Antigua (again!!)

[PhilH]

Just wanted to ask if any of you guy's that I sent the report too after my adventures in September 2003 had anything to report back??

Have you been yet??

Did you catch??

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Phil

[cedahm]

Sorry it took so long, Phil. We returned last week from Barbuda and Antigua. Brief reports on both (as it was our belated honeymoon, I had to lay off the fishing more than normal. Not a bad thing, of course).


Barbuda

Spent the first 5 days on Barbuda. Having been screwed out of our deposit by one of the three resorts there (sold and closed their doors without notice), we ended up at a tiny beachside resort only accessible by boat on the North end of the island. Great place, a little issue involving Jimmy Buffet and nearly being moved to one of the swanky places on the south side, but that's for another post. Did get to meet Mr Buffet. Nice guy.

Anyway, fishing. Well, it has a lot of potential as it sits right by the entrance to the lagoon that makes up about a fifth of Barbuda's acreage and the mangrove creeks that accompany it. Some decent flats at the mouth of the lagoon and just inside. The whole North end of Barbuda is enclosed by a near-shore reef, so there are flats on the ocean as well. All of these were made tough by the incessant high wind during our stay, so sadly, I was mostly confined to beach casting for cuda, snapper and the like. Fun, but not bonefish. Got out in a boat after them when the wind slowed to a dull roar briefly our last full day and had two shots at small groups of bones and a take and subsequent long-distance release of a tarpon.

Definitely worth a return visit when the wind is down. I don't think more than a handful of people fish here any given year.

Antigua

Spent the last 4 days on Antigua. Stayed on the East coast at Long Bay (fantastic place, BTW) and had a car for exploring and fishing. Since it was our first time and a short trip at that, we spent a lot of time exploring and just plain lazing around enjoying ourselves, so fishing was again in the backseat. However, armed with Phil H's extremely detailed and helpful report (now salt and mud encrusted from being in the jeep the whole time) I was able to hit some of the spots he visited. Again, my friend the high winds were in town, though pretty manageable at this point. Day one we went down to Johnsons point, and walked a couple of beaches over to a protected cove was ringed by two points with coral/sand flats extending around them. Spotted some fish rising and falling in the light surf breaks that looked to be permit, and had a go at them with a little merkin. Solid take on the first cast and I figured I was not dealing with permit. Nice jack, one of several. Saw one lonely looking bone in a couple hours wading around the points, stalked to about 60 feet and he spooked as soon as my line was in the air.

Also found a great looking piece of water by cades bay. Down some two track past rotting appliances was this fantastic protected sand and grass flat. I was salivating. Waded out a hundred yards or so and was just getting into it when some young (maybe 8 or 9 year old) local boys arrived and took an interest in my wife. Figured they were just chatting, but the subtle head nod got me back to her, and that spot had to be given up (I believe it was their Sunday fishing hole). Short stops at a couple of other places (Carlisle and Cades bay) yielded more snapper and jacks and one fleeting shot at a decent sized permit (that acted very permit-like and lazily swam away from my lvingly tied crab fly).

ALl in all, I wish I had more fishing time to explore both places. Phil, your report was great, though not used to great "catching" success, it put me in the right places.

Best,
Chris