Island Fly
Photo from @Islandfly_Fishing on Instagram
For Island Fly proprietors Capt. Jason Moore and Ashley Dentler, their Brigantine business is all about connections. Their fly-fishing experiences give guests the chance to connect with nature, with fish, with each other – and even with themselves.
“That connection allows us to frame ourselves in the bigger picture of life,” Jason said. “To explore the bigger world around us and to connect with that as intimately as you can, I think, is a gift.
“That’s how we live our lives and it’s what we try to give to all of our guests.”
Ashley grew up in Narragansett, Rhode Island, and Jason was raised in Margate. They met in Colorado and it was a natural progression to make their way back east to the shore.
“We both had strong ties to the ocean and to the salt water,” Jason said. “We knew we wanted to move back to the East Coast … and four years ago we started Island Fly.”
Saltwater fly fishing is an active endeavor. It doesn’t use bait, but instead casts flies that resemble fish, crabs and shrimp. It can be done from land or offland in a boat or wading in the water. Casts need to be precise, and the individual fishing is the only one providing movement to the fly.
“You’re being very intimate with how you’re presenting that fly to the type of fish. It’s a lot more skillful and artful,” Ashley said. “There’s a lot of science behind it.”
There’s also a lot of nature. Island Fly is strictly a catch-and-release operation, or what Jason calls CPR – catch, photograph and release. And it brings people to parts of Brigantine they may not have known existed.
The area Island Fly explores spans the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, some150,000 square acres of protected habitat that features sandy flats, tidal creeks and sand islands not found in many places.
Every trip is custom designed, so no two days are the same.
“We intentionally do not have a set program because of the nature of fishing. We’re always doing the dance with the tide and wind and sun,” Jason said.
Island Fly shutters its Brigantine business from December through March. But while things are quiet in South Jersey, it gives Jason and Ashley a chance to focus on the other side of Island Fly – bringing guests on specially curated and fully vetted fly fishing trips around the globe.
In addition to locations in the United States, these trips also include catching bonefish in the Bahamas, giant tarpon in Nicaragua or golden dorado in Argentina – to name a few. Island Fly covers everything from pre-trip planning through the travel itself.
“We’re helping folks make that international trip a lot more fun,” Jason said.
Photo from @Islandfly_Fishing on Instagram
The couple’s professional experience outside the world of fly fishing is a boon for business, too. Jason has a PhD in epidemiology and works as a physician associate in emergency medicine. Ashley has her doctorate in physical therapy. It’s reassuring to know Jason and Ashley bring skills to the table that can help in an emergency situation. Island Fly is centered around the team approach for the couple – both usually go on all outings and trips.
There is, however, a special branch of the business Ashley handles called “Hey Ladies,” which works against the misconception that only guys like fly fishing – or fishing in general – by hosting custom outings for women.
Whether it’s a ladies’ trip, a back bay Brigantine adventure or a trip overseas, it all circles back to the main mission of Island Fly – having the ultimate experience.
“We’re super passionate about sharing this with people,” Ashley said. “We love it ourselves but we love it even more when we get to bring other people into this world. … It transcends.”