I had to laugh when I first read this great post from subscriber Jamie Dodd. Not because the story is comical, but just how reading it took me back to my first trips and how”friggin hard” it actually was to catch a bonefish on my own. Now it seems easy, but who knew, there were 18,000 things that could go wrong when you are out there wading on your own. Just goes to show you what a great job, professional guides do. “To say catching my first bonefish was a mission of perserverance is an understatement. I am not proud to say that it took me 3 trips to the TCI to finally have one in the books. Year one, a half day with Darin Bain and one shot in windy conditions. I thought I’d catch ten. No real pre-trip study except some heavy double haul practice that was useless. On a whim the next year I bought an 8 piece 9wt. that I knew would easily go in a carry on and another excuse to splurge again and give it a go myself. I spent 3 days wading around Flamingo Lake and actually got fairly good at seeing fish and how they move but had only a couple of shots. Went another 1/2 day with Will Valley and again one shot from about 50 feet and another skunk. Needless to say I was despondent. Both alluded to the much lower success rate with 1/2 day vs. full day and I do believe that is probably very true. So I read and vowed to go back. My wife said I was stupid. Twice I had to come back and tell all that I had been unsuccessful as I had told many I was going to catch a bone fish. I have done as much stalking of fish by sight on streams and ponds as anyone over the last 40 odd years and had always caught fish. I was famous for climbing trees on ponds and steams to locate fish and then score. This couldn’t be that hard. Time 3, I read and had been to your site many times and read the TCI info more than once. Then I decided the answer might be to buy your book. It was the best move I would make. I studied all the sites and thought the flat on the south past Bristol Hill Lane would be my next focus along with the area around Flamingo. It must be noted that my outings could not be too long and were limited in number as this was primarily supposed to be husband and wife time and same with the previous 2 trips. Flamingo day one didn’t see a fish. Flat past bristol day 2 didn’t see a fish. But parked in the big empty lot that you mention in the book and I had spied on google maps and spoke to a local on a bull dozer who said it was private property but go ahead and a very good place to catch a bonefish. I remembered this. It was very rough and windy that morning. 2 unsuccessful mornings at Taylor bay with the wife and not a single fish spotted and I had one morning left. Decided I would try Bristol Hill Dr. area one last time. Beautiful morning and met a young fellow form BC who had also been unlucky. I told my story of woe as we stood there on that beautiful stretch of sand and comforted each other then he left and wished me luck. I waded out onto the flat and was about a hundred yards out and a minute in when I saw 3 or 4 swimming straight at me. It was almost surreal. I did exactly as you had described in the book and without a hitch dropped the tan Crazy Charlie about 2 feet in front of the lead fish. I watched astonished as he just kept coming with intent and then tipped. I waited a spit second, strip set felt resistance, raised the rod tip and cleared line and stood and let the line take off. I just chuckled to myself. It was such a pure sense of accomplishment. Then I realized he had birds nested me as my drag was set to loose. As I struggled to get the mess out I bowed to him and moved towards him and quickly realized one more strong run and I was done. Miraculously it never happened and I must say I skillfully played him without ever getting him on the reel. I brought him to hand took a few quick shots with the cell and slipped him back in. About 3 pounds but it didn’t matter. I stood there and again chuckled thinking how hard it had been but I had finally done it. And I give you a ton of the credit. The book was terrific and I just thought my story clearly explains I would think why you wrote the book and should make you also feel a sense of accomplishment. Some 50 some year old dude from Virginia used my book to catch his first bonefish. I’m sure there are many more stories out there but I really just wanted to say thank you in a very long winded way. Great work and I will always be grateful to you.” Thanks for sharing a remarkable story of perseverance.
↧
My First Bonefish
↧
Bahia Honda State Park – Florida Keys
I have fished the Keys many times and it is one of our family’s favourite vacation spots. Great food, wonderful people and some nice acommodation. A great place to kick back. I have caught some nice bonefish there on my own, both wading from shore and with the use of a kayak. But overall I would say it is a “boat” place. And since the fish can be so difficult to catch it is best to be with one of the many experienced guides. The Keys would not be where I would send someone to catch their first bonefish, but maybe the story below will make us all look at the Keys a little differently. Thanks to subscriber Jean-Luc Rancourt for his report on his first bonefish. “Well, I set off on a mission to find some Bonefish on a Sunday morning. So I took the information I learned from my new DIY Bonefishing book and I headed for Bahia Honda State Park on the Oceanside. When I got there I saw people everywhere and was a little discouraged. I walked down the beach where there were less people and the start of the flats. I noticed a trail of white sand going through the turtle grass and said to myself “If I were a Bonefish I would cruise this trail to get through the flats.” So I decided to just walk that sandy trial to the other side of the island, or as far as it would take me. After about 30 minutes, I decided instead of looking for the Bones, I’m going to let them find me. About 5 minutes later I see these gray shadows swimming toward me. Holy *#@&! I think those are Bones!” “GOT EM!!!” Realizing I have a Bonefish, I start cursing in excitement, laughing, thanking god as he’s taking line! I can feel the hairs on my arms stand up in excitement and the chills flowing down my spine as I get it closer to sight. Thinking to myself I am so happy I brought my GoPro camera. “First time using it for fishing by the way.” As I get the fish closer, there are about 10 other fish around him going crazy like they don’t know what’s wrong with their buddy. I start thinking “Man, I might be able to catch a few more if I get this guy in.” After a good 3 or 4 minutes I finally get him in. “I caught my first Bonefish!!!”. I could not believe my eyes once I had him in my hands. I kept saying to myself “OMG I just caught my first bonefish! OMG I just caught my first bonefish! And I got it on camera too! I walked a little further and I am getting a lot closer to the tourists on the beach. So I think to myself ” I won’t catch any bones around here.” I then walk into this humungous open white area of sand with patches of turtle grass growing within it. All of a sudden I see this BIG gray shadow cruising in the white sand, hugging the edge of the turtle grass. So I cast about 8 feet in front of him. My gray shadow target was still cruising but my line was screaming. It doesn’t feel as big as the fish I was going after, but something was definitely fighting hard. As I get it closer, I see it’s a Bone. I scream “Another Bonefish! Ha haaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!” I look up and see a couple wading in the water for fun pointing at me “Look he’s got a fish!” As I reeled him in, I pull the fish out of the water like a proud father holding his kid for the first time. People watching and commenting as I am unhooking the fish and let him go. “Look, he caught a bonefish!” What a great feeling. What a great day. I didn’t just catch my first Bonefish, I just caught 2 Bonefish! Right then I couldn’t help but to think all the hard work, studying, and efforts I put in have finally paid off. I couldn’t wait to tell everyone I caught my first Bonefish. I started thinking about the DIY buff I put on that morning, and all the information I learned from the DIY Bonefishing book, and how it all came to fruition that day. Can’t wait to finish reading the rest of the book, since I’m only half way through. I was so happy and content I decided to call it a day. I couldn’t wait to watch my video, tell my friends and family, and to tell Rod Hamilton that not only did I use the information from the book to help me catch my first bone, but I actually got it on film and I was wearing my DIY Bonefish buff. How cool was that!” Congrats Jean-Luc on your first bonefish. There will no doubt be many more to come.
