December 9, 2012 - December 15, 2012 Fishing Report

WHAT GUESTS WERE CATCHING:

BONES: Toni was so wound up she made Captain Kechu look calm when he is around permit. But as soon as she landed her first bonefish on fly, the gal could breathe again. With that first bonefish also came a dose of confidence. I watched her casting over the week and just smiled knowing all the fun that is ahead for her. John and Seda have been fishing buddies for twenty years. They went out not expecting to land so many bones on fly. It was fun to see them at the end of the day – always smiling. Don and Chris showed up wondering if it really was possible to land bonefish on a fly when you know nothing. Done. They had a great time with Captain Luis A. Sunny and Micah were here for let’s see, Sunny’s birthday, and their honeymoon! She had no idea she would fish; she thought she would just watch Micah. They both landed their first bonefish on fly this week! Steve has been coming to El Pescador for many years and he was rewarded with a really nice big fat bonefish stalking the flats with Captain Emir. Jill and Jermony – also here for their honeymoon landed their first bonefish on fly. Lanny had some really fun bonefishing with Captain Alex. And Matt and Sharon landed their first bonefish on fly. Matt and I were especially proud of Sharon learning her double haul this week even though she consistently out fished her experienced husband Matt. Good work

PERMIT: Out of control at the beginning of the week when the wind went NW. Dick and Archie have been fishing together for years. Dick told me during our orientation he wanted to see permit and he would be thrilled to land one. Well, he went out the first day with Captain Carlos and landed one. And then Archie went out the next day and landed one as well. I love to see Carlos’s smile when he comes to the dock and the boat has landed permit on fly. He just loves it. Richard and Ed have also fished all over the place together. They came here and tore it up. Richard landed an 18 lb permit and Ed landed a beauty about 8 lbs with Captain Emir. John wanted to know the “probability” of landing a permit. Well, he landed one on spin his first day out!

TARPON: When the conditions got right, the bite was on! Ed Hurst landed a 25 lb fish on fly with Captain Emir. The Laubach family returned this year with Toni’s husband Scott. Scott landed two tarpon on fly with Captain Kechu and I now fear for his life. He is possessed. Fun stuff for our Co-Fishing Director Ed – Ed landed a nice tarpon on fly with Captain Tomas. Isa also had his first tarpon grab that day! Ed was poling Captain Tomas around and said Tomas set 60 lb shock like it was 200 lb test. Strong set and pop! So we are giving Tomas a hard time. They had stellar tarpon fishing – chartreuse and white flies were working. Ray and Kate had some fun between clinics and Ray landed about a 30lb tarpon with Captain Raton. Ray has some killer bait fish patterns that drive those fish nuts. Kate felt really good about her shots and still has a few days left to fish. Could happen! All the guides have said they have seen some big fish on Savannah – fish 50 to 80 lbs, which is big for Savannah.

SNOOK: For those looking for snook on fly or spin….they are around. We are seeing 15 – 20 lb snook on a regular basis. Sometimes they refuse a fly or lure, but other times, it was a full attack out from the mangroves.

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, deciever’s and cockroach patterns as well. Savannah fish loved chartreuse and white this week.

GUIDE OF THE WEEK

Captain Carlos for double permit on fly for Dick and Archie. Such a ninja!

REPORT SUMMARY:

When our guests tell us they feel part of the “family,” we feel good. It’s our mission to make sure all of our guests feel like this is a place where they can create dreams. Watching Ed teach Erica how to cast, and to see her face when she saw that it was possible was really fun. Her husband Jeff was possessed with working on his casting, but when he saw Erica throw the line out from the dock, I think that made him happier than his own cast. Sharon’s double haul echoed this for Matt. We had our “Harvard” reunion guys be able to party like experts and still manage to have quality fishing. We were impressed. It’s been a really fun week working with Ray and Kate, Ed, Ali and our dedicated guide team. Today we wrap up our guest service clinics and celebrate with a fun Christmas time Belizean BBQ. Once again fly fishing has worked its way into our lives and we see it is way beyond the fishing. Growing relationships from a common bond – it’s amazing to be part of this team. Cheers!

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!