Grand Slam Season: Open Dates Available With Will Benson

Posted under fly fishing reports by Will Benson

 

As the big tarpon migration winds down and all the out-of-town guides pack up their skiffs and head back out west, I feel a sense of relief.  Although the quest for big tarpon is the most exciting thing in saltwater fly fishing, it’s always nice to be done with the crazy rodeo atmosphere and on to quieter more relaxing days ahead.  Don’t be mistaken, there are still big poons around, but that game is usually over by about 10:00, which leaves the rest of the day to chase Permit and Bonefish with the fly rod, and Hogfish and grouper with spear guns.  Some of my favorite fishing is during this time of the year.  Most of the pressure is off, and the fish really sense that.  Things return to the normal lazy summer rhythm and almost everyday there is the potential for a Grand Slam.  Not to mention that with a few days of calm winds the water visibility will get up to 80′-100′ in some of the better dive spots.  Last week Bryan “Big Bear” Holeman and I took our youngest interns, Ron and Reese out for an adventure to check on some of these dive spots.  The boys “manned up” and covered my back as I went down to check for resident grouper and inspect the areas.  A lot changes from year to year with the bottom and it’s always important to do your homework if you want to shoot a big Black Grouper.  They braved barracudas, stingrays and sharks in the water then put the hurt on some permit late in the day going 5 for 8 with 3 double hookups!  It really was one of the best days you could ever hope for with youngsters and I am very thankful to Bear for coming through with a bad-ass ride for us.  If any of you out there haven’t had your fill of fishing for the year, or would like to spend a day with me working on the next installment of the WorldANGLING Drake Video Awards submission, the following dates are open:  July 9,10,11,12, August 6,7,8,9,10,11,20,21,24,25,26,27,28, September 1,2,3,4.  Just email me at the Contact Us page if you are interested.  Thanks to everyone so far this season for their continued support; Dave and I are really pumped for this year’s Drake Video Awards and can’t wait to unveil the new website and videos very soon!

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