Luyen’s Reel-Time FLog

I had a half day charter booked with Capt. Steve Bailey on Wednesday, March 16, and another on Saturday, March 19.  Wouldn’t you know it?  Wednesday was cancelled at the boat ramp due to high winds and low visibility.  We decided to make Saturday a full day outing, but lasted only three hours before calling it quits — the wind, which was mild in the early morning, picked up steadily, and it was hard to find any lee along Pine Island.  To make matters worse, the fish were insanely spooky.  I had maybe two legit shots, but most of the time, I was casting to fish that were making tracks long before we spotted them.  By 11AM, the wind was insufferable, and we called it a day.

Ding Darling did not yield anything either.  I saw some nice snook on the first day in the refuge, but they had lockjaw.  I hooked one snook on bait under the first culvert, but as with most hookups under the culverts, it was a short-lived affair.  Other than the numerous sea cats, baby bonnet head sharks and whiting that we caught on shrimp from the beach, the trip was a total bust (from a fishing standpoint).

Well, at least there’s Andros in April!

Turks & Caicos is a funny set of islands. they still net bones on the flats around the more populated regions. You have to get out-island to catch fish with any consistency. Barr is (IMHO) the best guide on T&C. Some others swear by Arthur Dean, but for my money, Barr is the man. Tell him I sent you out with him. Ask him to take you to the Man o’ War Bush at the eastern extreme of the islands. He may charge you extra for gas, but it’s well worth it. As for DIY angling, I have not had much luck with drop off or wading from shore. Stick with Barr, you have a better shot at some great angling.

Please let me know the results of your trip. Quid pro quo!

Tight lines,

–Luyen

Joe M. writes:
Luyen,

Thanks for getting back to me. I have some fishing questions about the Turks and Caicos , any info. would be greatly appreciated. It sounds like you are familiar with the area. We ( my wife and 2 daughters) will on Provo in the beginning of April. I may book a guide for a day or do a drop off but would like to fish on my own as well. Finding the locations and the fish is almost as much fun as fishing to them. Here is what I have found out over the past month or so: I’ve been in contact with some guides ; Barr Gardner , Ed Messick and Silver Deep and the airboat charter on South Caicos and will probably go with Barr if I book one unless you have other suggestions.  I have checked out the boat rental and had a skiff booked at Windsurfing
Provo but when the conversation turned to fishing he told me no fishing was allowed from his boats. Also contacted a kayak rental over on the NE side of the island and was told the same thing. I did find one other place but they were about the same price as a guided trip for a day. They both said it creates a bit of tension with the local guides. I will probably book a guide for a day even though they are on the expensive but also like to get out for a few hours here and would like to do that on my own. I’m thinking of shipping down an inflatable kayak to access any flats or shoreline spots, there are some relatively lightweight models that seem like they would perform well for that purpose. What do you think , would that be worth bringing if I can’t find a rental? So any locations that you care to share that I can access by car , bike, foot or kayak would be most helpful. Any boat rental tips as well. As far as locations I know about there’s Turtle Lake , Flamingo Lake , The little Five Cays along the south shore, Pine Cay and a flat just off the NE side of the island. Thank you again and I look forward to your reply.

Best Regards ,

Joe M.

Arrived in Sanibel yesteday afternoon for our annual vacation with Rachel’s folks. Fished Ding Darling today for the first time this year. Lots of snook milling around the culverts, but didn’t seem to be interested in eating. Had one fish follow the fly at the second culvert. Lots of snook popping bait under the roads, but no takers on flies or shrimp.