Around half a million people live in Escambia county and Santa Rosa county according to the 2010 census. These counties pride themselves on their beaches and they should. However scarcely few have a clue on what is IN the water and can be witnessed by just walking the beach and observing. Countless species of fish, sharks and dolphins the occasional Manatee and diverse birds working can be observed and enjoyed as one marvels at the diversity of nature.
During the so-called winter here in Panhandle area the fishing can be just fabulous. What gets my juices flowing is a northerly wind. I particularly like the second day of a northerly. The first day can have some residual wave action but on the second day the Gulf is just flat and the water clear and it is just breathtaking – but I digress.
The Gulf is dead flat on second day of a northerly and the fish cruising in inches of water
What I am looking for is the False Albacore. When the heavenly bodies are aligned and the Gulf is flat it sometimes happens that the Albacore come cruising up and down the beach.
The Gulf is dead flat on second day of a northerly and the fish cruising in inches of water
It is astonishing to see these fish in the first trough in very shallow water. They can be cruising outside the first sandbar too and easily spotted. The first time I witnessed this spectacle I must admit that some sphincters loosened a bit and I bunged the casts utterly. With increasing sophistication the sphincters were tamed and the cast was resurrected.
Jonas getting ready to release a False Albacore – note beanie on top of cap – fashionista!
The fly I have been successful with is the Gummy Minnow #4. If the Albacore take the fly you are in for a stupendous ride (it is rumored that they can go 40 mph). They will just run for open water and the reel will be screaming far into the backing. Keep your fingers from the rotating reel handle if you want unbroken fingers. It is just fascinating the speed of these runs. Usually they will take you far into the backing and manage 2 such runs so do not think they are done after one.
We happened to be there on the beach in one early January and we were honored by their presence. It was just one of these moments in your angling life that probably never will never be repeated so whenever it happens take great care to savor that moment. We had constant action for 2-3 hours and this memory is forever seared onto the hard drives of our minds. While you are at it you might also thank the piscatorial goddess that reigns over such matters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_tunny
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- False Albacore caught by Baz and released, note the stripping basket which is imensly helpful
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- When the Albacore senses the angler he will react furiously
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- The beautiful colorings of the False Albacore
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- Baz in inches of water “fish on” – note stripping basket and the clear water
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- “Fish on” and one happy Baz – note water clarity and the first sandbar beyond
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- False Albacore being brought in – note clarity of water and the depth
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- False Albacore being brought in – note clarity of water and the depth
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- Jonas getting ready to release an Albacore – the colorings of these fish is remarkable
