First Time Bonefishing

[fmw]

Earlier this winter on a sailing trip in the BVI, I had the opportunity to cast to a few tailing bones around the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda. While one fish ignored my perflectly cast fly, and I scared away another, lets just say I caught the bug big time and want to try to plan a bonefish trip next year. Could you give a few thoughts on your opinions as to the best destinations for first time bonefishers?????? Thanks!

[Marshrunner]

fmw,
The first time, you will probably learn more going to a lodge and fishing all day every day with a lodge guide than fishing with an independent guide or trying it on your own. And I'd vote for a destination that you can get to in a single day to maximize your time on the water. The Bahamas are reachable same day for east coast and mid west anglers have many good lodges, especially Andros, Exuma, Grand Bahama, and Abaco.

Also at established lodges, I can't recommend too strongly that you tell your guide your skill level and that you want to learn everything you can not just catch fish. Show him your tackle, rigging, and flies, and ask his recommendations.

If you have a non-fishing partner you may want a lodge near shopping and other activities (Grand Bahama); if you are alone or with a fishing buddy, Andros is probably you're best bet.

Dick

[fmw]

Thanks!! Your post kind of confirmed what I was thinking. A quick follow up: Should I assume from your post a preference toward Andros as compared to destinations like Mexico and Belize (which you did not mention).

Just from casual reading and watching too many fishing shows, it seems like you can catch tons of bones around the Yucatan, etc., but everytime I watch one of those ESPN shows and they are in that area, the bones look like they are TINY!! A pound or two at best. Is my impression correct that for someone from the northeast, who is used to catching false albies and big blues and bass, that these fish would be kind of a dissapointment and that Belize and Mexico might be the best fit for someone with the primary goal of great shots at Permit???

[Marshrunner]

Both Belize and Mexico can be very good as well. On average, the fish are smaller but you should get some shots at larger fish as well. Craig mathews (father of the pop's Bitters flies, is a great fan of Turneffe Flats where he stalks big fish with small flies. And if you want the added attraction of getting many shots at permit Belize is a better choice then the Bahamas.

But if it's your first time for bones, I personally would concentrate on them and go in March or Novemeber when the largest #'s of bf are on the flats in the Bahamas. That should give you plenty of good experience with 4- to 8-pound fish which is all a new bf angler could ask for--and they a big enough and challenging enough for you to get the true feel of the fish. Try to take a full week in case you get a couple days blown out by a cold front. And if you do want that odd shot at a permit as an option, pack a 10 wt rigged for permit only along with your bf rods and check out one of the lodges in Abaco (Sandy Point) or Grand Bahamas or Andros.

Dick