Which island?dr_boogs said:
Bahamas for bones.
Saltwater Flyfishing
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Last: 3 mo ago by texican08
chocolatelabs said:Which island?dr_boogs said:
Bahamas for bones.
I've DIY'd the Berry's and Eleuthera and had a blast. I've never done Abacos but obviously a pretty awesome fishery.
Disclaimer - I haven't been yet - but I'm targeting Abacos. Yellow dog fly fishing has some great info and YouTube videos on a lot of Bahamas lodges.
I fished Abaco for a week last year. We caught a lot of bones, but I can't recommend the place. Going to Turks and Caicos this year to check that out.
Abaco is still devastated with hurricane damage and is ridiculously expensive. Infrastructure is fine, but the mangroves are all dead and gray and there aren't many trees over 8' tall standing. We stayed up by Treasure Cay and fished the marls. The house we stayed in was one of a few that had been rebuilt on that beach. Some areas weren't as affected, but overall that place got wiped out to the foundations.
Having said all that, I think we caught right at 100 bones on the week. We saw two permit and a few tarpon and fished with Danny Sawyer and Town Williams. Preferred Town.
On another note, just back from Cozumel for Spring Break fishing with Aquarius. Our group managed a lot of bones, a few triggers and snook, and a permit. I jumped a tarpon, had a permit follow, and caught a bunch of bones.
Abaco is still devastated with hurricane damage and is ridiculously expensive. Infrastructure is fine, but the mangroves are all dead and gray and there aren't many trees over 8' tall standing. We stayed up by Treasure Cay and fished the marls. The house we stayed in was one of a few that had been rebuilt on that beach. Some areas weren't as affected, but overall that place got wiped out to the foundations.
Having said all that, I think we caught right at 100 bones on the week. We saw two permit and a few tarpon and fished with Danny Sawyer and Town Williams. Preferred Town.
On another note, just back from Cozumel for Spring Break fishing with Aquarius. Our group managed a lot of bones, a few triggers and snook, and a permit. I jumped a tarpon, had a permit follow, and caught a bunch of bones.
Awesome pics and thanks for the heads up on Abacos. Sounds like fishing was good though, right?
Post a trip report on Turks. I heard it was more expensive than Bahamas and fishing wasn't as good, so interested to get some real intel.
Post a trip report on Turks. I heard it was more expensive than Bahamas and fishing wasn't as good, so interested to get some real intel.
Yes, the fishing was great. Not as varied as some other places where you see other species here and there, but yes, tons of bonefish.The enormity of the marls is impressive and we met the guides at several different ramps to see other areas within them.
We had a kid learn to roll cast one night and catch a bone the next morning. The guides used more flash in their shrimp flies than I'd used before, but I don't recall getting a refusal.
Fishing tailing fish early was actually the hardest method as you can't see the whole fish or the ones who aren't tailing and end up spooking them. High sun later allowed for wide open shots to hungry cruising schools.
That was this time last year so I imagine you should have similar experiences. I looked back in this thread at my report and saw that I wrote that we caught 94 bones.
We had a kid learn to roll cast one night and catch a bone the next morning. The guides used more flash in their shrimp flies than I'd used before, but I don't recall getting a refusal.
Fishing tailing fish early was actually the hardest method as you can't see the whole fish or the ones who aren't tailing and end up spooking them. High sun later allowed for wide open shots to hungry cruising schools.
That was this time last year so I imagine you should have similar experiences. I looked back in this thread at my report and saw that I wrote that we caught 94 bones.
Got my hands on some polar fiber brush. Holy cow it's awesome, tons of movement in the water and just looks sexy. For anyone who ties I highly recommend it.
Headed to Islamorada in a few weeks. Any "must have" places to eat/go?
Heck yeah that looks like it will fish. I'll take a 6 pack please. Send me an invoice!
It tricked ole broke back the other day!
That's a crazy injury, can't believe that red survived and has gotten that size.
Can't remember where you launch and fish, Corpus or father south? Have some friends down in the LLM and the flash flooding this week has caused a ton of damage. Piers and boat slips (and boats) washed away, homes flooded. Hope you're farther north and didn't get hit w the flooding.
Can't remember where you launch and fish, Corpus or father south? Have some friends down in the LLM and the flash flooding this week has caused a ton of damage. Piers and boat slips (and boats) washed away, homes flooded. Hope you're farther north and didn't get hit w the flooding.
That's terrible!
I'm out of Corpus/Port A. Got about 3" but was spared the flooding down South. Had a 1/2 day charter with an Ag this morning. Flood tide from the rain runoff and fog made it a challenge, had a few shots but picky picky fish today.
I'm out of Corpus/Port A. Got about 3" but was spared the flooding down South. Had a 1/2 day charter with an Ag this morning. Flood tide from the rain runoff and fog made it a challenge, had a few shots but picky picky fish today.
Anybody been to Christmas Island or Fanning?
Morada Bay, next to Bass Pro World Wide Sportsman, dinner on the beach at sunset is greatAgFlyGuy said:
Headed to Islamorada in a few weeks. Any "must have" places to eat/go?
