Jmills81
03-03-2008, 07:03 PM
7 days in Belize is perfect to cure the winter blues
Just got back from 7 kick ass days in San Pedro, BZ with 12 other fly fishing nuts on a trip set up by the Silver Bow and Belize Flats Fishing
This was my first flats fishing experience and it absolutely blew my mind. The sight fishing, the blistering runs, all of it....I am ready to go back now.
Each day we fished (6) we had the option to target specificially bonefish, tarpon or permit....or put in a mixed bag day. The territory to fish around San Pedro is emmense, and the guides we worked with have intimate knowledge of the water, lagoons and estuaries that blanket Amberguis Caye.
San Pedro is a cool, throwback town. The major mode of transportation are golf carts, with a few cars, vans and trucks here and there. The locals are extremely helpful and nice, and English is the official language but Spanish is spoken prevelently as well. Going out to eat was great, I highly reccomend The Blue Water Grill, Elvi's, Fido's, and Mango's. Good nightlife as well
Day 1--First Bonefish, cuda, snapper and shots at permit
I woke up with more anticipation of a fishing excursion than I have ever had....ever. We raced 1 hour to the north and fished our way back towards San Pedro. Most of the bones that were caught were in the 12-20 inch range, and all fought well
Day 2--Hunting for snook and tarpon in the mangroves
1 hour to the south took us to hicks caye, in and out of the mangroves looking for baby tarpon. both my father and i had hook ups, but the unreal power of the tarpon and the proximity to the barnacle encrusted roots of the mangroves managed to slice our lines up... I have never seen a fish take off so much line so quickly than the estimated 20 lb tarpon my dad had momentarily. We ended the day on a flat catching 4 bones a piece all with good size and taking us into our backing almost every time. There's nothing so gratifying than a double hook up on Bonefish with your dad standing next to you in the boat
Day 3--Hunting for Permit
Most of day 3 was in persuit of the elusive El Palameto. We played hid and go seek with a school of up to 100 permit for 2 hours. Numerous shots, numerous fly changes, but the anorexic supermodel fish (what we called it, in honor of the fact that their hot, but dont freaking eat) never did become attached to our lines. The whole week the group saw boatloads of permit, but had only 6 hook ups and 2 landed. Again we ended the day at a secret spot our guide had and in 2 hours, my dad and i landed approx. 10 bones a piece in action so fast and furious i was just plain giddy at the end of the day
Day 4--Back to the bones
We switched guides amongst the group on day 4. Again our guide put us right on the fish after an hour ride to the north. With flashing fish all around us for the better part of 3 hours, the morning session was wild. The wind kicked in in the afternoon but the day was another top notcher. Unfortunately the wind shifted from an eastly wind to a north wind, bringing in up and down weather for the rest of the trip as we found out
Day 5--This day I fished with Sean from the Silver Bow along with super guide Omar (this dude is half fish if you ask me) We fished the reef side of the Caye, north up to Rocky Point. Bones on this side were the big leaguers, huge tails sticking out of the water and generally rattling my casting abilities. Sean and I both hooked up to 2 big brutes a piece but the fun part of the day was being 20 feet from a group of feeding permit (no, they didnt take) and secondly stalking tailing bonefish that Omar estimated in the 7-8lb range (also, no luck)
Day 6--Unfortunately, the bad weather took hold. Wind from the north and a lot of clouds. My dad managed to catch a nice bone at the end of the day, but with the rain, wind and nursing a nasty hangover (damn the biliken and rum punch) made it ok to come in early
Day 7--Travel:mad:
Sitting here back in 38 degree weather mades me think how crazy it was to get back on the plane to come back. San Pedro is a great town, the Tides Hotel was a great host, Sean from the Silver Bow put us with the right people and big hats off to Belize Flats Fishing
Doug from Belize Flats Fishing took care of everything. He was there every morning to see us off, take care of any concern and back again in the afternoon to see how everything went. Their operation can take you anywhere in Belize and beyond. If you are interested in their first class operation, check em out at belizeflatsfishing.com
I have posted a bunch of pics in my gallery and I cant wait to go back!!
