Author's Note: Please read through this short article to the Postscript at the end of this updated piece. The original article was "In the Can" before Hai Troung's passing. Thank you, DSF.
A Guide's Credo
Based in Miami,
Florida, Hai Truong is skilled and clever at the Urban Run and Gun. He's on a
pursuit of excellent angling and responsible stewardship. As a guide, Truong
weaves the two disciplines into one. At the heart of Truong's credo is the
health and preservation of fish. The waters around Miami are gin-clear, making
sight fishing imperative. Sight fishing allows the angler to determine whether
fish are in a spawning phase.
Whether guarding a
nest or protecting the hatch, fish are highly vulnerable and should be left
alone during these periods. The best management practice to preserve our
beloved resource is to avoid disturbing their reproductive cycle. "At the
end of the day, more fish is what we all want" – Hai Truong.
Truong moved to
Miami when he was five years old. Shortly after his arrival, Peacock Bass were
introduced to Florida, and he's been fishing for them ever since. Truong has
witnessed firsthand the effects of targeting Peacocks when they're defenseless
during the spawn. His experience has taught him a personal approach to
conservation, and he aims to instill this spirit in his clients.
"Education is just as important as the technical aspect of fishing."
The Milk Run
From the heart of
the city, spanning out in any direction for 30 miles, including the edge of the
Everglades, Miami anglers have a wide range of spectacular fish species to
target. These fish swim in canals stretching for hundreds of miles that lead to
lakes and ponds, before they pour into the ocean and bays of Florida.
Top left - Jaguar
Guapote image by Jan Maizler, Right - Midas cichlid image by Jan Maizler,
Bottom left – Tiger Oscar cichlid.
Peacock Bass,
Jaguar Guapote, Mayan cichlids, Midas, and Tilapia are a few examples of exotic
fish species in South Florida.
Of course,
Florida-strain Largemouth Bass flourish here too.
Snook and Tarpon
abound, and some are landlocked within urban Miami.
And don't forget
about the other coastal, inshore, and offshore opportunities, like this
outstanding Permit Fish.
"There is no shortage of variety here,
freshwater and the ocean, Florida is the Fishing Capital of the World."
Discipline
Stealth is central
to Truong's fishing style; watching him approach fish is mesmerizing. His
ability to remain undetected demonstrates the importance of covertness, making
his approach a masterclass in silent angling.
A Band of Anglers
At the 2019 ICAST show in Orlando, Patrick Sebile introduced six separate lure brands under the collective name A Band of Anglers.
Truong is instrumental in product development with A Band of Anglers, and these
new lures are intrinsic to his fishing techniques.
Engineered with the
angler in mind, countless hours of research and development go into a Sebile
project. Versatility is a trademark of A Band of Anglers product. "It's a
no-brainer to use the concepts of one of the world's most accomplished anglers
and lure designers," says Truong.
Postscript
I met Hai in
Orlando, Florida, at an ICAST show. Afterward, we planned to meet in Miami,
where I would spend a unique guided day fishing with him on what I coined as the 'Urban Run and Gun.'
Miami has a myriad
of intercity canals, ponds, lakes, and waterways. In Hai's vehicle, fishing
gear stowed within, he would take you from spot to spot, casting for many
native and exotic species. The fantastic journey included a lunch stop at an
authentic Cuban restaurant for a, yes, you guessed it, a tasty Cuban Sandwich.
That day, I learned
Hai was not only a passionate angler of the highest caliber but also unassuming
and humble, possessed a great sense of humor, was a teacher and a giver, and
truly enjoyed his work.
Seldom do I look to
repeat an adventure. I like pursuing the excitement of the unknown, a new path,
the next body of water, and the mysteries swimming below. Nonetheless, fishing
again with Hai in Florida or wherever was something I hoped would take place.
Only the Good Die Young: Life is often cruel, taking those we want to be around. Hai
lost his battle with cancer on November 6th, 2023. Rest peacefully, you're a
good man, Hai.
Title image, Jaguar
Guapote image, and Midas cichlid, by Jan Maizler. All others provided courtesy of Hai Truong,all rights reserved.
