snagged in outlet 3

Shakshuka tonight. I'm finally going to give it a go. I'm using the rough recipe inspired by Dr. Shakshuka from Jaffa Israel.

Many still do JD. Kill it before you cast it in otherwise they will hide under stuff and you'll never get bit. Browns love dead sculpins.

Only time I ever go to 6X is when using dry flies or nymphs smaller than 18s This is precisely what I was talking about especially the tail waters. Sure you can swing streamers on 3x but when the fly is small no chance.

Stylin!!

I have to politely disagree when it comes to trout. You could stand there all day next to me while I use 5 or 6X and your using 3X. You'll switch pretty quickly.

Move along

Ness must of been in the service. He's throwing a lot of smoke to cover a hot LZ.

While I'm catching Mike asks if I care if Graffa fishes too and I say heck no have at it. Graffa is onto a fish within a minute or so and he's grinning like it's his first fish. As quickly as they appeared they disappeared and Mike made me an offer. We could stop back by and try and get a tarpon but that meant him dropping me off at the ferry pier instead of the marina to get a taxi back. I agreed and this time the first tarpon I see chases down the fly and inhales it. He keeps coming toward me and I never do the hook in it and the fly pops out. Graffa is grinning and saying something but I don't understand. Mike tells me he's saying "you got to stab them!" We start heading back out and the tide is coming back in making it difficult. We get out into the ocean again and Mike says it will be really rough and it was. We actually almost ran over a snorkeler that so far out from shore I couldn't believe it. He would be down in the bottom of the swell and we couldn't see him at all. Mike didn't tell me that dropping me off at the ferry meant dropping me in chest deep water. I jump off the front of the boat holding my backpack over my head and scramble to the beach. Now with wet sandals and sand stuck all over them I get in the last row and start the trip back. In all I was gone 11.5 hours to fish for 5 but it's worth it.

I'd rather have any 6 people in my house than my mother in law.

On our way out of the main mangroves we spook about 20 tarpon but I didn't get a cast to them. BTW we fished a completely different area than last time. Previously we fished water 6- 12 inches deep. This area was 3 feet deep all over. We walked for maybe an hour without seeing a fish and honestly I was bummed out because last time we saw hundreds of bones. As we stay near the shore we suddenly see the whole are light up with bones flashing. I plop down the first cast and probably 20 of them chase it until one grabs it. I lean into it like a tarpon and break it off on the set. You know what happens next. Mike's shakin his head again. The bones don't spook and some of them swam up to about 5 feet from us and Mike are I laughing but trying to stay still. We get the next fly and I fire it the edge of the school and one turns and grabs it. Fish on!! And it's into the backing right away. We stayed in that one spot and caught 5 fish total out of it. Mike and I just laughing because in the deeper water they just don't spook as easy. all of them were 18 - 20 inches.

Mike put me an tarpon right away. We come into the open pool in the mangroves and there are 3 of them circling around. All of them around 3-4 feet long. I flip the fly in and the first one charges it and takes the fly. I get a good hook set on him but before I know what's happened it jumps and I forget to bow to the king and my fly pops out. Mike shakes his head like all guides do when you screw up and I laugh and say it is what it is. We hang around there for another hour without any action and I tell Mike lets go catch a bone. Mike and Graffa. when you go with these guys it's like going with your buddies. If you look closely at the first picture those are sticks woven together with twine and pounded into the sand. It keeps the channel open and Mike does those himself.

Some of us have to work.

You can post all the pics you want. It won't change a thing. If beer didn't do it nothing will.

If you think a couple pictures of barges and beers is enough to take our attention away from the real dealio. You must've drank too much.

Met the future Mother in-law.

Because expensive flats boots don't work any better than high top tennis shoes and you don't have smelly boots to bring back in your suitcase. I was just trying to help out anyone else facing the same situation. BTW, hybrids had not moved up to my honey hole as of this weekend. Same 9 weight as I use for bone fish.

I'll start this thread and finish it over a couple posts. Keep in mind these pics were shot with a disposable camera. I can't risk losing my phone or getting it in saltwater. I stayed near the Airport at Moon Palace as I have a bunch of times. Great resort and maybe the best in Riviera Maya. IMO. I book my trip with Aquarius again and these guys are great. My day starts early about 4:30 AM and then a 1 hour taxi ride to Playa Del Carman, I quick walk to the ferry terminal, a 45 minute ferry ride to Cozumel, a 10 minute cab ride to another marina and a one hour panga trip up to the north end of the island. I'm with Mike and his grandpa (Graffa sp?). Even though the ride was pretty rough Mike says enjoy it because when we come back it will be really rough. And he was right. I fished with Mike and his dad last time and you can read that report here too. I get on my flats boots and get ready to go. $4 Converse Allstars from goodwill. They work great and I always leave them behind when done.

Alberto works like a charm. I used the lefty knot today with good success. But it was for fly fishing leader knot.

We used to hunt them with pellet guns. Good times.

Deck refurb.

Are you sure you never lived in the City?

They should boot Chief for saying "the bomb".

I just called the Outpost number and the guy said they will be open and renting boats this weekend.

I mentioned this to my son and he said they are closing the bait shop there. Not sure what's up.