Yup… this time next week…
Locations
19
Mar 12
Tom Goes to Andros South
Last year I had the privilege to be part of FIBFest at Andros South. Along on that trip was Tom Larimer.
Looks like Tom just made it back. He took a hosted trip to Andros South and despite some less-than-ideal weather, they had a good time.
I envy him for getting back there… for hanging out at the Slack Tide Bar and chatting with the guides on the ride out to the West Side. Of course, I can’t complain. I’m headed to Cuba here in about 2.5 weeks with Yellow Dog and that does not suck.
One of the things about fly fishing that I love is that you both get to see new and wonderful places and you also get to develop some “home water.” For trout I have home water on the Upper Sac and McCloud. For Carp I have Calero. For bonefish I don’t have a place that I know well, a place I keep coming back to. I’d love to have South Andros be that place, but that seems financially and logistically out of the question. Glad that Tom is getting a feel for South Andros and maybe beyond swinging for steelhead in Oregon he’s getting a sense of the moods of Andros.
18
Mar 12
Bonefish Flat goes to Long Island
The Bonefish Flat recently went to Long Island to the Long Island Bonefishing Lodge.
The Long Island Bonefish Lodge is a whole new bonefishing experience that I think those who have some experience under their belt would enjoy. The lodge itself is located on what must be a hundred square miles of pristine bonefish flats. It consists of three duplex style cottages that can hold eight anglers. The main lodge is where you eat and stock up on Kalik at the end of the day.
The Bonefish Flat walking a Long Island Flat.
16
Mar 12
Kirk returns from Long Island
Kirk Deeter just got back from a week in Long Island (the better of the two so named locations).
I just returned from a remarkable bonefishing trip in the Bahamas–Long Island, to be specific. It’s a stripped-down, do-it-yourself deal, involving big bonefish (a 5-pounder won’t bat an eye), unspoiled flats that most people don’t have the stamina to walk across in a week, let alone fully explore (I’m talking miles and miles of knee-deep water), great food and wonderful cultural experiences.
The story can be found at Fly Talk.
Truth told, this opportunity landed in my lap about the same time Cuba did and I had to decide which one to do, not being wealthy or idle. Long Island has long drawn my attention, so I’m fairly jealous I didn’t make the trip. It still stands out as a pretty sweet DIY friendly location.
The place he stayed is the Long Island Bonefishing Lodge, a new place that is focused on the budget and DIY crowd. The cost for a week is about $1,600, which is a fair deal. You don’t get guides, but you get brought out to where the fish are and let loose.
The price is a good one and is probably value for money. If and when I make it to Long Island, I’ll certainly look at this as a real option.
One option I had looked at before was staying at a hotel that was about $100 a night. That didn’t include meals or transportation to the flats, so the $600 rate of lodging would probably easily get close to $1,600 without the certainty or pointing-in-the-right direction that this place would offer.
I love the coming together of cheap and bonefishing and while $1,600 isn’t “cheap,” it does get a bit closer to cheap than something around $4-5K.
04
Mar 12
FYI – not everyone gets skunked in Hawaii
Yes… it happened to me on Kauai (which is a beautiful island in so many ways, just not exclusively for the fishing). However, it went better for the writer of Alaska Rod and Fly.
Had the opportunity to spend two fabulous days on Oahu chasing bonefish with Mike Hennessy from Hawaii on the Fly. Mike knows these bonefish. If it wasn’t for his exceptionally keen eyes to see these fish, I would still be trying to catch one. I would hear 12 o’clock 30ft and start casting. The whole time I would be scanning the water looking for the fish. The fly would land and I would hear, “long strip, long strip, let it drop, short strip, short strip, long, long, he’s got it strip it”, and bam fish on, never seeing the fish. The only time I would see a fish, is if it was hovering over sand, or my cast would scare it and it bolted off.
Yeah… that sounds familiar, just in a different geographical context. Nice post there ARF.
29
Feb 12
Costa Rican Bonefish
No one is going to go out and travel specifically to Costa Rica to go bonefishing. That would be pure foolishness. However, they are there. Of course, they are also in Panama and have been caught off the coast of Texas, but that doesn’t mean they are there in great numbers. I keep getting surprised about all the places bonefish turn up. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about bonefish being caught in Haiti or Louisiana.
Here’s a story about bonefish in Costa Rica from Costa Rica Outdoors:
Some months ago, we had a bit of controversy going here regarding bonefish, and whether we have any in Costa Rica waters. We never were able to determine whether the species, popular in Florida waters and traditionally caught on the inshore flats on a fly rod or light tackle, had actually been caught here.
So… they are there, which is good to know.
28
Feb 12
Comrades!
OK… here’s the scoop. I got invited on a press tour of a Caribbean island that has a fair bit of history, some really old cars and a so-so history with the old Red, White and Blue.
That’s right. I’m headed to Cuba in April.
The trip will be through Yellow Dog Fly Fishing Adventures and the destination will be the Tortuga in the Jardines de la Reina.
Yeah, I’m a lucky SOB.
As you can imagine, I’m pretty excited. I’ll keep you posted as things progress.
Flies are being tied. Gear being checked out. I’m getting in “go” mode.
27
Feb 12
LR vid I can’t understand.
Some interesting looking conditions… gotta love the wind. No idea what he’s saying. This is in Los Roques.
24
Feb 12
Location on the rise… Puerto Rico
Yup… I keep trying to get there, but have not made it yet. Puerto Rico is a location that is on the rise.
Those who know it say that Culebra has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Add low prices, an uncultivated beauty and unexpected experiences such as bumping into a someone who’ll nab a lobster for your dinner, and it’s under-the-radar days are surely numbered.
If you go… check out Chris Goldmark.
20
Feb 12
Islamorada
For US bonefisherman there is a certain mystic that surrounds Islamorada in the Florida Keys. I haven’t fished it. I haven’t fished Florida at all, actually. Part of me doesn’t feel ready and part of me is drawn to places where the catching is more likely. I want to get there though. I need to, really. I just haven’t made it happen yet.
The Florida Sportsman ran an interesting article about the changing nature of Islamorada. Worth a read.
The notion of “educated” fish has crept into the vernacular, as some species, most notably bonefish and tarpon, have grown over the years more difficult to fool with flies and lures. And yet Islamorada remains one of the world’s top destinations to catch 10-pound-plus bonefish. And the spring tarpon run offers unique access to oceanside as well as backcountry fish.
Nice shot.
