November 18, 2012 - November 24, 2012 Fishing Report

WHAT GUESTS WERE CATCHING:

BONES: I think we all just loved that the children in camp this week rocked out bonefish on fly and spin. I’ve known the Mc Dowell family for years – Susie and Whitney are top rods and have traveled the world with fly rods. Well, meet the youngest generation, Daisy! After landing 13 fish, she is now an avid angler at ten. Watching daddy Jeff arrive back at our dock with pride from their big day out at sea, I was reminded of the special times fishing with my dad as a kid. Molly Sue, around the same age, also landed bonefish with her dad Kevin. Daddy’s girls rocked it out this week. Tailing fish down by Crab Caye was productive, “honey hole” fish for the quick fix, and some flat out beautiful wading days up in Bacalar Chico.

PERMIT: Big permit – still the story for the “highway.” Friday, Kevin had shots to over 30 schools of large permit that just would not eat the fly. The chased it a bit, even “kissed it” Emir said, but would not commit. Good casters putting great shots and getting shut down. Dave was fishing with Captain Cesar using all his incredible selection of lures and came up with a nice permit. So, some good shots when the sun was out, but only one landed on spin. Great ready for the full moon!

TARPON: Savannah fished well for a few days. Allan had good shots and eats with Captain Cesar, but they came un-done. Same for Dean. He had tarpon eat his flies – using mostly deceiver patterns, but they shook the fly.

SNOOK: The guides are seeing more snook as we move into our winter months. Lots of follows using a variety of fly patterns without success. What do they want?

FLIES THAT WORKED

Christmas Island Specials in size 8, 6 and 4 for both bonefish and permit in orange, pearl or pink. Weedguards on size 8 is helpful in the turtle greass. Gotchas, same thing – 8, 6 and 4 for bones and permit. Avalon in size 2 on 30 lb used by Captain Emir for the big pemit in the deep. Captain Kechu has been going down to 12 lb for permit in the shallows with both crab and shrimp patterns. Merkins size 4, and bead chain as well as lead eye crabs in tan and pink in size 6. On the resident tarpon we are using 3/0 bunny’s in tan, pink and white, on 40 or 60 lb shock. Black death, and cockroach patterns as well.

GUIDE OF THE WEEK

Captain Gilberto for getting Michael – an 8 y/o powerhouse – bonefish on fly.

REPORT SUMMARY:

It was a beautiful Thanksgiving week here at El Pescador. It truly was family week. The McDowell’s, Eardly’s, Coakley’s….the newlyweds Jed and Hillary…married this week – Jim and Courtney, our long time friends Dean and Tracy, Cary and Kristen, and all of our new friends blended into island bliss. The fishing could have been better, but that was replaced with the smiles from the rewarding times. We had great casting progress this week. Dedication to better casting made better casters! Ali has the guide team fired up for another season of FFF casting clinics. I feel honored to see progress everywhere I look. We all walked around and gave thanks to one another. We live and work in a special place, and sharing with a full house of great people made for a really special week.

Don’t forget our Annual Grand Slam Tagging Invitational to Benefit Bonefish & Tarpon Trust at El Pescador Wednesday, Jan 23 – Sunday, Jan 27, 2013. Contact us for more information. Thank you! - Lori-Ann.

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