flyfishing | Bonefish on the Brain

Locations — 4 Comments
28
Dec 09

Dominican Republic Bonefish… where are you?

Well, if you look at where the Dominican Republic is, you might assume that bonefish and other in-shore species might be in the offing. If you KNOW there are bonefish and other in-shore species in the DR… well… you aren’t telling anyone. From trip reports I’ve found, the DR looks like a skip. Might be a pretty place, but doesn’t seem to hold much for the in-shore angler.

DR Bonefish Fail from Flytalk

DR Bonefish Fail from Reel-Time

Sportsman’s Resource has this to say about the DR:

The Dominican Republic offers the sportfishing enthusiast excellent saltwater fishing. Offshore, the Mona Passage, Caribbean Sea, and Atlantic Ocean offer opportunities for anglers to catch marlin, sailfish, tuna, wahoo, dolphin, kingfish, red snapper, grouper, and more. Inshore, the flats along the beaches of the Dominican Republic are a haven for bonefish, tarpon, and permit.

So… maybe they are there, but the casual observer or family-vacationing angler seems to have a hard time finding them.

Oh Dominican Republic… where are your bonefish?

Why the DR doesn’t seem to have a bonefish in numbers great enough to support a fly fishing foothold is a good question and an open one from what I’ve seen. Poverty can’t really be the answer… bonefish live and flourish in plenty of poor places. So… what is it?

All the other stuff — 3 Comments
13
Dec 09

Why I love bonefishing

I was at one of my Grandmother’s 90’th birthday parties today, my daughter’s great grandmother. Not too surprisingly the topic of bonefish arose. My folks sent out their holiday newsletter that talked about my obsession, among other topics. Aunts and other relations would ask “What is it about bonefish that interests you so?”

Here is my reply:

First of all, bonefish live in beautiful places, places you’d like to be… the Bahamas, Hawaii, the Keys, Belize, Mexico, the South Pacific, the Seychells. Beyond that, the bonefish itself is a fish perfectly suited for its environment. It is elusive. It is fast. It is powerful. It is weary. Maybe most importantly for me, it is different from what I know. It is thrilling to be standing in the water with a rod in my hand not knowing what the hell I’m doing. I’m learning about the fish, where they live, what they eat and why. It is a wonderful thing to be learning.

That’s why I love bonefishing. I’d love to hear from others about why they love bonefish or what element you most enjoy. Please, leave a comment.

Locations — No Comments
09
Dec 09

20 pound bonefish from Dubai??? WTF?

Credit worries about Dubia have driven the British Pound to it’s lowest level in recent times… or, that’s the headline I just saw. That’s probably important in some way to lots and lots of people. I am not one of those people.

What does interest me about Dubia is the rumor of a 20 pound bonefish being caught there a few years back. See… now THAT I find real interesting.

Here is an account of the big, bad bonefish.

Of course, rumors of 20 pounders surface here and there… read a back-and-forth from Hawaii about a rumored 20 pounder made into fish cakes. Heard rumors of massive bonefish spotted but not caught in New Caledonia. Florida posts a LOT of the line class bonefish records. The current record fish comes from South Africa and it probably was not a total aberration. So, there are plenty of places out there that could post that elusive 20 pounder.

But Dubia? Land of the artificial islands and monster/silly towers of metal and glass? Really?

I wonder if you can spot bonefish from that.

I guess the answer is… maybe.

Ocean Active offers some fly fishing charters. I have no idea who they are.

Fish Tails — No Comments
08
Dec 09

A first bonefish

Love seeing someone’s first bonefish…

Locations — No Comments
07
Dec 09

Cozumel Bonefishing – Oregon perspective

The Caddis Fly Shop in Eugene, Oregon… sounds like a nice,wet, cool place to be from. Turns out November is a slow month at the shop and it also turns out that the owner headed to Playa Del Carmen for a family trip. From there, a ferry ride to Cozumel and, to his surprise, some good fishing.

Now, this is one of those things that folks with families should keep in mind… you very well may find yourself in Cancun or Playa Del Carmen on some family vacation. You may, in the midst of packing for this family vacation wonder “should I bring my rod along?”

“Yes” is the answer. This also turns out to be the answer if you are headed to Hawaii (minus Maui), Vallarta (although not for bones) or many, many other places. Bring the rod. Bring the rod. Say it with me, “Bring the rod.”

Here’s why…

A Caddis Fly Shop Cozumel Bonefish, with permission from The Caddis Fly Shop

Fish Tails / Locations — 1 Comment
03
Dec 09

The bad with the good

For two days I went out and turned up zeros. The mud flowing from the river was visible, clearly, from the 4th floor deck. Darn rain. Today I went out anyway… back to the river mouth.

