May 31st - June 6th 2010 Fishing Report

WHAT GUESTS WERE CATCHING:

BONES: Large schools of bones, and some big bones cruising alone. Mike and Katy caught their first bonefish on fly, a ton of them. Rick was here to celebrate 15 years of marriage, and happy about his bonefishing. Everyone caught bonefish, but the primary target this week was tarpon, so the bones did not get the glory they deserved.
PERMIT: Schools of permit up in Bacalar Chico Reserve; 5-20 lbs targeted. Also schools down south and close to home with larger fish up to 30 lbs. Lone permit witnessed over 50 lbs! Bottom line, a lot of permit in town. Angler and fish error persisted this week. The guides found them, but that is only part of the puzzle, right?
TARPON: One day was so perfect I grabbed Cesar and said, “let’s go!” Cesar is one of our younger super star guides – he loves to practice his cast, no matter which rod, with a giant tarpon fly. He also likes to show off, and cast the entire fly line both right and left handed. Anyway, there we were, with slow and happy tarpon eating green toads with total confidence. It was more than this gal could handle, pulled it out of 3 mouths! But those bites were priceless, and it just made me mad enough to make sure that doesn’t happen again anytime soon. That’s my intent anyway. On the dock, Bill W just smiled. The kind of smile that says it all. Tarpon landed early morning, several bites, and just the fix he needed to feel the love from his El Pescador family!
JACKS: Were found schooled up, finning and chasing with reckless abandon. They usually caught most of the anglers off guard this week, thinking they had a tarpon or permit, but Mr. Jack showed up instead. All good. Jacks 12 to 15 lbs landed and not all released: “Dinner Call” for a few.
SNOOK: No reports this week.

FLIES THAT WORKED

FOR BONES: Christmas Island Specials size 8 and 6, Charlies and Gotchas. Tan, gold, sexy patterns. Sexy patterns are flies that move so great in the water you just have to have it! WEED GUARDS!
FOR TARPON: Green Toads dominated this week. Grizzly Cockroach as well. 3/0.
FOR PERMIT: Pink Crazy Charlies, orange and pink Christmas Island Specials size 6 and 4 stripped fast. It is the way the San Pedro guides do it, and it works! Shrimp patterns, size 4.

REPORT SUMMARY:

It was a melancholy week for us at El Pescador. We lost a good friend, my predecessor, Bob Stevenson. There was a memorial for him in Placencia, and his friends and family were in town to celebrate his life. These poignant times weigh on our hearts, and this is when fly fishing becomes religion. It is a time to connect with nature on a raw level and to listen to yourself as you send out each cast. Our lagoon system was "home” to Bob. His kayak and skilled hands tossed a fly out to several permit and bonefish in areas that revealed themselves to Bob. As I paddled my canoe out to his old stomping ground, now my new home, I thanked all the water and everything that lives in it for Bob. These waters hold big promises and broken hearts. Watching Bill fish in memory of his friend gave me goosebumps. You could hear friendship ring loudly with each cast. And each fish connected was a shared thank you.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please email us at fish@ElPescador.com. Happy fishing!