July 10, 2011 - July 16, 2011 Fishing Report

WHAT GUESTS WERE CATCHING:

BONES: Several first timers came to El Pescador this week – Seth and Nick, Honeymooners Ian and Katie, Henry and son Sam all landed bonefish on their first attempts at fly fishing the flats. Dan’s son Nathan also racked up a few first bonefish with the coaching of his guide Kachu and the afternoon casting clinics. Now he is after tarpon and permit!!! Stay tuned.
PERMIT: Steve’s guide Emir poled hard for 20 minutes chasing a school of big permit. Finally in range, Steve started to cast. Gerdy, Emirs son, saw a birds nest tangle and grabbed the leader and got the large stuff untangled – forced to either finish the job or get the cast under way, Gerdy glanced at the huge tails in front of them and whispered to Steve – “Just throw it man,” tightened the last small knot in the 15 pound tippet and tossed the fly in the water. A perfect cast with 3 quick strips made the 15 pound permit eat hard. The next second will live forever in Steve’s mind “I should have not held on quite so hard, the tippet broke!” His buddies Artie and Steve witnessed the highs and lows as they happened to be fishing within sight of Steve and Emir. Frank from Denmark hooked 2 permit and landed one beauty (about 15 pounds), but they couldn’t get a tarpon to complete the slam!
TARPON: Josh finally landed his tarpon on the last day – Josh’s wife Brandy was even more elated as she thought this would stop the tarpon fever and endless dialogue that had developed. Brandy was wrong… but still elated! Frank from Denmark hooked 10 resident tarpon in 3 days but landed none, but his spirits are high! Dan and Nathan were spooled by a 150 pound fish and hooked 4 Sunday at Long Caye.
SNOOK: Snook were not targeted.
OTHER: Barracuda, snapper, and jacks were landed.

FLIES THAT WORKED

FOR BONES: Gotchas, crazy charlies (tan), spawning shrimp.
FOR TARPON: Black Death (tarpon bunny style) size 2/0, purple demon, chartreuse toad
FOR PERMIT: Spawning Shrimp, Turneffe crab

REPORT SUMMARY:

Bonefish tarpon trust was out to tag a few 100 pound tarpon….. we hooked a few but couldn’t get one large enough to carry the satellite tag. These tags are about $5000 each and store incredible detail of a tarpons journey over the next 6 months. We will be tagging over the next few weeks We are very anxious to learn where our migratory tarpon go when they leave our waters. - Ed

If you have any questions or would like more information, please email us at [email protected]. Happy fishing!