Final Score: Tarpon 0 Chico Squad 8

Headed out to Flamingo looking for Tarpon and to mess with Andy and Drew since they were camping for their birthdays at the main campground.  Along with us came a Flamingo rookie by the name of Jayson “Obi-Wan” Zenobi but instead of bringing the force with him he just brought a BANANA.

We had a weird drive down with all sorts of strange things going on but the weirdest thing is when we were at McDonalds in Florida City when a car rolled up with brakes squeeling and what looked like 10 people stuffed in like sardines.  Out popped 8 people to eat breakfast and the driver looked like Data from Goonies and must have been only 12 or 13 years old.  He kept referring to one of the guys as ‘white boi’ and was cracking us up.  When they realized the Micky Dees was not open yet, they rolled out in style, brakes squealing and windshield wipers going even though it hadn’t rained in 2 months.  Scott asked those guys how they stuff so many people in that little car and the guy in the back yells, ‘We’re the Chico Squad!!’

With some hashburns in our stomachs we headed into the foggy park and arrived at the boatramp before light and headed out to find some rollers at dawn.  We worked our way to our usual spot and found some rollers doing their thing and although we had them everywhere, we only managed a swipe at a top water and a follow on Scott’s 12 wt but the fish wouldn’t eat.  After messing with those fish for a little bit we headed out to where they should be schooled up for the next few months and even though we arrived there a little late we found them rolling and even saw an aggresive freejumper but with all the yahoo’s buzzing around in betweeen them they shut off for the day and we’ll be back to get a bunch on fly this year.  We then headed in to try our luck on the inside flats and saw some reds moving but they weren’t very interested in what we were offering for lunch.  We ended the day getting a few seatrout and trying for some baby Tarpon but they are too small right now but should provide some fun action throughout the summer as they start to mature.  It was cool to see 10″ Tarpon daisy chaining like crazy, getting ready for those days of the Keys and Biscayne when they grow up.  After the day was over we headed into the campground to mess with Andy and Drew and have a birthday beer and after we hit up Drew for his fishing license, told Andy his tent was too close to the grills and checked out the Eastern Eurpoean connection, we headed out for that long dreaded ride home of which I owe Scotty bigtime because I couldn’t stay awake long enough to keep him company and I have a feeling he nodded off a few times too.  Capt. Steve

Jayson 'El Fruta Amarillo' Zenobi

Scott Baker