Mick Jagger said it best: You Don’t Always Get What You Want

On The Fly Saltwater

September 2024

By Jimmy Jacobs

What follows is a pictorial excursion into what can end up on your fly when you toss it into saltwater. We all expect to hook one of the glamor species, but the following denizen of the sea too often seem quicker and hungrier. That can include needlefish like the one in the banner above.

One of the more common catches is the ladyfish, like this one taken on the beach at Fort Pierce. While their aerial displays can be fun to watch, you then have to get the slimy thing off your fly!

This lizard fish is another critter that will take a fly. It sports a mouth full of sharp teeth and an attitude. This was one of several quite big-for-the-species examples that were caught on the beach at Radio Island, North Carolina.

When it comes to ugly, it is hard to beat this puffer that took a fly in St. Andrews Sound, Florida. In short order, he then turned into a volleyball-sized bag of air!

Perhaps the most common “trash fish” in the brine, saltwater catfish, often affectionally referred to as hardheads, are not usually caught on flies. But obviously, this one turned the trick in the Chandeleur Islands of Louisiana.

Going to need a bigger trash can when the gafftopsail catfish are hungry! These fish run so big and fight so hard, they might not even be considered for the slam.

Even bait can get in on the action. This ballyhoo took a fly on a bonefish flat at South Water Caye in Belize!