↧
↧
Great Inagua
A fishing buddy of mine recently returned from Great Inagua where by the sounds of it he and his group had a wonderful trip while staying at Henry Hugh’s Inagua Outback Lodge. Great Inagua holds a special place in my heart and is one those spots you should put on the “Bucket List”. Let’s let Dave Eaton tell us all about his trip. “We just returned from an epic week of DIY bonefishing on Great Inagua where we had good weather, great food and fine accommodations. We booked our trip through Vince Tobia of Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters and stayed at Inagua Outback Lodge. My companions on this trip were three, experienced Bow River guides, accomplished anglers and a pleasure to fish with. We fished hard, walked long and had a great time. Inagua Outback Lodge is run by Henry Hugh. Henry was a fabulous host, eager to do whatever he could to ensure that we had a great time. Finding something good to eat on was never a problem. Henry served up hardy helpings of fresh Grouper, Snapper, pork ribs, lamb and of course the ubiquitous Conch, with sides of potatoes or rice and fresh veggies and Henry’s Conch was superior to anything we have found in Nassau. Henry was up with us early in the morning, serving up a hot breakfast, and he stayed late to socialize with us at night. He also came swiftly to the rescue when two of our group got the Bronco stuck in sand near Lighthouse Flat. Your book “DIY Bonefishing” was most helpful when we actually slowed down enough to thoroughly digest and absorb the contents. We failed to fully heed your advice for the first couple of days and paid the price by walking very far, on some extremely empty flats. Henry Hugh was also a very valuable source of accurate information on when and where to fish. The second day two of us made the trip by kayak to Henry’s Creek, a vast and stunningly beautiful creek system just east of Outback Lodge. The bonefishing was spectacular, so much so that at times it was almost too easy. Later in the week all four of us caught a ride in Henry’s boat and paid the creek a return visit. If anything the fishing was even better and the area of fishable flats within the creek is so vast that I only twice that day did I catch a far off glimpse of one of my companions. On other days we also experienced some tough fishing conditions, with spooky Bones who seemed to have extensive knowledge of the two legged creatures that wave skinny sticks. It was just enough to keep us humble when we might have started to think we knew it all. We learned new things about Bonefish behavior and successfully adapted our approach to deal with unfamiliar challenges, contributing to a satisfying sense of accomplishment. On the evening of our fourth day I stopped at Palm Tree Flat. The tide was low and rising and the wind was down. A flash of fins, illuminated by the low angle sun, drew me out to a sandbar, several hundred yards off the beach, where I soon found myself completely surrounded by groups of tailing Bones. The failing light made them bold and I hardly moved as group after group of them fed towards me, frequently standing on their heads and wagging their tails in the air like a pack of happy dogs. Enticing one of these Bonefish to take was not much of a challenge and even when a fish raced through his companions, blowing them up, another school moved into range by the time I released it. This continued unabated for a couple of hours until darkness drew a curtain over the spectacle and I was forced to reluctantly retreat back to the beach. The pumps that maintain the water in Lake Rosa had been off for two weeks prior to our week on GI, only returning to full function on the day after we arrived. As a result the water was lower and warmer than usual, which made the Tarpon quite sluggish and uncooperative. Nevertheless over the course of our stay we all managed to catch some Tarpon, along with too many Ladyfish, some enormous Cudas, Triggerfish and Boxfish. Thanks again for your sage advice.” Thanks Dave.
↧
Bonefish Quotes
Subscriber Gary Kemsley is helping me with the “soon to be” added section on my website, Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands. He has put together a collection of quotes from famous and not so famous writers and fisherman about Bonefish that I thought you might enjoy. I have a few quotes of my own that I might well add at a later date. They have to do with: casting into a 30 mph wind at tailing bonefish forty feet away; a trout set on an eight-pound bone; my 15th refusal in a row from fish on Savannah Sound the very short but distinct “quote” from my guide as I hit him in the back of the head with a Clouser. Thanks Gary for compelling the quotes below, gives us all something to reflect on. “Hunting fish is, after all, half of what bonefishing is all about. If you don’t learn to stalk them, your missing much of what makes this sport what it is.” Dick Brown 1993. “Bonefish live in a constant state of panic.” Tom McNally 1978. “Anyone who tells you bonefishing is easy has spent very little time on the flats” A.J. McClean 1974. “Bonefishing with a fly rod is one of the most intricate challenges in the sport of fishing. It can also be one of the most satisfying.” Lefty Kreh 1986 “Even though they have come on to a flat to feed, these fish are wary.” Nick Curcione 1994. “He is the wisest, shyest, wariest, strangest fish I have ever studied”. You see him; he is there perfectly still in the clear, shallow water, a creature of fish shape. Pale green and silver, but crystal like, a phantom shape, staring at you with strange black eyes; then he is gone. Vanished! Absolutely without you seeing a movement, even a faint streak! By peering keenly you may discern a little swirl in the water.” Zane Grey on bonefish 1918. “Whom the gods would destroy, they first make a bonefisherman” Van Campen Heilner 1937. “If bonefish lived in rivers you would never land one”! Gary Kemsley Aitutaki 2013. The bonefish is eternally spooky because he feeds in very thin water and is constantly worried about predatory fishes, birds and men! Frank Woolner 1978. No one pattern will work well all the time. Sometimes these fish will respond better to big flies and other times to small flies. Sometimes they like crabs and sometimes they like shrimp. It is important to experiment and listen to the advice of your guides. From, The longest Cast, 2001 “ Fly fishers who have never hooked a bonefish cannot understand how a 5 lb fish can cause so much excitement” Randall Kaufmann 1992. “ So when an angler eases up on a bonefish that is tailing, mudding or cruising in water that is less than 2 feet deep, everything must be just right. One mistake will send him charging for the sanctuary of deep water.” Joe Brooks 1958. “After you spot a bonefish, you have a maximum of about six seconds………often less…….to make a cast”. Lefty Kreh, 1986. “It took me a week to realise that the almost invisible, silver, ghost like shapes I was seeing flitting by me on the flats were bonefish.” Jack Sampson 1991. Bonefish may be selective at times. One bonefish in the Bahamas was found to contain forty snapping shrimp of a particular species. Doug Swisher Backcountry Flats Fishing 1995. “Jack, It must weigh 20lb” I shouted with delight. I finally bought in a three pound bonefish, jack netted it, and after a proud look, I smiled and eased the blue and silver speedster back overboard. Pound for pound, it beat anything I had ever caught. Jimmy Carter from “An Outdoor Journal.” 1988. Sometimes, it would seem that if you breathe too hard the whole flat erupts in fleeing schools. J. Mclean, New Standard Fishing Encyclopaedia. “ Any bonefish stalked on a thin flat is a spooky, hair triggered bundle of nerves and explosive energy. He must be hunted with care.” Frank Woolner 1972 In a body of water the colour of fine gem stones, the bonefish swims like a rolling pearl over the shallow flats. From The Longest Cast 2001.
