VIRGIN ISLANDS

[Matt]

I am off to the British Virgin Islands for New Years with my girlfriend. I will be able to "break loose" from her a couple of the days to do some fishing. Has anyone fished the Virgin Islands, and if so I would really appreciate any helpful information you can give (i.e. Which island is best, rod weight, areas, guides, etc.). And for the second most important topic: Anyone know of any good bars or restaurants. Thanks so much in advance.

Matt.

[rpruett]

Matt - I'm heading to the BVI in April and have started to do my homework on fishing opportunities and methods. I have not contacted any of these guide services yet, but you might try them. I would appreciate it if you would either copy me on your correspondence with them or let me know by email what you find out and how your trip was (rppruett@us.ibm.com). We'll be bareboating and will go where ever the fishing is best. Expecting to flyfish flats in Anegada and troll off back of sailboat for tuna, dolpin. Don't know yet if there is any reef fishing for grouper, etc. good luck and let me know what you find out. Have a great trip.

information about charters. It is not an easy thing to find any information about fishing in the area, but hopefully this will help:
Caribbean Fly Fishing Nanny Cay, 284-499-1590, Fax 494-4797 28' m/v. 18' flats boats with guides, Bone fish, tarpon on the fly - rates on request, CC
Pelican Charters Lts. M/W Whopper, Prospect Reeef Harbor, $ 990/day, $650/1/2 day sprotfishin: $ 1200/day marlin
equip: 46' Chirs Craft IGFA rated equipt.bait, tackly, dringks & lunch or snacks inc. M. Other rates on request. Tel. 284-496-7386
Persistence Charters Ltd. Towers West-End (closest to us. Rates: $ 700/day, $400/half day, Equip.: 31' Tiara. All bait, tackle, drings, lunch or snacks included. Tel. 284-495-4122, Cell. 284-499-2978
half day or full day of
Garfield Faulkner - Anegada bonefishing, contact through Sue Wheatley at the Anegada Reef Hotel (www.anegadareef.com).

[rsm]

Fly Fishing in Salt Waters had a cover article about the BVI a few issues back. They listed a number of spots and guides if you can find the article. I've misplaced my copy so I don't have the details. If you're on Jost or Tortola, I can recommend a guide from St. John who is very good. Light tackle with live bait. See my post under St. John.

[giles]

Fishing in the BVI is amazing. It is however very tough. Stalking only for Bones except for in Anagada Kevin and Garfield are top guides and their details are above. I have hooked over 200 fish in the last year and landed 50% of them. The biggest is 11.9lb and the smallest around 3lb. Ian Bachelor of Caribbean Fly Fishing is a great guide on 1 284 494 4797. I recommend an 8 weight rod and line and a good 200 yards of backing. The average fish is around the 5lb mark. These fish are fished at often so if you cannot cast 60ft you are in for a torrid time, you will see loads of fish and catch none of them.

The Tarpon fishing is good, fish are in the 30 - 80 class and take flies pretty well, 2-inch surf candy style and anchovy style work best. Most of the fish are around the bays, Smugglers, Brewers and Josiah’s Bay almost all year round, October is the best time to fish them when the migrating tarpon come through, I hooked 30 fish a day for two weeks in October 02. My biggest landed fish is 50lb.

Permit, like anywhere else finding the fish is the tough bit, they are around most of the flats at the High, HighTide. I have hooked 5 so far and landed zero. All on a Dels Merkin.

My advice bring an 8, 10, 12, I use Sage RPLXi and Abel Reels. If you just want to catch fish go somewhere else, if you want a challenge and some world-class fish come to the BVI. I have also caught a 10lb Horse Eye Jack, loads of Bar Jacks, Tuna, Mahi-Mahi, Pompano and the usual flats fish.

[stuhutch]

Matt
You have being givern some good information in the previous posts

I have stayed on Tortola several times and had some great fly-fishing wading from shore. However finding, approaching and getting the fish to take the fly can be very challenging.

Having said that, if you figure it out, the fishing can be great.

I have caught mainly tarpon, but also bones, snook, small tuna, various little reef fish.
The biggest Tarpon landed was in the 50lb class but I have hooked them faaar bigger, that either broke off or threw the hook. I have snorkeled and seen pods of tarpon 5 - 6 ft long corralling bait fish (small anchovy / pilchard) I think.

Early in the morning snook can be right in the surf 2 feet from shore.

I use 8 and 10 wt, clear int. and floating lines with a long leader.
Rays fly’s (Ray Bondorew) between 2 - 4 '' worked very well, very easy to tie, see http://www.stripermoon.com./flyarch/arc1.html

All of the bays have tarpon at times. The biggest flats are on Beef island (bridged to Tortola) there are other flats all around Tortola where I have seen permit (unfortunately while doing attentive husband / family man duties)