Snapper flies?

[larrygermi]

Made it to Bimini, Bahamas last weekend and was lucky enough to throw some tarpon flies my dad got for me a while ago at some yellowtail snapper on patch reefs.

I will be going back this thursday and have been tieing up some flies beforehand. Its not that I cant buy flies, but Id really like to bring up some fish on flies I tied myself..

While standing up I could easily watch my fly in the crystal clear bahamian water, and noticed that many fish were disinterested in my presentation. I was fishing floating line(unfortunately i think) and these big ole tarpon flies with some large hooks.



The flies are unweighted but sank about 20 ft deep if I was patient enough to let it sink. For as many fish as I saw turn away from the fly, I still managed about 20 yellowtail snapper to 20''(many around 15-nothing stellar) which was a long time dream of mine.

My question being: does anyone on here have ANY experience with saltwater and/or snapper fly fishing specificaly and have any 'goto' flies? And if so, are these flies weighted?, are you fishing a floating or sinking line?, also feel free to criticize/ offer some tips on these first few flies pictured below that I have cranked out over the past few days and late into tonight.

attempt at some shrimp patterns-





some of the first flies i tied, random minnow patters-(BotLeft- I was trying to imitate a yellowtail lol)



attempt at 'deciever pattern'




So I know fish are dumber than youd think, but you think these will work? And if you could, offer some advice for my situation. Any help would be greatly appreciated...MAYBE I can even bring some snapper back for ya

-LG

[jsuber]

The water is shallow, and the Tarpon are here. There are some places where the water is deeper and the tarpon are there too. Take your pick.

Sent from my SCH-I800 using Tapatalk

[BearsFan]

I wouldn't even use those tarpon flies for tarpon. If they ate those then just about anything should work. I would go for weighted shrimp patterns with some sort of non-floating line. You may even want to try something as simple as a lead eyed wooly bugger. I have landed mangrove snapper over reefs eclipsing 8lbs on those.

[Shorewalker]

There are plenty of weighted shrimp flies.

I have the video for tying the below weighted shrimp fly (plus a few other similar flies) that you can borrow but the materials are the main problem if you need to tie it right now. There are basically no materials in TLH for fly tying - although a quick run the JAX should fix your materials need.

http://members.ij.net/danscustomflys/Po ... pPage.html

As for reach twenty feet, sinking line would be best and maybe think about a a fluoro leader (mono tends to float).

A sink tip line might work for a little less depth.

Let me know if you want to borrow the video.

Good luck, you lucky bas****

[BigIrish]

Good luck, you lucky bas****

Larry , First let me echo what Shorewalker told you. It has been 23 years since I have been there and i can remember like it was last weekend.

Second help me understand the fly fisher mentality. Why cant you use a weighted circle hook and a 5 inch Gulp?
See you when you get back! FisH ON!
Ray

[Shorewalker]

I just re-read this. Are you going tomorrow or a week from tomorrow? If you going tomorrow just go see if Lin at Kevin's has some suggestions or buy flies there but get some sleep tonight.

If you have a week then tie this weekend and go from there. We all like to tie but don't sleep through the rest of the trip just make your own flies tonight.

[larrygermi]

I am now in Miami, possibly for the rest of summer, and leaving tomorrow or friday. Ive got time to tie them, its pretty cool making them anyways. Thanks for the offer on the vid, Ive been watching alot of youtube and have been trying to replicate them with the materials Ive got with some success.

lol about the tarpon flies, whats wrong with them? I guess those snapper were either real hungry or real dumb...probably both.

Ive been tying alot of shrimp patterns, both white and more natural orangish/redish...let ya guys know how it goes, and plan on taking lots of pictures, stay tuned.

[BearsFan]

Those hooks are HUGE, look to be designed for a 300lb tarpon.

[abcarias]

I am not sure that this was mentioned, but I have best luck fishing tarpon on a fly using a loop knot for better action. Make sure your fly tracks straight also. Tarpon like to chase something moving away and up above them (in my limited experience). Hope you have better luck this trip!

[larrygermi]

DId not get into any yellowtails on the fly this trip with 7 people fishing on board, just one ramora... But had a great trip.


Heres the story and pictures if anybody is interested in offshore, even though it is a motor report..

Did alot of bottom fishing, pulled up a ton of y tails on cut baits, along with various grouper, snapper, dolphin(mahi) and some kingfish.

One of my little brothers with a very nice strawberry grouper, which dont get all that big compared to their relatives-


Dad and I with a fiesty little mutton snapper.


While bottom fishing around Great Isaac someone spotted a blueish green object swimming in our chumline.... we knew those colors all too well and my youngest brother picked up a spinner and cast a ballyhoo to him. He patiently let her swallow, and after a bit set the hook, the fight was on. After a sweet battle, my dad stuck her with the gaff and plopped it on the deck- not a huge dolphin by any means, but a nice treat nonetheless.




After a day at anchor, we decided to change it up a bit and troll the reefs for kings and grouper on our way back to North Bimini, at the big game club. We dragged stretch 25's and also put down the down rigger.

Got a few kings in an hour but no grouper on the troll...





Look at those teeth! Man those treble hooks do some damage..



The whole family, with some of the days bounty "everyone grab some fish"

[WannaDoDat]

Wow, Larry!! So, you're having a great break from school and looks like you all had the time of your life out there!(i'm digging the laid-back bearded look!)

Great pictures and report from out on the big blue!