↧
Eleuthera – Guest blog
Here is a wonderful report by subscriber Chris Bray on his recent trip to Eleuthera. The perfect trip combining family, friends and fishing. “Howdy, fellow DIYers! I recently spent ten days on Eleuthera, staying at a VRBO property near Palmetto Point. I was there with my wife and her sister and my brother-in-law, Scott. He’s also an avid fresh/saltwater fly fisherman with whom I have fished with all over the place – Colorado and Wyoming for trout, the Texas Gulf Coast and Florida for redfish, and the Grand Bahama and the Yucatan for bonefish. In a word, he’s my fishing buddy. I’ve often counted my blessings for having a brother-in-law like him. We’ve had some great times and adventures, just the two of us. After we touched down on the Eleuthera Airport runway, we taxied past the “terminal”, which is no bigger than your average Outback Steakhouse. Immediately, I knew I was going to like this place. As soon as we “passed through immigration and customs” (a process that only took about 25 minutes, since there were only 25 people on our little puddle jumper), we walked out onto the main road and looked for our rental car agent. Weeks before we arrived, my wife had arranged to rent a Chevy SUV for about $700 from a guy named McLean Pinder, on the recommendation of our VRBO owner. Mclean was nowhere to be found. We asked if anybody knew him and one of the airport porters said he knew him and called him on his cell phone. After a little conversation, the porter told us, “Your car is down along that fence and the keys are in it. Mclean said he’ll catch up with you later”. We found the SUV and loaded our bags, and headed towards Palmetto Point, stopping at a little liquor store to grab a case of Kalik and some rum. As we passed through a small town of Lower Bogue, we were flagged down by a large gentleman driving the other way. We pulled over and he approached the car and introduced himself as McClean. He leaned in the window with a big smile, and we all chatted about our destination. He offered some fishing spots, recommended a couple of restaurants and made some small talk for five minutes. We then handed him $700 in cash and he said thanks and “I’ll see you in ten days”. That was it. No contract, no request for my license or insurance…nothing. And come to think of it, we didn’t ask him for identification, either. We just handed $700 “American” out the window to a total stranger and went on our way. It was crazy, we laughed. We then made our way to our VRBO rental, which was in Palmetto Point on the “ocean side”. A beautiful place. We’ve always been pleased with VRBO. I’d tell you which one it was, but it’s my understanding that the house just sold to a private party. As for restaurants, shopping, etc., for the girls – your best bet is Harbour Island. Shopping opportunities on the rest of the island are few and far between, as are nice restaurants. Eleuthera has a slogan – “It’s not for everybody”. I can vouch for that. If you’re into nightlife, stores, restaurants – this isn’t the place for you. Very few classic hotels and resorts on the island, so if you’re renting a house, head to the store and buy your provisions because you’ll be eating in a lot (at least we did). Which was fine for us, we’re used to that. But traveler beware. Another tip: Get a map, print some screenshots from Google Earth, and consult them frequently – there are very few street signs on the island. There’s not even a stoplight over the entire 100-ish mile island. OK, now on to the fishing report. From a conditions perspective, the weather was a bit choppy and by the time that the weather calmed – we were right in the middle of a spring tide. So if you’re of the opinion that the fishing is better during a neap tide…I’d have to agree that this seemed to be the case during this trip. Winds were consistently out of the west, which made fishing the flats on the Caribbean side a challenge, and the flats on the “Ocean Side” were a little less disturbed – although we really didn’t see any bones. I caught a couple of reef fish, which was fun (anytime you catch something it’s fun, right?). We were there in February, and I’ve seen many recommendations about planning your trip to coincide with prevailing weather patterns, moon phases etc. But to the average DIYer, this isn’t always an option. You go when you can get vacation and hope for the best, right? As far as flies, we tried several patterns. But the winner was Peterson’s Spawning Shrimp, a pattern that you can pick up at any Orvis retailer or online. I’ve fished that pattern in Mexico, too and it consistently attracts and lands bones. As far as guides, we never looked for one. The first, last and only guide we have ever used was on the Grand Bahama, where Scott and I were introduced to bonefish. I see plenty of reports on DIY sites that are posted by guides or by fishermen that used a guide…which to me defeats the purpose of a DIY site. I’m sure there are some guides available, but we stayed true to the concept of DIY…take your gear, hunt for a place, step in and see what you can do on your own. But on Eleuthera, you really don’t need one. Every flat we fished (and a dozen others we didn’t) were completely accessible for the DIYer. No need for a skiff, paddleboard or canoe. I’m not discounting the value of a guide – especially when you’re in a new location – but half the fun of DIYing is the adventure, you know? Our first opportunity […]
↧
↧
Bonefish In Hawaii
Here is a great guest blog from Matt Sharp who is the manager of Pacific Anglers Fly Shop in Vancouver, B.C. Matt is a very experienced angler and has chased saltwater species all over the globe. “Honolulu is known for epic surfing, Pearl Harbour, shaved ice and bad traffic, but for those who love warm water fishing it is known as one of the most challenging big bonefish destinations in the world. For years I have heard stories of anglers fishing Hawaii and at first I didn’t put much stock in the hype. This changed when I began to notice that all the experts I talked to got a haunted look in their eyes whenever I brought up bonefishing in Hawaii. This winter when my wife and I decided to vacation on the island I knew that I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to see what that haunted look was all about. What I found blew my expectations out of the water. I expected to see a few fish each day and if I made good casts I would catch them. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was shocked at how many big fish I saw and even more shocked at how smart they were. As my guide Mike Hennessey put it “Hawaii is varsity level bonefishing. They are going to get in your head and it’s going to change you.” He couldn’t have been more right. You have to cast softer, spot faster and move stealthier than any location I have experienced. I learned more about bonefishing in two days than I have in the last five years. I saw bonefish that I mistook for sharks and the glint of one tailing fish that was so big it’s tail stood 12 inches out of the water will be in my dreams for a long time. “The Hawaiian bonefish environment seems to be hand crafted by the fishing gods to frustrate, captivate and inspire bonefishing anglers.” This report will lay out what I learned, what you can expect and a few ideas worth considering if you ever find a way to visit Oahu and want to try your luck at this amazing fishery. First thing you need to know is that the best fishing in Hawaii is on Oahu. There are a few other spots on the other islands worth looking at but most anglers’ focus on areas only a few minutes drive from Honolulu. The second thing you need to know is it is as demanding a bonefish destination as you can find. If you have never gone warm water fishing before don’t expect to be able to rent a kayak and figure out how to do this in a few days. I am no expert but I have some experience with bonefish and I was lucky enough to fish with Mike Hennessy and Lars Akerberg, two of the most experienced Hawaiian bonefish anglers in the world. We saw lots of fish but it was still the most challenging bonefishing I have ever encountered and I found ways to mess up that I didn’t even know existed. I am fairly good at spotting fish. When I am in Mexico or Cuba I feel as though once my eyes adjust I can keep up with my guides spotting fish. The bottom of the Hawaiian flats is perfect for fish to hide and Mike and Lars served me a big dose of humble pie spotting fish where I only saw shadows. Long story short, if you only have a couple days, get a guide to help find and spot the fish. There are two major fishing grounds I managed to check out while in Honolulu; Kane’ohe bay on the east side of the island and an area off the south side near Honolulu. Most of what I saw from the bay was deeper flats and it was conducive to fishing from a flats boat. The airport flats were shallower and fished well from foot. Both spots had similar bottoms, a mix of flat coral marked with sand holes, runways and coral heads. Even when we spotted fish they seemed to be able to disappear right in front of us in the constantly changing bottom colors. To make matters worse, dragging a fly over this kind of bottom was snag suicide. It was rare that you could strip more than three or four times without catching on coral. Both Mike and Lars had strategies to combat the harsh terrain. Mike liked to sneak up on the fish as close as possible with a very stealthy slow approach. Instead of casting at the fish he led them about six to eight feet trying to make sure the bonefish did not see the fly dropping to the coral bottom. We then prayed and watched, hoping the fish would naturally pass near the fly. When we thought it was close enough Mike would use a very short slow strip to puff up sand and catch the fish’s attention. The second the fish reacted to the fly he stopped stripping. With any luck the fish would charge the fly but this is where Hawaiian bonefish were different than what I have experienced from bonefish in other locations. When the fish stopped near the fly and only when the fish stopped Mike had me make a firm long strip. I learned that this was not meant to move the fly, only to keep tension. For the most part when the fish stopped it was because he was eating the fly. “You will not feel a Hawaiian bonefish bite, you will see it and then you only have a split second to get tight before he spits it out.” This makes seeing the fish stop and eat extremely important and it was a joy to watch Mike spot fish and then walk me through the process of how to strip. I missed 90% of the time but it was all worth it when the line went tight. Lars […]
