their thing, mud cloud drifts aft, but huge green submarine creeps ahead, closing in on where I think fly is, 5 feet, 4 feet, 3 feet-slow strip, line goes extremely tight, fish rockets away pulling line through strip set, in a few seconds, 50 yards-100 yards- 150 yards-200 yards, fortunately no hazards to be concerned with, deep backing seeing water for first time ever, fish turns, heavy tail beats, second run only a half as far, third run, fourth run, seemingly no quit, fish finally circling but tail still thumping side to side, get first good look, pulse quickens, hands start shaking, dilemma… how to land this beast solo, NRX bent into cork, no pressure left to apply, five minutes pass by, decide to not apply rod pressure down back of fish for fear of popping hook, decide do or die time is here, gently hold leader with left hand while simultaneously placing cork grip under right pit, begin scary slow hand over hand, pulling fish ever closer, alert to release if it bolts, finally within arms reach, left hand stab at fish, hand barely fits around tail, shaking in disbelief, shaking with gratitude, shaking because I’m staring at a bonefish of a lifetime, boga says ten pounds and four ounces, goal achieved, still can’ t believe it, so grateful…..
the flyzone…
The Fly Zone is a custom program design for individuals or groups to better their all around skills as anglers. It includes casting, tackle, outfitting and techniques for any environment or circumstance. Contact Al or Jim for more info: al@tornadodesign.la /jim@iticorp.net
This past Saturday, Jim Solomon and myself had the opportunity to complete a two day “fly fishing the beach” Fly Zone course with some of the fine folks at the Pasadena Fly Club.
We started at the casting pond and went over the casting stroke and learning to cast and manage a sinking shooting head, knots, tackle, flies and techniques which included a slide presentation. This past Saturday, we all met down at the beach to practice some of the skills we covered which included casting and reading water. Learning the proper skills and techniques necessary to be a successful angler on the beach is something that will make every angler better when they return back to a creek, lake or river.
Jim showing the proper hand position for casting. Photo by Al Q
photo by Al Q
photo by Al Q
Photo by Al Q
Getting first hand experience. Photo by Al Q
A great group of anglers. Photo by Al Q
yt on the rocks…
This El Nino continues to amaze me. This monster yellowtail was landed by Jarred Davidson off the Mission Bay jetty in San Diego last Monday, September 14th. Way to go dude! Read the full report!
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pic of the day….
A beautiful Hawaiian bonefish landed by Denny Kaneoka in Oahu. This fish was weighed on a boga grip at 10.5 pounds. This was Denny’s fourth fish, 10 pounds or better in less than a week. Photo courtesy of Peter Koga.
bluewater birthday…
I had a great birthday yesterday spent buddy boating with a great group of fly boys offshore. I was out with Roy Fukushima, Ken Oda, Steve Hanano, Jon Nakano and Greg Madrigal. We launched out of Dana Point, picked up a big scoop of anchovies and headed south east towards the 302. We jumped patties as soon as the sun broke through the horizon and there was enough light to see them. Roy and Ken had great eyes and spotted many patties far off on the horizon. The first stop yielded a firecracker yellowtail and small ahi for my buddy Roy, the ahi his first on the fly. We all got firecrackers on numerous paddies, small yellowtail were abundant. We were looking for dorado and tuna. The fun is this was pure opportunity fishing, each paddy discovered is different, some held fish and some were completely void of life. Having a second boat working on the horizon made scanning the ocean a lot easier. Six pairs of eyes are always better than three. Once one of us found something we investigated it and if there were fish there we radioed the other boat to join the party. Good old fashioned fly fishing fun. On the way back Steve called in as said they found a small patty that may have some tuna on it so we headed their way. When we pulled up both Jon and Steve were bent. We threw a few baits and the ocean exploded like someone drop canon balls around our boat. I immediately hooked up but dropped my fish, user error on my part, but Ken hooked a nice one on his 8 weight and all I hear is, “oh Shit”. Ken to his credit landed this fish like a seasoned pro, his old commercial fishing days kicked in and he had that tuna on the deck in ten minutes. It was his first ahi on fly and on an eight weight to boot, just awesome. Seeing a few flying fish and skating across the flat blue ocean with a great group of guys was a blast. The water temps were near 78, which is why we had so many patties to work off of. The patties were pushing up the temp break from Mexico where most of the pelagics are coming from…
leaving the harbor and looking to the east was a glorious sunrise. Photo by Al Quattrocchi
Jon, Steve and Greg working a small patty. Photo by Al Quattrocchi
Roy with a nice firecracker yellowtail. Photo by Al Quattrocchi
Roy with his first Ahi on fly. Photo by Al Quattrocchi
Ken and Q double up. Photo by Roy Fukushima
Ken get bit on his 8 weight.Photo by Roy Fukushima
Ken gets his first Ahi on fly. Landed on an eight weight, quite a battle. Photo by Al Quattrocchi
Some of Jon’s beautiful tuna. Photo by Al Quattrocchi
Categories: #hamachionfly, #hamachionthefly, offshore
Tags: #alquattrocchiphotography, #flyfishingsaltwater, #offshore
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new fleye sketches from Pop and Q…
The master, Bob Popovics wearing the first original “Beast” tee. Artwork by Al Q
original sketch by Bob Popovics.
original sketch by Bob Popovics
original drawing by Al Q All rights reserved.
final color scheme and design by Al Q All rights reserved.
