Capt Carp and Sol: Part 1

Captain Carp and I were not going to be put down by one more day of windy cool southern Florida weather. We embarked at the crack of noon on a bridge fishing journey. Talking about the metaphors and virtues of the previous article whilst choking down a couple Camels on the porch last night led us into today's excursion.

We began by finding a Cuban Hand Line at a local fishing store(always shop small destination stores when you find them, and don't buy from the French, just a rule) valued @ $4.79. Pre-rigged with an egg sinker, wire leader, and a J hook. All set there.

Couldn't help purchasing a small 2 ft. long Sabiki pole too. It was adorned with the world's smallest reel and 10# line. The fella at the counter assured us of its quality, mentioning that he had landed a 15# tarpon on a rod like the one I was playing with, $22.50. A 10 piece Mustad bait hooks package, half dozen 1/8 oz. egg sinkers, and 2 dozen live shrimp. Which way are the bridges?

Back on A1A heading west in Sol's Suburban (see blog entry 10 Best Fishing Rides of all time) when Capt Carp spots a likely bridge. The bridges one fishes in the Keys are adjacent to the highway and used by hoards of locals, Cubans, and vacationers alike. I mention Cubans because they are deadly hand liners. We were hoping to bump into one and glean any information and advice he would offer, but when the temperature drops below 70 F, most Floridians stay inside where its warm.

Now we are on the bridge over Niles Channel and it is go time. Carp boy drops his in first and me with the Sabiki pole second. Thee is really nothing better than catching fish with hand and line. Tipped with squirmy and smelly shrimps, our baited hooks did attract lots of fish's. Putting the hook in them is the hardest part. All fish love live bait, yes, even trout. Between the two of us, we did land small Yellowtail Snapper, Blue Runner's, Pinfish, Leather Jacks (if they sting you, your hand swells up like a cantaloupe), and missed a few Barracuda. What fun. Had an absolute ball. Would do it again in a New York minute.

Would I plan a vacation around this activity? No. I would encourage any fishing fanatic to get back to your roots boy. Spend some time doing something totally different. It's like cross training for fly fishing. Being able to observe fish behaviors 17' below you and having tactile reference to the line is something special.

Bridge fishing really is a terrific family activity. You see many families fishing together with a menagerie of poles spanning from the hand line, the bamboo stick, not fly rod, stick, to over priced poles that we scoff at the price of. I know, we are fly fisherman and don't scoff at the price of anything...somewhere we went sideways on this deal! Go out and have some fun! Just don't let junior stray too far from you, dangerous shark infested waters lay below.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Capt. Carp and Sol.