↧
New Fly Fishing Regulations Proposed For The Bahamas
Over the last several months I have had the pleasure of providing my thoughts and input to the Bahamian government as they worked toward developing a new set of fishing regulations related specifically to the non-Bahamian fly fisher visiting their country. On June 17th the Hon. V. Alfred Gray announced the governments proposed legislation and is now asking interested parties and organizations to review the Draft and provide comments to the Department of Marine Resources by email at: fisheries@bahamas.gov.bs on or before Friday, June 26th, 2015. The intent of the proposed legislation and consultive process is to build a stronger fly fishing sector in the Bahamas for the overall benefit of Bahamians and visitors alike. I urge you to read the Draft legislation and comment accordingly. You can find the Proposed Draft Legislation by clicking here. Bahamian Press Release by clicking here.
↧
Proposed Bahamian Fishing Regulations – Is The Sky Falling?
I stopped counting at 200 emails, the phone has not stopped ringing and finally at midnight I went to bed. The Ministry notified me late last week of their intended Draft legislation and it has been nothing short of chaos at DIY Bonefishing World Headquarters (my house) since then. I’ve been asked to comment on the Draft document by a variety of publications and indeed my subscribers and followers have asked for my opinion and interpretation. Since it is in Draft form and there is still a window to provide feedback to the government I have chosen to pose questions (with a jaundiced eye) rather than lash out. As of this morning I have heard from or personally spoken to many of the non-Bahamian lodge owners (they are worried sick), talked to independent guides, owners of second homes who fish and handfuls of stake holders who provide services (home rental, car rental, groceries, restaurants) seeking their views. Other than a few independent guides, I can’t find anyone who was part of a consultive process in anything other than a cursory way. For my part, I have provided extensive background, financial analysis and program suggestions to the government over the last few months. Offering what I hoped was a “voice” for those anglers who preferred to fish part time with an independent guide and part time on their own. In my discussions, nothing like the proposed Draft was ever mentioned or contemplated. I was more shocked by what I read then anyone. So what happened? Where did a discussion about protecting the resource, initiating a normalized online fishing license process, promoting tourism and ensuring access to bonefishing for everyone go sideways? Where is the consultative process and why give the “angling world” and stakeholders seven days to respond? I ask you, who actually benefits from the legislation as presently drawn? Okay let’s look at the Draft document and walk through it and the questions it raises. Everyone I know is for protecting the environment and resource, so no issue there. Most people, including myself, support the purchase of an angling license where the proceeds are used to support and protect the resource being utilized. But the process needs to be simple, straight forward, affordable and accessible. A simple one day, three day, seven day and annual license acquired on-line and through government agencies does the trick. Good throughout the Bahamas and priced in line with other jurisdictions. No fuss, no muss, no problem. Bottom line, a system where I can order and print off my fishing license as easily as I can buy my plane ticket. How does this legislation affect lodges? Make no mistake when reading the Draft, there is an enormous difference between Bahamian owned lodges and non-Bahamian owned lodges. Those owners I have talked to who are non-Bahamian have been hit on the side of the head with a baseball bat. I’m worried about not being able to walk my favourite flat at night after dinner, they are terrified of losing their multi-million dollar investments. What happens if you are a non-Bahamian home owner who likes to walk and wade? Or worse yet, bought a boat and fish the flats from a non-Bahamian owned boat? You are screwed. Need a guide on your own boat? Need a permit to fish in front of your house? Can no longer carry your rod down the beach with your wife when walking to your favourite restaurant? What fisherman will ever buy a home in the Bahamas again? What about the stakeholders that support the non-lodge angler? Who will rent a home when you are not sure you can get a permit? Who will stay for 30 days when your permit (if you can get one) is going to cost more than $600 (I fish something like 60 – 90 days with my wife ….. $3,000 really?) Why even consider the Bahamas as a destination with your family when a component of your vacation is walking a flat on your own? There are plenty of places to go that encourage the responsible use of fishery resources. And what about the DIY angler? You need a daily permit to fish. How do you get a permit? No lodge owner I have talked to has the least interest in issuing one, why would they? I’m not being mean, and the lodge owner is not being ornery, they have a business to run, this is not part of their business. A DIY angler getting a permit from an independent guide? I know plenty of them, count many as friends, but they are fishing, busy, hard to track down. Where on earth do you think you are going to find a dependable guide ready, willing and able to issue permits to traveling anglers? It is a non-starter, never going to happen. Island administrators issuing permits. Forget it, I know plenty of them, great people and fun to be with, but try finding the one who will issue a permit at the time you need it. Here is a BIG ONE. The Right to restrict fishing areas. It looks like an independent guide can restrict an area. Any guide. Forget about the appeal process, your vacation is over by the time it is even looked at. As an example, pick any place you want…and I know them all. There is a guide who doesn’t want you to fish there. Is that flat now closed? Can one guide issue a permit and another restrict the area? Can you get a permit for the whole island, or is it one location at a time? Is it the whole island except for here and here and here? And does it force all DIY anglers onto three flats? Is the Sky Falling for the DIY angler in the Bahamas? You tell me. Are you willing to spend $3,500 for the week not knowing if you can obtain a permit to fish the areas you want on the days you want? Does […]
↧
Bahamas Proposed Fishing Regulations – Continued
I see that on March 6th of this year I had written a lengthy Blog titled – The DIY Debate. In the end I didn’t publish it as I was committed to working in the background with the Bahamian government to help establish legislation that would protect the resource, grow tourism and be beneficial to all stakeholders. It was my belief at the time that appropriate legislation was within reach and I believe that as painful as this process has become, in the end the government will listen to the “cry” and follow its original path. At the very least the Draft document galvanized all unrelated parties into a single voice. Make no mistake, the drafting of the document was heavily influenced by certain parties, with an agenda and opinion completely opposite to my own. How this small voice became so prevalent is a mystery. