{"id":1271,"date":"2025-04-25T00:09:56","date_gmt":"2025-04-25T00:09:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalanglers.com\/fishing\/?page_id=1271"},"modified":"2026-05-21T13:35:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:35:44","slug":"montauk-fly-fishing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/naturalanglers.com\/fishing\/","title":{"rendered":"Fly Fishing Reports"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0Fish have Arrived \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Warming temperatures have brought the fish of our dreams into our bays. Stripers have arrived. This week, we encountered large numbers of Stripers in skinny water. Many of these fish are in transit from wintering grounds to their home waters. All these Stripers are keeper-size fish and beyond. They are hungry and extremely aggressive, once you figure out what they are eating. We had schools of 10-20 Stripers, in 2-3 feet of water, constantly coming our way. We were fortunate to have a clear sky and light wind, which made sight fishing ideal. This is what we have been waiting for. These fish are on the move. If you can find the time, we know where they are. Will you be ready? Check your backing. Check your flies and fly lines, because this first wave of fish will test you and your gear to the max. Monster Stripers, Bluefish, and Weakfish will be tearing, pulling, and yanking on you and your tackle. “FUN” is a phone call away. Don’t hesitate.<\/p>\n

Capt. Barry Kanavy<\/div>\n
“We are Fishing”<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/div>\n
516-238-7642<\/span><\/div>\n
Just do it!<\/span><\/div>\n

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A tribute to Flip Pallot<\/em><\/strong><\/span>
\nOn August 26, the angling world lost an Icon.
\nA friend and mentor to us all passed on at 82 years young. Having known Flip for many years, I was fortunate enough to call him a friend, as many anglers did, but he was far more than a friend and an excellent angler. Flip and Lefty were our mascots of the angling world for decades. They were both “Old School.” Which meant “You say what you mean and do what you say.” Flip was a humble, quiet, reflective man, unnoticed by many people around him. Which is how he wanted it. But when the rubber met the road, he was always there. \u00a0 After Hurricane Sandy, Flip had heard through Lefty that I had lost my boat and home, among many other things. Flip, on his own, contacted Hell’s Bay Boatworks. I’ll never know what he said, but shortly after, I received a call from Hells Bay, telling me they wanted me in one of their boats and would do whatever possible to make that happen, and asked me to join their team of fly-fishing guides. Who does that? Flip did, and he did it on his own. When I picked up my boat from Hells Bay \u00a0Boatworks, my son and I stopped to see Flip and thank him. We sat and shared a drink, reminiscing about the years and his visits to Montauk. I thanked him for all he had done. His reply was, “Well, it was no more than right.”<\/p>\n

Flip will be missed.<\/em><\/p>\n

Big Bahama Permit in August<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What do you do when a friend invites you to the Bahamas on a Permit fishing excursion in August? My answer was “Count me in!” Knowing how warm it can get down south this time of year, I was encouraged when he mentioned we would be traveling on a Phenom 300 E sport jet at 500 mph at 45,000 feet, where the outside temperature is -70\u00b0F. This jet pins you in your seat upon take-off, then runs quietly and smoothly at altitude. It will forever ruin me for commercial flights.<\/p>\n

During our flight, we reviewed our strategies, looked over Bob’s hand-tied fly collection, and discussed which flies we should try first. Bob is an extraordinary fly tyer with shrimp and crabs that are so life-like, I was tempted to eat one myself. It turns out that the Bahamas temperatures aren’t that different from Long Island, New York, in the summer. We arrived at an empty lodge with a pleasant breeze blowing off the ocean. We brought our fly-tying vices and supplies with us, eager to begin our Permit adventure in uncharted waters.<\/p>\n

The weather in the Southern Oceans this time of year is interesting. Weather and cloud patterns are always changing. At times, the clouds look like steam rising from the tongue of the ocean. Thunderstorms build up energy, sending lightning strikes bouncing off the water with thunder so loud it shakes the bottom of the boat. Ten minutes later, we have a cloudless blue sky.<\/p>\n

Yes, there are Permit to be found, and plenty of them. Many free swimmers are in search of a tasty shrimp or crab, and others are following Sting Rays that blow out the same. Our eyes scanned an expansive white sand flat. Our guide, who has X-ray vision, spots a Permit feeding 200 feet off the bow. He is a free swimmer, searching around the Sargassum weed. Bob and the captain were as excited as I was, as a 25-pound Permit turned toward us. They suggested I stalk him on foot. Not taking my eyes off the fish, I slid into the water and found myself up to my shoulders in warm water, which was actually kind of pleasant, but not a good vantage point to see or cast to your fish. Next, I bounce off the bottom, reaching for the deck of the skiff with one hand, holding my rod in the other. Bob grabs my rod as I quietly pull myself back on deck. I looked off the bow and saw he was still there feeding, unaffected by all our goings-on. I composed myself, as a gentle breeze cools me, I focused, loaded the rod, and dropped one of Bob’s crab flies directly in front of him. He saw it and started tracking, closer and closer to the boat. I was thinking he was getting too close, so I slowed almost to a complete stop and twitched the fly twice, and that was it. He picks it up. I felt an ever-so-slight pull. The Permit moved away and stopped! I set it again very lightly. He’s off! Next thing, I’m 200 feet into my backing. As my Permit raced around the flat, my line was picking up weeds; I’m hoping it wouldn’t be too much additional weight on my leader. I tried to steer him around huge rafts of Sargassum weeds that I know will break me off. At a point, I realized I had him under control and steered him slowly towards the boat, knowing he wasn’t done. After another run dangerously close to a raft of Sargassum, my Permit is now forty feet from the boat. Bob went over the side to do a tail grab. As the Permit approached, Bob grabbed, but missed, Bob is now submerged. The Permit also dived for the bottom. For an instant, I saw no one, no fish, no Bob. A split second later, Bob appears holding the fish, and he yelled, “I got ’em!” We all exploded in laughter, relief, \u00a0and joyful excitement. I got in the water, and Bob handed him off to me. What a prize! This fish is beautiful- strong, powerful, and yet soft as a baby. His huge eye was watching me as I prepared to release him. I looked at Bob. “Couldn’t have done it without you!”I paused for a moment to reflect and to appreciate the magnificence of this beautiful beast. Then, in a single motion, he swam from my hand, unharmed, strong and resolute, back to his home: the Sea.<\/p>\n

What a Day!<\/p>\n

“We are Fishing”<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

516-238-7642<\/p>\n