I was recently asked by my friend, Bob Popovics to sketch up a few of his most inovative fly patterns for some tee shirts he will use to help promote his new book soon to be released entitled, “Fleye Designs” I can’t wait to get me hands on this new book, it should be out the beginning of next year. His last book is now a classic entitled, Popfleyes, and I consider it to be the bible for saltwater fly tying. If you tie flies and haven’t seen that book you are living in a cave. Bob is my mentor as a fly tier and ever since I met this man over twenty years ago, he has been one of the most generous people I know, always willing to help me better my game as a person and fly fisherman. I felt honored to be able to represent these patterns with my drawing style mainly because I know them so well personally tying them and watching Bob tie them over the years. I though I would share some of the thinking and sketching process here. I should be receiving my first two samples soon, the rear floating squid and the beast. The ultra shrimp and schoolie should be on deck… I think these shirts will be available for sale at the Tuffleye booth during the Somerset Fly Show in New Jersey the end of January…
Orignial sketh by Bob Popovics for the “Schoolie” fleye
original Schoolie Fleye drawing and color design by Al Q (all rights reserved)
original sketch for the Rear Floating Squid by Al Q (All rights reserved.)
Original sketch for the utlra shrimp fleye by Bob Popovics
The Ultra Shrimp fleye, original drawing and color design by Al Q (All rights reserved.)
Rear Floating Squid fleye, original drawing and color design by Al Q (All rights reserved.)
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yellow slayer…
It was an early 3 o’clock alarm that began the day, Me and John Whitaker carpooled south to meet our good friend Rich Kanner at Newport Landing. A forty minute, 5 mph motor through Newport Harbor to the bait receiver, we loaded a mixed scoop of sardines and anchovies and off we went headed for an hour run straight to Catalina. Light wind and calm sea made the crossing a breeze. I never get tired of seeing that large rocky mountain appear out of the grey light as you get close to Catalina, a welcome sight. Rich had me pumped up since he got into some big yellowtail the prior week on bait and fly up to 17 pounds. On our first stop we had a party boat to the south, banging big yellows with many seals all around them, so they picked up the hook and left, we decided to do the same. The next stop we witnessed the same party boat doing a number on these nice grade fish, often four or more rods getting bent at once. We watch a couple of anglers handing these fish off to the mates to land, they were getting their asses kicked. We threw the hook. I threw long and sunk out my fly, immediately got picked up and the fish took off like a bat out of hell straight down, unbuttoning me on the fall. Good sign were were in the right place. We threw the hook, Rich flipped out a dine and got picked up, fought the fish like a pro and I gaffed it after a 10 minute battle. Fresh hamachi is a good thing. We steadily picked away at small calicos, bonita. The smaller fish around the boat often attract the larger fish, so patience is a virtue, and then after sinking out his fly, Rich got the right kind. The fish took off and ran right. I gave him the right of way, as he fought the fish towards the bow. I followed him with my camera. The fish went for the anchor line and Rich immediately made a great move by threading the rod under the anchor line and over as the fish stayed free. He was in for an epic battle, the rod bending straight to the butt section. He was using a 10 weight with forty pound tippet, not messing around with these bad ass fish. Fifteen minutes later we got color and she spiraled to the surface where John was waiting with the net, she barely fit. She weighed a solid fifteen pounds and was caught on a black/white clouser tied on a Gamakatsu heavy jig hook. Rich proved himself to be the yellow slayer…he didn’t give that yellowtail an inch, an awesome catch on a fly rod and a fun day spent with fishy friends…
Rich’s first of two large yellowtail land on a fresh a fly-lined sardine. photo by AL Q
Deep bend. Photo by Al Q
A beautiful Island Yellowtail land by Rich Kanner. Photo by Al Q
Nice grade bonita would come through every once in a while. Photo by Al Q
Nice bone landed by John Whitaker. Photo by Al Q
Doubling up. Photo by Al Q
Photo by Al Q
Photo by Al Q
Categories: article, Catalina Island, offshore
Tags: #saltwaterflyfishing, #yellowtailonfly, Hamachionfly
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bugging it in kiribati…
all photos courtesy of Steve Horgan
Last year I had the good fortune of running into fellow fly angler, Steve Horgan at the airport in Oahu prior to flying to Christmas Island. Steve prides himself on going after multi-species on fly. Steve just returned from another epic journey and slammed many exotic species on my “Beach Bug” fly pattern. Thanks for letting me share these great pics Steve! I hope to join you someday, Beach Bugs on me, grin…
something fishy in battery park…
photo courtesy of the nytimes.com
Really cool futuristic underwater carousel opens on August 2oth
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flies, sand & surf 