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, no argument there. And its good to hear all sides before we conclude what is right for us. And God knows I have been wrong before. The annual meeting of The Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association is today where the Officers and Directors stand for election. The outcome of this election could be very interesting. The public meeting in Nassau on June 29th is by all reports going to be well attended. The results of that meeting could be very interesting. I want to bring your attention to a voice that is “screaming” out there and can be heard throughout the flats. Nevin “Pinky” Knowles is the owner of the Long Island Bonefishing Lodge and is not mincing any words. He seems to be saying, what we are all thinking. I would encourage you to read his interview in the Nassau Guardian, then follow his posts on line. He is the only one I know of who is naming names. Make no mistake, he is a very good friend of mine, so my views are completely jaundiced. In the end, it is my hope and belief that the “discussion” taking place has cleared the air, identified which parties stand on what side of each argument and will result in legislation that enhances the Bahamian economy. What do I think will be in the next “Draft”? Non-Bahamian lodge owners will not be singled out. There will not be a distinction between who owns lodges. The Mother Ship issue will be more clearly identified and dealt with. The word Permit will be gone and replaced with the term Fishing License. Fishing Licenses will be issued as 1, 3, 7 day or annual licenses. The license fee will be reasonable with an annual license being affordable. The license will be accessible to all with relative ease, even though the on-line system will be sometime in the making. The Fishing License will be good throughout the Bahamas with no restrictions. The term “Grantor” will be replaced with the term “Issuer”. The Issuer will be solely the Bahamian Government, no other parties have rights to the issuing. There will not be restrictions accompanying issuing of the license. Time will tell. But isn’t it nice to see the community of bone-fishers come together. There is a real passion amongst us, which I suppose has always been there, but rides beneath the surface and emerges with fury when somebody “Pokes The Bear.” I am simply a visitor to a magical land, and as such know my place. My book, magazine and Blog world started simply so I could share with others the wonder and peace I have found while fishing in warm shallow water. There is no ulterior motive for me other than the reward of the occasional email I get which says ” I now understand why you love fishing the flats.”
↧
↧
Bahamian Legislation – Update
There was no chance I was ever going to be able to respond to all my emails yesterday as people waited anxiously to see what happened at the Public Forum held in Nassau. So I decided to wait until this morning to post a Blog, after talking personally to a number of people who were in attendance. For those who were not aware, individuals and stakeholders had the opportunity to provide input on the Draft Legislation at a Public Meeting held yesterday. The meeting was extremely well attended and those that spoke were passionate in representing their positions. I will take a moment to remind everyone that from the moment the Draft Legislation was announced we had exactly eight days to provide written submissions and comments to the government and ten days before the “only” public forum was to be held. It was a sleepless ten days, but the response from within the Bahamas and from the world fishing fraternity during that time was over whelming. I’m not going to bore you with rhetoric, here is what I understand to be the takeaways from the meeting. However, these are not promises, only points to be clarified by the government. Minister Gray gave assurances that DIY would not be eliminated; Lodge ownership would not be restricted, foreign ownership would continue; A Fishing License program will be implemented. Access will be on-line or otherwise readily available. Most likely with one day, weekly, six month and annual license options; License prices will be competitive with other destinations; Licenses will be issued by the government for all of the Bahamas, no restrictions; Wording of the legislation will be Visitor Friendly; Home owners boats and vessels used by renters will be licensed and allowed to fish; Another Public Forum is to be held on July 13th; Minister Gray is to produce another Press Release clarifying “some of the confusion.” The process for the legislation is as follows. Another Public meeting to be held on July 13th where the governments position will be made clearer. The new draft document to be revised based on the input received. That new document to be studied by Cabinet, then debated by Parliament and the Senate later this year. If the bill is passed in both chambers, it would be submitted to the Governor General for signing into law. We are not yet out of the woods, but this looks a whole lot better than it did on June 19th. Honestly, I am exhausted by the whole experience. Make no mistake there were competing and contradictory factions at work here. There were two sides to the story. I am not going to get into the who or why because that is now public, nobody has been able to hide in the dark. We now know “who is who in the zoo.” Make no mistake, there was a very real chance that DIY fishing in the Bahamas as we know it today would have been gone. As painful as the process has been, the dialogue was opened up, the difficult discussions were had and the Bahamians find themselves “potentially” with Legislation that will encourage and promote tourism. This is a bit of an after thought, since I now believe we are on the correct path. But I provide below two links to recent news paper articles that you may find enlightening. Tribune 1 Tribune 2
↧
Bahamian Legislation – Update
Took, me thirty minutes to come up with the title of the Blog. I didn’t know whether to call it “The Sky Is Indeed Falling”, “Is It Time to Panic” or maybe “Where Are You Going To Fish This Winter?” In the end I thought I would just let you decide what it should be called and go with the time honoured —UPDATE. I try not to listen to the internet and feed on the sentiments of others so I waited until I could talk personally to a number of voices I trust who were actually at the Public Forum held on Monday. This being the last time the public could be heard on the issue. For the record I am against the Draft Legislation and those I spoke to are also against the legislation. I did not talk to any of the “Pro-Legislation” people, so admittedly you are hearing only one side of the argument when reading this. Additionally I am not Bahamian, simply an outsider throwing in his two cents worth. So in that respect my two cents are really only worth one cent. But in a way I still get to vote. Only I vote with my traveling dollars. It gets spent where my fishing friends and family will be welcomed and enjoy the experience. The last Public Forum that was held on Monday with Minister Gray and Prescott Smith prominently in attendance was, from those I talked to, a disaster. Many steps backward, very confusing and a significant number of attendees from places like North Andros flown in to make sure the atmosphere was anti-DIY, anti-Foreign ownership and in support of the current Draft legislation. Cindy Pinder, Vice-President of the Abaco Fly Fishing Guide Association asked me to make the point that as bad as this all sounds “we are still in the consultative stage, we are going to fight it” and she doesn’t see how it will make it through the Cabinet. Her caution is that we don’t panic, there is more of this tale to be told before final legislation passes. She is right. I respect what she has to say and support her, their association and the many others who continue to fight the good fight. But the fact is, travelling fisherman are now in LIMBO. I want to support my many friends in the Bahamas, those that own lodges, the independent guides that run professional businesses and all the other stakeholders that I have gotten to know through the last fifteen years. This morning I woke up to over 200 emails essentially asking the same two questions, “What happened at the meeting?” “Should we still book our trip?” How do I answer? How do I back the stakeholders in the Bahamas who make their living from traveling anglers and at the same time provide information that is relevant to subscribers. Rock and a Hard place. So, I’m putting it bluntly. My wife, myself and fishing friends as of this morning have cancelled our one month stay on North Andros for this coming December. As per usual we had booked a home for 30 days, rented two cars, hired guides for seven days plus the obvious, buying groceries, gas, booze etc., etc., etc. Why? Because the home owner is asking for a 50% down payment which is standard and we would normally do in a flash. But who is going to send down that amount of money when, I don’t know if on my “non-guided” days I can walk the flats on my own? Or worse yet, know what kind of intimidation tactics and threats I will face? It’s just LIMBO. Why not just go somewhere else where there is certainty? To the best of my knowledge no one has endured more harassment and vandalism in the Bahamas then myself and/or immediate fishing buddies. We have just endured it in the hopes things would improve. Now that I know a plane full of anti-DIY supporters were flown in from North Andros for the meeting, I’m not prepared to risk confrontation this December. I’m tired of it. You don’t want me….fine. I will go somewhere else. There I just voted. So what do I tell the other few thousand or so anglers, families and their friends that use this site for information? Probably this; read what is available in the Blogs, in the Forums, the published news paper articles and make your own decision. And in that vain, below are the latest two news paper articles published in the Tribune. Tribune #1 Tribune #2 I spent 30 minutes deciding on the title for the Blog. Now I’m trying to find a picture that represents how I feel, to place within the text. But having trouble finding a “Sad face, casting a fly.”
