Fan boats. Alligators. Mangroves. Flamingos. And skunk ape. A uniquely wild place, the 1.5 million acres of the Everglades and its labyrinthine waters offer up a massive range of fishing opportunities—especially for inshore species that thrive around mangrove-lined shorelines and grass flats.

Free Fly Ambassador and angler, Eli Iorg had been itching to take his family here for a bucket-list fly fishing trip—so they rented a Cayo skiff for four days, camped in the backcountry, and chased down snook and tarpon with 7-year-old Axel and 9-year-old Isla leading the charge. Watch their full adventure below.

 

 

FIELD NOTES


From: Eli Iorg | @fly__high_eli

Crew: Nina, Isla (9), Axel (7)

Dates: 03/27-03/30

 

The Everglades National Park is a familiar destination for my family. We specifically targeted this network of estuaries, rivers, and lakes in the search for juvenile tarpon and snook. The vast network of island chains offers fishermen of all disciplines the opportunity to catch fish. 

We learned pretty quickly that this area is just as dangerous as it is beautiful. The underwater topography demands your attention and judging the tides can be tricky at times. Once you show the Everglades the proper respect and you learn and understand how she operates, your hard work will soon pay off. It’s accessible to everyone. It only demands your effort. That’s why I like taking my kids here. To learn these lessons and hopefully feel its rewards.

 

 

Day 1 8:00 AM Fuel and Gear

We wake up deep in the Everglades. We assemble the rods, build the leaders, and check all of the gear. 

The skiffs are fueled, the equipment packed. We wait on the tides.

 

10:00 AM Time To “Run”

We time our entrance to the backcountry with the low tides. Plan was to be in by 10:15. Timing is perfect. 

We enter the mouth of the river and proceed for the next hour and a half through a mangrove canopy tunnel. 

We are in it. This is what we came for.

 

12:00 PM Let’s Fish

First tarpon hit the deck at 2:00 PM.

Shortly after, Axel comes through with a nice snook. 

We fish for the next five hours. Isla misses a handful of tarpon and a few snook on the fly rod. I catch one more nice snook. Kids kept a great attitude all day. Everyone is stoked.

 
7:00 PM Making Our Escape 

We’ve timed our escape with the falling tide. Back through the mangrove tunnel we go. We are battling the setting sun and the falling tide.

Hour and a half boat ride back, listening to jams, and enjoying the weather. Vibes are high.

 

 

Day 2 10:00 AM Soak It In

Everyone sleeps in because day 1 was so long and draining. Keeping the kids spirits high means keeping them rested and fed.

We head to a local fishing store for some essentials and also meet a couple new friends. 

The entire group walks around the town and just soaks in the city and its heritage.

 

4:00 PM Refueled and Ready

Everyone has taken a nap and eaten. For the kids it was mandatory, optional for everyone else. We all opted in. 

Our plan is to get close to some gators. I become worried after I realize the level of shared enthusiasm.

 

6:00 PM Big Cypress Boardwalk

We are met by the sawgrass marsh with a boardwalk extending through the preserved forest. 

Being educated through immersion is the best way to learn. After an hour of hands-on education, we turned our attention to gators. 

Gator spotted. We soon realize we are surrounded. Gators resting just feet off the path. Sun is setting, time to go. Very enjoyable and memorable for all, but especially the kids.

 

8:00 PM Seafood and Key Lime Pie

Eat at a local seafood restaurant. Again the kids get a taste of culture with local live music, local fish, and local key lime pie. 

Great conversations, great food, and great people. These are the moments that shape my kids. 

Tomorrow's plans are hatched.

 

 

Day 3 8:00 AM Today Is the Day

Family style breakfast. Our plan is to get Isla a tarpon and a snook. Hopefully both with a fly rod. Fingers crossed. 

We ready the boat. Only one boat today. Light and fast. Today we are on a mission.

 

10:30 AM Welcome to the Jungle

We enter the mouth of another Everglades backcountry river. Another long mangrove canopy boat ride. Tunes are playing.

 

1:00 PM Tarpon Time

Isla makes her first cast of the day off the back of the boat. To everyone’s surprise she hooks up. It’s a tarpon. We are on the board. Spinning rod, but, we will take it. 

We fish for a few more hours with very little luck. We hunt the little shade that exists. We refuel and wait out the sun. It’s hot and sticky.

 

6:00 PM Fly Rod Only

Conditions are perfect. We waited all day for the next hour and a half. 

Isla is on the front of the boat. There is only silence interrupted by snook and tarpon eating their prey and breaking the surface. We can feel the moment coming. 

Isla continues to deliver amazing cast after amazing cast. All of our hopes being placed on the very next cast, the very next strip. 

Just as she reaches her limit, she hooks up with a snook. Her first on a fly rod. Vibes on the boat are super high. 

Sun is setting, tides are falling, time to head home. To-go pizzas and sleeping consume all our thoughts on the boat ride back.

 

 

Day 4 10:00 AM Rain

We wake up to light rain showers. Everyone continues to rest until lunch. These elements drain your body so fast. 

 

12:00 PM Stone Crab Gator

We head to a local restaurant to get stone crab as the season is ending soon. 

Isla decides she needs to try gator tail. My look of disgust only makes her more determined. Gator tail was ordered and eaten. I stuck to stone crab.

 

6:00 PM Core Memory

Weather is perfect. Kids hunt for conchs as I set up camp and build a fire. 

Axel and Isla find 28 conchs. Pretty sure Axel found at least 27 of them. 

As the sun falls in the sky, I completely realize the moment. It’s my kids first time camping. There’s a fire, tents, music, and laughter. 

Quality human beings and Mother Nature edifying my children. This is the moment I will cherish from this trip. The moment I never expected.