Lazy Days - mostly good, last time food wasn't as great but it is on the ocean side and a nice setting
Papa Joes (new place)
Square Grouper but the days they are open are Wed-Sunday
Lorelei - bar food but lots of fly guides launch here
Have fun! I am itching to get back there myself.
Not "must haves" per se, but my family always goes to the same places over and over:
-Midway Cafe (breakfast)
-Bayside Gourmet
-Florida Keys Brewing has a nice outdoor area
-The Lorelei for sunset drinks
-Green Turtle Inn if we feel fancy
And of course, feed the tarpon at Robbie's.
-Midway Cafe (breakfast)
-Bayside Gourmet
-Florida Keys Brewing has a nice outdoor area
-The Lorelei for sunset drinks
-Green Turtle Inn if we feel fancy
And of course, feed the tarpon at Robbie's.
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Just booked a family trip to Long Island Bahamas for a week in June. Probably mostly diy fishing but might hire a guide for a half day or so. Anybody been?
Charismatic Megafauna said:
Just booked a family trip to Long Island Bahamas for a week in June. Probably mostly diy fishing but might hire a guide for a half day or so. Anybody been?
Sailed by long island years ago. I know this seems obvious but I remember it was really long. We never went in so no help but fished a lot of the islands around there. Shouldn't be to different. Google Earth is your friend.
Anybody else remember when the Bass Pro in Islamorada was just World Wide Sportsman? Or am I just old??
The bags at checkout are paper and still say Worldwide Sportsman.
Unrelated note: the 1973 movie 'Tarpon' is now available on prime. I had never seen it before. Pretty neat footage of a different era. Rods without fighting butts, poling from the bow, bigger flies... a lot has changed.
Unrelated note: the 1973 movie 'Tarpon' is now available on prime. I had never seen it before. Pretty neat footage of a different era. Rods without fighting butts, poling from the bow, bigger flies... a lot has changed.
Ayto Siks said:
The bags at checkout are paper and still say Worldwide Sportsman.
Unrelated note: the 1973 movie 'Tarpon' is now available on prime. I had never seen it before. Pretty neat footage of a different era. Rods without fighting butts, poling from the bow, bigger flies... a lot has changed.
I love that film.
Yeti did a little backstory film on it:
Watched the full film (thanks for the tip on its Amazon release!). Pretty neat seeing how saltwater fly fishing has evolved. From casting, poling, and terminal tackle. And yet so much has stayed the same.
My shoulders hurt just thinking about poling assbackwards into a decent headwind.
Also, those slob permits on the KW party boat peg board.
My shoulders hurt just thinking about poling assbackwards into a decent headwind.
Also, those slob permits on the KW party boat peg board.
Wife and I had our first child, not going to be able to use it much for a while so selling the skiff. Hope it ends up in the hands of a good Ag.
https://www.microskiff.com/threads/2023-sabine-skiffs-carbon-versatile.125986/?post_id=1195482#post-1195482
https://www.microskiff.com/threads/2023-sabine-skiffs-carbon-versatile.125986/?post_id=1195482#post-1195482
Looks like the perfect skiff, I bet it sells quick! Good luck with the sale.
i spent 3 days in the everglades chasing big tarpon. saw plenty and had chances but didn't hook up or land one. very technical and humbling fishing.
did manage to land my PB snook.
https://photobucket.com/share/4a1d2747-89c9-4291-bea9-55bbdbd3570a
did manage to land my PB snook.
https://photobucket.com/share/4a1d2747-89c9-4291-bea9-55bbdbd3570a
Fished Port A on Friday. Lots of boats Got this one about thirty minutes in, then the wind picked up and shifted out of the North. Tough fishing from there. I might have gotten another couple but my casting was off. I hooked a huge one but broke the line because I'm stupid. All in all, a good trip but somewhat frustrating.
FlyLords interview with Andy and Nicky Mill. Fun to see these guys together being interviewed vs interviewing!
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This time next week I'll be spooking bones!
You spook me every time you get on my boat!
Jk!!! Have a fun trip, where are you heading?
LRHF
Jk!!! Have a fun trip, where are you heading?
LRHF
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Long Island Bahamas, staying near Buckleys Settlement. We gotta get up there and fish with you this summer, my son won't stop badgering me about it!
LRHF said:
You just need to become friends with Meredith M.!
That's funny. Went to college with her cousins. Buddy of mine dated her for a while, said he couldn't keep up with her lifestyle
People think I'm an idiot or something, because all I do is cut lawns for a living.
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I CAUGHT A BONEFISH!!!
It was the most absolutely perfect morning, like every story/article/YouTube short I've ever read and seen but have never seemed to get. Dead still yet no skeeters, gorgeous sunrise, my oldest son and one of my best friends in the whole world walked a trail beside the biggest flat I've ever seen toward a drainage he identified on Google Earth and all of a sudden there they were, tails out of the water (and one beast with most of his back high and dry!), just slobbing in the mud, happy as can be. My buddy tells me to go for it so I took about 5 sloooooow steps out toward them to get away from the mangroves, one surprisingly good enough cast put a Crazy Charlie about 4ft in front of the school, 2 or 3 short strips and fish on! Couple good runs, couple pics and a release. Been wanting to do that almost my whole life. Buddy got a couple more shots but no eats and the school moved on, I got about a 2ft cuda, spent some time working with my son on his casting then the wind kicked up. Gonna get back out there in a couple hours!