↧
Booking For The Bahamas
While we are in Limbo waiting to see how the final Bahamian Legislation looks, booking your winter trip to the Bahamas is a bit of a crap shoot. And if you do book, what terms should you be negotiating in case the effect of the final legislation is not suitable for the style of trip you have planned. If you are going to a Bahamian owned lodge, obviously no issue, DIY people are certainly standing on shaky ground and other lodges are hopefully in the clear. But Vince Tobia of Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters has put together a Planning Pledge that makes great sense. Seems to me this is the kind of booking terms anyone should be asking for under the circumstances. Here is Vince’s approach to protecting those anglers that book Great Inagua through him. “There has a been a lot of ominous talk about the new proposed Bahamas fishing regulations. Some people are forecasting an end to DIY bonefishing for all who love to visit the Bahamas. I remain hopeful that reasonable regulations, in the form of affordable license fees, will be put in place which will allow everyone to continue to enjoy all that the Bahamas has to offer. However, Because of the uncertainty surrounding these new proposed fishing regulations, we will be implementing a new policy until everything is cleared up. For anyone wishing to visit the Bahamas this fall, or in 2016, and reserve space on Great Inagua at Inagua Outback Lodge, we will hold your deposit and final payment in the United States until the start of your trip. Our Bahamian partner has agreed to forgo receiving the usual deposit and final payment until after the start of the trip. This will reserve your spot. If The new regulations outlaw DIY fishing, we will issue you a full refund of your trip costs. Period. No fees. All of your $ will be refunded to you. (Excluding airfare and any Nassau expenses incurred) This is our pledge to you at Cattaraugus Creek Outfitters. “ Vince Tobia
↧
Abaco Bahamas Report
After all of the negative information coming out of the Bahamas thought it would be nice to post a trip report, reminding us how much fun it can be. So thanks for subscriber Mark Elliot and his wife for the following: “My wife and I recently vacationed on Abaco Island. We stayed at the Sand Dollar Cove Cottages on Casuarina Point. http://www.sanddollarcovecottages.com The beach is incredible, with a huge sand bar directly in front of the cottages. The owner, Chad Efinger, was extremely helpful on all matters. His cottages offer a boat to access some of the smaller islands on the perimeter of the cove. I spent the majority of my time fishing the low tide on the flats in front of our cottage. These fish are spooky…the slightest noise or splash will spook them away. It took me two days of changing flies and lengthening my leader, eventually to 18’ before I finally hooked one. I honestly don’t think the pattern matters that much, as long as it doesn’t make any noise “plop”, when it lands. The strip is crucial…slowly drag the fly across the bottom. The standard strip pace will spook them. The fish will tail with in casting distance from the beach during the low tide. There were always fish cruising the flats. The cruising fish require leading them by 40’ and hoping they continue on their path towards your fly, then SLOWLY retrieve your fly. The fish I caught on the beach were much larger than the ones I caught in the creeks of Cherokee Sound. I spent a half-day with guide Donnie Lowe. Donnie took me into the creeks and back- waters of Cherokee Sound. We had a good morning, catching 7 bonefish. Donnie is a life long resident of Abaco and his family is one of the original residents to move to the island after the Revolutionary War. He is quality guide and will keep you on the fish. Casuarina point was a perfect spot for my wife and I. She was able to run the beach every morning and sunbath while I fished. Every afternoon, during high tide, we drove into town for lunch. Our favorite was Pete’s Pub in Little Harbor, great atmosphere and good food. Hopefully the DIY fisherman will be able to continue to wade the crystal clear waters of Casuarina Point.” Thanks Mark I had a couple of reports from fisherman this week talking about “difficult” fish and what they needed to do to catch them. These are experienced fly fishers so they figured it out. But once again let me try to shorten the learning curve and tell you what I and the other members of my fishing “gang” do. First of all, if you can get away from the heavily fished areas, do. Get out my book, get on Google Earth, find flats and creeks that are a little more off the beaten track. Second, be prepared to go through one bottle of Scotch every two days…the pressured fish can drive you nuts. Third, lengthen the leader to as long as you can cast. If you can cast 18 feet, do it. Fourth, forget everything you have heard about tippet size. Go as small as you can. I have gone as low as six pounds. You have to get them to eat first. Most of the pressured places don’t have obstructions to worry about. Eight pound works just fine. Your fly cannot “plop”. No sound at all when it enters the water. If all you have is weighted flies, take your pliers and cut off the chain or barbells. Strip, strip is a no, no. They hate the standard retrieve. Either leave it or a very slow, steady pull until tight. For tailing fish use the “dry fly” technique. Long leader, no weight, no plop and land the “dry fly” right on his head. Just like spring creek fishing in Montana.
