FISHING REPORT

March 1- March 7th

Weather Conditions: Generally fair weather all week - mostly sunny, with winds from the east at 8-15 mph all week with a couple windier days midweek - a rain shower each day towards the end of the week.

Air Temperature: High 70's to 80 for the High. low 70's, for the lows.

Water Temperature: 78 F.

Moonphase: The full moon was on March 5th

WHAT GUESTS WERE CATCHING:

BONEFISH (Macabi): George and Jean returning for their 3rd visit and rounded up some bonefish while mixing it up for tarpon and permit with their favorite guide, Kechu. Capt. Erlindo rounded up more than 20 fish on his day out with Wayne and Judi. Our returning friend Neil landed about 30-40 bonefish today... Holy Cow! John, Don Rick, Lon, Paula, Bob, Robert, Lon, Janice, Joe, Brian, John and Melissa, AND MANY OTHERS all got the bonefish bug satisfied on their daily trips out with the guides. You have to love this fishery when first time saltwater anglers can just about be guaranteed bonefish action.

PERMIT (Palometta): Andy and Jesse hunted some permit hard and came up with the shots, delivered the cast, got some follows, hard looks, soft looks, out and out rejections, spooked a few, but didn't get hooked up. Captain Emir was working hard to get them hooked up but couldn't work his permit magic this time. Neil got into 2 juvenile permit today - Yippee for Neil and his guide Raton.. Update for Neil - 9... yes 9 small permit on the fly on Thursday (the windiest day) His guide, Raton, was quite proud of his 76 year young angler! Steve landed a pretty Permit thanks to some very hard work on Capt. Kechu's part. They waded and waded (sometimes up to their necks, chasing this school. After Kechu went back to get the boat they had just about given up when they found them again and the 12th cast, and the 12th fly was the charm! Another great example of stellar guiding and angler perseverance.

TARPON (Sabalo): Junior was back to his spots and had more tarpon hookups with returning guest Rob who stopped by for a few days while visiting his son who is on the island. Philip is learning how to resist a trout set on tarpon, the excitement of the take and the 20 years of trout fishing is keeping Philip from realizing his full potential! Captain Vince is sure he will get one tomorrow! Sure enough Philip and Vice got it done the next day! The hard work paid off! Andy and Captain Cesar teamed up for a tarpon on his 3-day outing. Lon and Janice each got a tarpon to the boat while fishing with Captain Junior up near Bacalar Chico National Park. Benji got a beauty on hos last day and 16 year olds Calyton and JT got tarpon on ifirst days! The guides call setting the hook by raising the rod a "trout set". We are always looking for a strip set here on the flats with every species. The strip set is just that, the rod remains pointed at the fish with the tip in the water and as you strip and feel the bite you simply strip a little firmer and longer to get a good hook set (tarpon however require a more violent strip set). A strip set will deliver a little more power than a trout set but the big advantage is that if the fish misses the fly, a strip set puts that fly 12-18 inches in front of the fish and many fish (especially bonefish) will eat it as soon as you start stripping again. Keeping the fly in play like this is critical for success

OTHER SPECIES: Barracuda, Snappers, Jacks

Grand Slam: Not this week.

FLIES THAT WORKED

FOR BONEFISH - You name it, it worked!

FOR PERMIT - Bauer Crab tan, Christmas Island special, Mantis shrimp tan.

FOR TARPON - Black Death, white and green Deceiver, Tan Toad.

Guide of the week: Captain Raton for a huge (9 fish) permit day and huge (30 fish) bonefish day for returning guest Neil.

This Week's Summary:

A great week despite some midweek wind, with good numbers of all 3 species brought to the boat.

Fish On!
Ed Blank [email protected].

Fishing photo of the week:


El Pescador guest Clayton and his Tarpon.