FISHING REPORT

June 15- June 21, 2014

Weather Conditions: Sunny skies w/cloudy spells. Isolated thunder showers. Seas moderate to rough.

Winds:

Air Temperature: 84-92 degrees F 23.3 C - 28.8 C.

Water Temperature: 75-80 degrees

Moonphase: Last Quarter Moon on the 19th

WHAT GUESTS WERE CATCHING:

BONEFISH (Macabi): The bonefishing this week has been stellar. Big schools were found up in the Park - Bacalar Chico. It's a long run up there - about an hour, but once you are there and find the fish, it's a blast. Craig and John had so much fun with Captain Raton they were worn out by noon. We have had some big Orvis groups here the past week and many of them were new to fishing saltwater flats. We love watching angler's confidence grow each day as anglers and their fish stories return to the dock. Not everyone is looking for the same experience! Some really want numbers - a newbie fishing to a mud of several hundred bonefish will gain confidence from feeling the strip set and learning how much pressure to put to the fish to get it landed and released. An experienced angler knows how satisfying it is to see a tailing fish in skinny water - place the fly without spooking the fish, and then retrieving the fly in a manor that imitates a shrimp or small crab in nature. The presentation of the fly is just as important as the cast. Understanding what you are imitating is the key to growth as an angler. Trout anglers are used to "matching the hatch." On the flats, we match the bottom of the sea floor. A great color that works around here on Ambergris Caye is tan. Other colors work - but usually a combination of color. We use weed guards on turtle grass flats, lead eyes for mudding fish, bead chain eyes for skinny water fish. Sometimes the fish love rubber legs, other times they run from them. That is the beauty of fly fishing. Finding what works in that situation - and then applying what you have learned to a new situation. Sometimes it works, sometimes it's time to try something different. A fly may be refused for a variety of reasons: if the tippet is too big, the fly will not retrieve as a shrimp in nature. It might look like a tug boat to the fish. If the eyes move or get twisted, the fly will not retrieve well and the fish will refuse it - so check your fly between casts. Hunting and being prepared to cast to the "Ghost of the Flats" represents the heart and soul of fishing the flats. A special "shout out" to Abby from Orvis who landed her first bonefish on the fly. And I don't know who was happier, Kathy or Mike, but Kathy landed her first bonefish on fly as well. And our youngest anger of the week, eleven year old Mak, landed his first bonefish on the fly.Congratulations to all of our anglers this week who had big fun casting to and landing bonefish.

PERMIT (Palometta): OK. The permit are back! Captain Cinoeh has been in permit all week. Lucky for Duber who hooked several and landed a nice one. Dan landed his permit (see photo) on 12 lb tippet and a size 6 Christmas Island Special. Nice going! Ed really wanted to land a permit this trip so he focused his fishing days hunting with his guides. He had several shots with Captain Vincent and guide in training Jason. They had shots all day, but the fish would not commit. That happens with permit fishing. And it just revs us up for the next cast to Mr. Palometa.

TARPON (Sabalo): Our dynamic father and son duo Aki and Mak were back this week! Captain Cesar is their fearless leader and this team always has a big report at the end of the day. No exception this week as they hooked several tarpon. Aki landed two on fly, and Mak landed two on spin - one was an 80 pounder! (see photos). Gary landed his first tarpon on fly with Captain Luis. Jared landed a nice tarpon on fly with Captain Hilberto. Frank also landed a tarpon on fly with Captain Hilberto! Jean represented the female anglers this week with her tarpon on fly with Captain Emir.

OTHER SPECIES: John was really thrilled when he landed a big 15 lb jack crevalle with Captain Raton.

FLIES THAT WORKED

FOR BONEFISH - Crazy Charlie, Gotcha, Bunny Gotcha's, CI Special's (orange, pink and pearl), small crabs.

FOR PERMIT - Turneffe Crab, Avalon, Big Squimps!, Mantas shrimp patterns - size 4.

FOR TARPON - Black Death, Chartreuse toad, White toads and bait fish patterns.

Guide of the week: The Guide of the Week goes to our wonderful Captain Cinoeh. Cinoeh poled into the wind several days to keep Duber and his guests in permit. They landed two on fly! And there are more days to come, so we'll keep you posted.

This Week's Summary:

It's kinda like having a family reunion once a week these days. We are so thrilled that Simon Perkins visited us from Orvis. Jeremy - we love ya, and thank you Abby for joining the team from Orvis and landing your first bonefish on the fly. Your shared experience will help many newbies who seek to reach beyond their horizons. Dave Decker aka D2 and his lovely bride Gayle were here. Thanks for leaving me the latest Jackson Hole News and Guide - fishing reports from the rivers to da sea! Duber brought a big group of twenty five! Thank you. Aki, Chris and Mak - I think we will go through withdrawals unless you show up every few months. We are so proud of Mak and his young spirit is so inspiring for other young anglers getting into the game. We are truly blessed at El Pescador. Our "family" of returning guests continues to grow. While we need the experts out there to provide some direction, it is really you that share our sport. You sign up for your trip, get organized, shut out your work and daily responsibilities for a week and get recharged. Re-entry can be tough I know. . Others will ask questions - maybe they will want you to show them how to cast! Maybe they will want you to share which fly was working. Maybe they will be envious of your tan. Whatever it is, your spirit for discovery is infectious. Take credit! And for this, we thank you.

Cast to your dreams!
Lori-Ann: [email protected].

Fishing photo of the week:


El Pescador guest Gary and Capt Luis with his first tarpon on fly.

El Pescador guest Dan with his permit