Dan Decibel sure does & its magnificent.
Category Archives: Conservation
Horizons Teaser
Continuing with the idea of lifestyle, the crew at Forever West Media and World Angling have teamed up to produce a film that captures the essence of what drives the fly fishing lifestyle.
I’m looking forward to seeing their work in its entirety.
If you live and breathe this thing called fly fishing, you’re going to love this one.
One Love – Tarpon
There are a lot of folks around the world that really love tarpon.
Without a doubt, this crew in Peurto Rico will wear that badge proudly for a long time to come.
Amazing effort and stellar result:
Tip of the cap!
Loose Lips Sink Ships
Have you ever found a special place on the water that seems to be that out of the way location which always produces days that leave you smiling? You know, the one I’m talking about, that lonely slice of water that takes a bit of effort to reach, where you never see another soul.
The truth is, you’re not the only one that knows where it is, its just that the effort to get there limits even you and it it quickly becomes the spot reserved for special days when solitude is required and you know it can be found there, if you’re in the mood to work for it.
After a while, you’ve grown so fond of your out of the way slice of heaven that you take someone along to show them the unreal beauty and charm your little Shangri-La possesses. Even though that little voice in the back of your head cautions you to keep it to yourself, you convince yourself it will be kept in confidence, so off you go.
The magic is in the air and the birds are chirping as you and your guest revel in the moments where your rod is bent and fish come to hand in a way that never happens on a normal day, in the usual spots. You keep reminding them that the place you’re visiting is special and warrants secrecy, hoping that your trust won’t be betrayed.
By day’s end, you know that you’ve shared a truly special place and time and the allure of it is almost fairytale in its splendor, which makes you nervous.
As you finish a beer with your friend, they thank you for the special day and reassure you that the secret is going to be kept. They express reverence for the location, and pour on the charm letting you know its safe.
A month or two later, it happens. There in all of its glory, laid bare for the world to see on Instagram or Facebook is the spot you’ve cherished for so long. That place you’ve always held dear and protected. Your pulse quickens, and in mere moments, you know its over, the secret is out.
The temptation was too great for the person who didn’t earn it. They were given the privilege, and without the investment of sweat equity, they gave it away.
Worse yet, they begin to abuse it. Almost weekly at first, them more and more often, until its not just the recipient of your friendly benevolence, but now others are there and posting about too.
Forgiving those who trespass against you is tough. But truth be told, its best that you do, for they know not what they’re doing. The luster will fade on that place of beauty in due time, for once its been burned, the patina of overuse will erase it.
Don’t despair, but rather, channel your efforts in finding your next quiet corner and remember, Loose Lips Sink Ships.
Anything Happens, Everyday
The more time I spend on the water, the more I get it. Even though I’m standing there with a fly rod in hand, its the total immersion into the environment that impresses upon me the essence of why I’m there.
After pulling on the rope to start up my faithful 25 HP outboard a simple twist of the tiller washes away the daily grind of the day job and my soul is set free to roam unabated.
I used to think these adventures were about stalking and catching fish. Now I simply let it happen along the periphery of the overall adventure and where it might lead.
I always have my head on swivel, searching for the next target that happens to be swimming by, but it is the macro view of the environment that brings the most joy.
I’ve seen a bobcat standing some 20 feet away along the mangrove sprinkled shoreline as curious and startled by my presence as I am of it. I’ve watched in awe as a bobcat swam between two islands carefully watching me as I passed by on plane, gawking.
The myriad of shore birds that ignore my presence as I slide by silently until I’m within a stone’s throw give me pause.
Seeing the ground appear to move as hundreds of fiddler crabs retreat from the waters edge in unison mesmerizes me.
I cherish this thing we call fly fishing. Not because of the fish I’ll hold for a moment or two to admire, but for the experiences that will form my fondest memories, for it is every time I go forth, I reinforce the notion that anything happens, everyday.
A Life At Sea Ends
The Summer of 2014 will forever be seared into my memory thanks to the time I spent in the wilds of Western Alaska. Two weeks of self-reliance with a small group of fellow riverine fly fishing nomads was filled with memories that have crept into my mind everyday since my return. It was epic.
The salmon we sought were old salts, making their way back to the waters from which they had sprung. Theirs was a one way journey, undertaken to sustain their family lineage.
Up the coast from Florida, one of the great storytellers of the Lowcountry made a similar trip. His lens captured the essence and minutia of it in fine fashion.
Enjoy…
Protecting The Flats For Future Generations
Nomadic Drum
The Kennedy Space Center occupies only a small part of NASA’s property along the Space Coast in East Central Florida. Much of the land is also managed as a National Seashore and Wildlife Refuge. There are areas of the Mosquito Lagoon estuary that are widely considered the oldest marine preserve in the nation due to having been included within the security buffer zone that has protected America’s space program for decades.
A unique by product of the space mission has been the opportunity to study relatively unchanged habitat that rarely sees influence from man made craft or pressure. The results of one of the programs, a tagging study, was recently included in an article in Spaceport Magazine , a NASA publication.
Take a look at the article on pages 32 – 35 in the June 2014 Volume 1 No. 3 issue by clicking here.
Catch & Release Is The Rule For Mosquito Lagoon
There is a burgeoning movement afoot amongst those who spend time on the waters of Mosquito Lagoon in Central Florida chasing redfish and speckled sea trout. Its a quiet, but sustained, call for a change in guiding practices. Its being brought about by the heightened awareness of most anglers to the estuary’s troubles with extreme angling pressure and degraded water quality. Armed with the knowledge that the resource needs a helping hand, more and more anglers are becoming vocal on social media calling for charter captains and others to make Catch & Release the standard practice rule, rather than the exception.
The angling community is changing its attitude towards the long held idea that the Mosquito Lagoon is a place to go fill your cooler. While anecdotal, there is a wealth of evidence that points towards shrinking numbers of large breeder redfish, as well as a decline in juvenile redfish. Despite a majority of anglers recognizing the state of the fishery as one that is in decline, some guides see the change to C&R as potentially harmful to their business and have taken to social media to promote how splendid the fishing has been and that the resource is bountiful. Their hype is not true.
The joys of angling are many. Lowest on most anglers list is the consumption of their catch. The beauty of the environment, the thrill of the hunt and the excitement of the fight are more truly the reasons than most anglers will spend countless hours on the water in search of fish. Recreation is the goal.
The Catch & Release movement is shaping what is considered ethical and reasonable within the guide community whether the guides sign on or not. Why? Because their clients get it. They’re out for a great day catching lots of fish. C&R will lead to better opportunities for fish filled days, which of late have been the exception throughout the estuary.
Their clients get it because they want their children and grandchildren to have the same opportunities they’ve had, if not better. They’re buying in because its the only way it will happen.
The C&R movement is not saying to guides, don’t take a single fish; the angling community is calling for a more responsible approach that educates charter clients on the current state of the resource and encourages Catch & Release. The community is asking guides to forgo the practice of adding “their” fish to the clients limit.
Its always tough to change. Resistance to change is expected. The guides that are early adopters of the Catch and Release movement will be the ones who benefit the most. Word will spread and the guides will be rewarded with praise and referrals.
Catch & Release is the rule in Mosquito Lagoon and its here to stay.