It was EPIC. The gulls and pelicanos were crashing bait and the fishing was amazing. I must have landed 30-40 fish, mostly Jack Crevalle. This was on my 8/9 Albright with a 7 wt. sink tip… trying to improvise. I had my 7 wt. with a clear sink on the shore. I had many fish on back to back casts. It was just a crazy, crazy day of fishing. I was out for three hours, longer than I was supposed to be fishing. I was bringing some fish back for some of the guys working at the resort and when I had “enough” I headed back.

Went to grab that back up rod… missing… stolen, really. Well… the fishing will remain amazing, but my estimation of the local fisherman took a bit of a nosedive. Probably not fair, but, the wound is fresh.

About a 2 pound Jack Crevalle (aka Toro), last fish of a great day of fishing.

I guess the bright side is that I get to do some rod shopping now. This will be my Christmas present from my wife. I’ll probably try to fill the gap I have in my rod selection with a solid and pure 8 weight, since I have another 7, although it is a 2 piece and not a 4.

UPDATE: Went out the next day, my last fishing day of the trip. The fishing was almost as good although the biggest fish was a bit smaller. I have bruises on the right side of my ribcage from the fighting butt. Those are good bruises to have. Caught five species of fish. I had some really good fishing down from the beach with one big fish and lots and lots of smaller fish. I do have a strange rash now on my legs that I’m about 95% certain is from the river water, but hey… again… gotta take the bad with the good.

Fish Species caught on this trip:

Fish Tails — 4 Comments
01
Dec 09

Getting Skunked

Now, I’m just on vacation here in Mexico, Vallarta. This isn’t a fishing vacation, although I’m fishing… nearly every day, for a couple hours while my daughter naps. I’ve been having some luck, but today… nadda… zero… zilch. I hooked one fish, decent fish. Got a glimpse of it in the dirty water of the river mouth (rained here yesterday). The rest of the time I stook there, walked up and down a bit, cast… cast… cast… just not a frigging thing.

Oh, it happens, I know. I just don’t much like it when it does. When I’m trout fishing, if I get skunked, it generally puts me in sour mood. Not today though… this isn’t trout fishing, this isn’t my home water and I’m new enough to saltwater fishing that if I get skunked, it is all OK.

Back in high school and college I LOVED basketball. I could have magical games and I could go cold. I’d get so upset when I had a bad game I’d get depressed. Started playing soccer… it wasn’t my game, so I could give myself permission to have a bad game. Maybe that’s why I like bonefishing and saltwater fishing… I can give myself permission to have a bad day on the water.

Locations — No Comments
28
Nov 09

Los Roques Report (no, not mine)

What’s it like to fish Los Roques? I have no frigging idea. Well, I have an IDEA, I just have no experience to speak of. So, read this guy’s experience.

Fish Tails — 2 Comments
27
Nov 09

Toro! Toro! Toro!

Another day here in Vallarta, still no bonefish. However… today I caught a Toro, also known as a Pacific Jack Crevalle, that was 12.8 pounds. I’ve caught a ton of these down here… but mostly around a pound… this fish was just lovely. Had me so far in my backing I could see the spool. Probably broke my 7 wt. reel, actually. Took about 20 minutes to land.

I couldn’t be happier at the moment.

Now, normally, I’m a Catch and Release guy all around… but after 20 minutes, I had my doubts if this fish would survive. I brought it back to the resort and had it prepared for dinner. It was yummy. Way more food that we could eat, so we fed many of the staff tonight. This is my largest saltwater fish to date.

Good times.

Toro!

All the other stuff — No Comments
26
Nov 09

Vallarta II

Second day from the beach today. Good times were had. Not big fish, but lots of them. This isn’t flats fishing or sight fishing, but it is a lot of fun on a family vacation. Must have landed 25 or so little Jack Crevelle, just myself, out there at the river mouth all by myself. Came back and my daughter wasn’t up from her nap yet. Nice.

Basically, I go to the river mouth here in Vallarta and throw a sly line on my 7 wt. with a clouser and… well… it is fun. Not big fish, but lots of them. Great for a family vacation where the focus is on pool time with my daughter and wife.

I got a Buff for this trip (and for the Bahamas in January). I was worried it would be too hot. It isn’t. It = Totally Ruling. No sunburn on my neck or on my nose or… anywhere. I’m pretty frigging impressed with Buffs.

Lots of these make for a fun time.

Bonefish on the Brain Bonefish and all that relates (maybe a bit about tarpon too).

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