↧
↧
Version 2.0 of BFFIA Bahamian Plan
The Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association has released Version 2.0 of its proposal to regulate flats fishing in the Bahamas. This is not rewritten legislation, merely the BFFIA’s recommendations. Attached is the full text of the proposal for your review. They have specifically targeted Unguided anglers in the name of conservation. If legislation was to incorporate this kind of language, you can cross the Bahamas off as a DIY destination. Here is the full text: Conservation: – Major nursery systems of Mangroves and Flats throughout The Bahamas need to be protected. Examples being the Northside of Grand Bahama, West Coast of Andros, the Joulters Cays, Bights of Acklins and Crooked Island, Westside of Abaco, Eleuthera, Long Island and Cat Island etc. This is imperative that these Mangrove habitats and flats are protected, especially Red Mangroves, as it is the primary nursery system where the juvenile fish and crustaceans grow and find protection from the predatory fish. This will increase the fish population from depletion or extinction for the continued enjoyment of Anglers and generations to come. No commercial mining or drilling of any kind should be allowed in the flats. These areas should be passed by Law as Marine Reserves. A Management Plan needs to be implemented which focuses on the opening of many blocked creeks around the Bahamas, repairs and building of boat ramps, Game Wardens Program, Wading Warden Program (responsible for manning the zoned Unguided Anglers (UGA) Flats ensuring proper handling and care of the bonefish, tarpon, permit, snook and stingray, no netting or littering), funding local children conservation educational programs and field trips and the proper handling and care of the “Catch & Release” species by Guides and Anglers. It is recommended that all mangrove, flats and reef research should be done through The College of the Bahamas in consultation and in conjunction with BFFIA. BFFIA suggests that 40% of the Fishing License Proceeds go to conservation and that a Board Member of BFFIA be appointed as Board Representative on the Government Conservation Fund Committee. Fishing Licenses: – Fishing permits should be sold electronically and purchased via credit card or through the Department of Marine Resources, the Family Island Administrator’s Offices, Fly Shops or Lodges. Fly Shops and Lodges should be able to purchase Daily and Weekly Licenses in Bulk at a discounted rate and be able to sell to the Anglers, like we do now with Batelco Phone Cards, and send in the filled in applications to the Department of Marine Resources for their records. Persons who have a vacation home in The Bahamas should be able to purchase a year fishing license for the owners of the house. This is not for use by guests visiting their homes. BFFIA suggests that there be two (2) Categories of Fishing Licenses, Guided and Unguided. This will also assist with more accurate surveys and statistics as to the percentages of Guided and Unguided Anglers frequenting our Country’s Flats and not rely on secondhand surveys or information from Non-Bahamian Entities’ Reports. The proposed fees are as follows: W/Guide $10 W/O Guide $20 Day W/Guide $50 W/O Guide $100 Week W/Guide $100 W/O Guide $200 Month W/Guide $250 W/O Guide $500 Year Foreign Vessels or Floating Lodges: – A Foreign Registered Vessel (needs to be defined) fishing in Bahamian waters with single or multiple flatsboats be required to purchase a sportfishing permit also for the flatsboats and a fishing license for every Angler on board. They would also be required to hire a Certified Bahamian Guide at a ratio of one to two, that is one guide to every two Anglers. Certified Fishing Guide be employed at a ratio of one(1) to two(2), namely one guide to every two Anglers fishing in the flats. Number 5 (2) (c): – In the Draft Legislation where is it talks about Certification of Guide and operators. It need to state “successfully completed the fly-fishing Certification program offered by BFFIA for a minimal fee. Certification of Guides: – The legitimizing of the Fishing Guide Profession for Bahamian Citizens only. The reason being that Immigration status like permanent resident with the right to work and others have and are still being abused, especially in the commercial fishing sector. Currently foreigners are only marrying locals to have access to our Natural Resources while they continue to hold on their primary residence in their country with no allegiance to the Bahamas. General Guide License and Master Guide license should be obtained from The Department of Marine Resources, following the certification of the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association. Current professional Guides, with five years or more experience should be grandfathered in, with new Guides undertaking the certification program, which would include a minimum of a year apprenticeship on the flats with a professional Guide. They would also be required to have Liability Insurance. Certification of Lodge Operators: – The certification of lodges should be done by the Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association and the Ministry of Tourism Hotel licensing unit. BFFIA recommends that Foreign Investment Board should consult with BFFIA, who will discuss with members and relevant stakeholders, to evaluate the current lodge density in the proposed area to avoid over fishing and irreparable damages to the already fragile local fishery. A major concern is that Bahamians who are presently in the industry, have been placed at a very unfair disadvantage and competition, due to not having access to capital compounded with high interest rates from our local banks whereas foreign persons do not encounter these issues. The present lodges here in The Bahamas should be grandfathered in, but any Lodge going forward should be majority Bahamian owned and the Industry reserved for Bahamians. Duty Free Exemption Fishing Lodge Operators: – The BFFIA recommends that Certified Guides should also be able to apply to the Department of Marine Resources/Minister of Finance for customs duty exemption for Boats, Trailers, Engines, Trucks, Jeeps or SUVs, Kayaks, Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUP), fly fishing gears and related supplies, so that it would […]
↧
Exuma Report
While we can still walk the flats on our own, I might as well continue to post trip reports. At lease to remember the type of experience that we are in jeopardy of losing. This one happens to be the perfect example of a part guide, part DIY trip. Complete with the non-fishing spouse looking for a tropical vacation. The question that needs to be answered is; “Will this angler visit the Bahamas and book three days with a guide if he can’t walk a flat on his own after dinner?” Thanks to subscriber Aldo Orlando and his wife Nicoletta from Italy for this report on their trip to Exuma. “First thank you for all the info you shared with me about Exuma. Nicoletta and I organized the trip for our silver wedding anniversary, counting on your precise advise and we returned home deeply satisfied! As you well know Exuma is a beautiful place on earth and we met excellent persons there. The fishing was so and so: many shark on the flats, some mistakes by the fisherman : me, at crucial moments. But a great trip with a mixture of DIY and guided fishing. I fished for three days with Allan JJ Dames and spoke to him about the new rules for flats fishing we agreed about three points: -protection of the fishery -protection of the local people involved in the industry generated from the fishery -institution of a reasonable and easy to get (online) license for the DIY fisherman. JJ was insatisfied of the results of the meetings at wich he attended and was preoccupied for possible negative evolution of the debate. Last negative impression: the lady at the tourist office STATED that i can’t fishing without a guide to follow the PRESENT LAW (which knew to be untrue). This is particularly serious coming from a person who is working for the visitors and officially representing her government. I was so disgusted that forgot to get her name. Seems like the dark omens about fishing the Bahamas are not clearing for now; I keep my fingers crossed! Aldo
↧
The Bones of Bonaire
Here is a nice Guest Blog from Greg Olsen on his recent family trip to Bonaire. Though I wouldn’t consider it a “bonefish” destination it is a place where you can combine a family vacation (especially if you are divers) with a couple of afternoons casting to bones. I spent a month there with my wife and friends, fishing 28 of the 30 days, so have a fairly good feel for the place and what it has to offer. Chris has captured the variety and essence of Bonaire very well in his Blog. I had to laugh when he talked about the wind, because now my buddy and I compare all trips and the associated weather with “our trip to Bonaire.” It’s there that we concluded we can fish in winds up to 30 mph, but over that means “it might just be time for a beer.” “Just wanted to thank you guys (Rod Hamilton and Kirk Deeter) for the advice on Bonaire and your book, which I reread right before going. After my first experience fishing salt last year on Cat Island, in the calm water of Orange Creek, flats fishing on Bonaire was a whole new ball game. You guys said it was windy, but I had no idea what windy really was until Bonaire, it is 24/7 windy! My son and I concentrated on the flat adjacent to Sorobon Beach. We had activities planned everyday, so spending a couple of hours early in the morning, before the wind surfers woke up, worked well. The first morning, I saw a school of six Bones, I got a cast in front of them, started to strip, got two to follow, before they lost interest and went back to the group. I got another cast in front of them, one followed without eating, until I paused my retrieve, and the fish pounced on it. My second cast and a fish! I figured this was going to be easy! Well….., that first day we had an incoming tide and the wind was only 17 mph. The rest of the time, it was low tide and the wind cranked up to 27 mph. So about a third of the flat had no water and the turtle grass, which the fish preferred was ankle deep, but the constant waves were knee high. You could see through the face of a wave like a window, but then you had to walk into the wind and rising sun. Keeping the wind and sun at your back allowed one to cast better, but it was much harder to see. At times, it reminded me of grouse hunting without a dog. There were bonefish that would sit still in little depressions with water barely covering them. A couple times, I almost stepped on a fish, before it “flushed.” I couldn’t see them and they couldn’t see me! Still we got a few shots every morning, but more often than not, they seemed to not see the fly, and with the shallow turtle grass getting churned up, that would not be surprising. Our last morning, my son Brian did hook up, but with the fish screaming through the shallows with its back out of the water and over broken coral (adjacent to the resort), the tippet broke. We had an awesome time on Bonaire. The snorkeling was unreal, swimming with sea turtles and we toured caves, mangroves, donkey sanctuary, national park,etc. Kirk, you wrote about observing tarpon when diving in Bonaire and getting an up close observation of their habits. I was able to do that a few times with schools of bonefish in ~ 6-8 feet of water. They seemed to not to care or notice me following them across a flat, watching them eat. One school, had a permit for a wing man! Yes, the fishing was a bit frustrating, but we got much better at spotting fish, especially over turtle grass and experience fishing a flat. Not to mention, casting into high winds. The morning we departed, there was not time to hit the flat one more time, and I discovered what I missed was not the catching of bonefish (maybe due to only getting one!), but just being on the flat with my son, the sun coming up over the ocean, the sound of waves and the birds, and the anticipation of seeing a glimpse of the gray fox. Thanks again, I really appreciate your help!” Thanks for the report Greg, well said.