Just got back from 7 kick ass days in San Pedro, BZ with 12 other fly fishing nuts on a trip set up by the Silver Bow and Belize Flats Fishing
This was my first flats fishing experience and it absolutely blew my mind. The sight fishing, the blistering runs, all of it....I am ready to go back now.
Each day we fished (6) we had the option to target specificially bonefish, tarpon or permit....or put in a mixed bag day. The territory to fish around San Pedro is emmense, and the guides we worked with have intimate knowledge of the water, lagoons and estuaries that blanket Amberguis Caye.
San Pedro is a cool, throwback town. The major mode of transportation are golf carts, with a few cars, vans and trucks here and there. The locals are extremely helpful and nice, and English is the official language but Spanish is spoken prevelently as well. Going out to eat was great, I highly reccomend The Blue Water Grill, Elvi's, Fido's, and Mango's. Good nightlife as well
Day 1--First Bonefish, cuda, snapper and shots at permit
I woke up with more anticipation of a fishing excursion than I have ever had....ever. We raced 1 hour to the north and fished our way back towards San Pedro. Most of the bones that were caught were in the 12-20 inch range, and all fought well
Day 2--Hunting for snook and tarpon in the mangroves
1 hour to the south took us to hicks caye, in and out of the mangroves looking for baby tarpon. both my father and i had hook ups, but the unreal power of the tarpon and the proximity to the barnacle encrusted roots of the mangroves managed to slice our lines up... I have never seen a fish take off so much line so quickly than the estimated 20 lb tarpon my dad had momentarily. We ended the day on a flat catching 4 bones a piece all with good size and taking us into our backing almost every time. There's nothing so gratifying than a double hook up on Bonefish with your dad standing next to you in the boat
Day 3--Hunting for Permit
Most of day 3 was in persuit of the elusive El Palameto. We played hid and go seek with a school of up to 100 permit for 2 hours. Numerous shots, numerous fly changes, but the anorexic supermodel fish (what we called it, in honor of the fact that their hot, but dont freaking eat) never did become attached to our lines. The whole week the group saw boatloads of permit, but had only 6 hook ups and 2 landed. Again we ended the day at a secret spot our guide had and in 2 hours, my dad and i landed approx. 10 bones a piece in action so fast and furious i was just plain giddy at the end of the day
Day 4--Back to the bones
We switched guides amongst the group on day 4. Again our guide put us right on the fish after an hour ride to the north. With flashing fish all around us for the better part of 3 hours, the morning session was wild. The wind kicked in in the afternoon but the day was another top notcher. Unfortunately the wind shifted from an eastly wind to a north wind, bringing in up and down weather for the rest of the trip as we found out
Day 5--This day I fished with Sean from the Silver Bow along with super guide Omar (this dude is half fish if you ask me) We fished the reef side of the Caye, north up to Rocky Point. Bones on this side were the big leaguers, huge tails sticking out of the water and generally rattling my casting abilities. Sean and I both hooked up to 2 big brutes a piece but the fun part of the day was being 20 feet from a group of feeding permit (no, they didnt take) and secondly stalking tailing bonefish that Omar estimated in the 7-8lb range (also, no luck)
Day 6--Unfortunately, the bad weather took hold. Wind from the north and a lot of clouds. My dad managed to catch a nice bone at the end of the day, but with the rain, wind and nursing a nasty hangover (damn the biliken and rum punch) made it ok to come in early
Day 7--Travel:mad:
Sitting here back in 38 degree weather mades me think how crazy it was to get back on the plane to come back. San Pedro is a great town, the Tides Hotel was a great host, Sean from the Silver Bow put us with the right people and big hats off to Belize Flats Fishing
Doug from Belize Flats Fishing took care of everything. He was there every morning to see us off, take care of any concern and back again in the afternoon to see how everything went. Their operation can take you anywhere in Belize and beyond. If you are interested in their first class operation, check em out at belizeflatsfishing.com
I have posted a bunch of pics in my gallery and I cant wait to go back!!