It was the most absolutely perfect morning, like every story/article/YouTube short I've ever read and seen but have never seemed to get. Dead still yet no skeeters, gorgeous sunrise, my oldest son and one of my best friends in the whole world walked a trail beside the biggest flat I've ever seen toward a drainage he identified on Google Earth and all of a sudden there they were, tails out of the water (and one beast with most of his back high and dry!), just slobbing in the mud, happy as can be. My buddy tells me to go for it so I took about 5 sloooooow steps out toward them to get away from the mangroves, one surprisingly good enough cast put a Crazy Charlie about 4ft in front of the school, 2 or 3 short strips and fish on! Couple good runs, couple pics and a release. Been wanting to do that almost my whole life. Buddy got a couple more shots but no eats and the school moved on, I got about a 2ft cuda, spent some time working with my son on his casting then the wind kicked up. Gonna get back out there in a couple hours!
Congratulations. Bonefish, for all that skiddishness, once they see the fly... it's on.
How about those long runs??? and just when you think he's given up - he's off AGAIN!
How about those long runs??? and just when you think he's given up - he's off AGAIN!
Congrats, bonefish are bad ass! Out of curiosity what flyline were you using? My usual guide in the Keys uses SA Magnitude Bonefish Plus Clear Float so I bought that at his suggestion. Last year when I hooked a bonefish on my own set up, it spit the fly out. I got the hook up on clear line but didn't have him on very long. However I recently landed a bonefish with sandy brown flyline (didn't inquire on the brand of line) on another guide's rig and caught one. Not sure the clear vs brown line really matters more than leading distance and stripping motion, but I'm always interested in hearing what works for others.Charismatic Megafauna said:
I CAUGHT A BONEFISH!!!
It was the most absolutely perfect morning, like every story/article/YouTube short I've ever read and seen but have never seemed to get. Dead still yet no skeeters, gorgeous sunrise, my oldest son and one of my best friends in the whole world walked a trail beside the biggest flat I've ever seen toward a drainage he identified on Google Earth and all of a sudden there they were, tails out of the water (and one beast with most of his back high and dry!), just slobbing in the mud, happy as can be. My buddy tells me to go for it so I took about 5 sloooooow steps out toward them to get away from the mangroves, one surprisingly good enough cast put a Crazy Charlie about 4ft in front of the school, 2 or 3 short strips and fish on! Couple good runs, couple pics and a release. Been wanting to do that almost my whole life. Buddy got a couple more shots but no eats and the school moved on, I got about a 2ft cuda, spent some time working with my son on his casting then the wind kicked up. Gonna get back out there in a couple hours!
Charismatic Megafauna said:
I CAUGHT A BONEFISH!!!
It was the most absolutely perfect morning, like every story/article/YouTube short I've ever read and seen but have never seemed to get. Dead still yet no skeeters, gorgeous sunrise, my oldest son and one of my best friends in the whole world walked a trail beside the biggest flat I've ever seen toward a drainage he identified on Google Earth and all of a sudden there they were, tails out of the water (and one beast with most of his back high and dry!), just slobbing in the mud, happy as can be. My buddy tells me to go for it so I took about 5 sloooooow steps out toward them to get away from the mangroves, one surprisingly good enough cast put a Crazy Charlie about 4ft in front of the school, 2 or 3 short strips and fish on! Couple good runs, couple pics and a release. Been wanting to do that almost my whole life. Buddy got a couple more shots but no eats and the school moved on, I got about a 2ft cuda, spent some time working with my son on his casting then the wind kicked up. Gonna get back out there in a couple hours!
Excellent work man. Bonefish are something else.
But, for all their reputation for being spooky or skittish, I think they're really just super ADD/schizo. Like they're tailing or mudding along in one direction only to see something shiny in another direction and they're like "SQUIRREL!" and change directions only to get distracted again by something else. They just do it all at 100mph.
Like I've thought I blew a shot at a wad of bones because I cast and they all ran off the other direction only to leave the fly for about 10 seconds and then retrieve it and have a bone come screaming after it at 100mph from 30' away and hammer the fly.
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Apparently it's a sa wvl (wavelength?) wf7f. The front part is really light blue, almost white. I'm using a huge leader, like 16 or 18ft tied per the Hamilton book. Like those guys said though, these were happy fish, I don't think equipment mattered all that much, the stars just aligned for me
The runs were pretty sweet, first time I've gotten a fly reel singing. Then he decided to run right at me and I couldn't keep up with the reel so I stripped him in and ended up with a bit of a mess once I got him to hand. I'll get a pic up soon
The runs were pretty sweet, first time I've gotten a fly reel singing. Then he decided to run right at me and I couldn't keep up with the reel so I stripped him in and ended up with a bit of a mess once I got him to hand. I'll get a pic up soon
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