Fly Fishing for Inshore Tuna

Inshore Tuna Tactics . . .(continued)

Fly fishing for most pelagic species entails some form of chumming or teasing to bring fish into range, and often fly fishing is the least efficient method. However, when fingers of the Gulf Stream swing towards the shore of New England in August, pelagi c species such as bonito and false albacore are lured into protected waters by large concentrations of bait such as sand eels. At this time, fly fishing is probably the deadliest method of taking them from around the harbors of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and M artha's Vineyard where they often reside until October.

Fly fishing is so deadly because the tuna's keen eyesight makes "matching the hatch" far more important than with other New England salt water species. Spinfishermen who use light tackle will take their share of fish on small metal spoons, but it is not uncommon for fly fisherman with more representational offerings to out-fish the hardware, and sometimes only flies will score.

Flies

The sand eels, also known as sand lances (Ammodytes americanus) which I have taken from the stomachs of kept fish are from 2 to 4 inches long, and are about a quarter of an inch deep along their entire length. They are dark green along the dorsal side, a nd white along the ventral, and have a distinctive, gradually pointed head.

A variety of saltwater flies, including Lefty's Deceivers and Bob Clouser's Clouser Minnow, will imitate the sand eels adequately. A version of Popovic's surf candy tied with white bucktail around the shank, green crystal hair on top, and a lateral line of flashabou is also a deadly imitation. If you prefer to purchase your flies, an excellent imitation, the "hard body shiner" developed by Jeff Haver, is available through his company Mystic Bay Flies.

Personally, my favorite pattern is a zonker-type streamer, the basis of which is a thin strip of white rabbit fur, secured to the hook at the bend and behind the eye with several wraps of heavy silk. I prefer to cover the underside of the shank with a li ght dubbing of tinsel, and I usually add additional strips of either silver or green flashabou to give the fly a metallic reflection. The rabbit fur has an incredibly seductive undulating action in the water, even when it's not being stripped, and I have even taken fish before I begin my retrieve with this pattern.

Size can be very important to success, so be sure to carry several in the 1/0 to 3/0 range. If you find that fish are following your fly to the boat or refusing it, it is probably because the fly is too big. Imitations should be tied very sparsely and s hould not exceed 2 1/2 inches in length. If they are still refused, try shortening the fly with a pair of scissors to make the fly's silhouette smaller.

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