↧
Bahamas Draft Fishing Regulations – Newest Version
Thought I would get this out as quickly as possible and let everyone have a look at it. I had to laugh at myself and the obvious Freudian error as I was typing the title for the Blog. When I went to proof read it I had typed…”Bahamas Daft Fishing Regulations”……quickly inserted an “r'” where required, but it did make me wonder if my fingers were simply expressing themselves. Anyway, no comments from me. I will let you read, digest and come to your own conclusions. All comments are welcome. Can’t say if this is the final yet, but it must be coming close. Draft Bahamas Fishing Regulations
↧
↧
Fly Fishing the Yucatan – Report
Here is a great report from some Canadian friends who ventured to the Yucatan to try their hand at some saltwater fly fishing. When reading the report, keep in mind they are new to the game…….I believe this is their second trip anywhere fishing for flats species. I heard from Nick Denbow their guide as well……Everything said is true!!!!! “We went to the Yucatan Peninsula Mexico this April to fly fish in and around Mahahual. Accommodation is easy to find and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. On Rod’s recommendation we booked guide Nick Denbow about 2 1/2 months prior to our trip. Look him up on You Tube. He is a very friendly guy with a wealth of knowledge that he shares as you fish. We did a trip to an interior lagoon off his John boat, where Phillip hooked a Tarpon on his third cast which Nicke estimated at over 50 lbs. It took 25 minutes to land, jumping in the air doing high flying maneuvers four times!! What a magnificent fish. There were literally a dozen more jumping around the lake as they seemed to like the overcast morning. In the heat of the day they vanished, preferring to stay deeper. Later in the day I hooked a huge snook that took off down the cenote in the middle of the lake. Since I was running out of backing Nick had to follow the fish with the boat. When it finally came out of the cenote we were all excited to see it was over 30 pounds. Not bad for the first time tarpon and snook fishing. The next day we changed it up and did a beach fishing trip with Nick. We waded in the surf and shallows, and landed a large number of bone fish. Then Nick pointed out a “different” fin cutting through the surface of the water, one cast and Phillip was fast to a 12 pound permit. With the coaching of Nick and him wading in the water up to his neck he tailed the fish. Following a 30 minute fight, it was picture time. After releasing the permit, Nick pointed out that we had landed the “Super Slam” in two days. We DIYed for 5 more days around the beaches of Mahahaul and caught many more bonefish. Thanks to Nick for showing us were to go, how to rig up and what to look for. We encountered the wind that the area can experience but even though the water was stirred up we could still find plenty of fish on the ocean beaches. We had a great 10 days and are sure to return again.” Debbie and Phillip Smith B.C. Canada
↧
Bahamian Fishing Regulation Update
With the comment period soon ending, regarding the latest Draft legislation, here are the responses penned by The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and The Abaco Fly Fishing Guide’s Association. The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust response letter. The Abaco Fly Fishing Guide’s Association comment letter. Everything I can add has already been stated in one or both of the above responses, so no need for me to repeat what both entities have already effectively communicated. Will these two letters along with the 100’s of others the government received fall on deaf ears? I guess we are about to find out. But imagine how you would feel if you were a second home owner with a flats boat and could no longer go fishing with your wife for an afternoon without a Bahamian guide in the boat. Imagine the chaos and complexity of needing two different licenses and requiring them to be stamped by customs officials. And putting the BFFIA in charge of the guides and training? Just not getting a vibe that the government wants me back. Where is the “Welcome Mat”. My “fishing gang” were together this week doing some lake fishing for rainbow trout in central British Columbia and naturally the conversation over dinner turned to “where is our next saltwater flats trip going to be?” Guess which country was not even mentioned in the conversation? This after more then ten years of annual trips.
↧
Muddy Water In The Bahamas
I just finished reading a great article that was published in this month’s American Angler titled Muddy Water In The Bahamas by Miles Nolte. His resume is extensive including working as a guide for Swallowtail Fly Fishing in Bozeman, author of The Alaska Chronicles plus holding down a faculty position at Montana State University. I thought I should bring the article to everyone’s attention as Miles has been able to take the convulted craziness that has been going on in the Bahamas, capture the essence of the personalities involved, not be swayed by the intrigue and write a story that takes us from the beginning (which started innocently enough) through to the current state of the proposed legislation. And he has done it better then anyone else I have read on the subject. If you want to sit down and read one article that covers the intricacies and back story on the state of the proposed Bahamian flats fishing legislation, pick up the most current issue of American Angler and read Muddy Water in the Bahamas. With the permission of American Angler I have included a few paragraphs from the article. “In its recommendations to the Ministry of Marine Resources, the BFFIA called for mandatory guide training programs to be managed and implemented by the association, a notion that effectively gives the BFFIA control over who does and doesn’t get guide licenses, and requires aspiring guides to pay the BFFIA for training.” “Contrary to widespread speculation, there was no explicit language in the original draft of the proposed regulations that referred to DIY anglers. However, the BFFIA’s proposal to the ministry suggested zoning specific areas for unguided angling, and that local guides and lodges determine the perimeters of those zones, a clear threat to unguided angling. Additionally, the private-vessels provision, along with the expanded definition of fishing guide and confusion about obtaining fishing permits do seem to limit DIY. These changes created the perception, for some, that The Bahamas is no longer an inviting location for traveling fly anglers or foreigners with second homes within the island nation.” “Another completely new element requires Bahamian citizens to purchase licenses for recreational fishing. This means that Bahamians, who earn $4/hour on average, would have to pay $100 per season to maintain the privilege of fishing the flats for fun in their spare time.” Great articles Miles, thanks to American Angler for keeping us up to date.
↧