Fly-Fishing Equipment
RODS
- 7 wt 9’ (for bonefish)
- 9wt 9’ (for permit)
- 10wt 9’ (for tarpon and snook)
REELS/LINES:
- Saltwater capable reels with adjustable drags, capacity for 150 yds of 30lbs backing.
- 7wt weight-forward floating Bonefish Line (tropic taper)
- 9wt weight-forward floating Permit Line (for permit)
- 10wt weight-forward floating Floating Line (for tarpon and snook)
LEADERS
For Permit
- Leader Recommendations: 10’ – 12-20lb Fluorocarbon (mostly 16lb)
- Tippet Recommendations: (1 Spool of Each – Fluorocarbon) – 12lb, 16lb
We recommend fishing 10-12 foot 16 pound test tapered leaders most often. There are times when you can get away with a 17-20 pound test, while sometimes you will need to downsize to 12 pound. For this reason, you should have additional leaders and tippet material on hand. We also always recommend using fluorocarbon tippet material as it is more abrasion resistant.
For Bonefish
Leader Recommendations: 9’ or 10’ – 8.8 and 10lb
Tippet Recommendations: (1 Spool of Each – Fluorocarbon) – 8 lb, 10 lb, 12 lb
Average Ascension Bay bonefish are not particularly large (2-3 pounds) and can be leader shy at times. Normally 9-10 foot 8 lb tapered leaders work fine. At other times you can get away with 10-12 lb leaders and tippet, so you should have these on hand. Although not mandatory, we always recommend using fluorocarbon tippet material as it is more abrasion resistant.
For Tarpon
- Straight Fluorocarbon Recommendations
- Juvenile “Baby” Tarpon: 40-50 lb Straight Fluoro
- Adults(May -September): 80lb Straight Fluorocarbon
- Class Leader Recommendations
- Juvenile “Baby” Tarpon: 16lb Class – 40-60lb Shock
- Adults (May – September) 16-22 lb Class – 80 lb Shock
For Snook
Snooks are generally not very leader shy and you should be able to present your typical baby-tarpon fly rigged with 40 or 50 lb successfully without having to change flies or leader.
For Barracudas & Sharks
Barracuda will eat long needlefish and baitfish patterns stripped very quickly. Ideally, your ‘cuda fly has a tandem or trailer hook to increase the likelihood the hook will hold. Both lemon sharks and barracuda will eat poppers as well. A 4-5 foot piece of straight monofilament with a 30” wire “bite” tippet is required. We recommend a minimum of 35-40 lb wire and our favorite brand is the knottable wire by Rio, as it is easy to knot and super strong.
FLIES
For Permit
Permit’s primary food source in Ascension Bay mainly consists of small crabs and spawning or mantis shrimp. The choice of crab and shrimp patterns, varying in sizes and weights (such as lead eye and bead chain eyes), depends on the fishing location and the depths being explored. A diverse array of flies becomes crucial to match the right pattern, accounting for distinct bottom structures, water depths, and fish behaviors. Among the essential flies for permit, variations of tan and white ragheads, typically in size #2 or #4, top the list. Equally significant are patterns imitating spawning and mantis shrimp. Notably, Enrico Puglisi’s range offers the finest Spawning Shrimp patterns, available in diverse styles, colors, sizes, and with different eye types (bead chain and lead).
- Casa Blanca Raghead Crab | COLOR: White | SIZE: 2, 4
- Casa Blanca Raghead Crab | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 2, 4
- Raghead Crab | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 2, 4
- Tequila Twister | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 2, 4
- ER Crab | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 2, 4
- Enrico Puglisi Spawning Shrimp | COLOR: Tan, White | SIZE: 2, 4
- Enrico Puglisi Ascension Bay Crab | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 2, 4
- Cathy’s Fleeing Crab | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 2, 4
- Various Enrico Puglisi Crabs | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 2, 4
- Avalon Fly | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 2
For Bonefish
Typically, Ascension Bay’s bonefish exhibit a preference for smaller flies, ranging from size #6 to #8, though having a couple of size #4 flies on hand is advisable. Instead of having numerous patterns, a smart approach involves curating a practical assortment of the top 8 to 10 most effective flies in diverse colors, sizes, and weights. This strategy enables precise matching of patterns to varying bottom structures and water depths. Choosing the ideal bonefish selection for Ascension Bay need not be overly complex—adhering to fundamental patterns is the key.
