Josh Kerpsack of Pluff Mud Outfitters with an Oman GT caught on Fly.
For the first edition of Field Notes, a new series sharing firsthand reports from the Huk community, Josh takes us through his trip with No Boundaries Oman.
A Long Way from Charleston
Getting there took a 16-hour flight to Doha, connections through Muscat and Salalah, and a drive to Shuwamiyah. From there, Josh headed out to a mothership near the islands of Al Hallaniyah and Al Sauda.
The days were hot, with mostly clear skies and temperatures in the low 90s. Evenings cooled off a little, but the humidity stuck around.
The water wasn’t quite what the crew expected. Lingering rainy-season conditions had left it greener and dirtier than usual, with heavy grass along some shorelines. The beaches still held pockets of clear, light-blue water, but finding places to fish meant working around what the conditions gave them.
Moving Water, Rocky Structure
Josh found the best GT action where strong tidal current swept around heavy structure. Morning tides were particularly productive, and the wind helped get things going.
“Wind is our friend for catching GT. They love rough water.”
The first two days brought the conditions Josh was looking for, with winds reaching 20–25 mph. An outgoing tide meeting heavy onshore wind pushed the chop to four or five feet at times.
The crew used hookless plugs and stickbaits to tease fish into fly range. Once a GT committed to the teaser, Josh needed to put his fly close enough to get noticed.
“You would see them swimming right under the surface of the water, with their bowling-ball heads creating a wave in front of them.”
Sometimes a single fish followed. Other times, a pack came in. Some appeared right beside the boat, leaving little time to react before they were gone.
What Josh Fished
His setup reflected the fish and the structure around them:
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Rod: 12-weight.
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Reel: A powerful drag system, with Josh pointing to reels like the Nautilus GTX and Tibor Gulfstream.
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Fly line: Scientific Anglers Sonar Titan.
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Leader: Straight 130-pound fluorocarbon.
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Flies: Bulky baitfish patterns in the 6- to 8-inch range.
Everything had to hold up once a fish ate. Getting the fly in front of a GT was only the beginning; keeping it out of the rocks was the next problem.
For Josh, the fly that got the job done was only his second attempt at the vise. A pretty good reason to keep tying.
Permit in the Whitewater
GTs were the main draw, but Josh also spent time targeting Africanus permit, parrotfish, and other species around the islands.
The permit offered one of the trip’s most memorable sights. Schools of 10–15 fish would follow the swell onto boulders and cliff edges to feed. As the water drained away, Josh could sometimes see their entire bodies exposed on the rocks.
“The key was to get your fly as close to the rock as possible and time it when the swell would rush up onto the rocks.”
The swell dictated when and where he needed to present the fly.
For permit and other beach species, Josh used 9- and 10-weight setups. Parrotfish called for leaders around 20 pounds and heavy Flexo Crab patterns. Around the rocks, he stepped up to 40-pound leaders for permit, taking advantage of the whitewater to help conceal the line.
Slack high tide was especially useful for beach fishing because more of the rocky feeding structure stayed submerged. Slack low offered opportunities too, but with less water covering the rocks.
What He Brought Home
Josh’s notes kept coming back to current, structure, and timing. Where was the water moving? What could the fish reach? How quickly could he get a fly there?
For GTs, that meant being ready when a fish charged the teaser. For permit, it meant watching the swell and placing the fly where the next wave would let them feed.
Different fish, unfamiliar water, and plenty of observations to bring back to the Lowcountry.
Thanks to Josh Kerpsack of Pluff Mud Outfitters and the crew at No Boundaries Oman for sharing the trip with us.
