The Spring Tide that Nearly Ate Us – Day 4

by | Apr 18, 2015 | Uncategorized | 4 comments

blog-April-18-2015-1-camping-on-the-beach-omanWe survived the spring high tide last night.  The highest waves dampened the sand under the front tires of our RAV4 at 10 PM.  We had a scary hour or so and we were lucky.  We were also lucky because we had much less dew and once that tide started dropping we got a great night sleep amongst the ghost crab colony.

 

blog-April-18-2015-2-ghost-crabBefore Granny woke up I walked a mile of beach.  Visibility wasn’t on my side with the rising sun but I managed to finally see a permit rolling in the wave.  I got one cast to him then never saw him again.

 

blog-April-18-2015-3-local-fishermen-in-omanAs the sun got higher we had coffee then breakfast.  The entire time I had my eyes up and down the beach hoping to see a tail.  When visibility got good it became apparent that the water clarity had diminished and its color was pea green.  Not only that, some of the local fishermen pulled near in their panga and started dragging a massive net.  My confidence level plummeted as I took in the situation.

 

blog-April-18-2015-4-granny-currier-flyfishing-in-omanAfter breakfast Granny and I walked for permit.  It was scorching hot and you had to be on the wet sand in order not to burn your feet.  We walked several miles for at least three hours and saw one tiny uncooperative permit.

 

Granny gave up and returned to camp.  I wasn’t loving it much with the pea green water.  So instead of continuing to walk up and down the beach looking for permit I ventured into a rocky area to blind cast for something we could eat for dinner (permit won’t be on our menu no matter what).

 

blog-April-18-2015-5-crab-fliesA particular spot caught my eye.  Out from the rocks I could see a drop off with current funneling into it.  There had to be a fish there feeding on baitfish and crabs.  I waded out to my chest and made a long cast with my permit crab and let it sink.  As my fly was sinking I got ripped!

 

blog-April-18-2015-6-potato-grouperA strong and mysterious battle ensued.  At first it was all I could do to stop the fish from bullying me into the rocks.  Then he changed his tactic and took me to my backing knot and stayed there.  He didn’t take more line but I couldn’t get a single crank on the reel.  Little by little the fish gave in and I walked backwards to shore.  I landed a new species – the potato grouper (Epinephelus tukula)!

 

blog-April-18-2015-7-camping-in-omanI don’t like killing fish but this fella was a perfect feed for two people.  I popped him over the head and hiked back to camp.  Granny was reading in a tiny piece of shade from our car.  She was delighted to learn we had grouper on the menu for this evening.

 

blog-April-18-2015-8-free-ice-in-omanDespite being one of the most beautiful campsites on earth, Granny and I packed up and without problems drove off the beach back to civilization.  Our cooler was completely out of ice and we noticed the local fishermen had plenty to pack their fish.  I offered to buy some and they wouldn’t take our money and filled us to the brim.  I tell you these people are incredibly nice.

 

blog-April-18-2015-9-fresh-grouperWe drove three hours south and are camped on the outskirts of a town called Sharbithat.  None of our trip is planned so we ended up here by accident.  We got lost trying to find a road on our map that didn’t exist and here we are.  Anyway, it’s a good looking beach and I intend to fish it in the morning.  Now it’s time for a potato grouper feast!

 

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

4 Comments

  1. Erik Moncada

    That potato grouper sounds like an Idaho fish! I like it! Good read, Jeff… Awesome blogs!

  2. Jeff

    Yea I thought that name was an appropriate catch for and ID resident as well. Glad your enjoying the posts!

  3. Tom Montgomery

    Jeff,
    You and Granny have blown me away with yet another crazy adventure from the third world…from the fundamentalist world, no less. You’ve got some size XL brass balls…both of you! May you both live long and continue to share these great adventures with us. Tom

  4. Charley

    Great looking fish Jeff; sounds like you two are having an awesome time. Enjoy!

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  1. The Heat Challenge - Flyfishing in Oman - Day 5 - Jeff Currier - […] Near where we parked were some abandoned buildings.  I pulled the RAV4 up next to one and we moved…
  2. One Last Permit Grind - Flyfishing in Oman - Day 9 - Jeff Currier - […] we got there we were disappointed to see the pea green color we left here more than a week…

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Contact Jeff

I started fly fishing at age 7 in the lakes and ponds of New England cutting my teeth on various sunfish, bass, crappie and stocked trout. I went to Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, where I graduated with a Naturalist Degree while I discovered new fishing opportunities for pike, muskellunge, walleyes and various salmonids found in Lake Superior and its tributaries.

From there I headed west to work a few years in the Yellowstone region to simply work as much as most people fish and fish as much as most people work. I did just that, only it lasted over 20 years working at the Jack Dennis Fly Shop in Jackson, WY where I departed in 2009. Now it’s time to work for "The Man", working for myself that is.

I pursue my love to paint fish, lecture on every aspect of fly fishing you can imagine and host a few trips to some of the most exotic places you can think of. My ultimate goal is to catch as many species of fish on fly possible from freshwater to saltwater, throughout the world. I presently have taken over 440 species from over 60 countries!

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