- Gotcha | COLOR: Pearl | SIZE: 6, 8
- Bunny Gotcha | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 4, 6
- Crazy Charlie | COLOR: Brown, Tan, White, Pink | SIZE: 6, 8
- Beck’s Silli Legs | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 6, 8
- Bonefish Scampi | COLOR: Tan/Pink, Tan/Brown | SIZE: 6, 8
- Bonefish Junk | COLOR: Tan, Brown | SIZE: 6
- Pink Puff | COLOR: Pink | SIZE: 6
- Bonefish Bitter | COLOR: Amber | SIZE: 6, 8
- Veverka Mantis Shrimp | COLOR: Tan | SIZE: 6
Gotchas, Charlies, Sillilegs, Puffs, Bitters, and other basic shrimp and small crab imitations Flies size #4, #6, #8
For Tarpon
The majority of the tarpon fishing on Ascension Bay is in the backcountry lagoons and lakes for juvenile “baby” tarpon in the 5-25 pound range. During the late spring and summer months you may also encounter large adult, migratory tarpon on the flats or near the reef on a calm day. Almost any type of baitfish pattern or standard issue tarpon pattern will work well – in accordance to the size of the fish being targeted. Baby tarpon flies should be 1/0 – 2/0 & adult tarpon flies should be as large as 3/0 – 4/0. There is no scientific method to prepare your tarpon box, so just have a nice cross section of the following recommendations as well as any of the standard tarpon patterns you may already have. It is also a good idea to have a few tarpon toads and deceivers in the arsenal.
- Fishalicious | COLOR: Red / White | SIZE: 2/0
- Tarpon Toads | COLOR: Red/Black, Purple, Chartreuse, Brown, Tan | SIZE: 1/0 – 3/0
- Triple Threat | COLOR: Brown | SIZE: Large & Small
- Big-Eyed Tarpon | COLOR: Brown/Orange | SIZE: 1/0 – 3/0
- Green Zima | COLOR: Green | SIZE: 2/0
- Tarpon Snake | COLOR: Black | SIZE: 3/0
- Various Clousers & Deceivers | COLOR: Green, Blue, Chartreuse, Black, White | SIZE: 3/0-2
OTHER SPECIES // SELECTION OF FLIES FOR OTHER POPULAR SPECIES
For Barracuda & Sharks
- Snookeoo | COLOR: Red/White | SIZE: 2
- ‘Kuda Fly | COLOR: Chartreuse | SIZE: 4
- Major Herring | COLOR: Blue / White | SIZE: 3/0
- Clouser Minnow | COLOR: Chartreuse / White, Blue / White | SIZE: 2/0, 2, 4
- Saltwater Popper | COLOR: Chartreuse, Red/White, Blue | SIZE: 2/0, 2
- Seaducer | COLOR: Red / White | SIZE: 2
- Various Deceivers | COLOR: Multiple | SIZE: 2/0, 2, 4
- Various Enrico Puglisi Spawning/Mantis Shrimp | COLOR: Tan, Root Beer, Olive, Pink | SIZE: 4, 1/0
For Snook
Snook will eat most all standard baitfish and baby tarpon flies, however as a rule of thumb snook tend to key in on red and white colored flies in particular. Make sure to have a handful of red/white clousers, deceivers, and even a few poppers in the box for snook. Snooks are generally not very leader shy and you should be able to present your typical baby tarpon fly rigged with 40 or 50 lb successfully without having to change flies or leader.
FOOTWEAR
High-quality wading boots for bonefish areas.
If you are planning on fishing for permit exclusively, you can get away with some simple closed-toed sandals (Keen, Simms, or Teva). A Hip/Chest Pack for essentials is crucial when wading.