I'm bored out of my mind at work, so here is a neat story about catching 'cudas
on the fly in Ascension Bay, MX.
While living in Mexico and working at Casa Blanca Lodge, one of my key
'responsibilities' was the guide training program. The second week I was
down there, I hit the flats with on of our experienced guides, Julio, to
show one of our trainees some new spots.
We arrived at about 9:45 am near the islands of Esperanza, where the water was
slick calm. Bones--10:00! First cast...strip, strip...bang! Hooked up! After
a few screaming runs, I released the first fish of the day. Then the wind came.
And the rain.
We left Esperanza and decided to check in the back of the bay for tarpon, snook, and cudas (for dinner--unlike south FL cudas, these were great eating,
ciguatera-free fish). We hit the first spot and poled along a mangrove edged flat and didn't see any fish for about a half an hour. As we turned the corner
into another pocket-flat, we spotted about a 15lb cuda hanging warily along the
mangrove. I grab my 10 wt, quickly tie on a white Deciever (w/wire) and dropped it about a foot in front of his nose. Wham! He slammed it before I
could even strip once! He hit it the way most cudas do--he came around
from the side and angled at it almost head on. Right through the 30lb wire.
And then he just sits there with the fly hanging out of his mouth! OK. Try
again. I tied on cuda fly (orange and white Ultrahair--6 in. long, 2 hooks, wire trace). This time I had to cast 3 times, but the 3rd time, he nailed
it and took off! Couple of runs, a decent jump, and he was in the boat.
With both of my flies in his mouth. Thanks, Mr. Cuda.
As a side not, this has not been my experience with cudas in the Keys. You are
lucky if you get one strike. Also, that fly I mentioned works really well and
is pretty much indestructable. Give it a shot. Also, use at least 8" of 40lb
wire, as I learned the hard way that 6" of 30lb was not enough.
Tight Lines,
Sean