Virgin Gorda, October fishing

[tobycoll]

Looks like most people are out looking for fishing on their Honeymoon......well count me in!!!! Will be at Bitter End YC for 9 days mid-October. Any good suggestions on where to take an 8-wt. and catch some fish??????

[fmw]

Hmmm, hope there's no hurricanes then!

Do a search of archives re BVI fishing. Bottom line is you can take one of their Boston Whalers out to a flat near the entrance of north sound or you can walk around the corner to the back of the resort and you should see bones. I found a few there on a sailing trip a few years ago, though I didn't catch any. I recall that the resort's map of nearby snorkeling locations even identifies "bonefish flats." There's should be plenty of other life around as well. There's even resident tarpon that hang in the resorts dock lights at nite. If you want a more serious shot at bones, arrange for a day trip to Anegada, which even if you don't fish is a place that you should still try to get to.

[FireFly]

Are you staying on the hill or down on the beach? Wife and I stayed there 5 years ago for out H'Moon and had one heck of a time. One of the best places I have ever vacationed.

While I did not do any fishing I did see quite a few Tarpon. Go over to Saba rock (500 yards from the BYC beach) and watch as they do shark feeding at night with the table scraps. Plenty of tarpon and you can almost touch them they are so darn close.

You can also rent a CC for the day/week while you are there. I did not do it but our friends (we met at the airport) did and they had a blast! Tell the wife it's for sight seeing (you can get to a lot of protected places with the CC) and then when she's tired you can leave her at BYC and head out fishing.

Don't forget to go to the baths for great snorkeling, Anagada (sp?) for great snorkeling and that's where most of the islands get their fish from and you can't miss the champagne cruise at BYC. If you make friends there (it's impossible not to) you'll all have one heck of a time on the cruise.

Sorry I could not be more help on the fishing front but now I know who to turn to 5 years from now when I go back for my 10 year anniversary ;)

Oh, and congratulations!

[backman]

I had a blast with a 9 wt and a Penn 4300 at BEYC using their 11' whalers. On 3 seperate occasions I found 20-40# tarpon off float by the beach bar on the other side of north sound. I was towed 1-2 miles for 45 minutes by a bigger one before I eventually broke off in the BEYC moorings. That was on a 4300; I also got a couple w/ a fly once I located them with spinning gear.

Jacks were here and there; especially around the reef edges inside the sound as were 'cudas.

3-4 pound bonito were schooled up and breaking by acres in the middle of the sound and would eat flies.

There were also some very good sized mangrove snapper on the reef edges at the mouth of the sound.

[SherpaT]

Directly across Gorda Sound from BEYC, near the main entrance channel to the sound, there is an island called Mosquito Island with an anchorage called Drake's. There's a small resort there as well. The anchorage is protected by a barrier reef and flats. There are tarpon and bones there. I did not fish, as we were usually there in January and the wind is honking. You could probably get there in a small whaler from BEYC. Probably about 3 miles??? through the protected Gorda Sound. You will definitely see tarpon at the BEYC docks too.

Side note, Mosquito island is gorgeous with hiking trails over to the "Drake Passage" side, where there are some spectacular beaches--check out Honeymoon cove. I think it's private, but they didn't seem to mind us walking over there after having had cocktails at their restaurant and paying a $15 overnight mooring fee. We also saw a spectacular red/purple "hermit" crab migration up on the trails. very cool. Good luck! You could also catch a hop to Annegada, about 20ish miles away, where there is reportedly decent bonefishing.

[tobycoll]

Appreciate you guys helping me out. Looking forward to the trip will post any exiciting activities when I return.

[BobG]

You made a wise choice. :brow You chose not only a great place for your honeymoon, but the only place on Virgin Gorda that has any bonefish. :brow
We were on VG 7 or 8 years back, and the only place I found any bonefish at all was at Bitter End. There are some small flats to the left of the resort. They have fish on them daily, but they see LOTS of pressure. So, be prepared for rejection (from the fish, not the bride ;) ).
If you really must have some bonefish, I think they fly out of the VG airport now to Anegada. Maybe you could arrange a day trip.

Enjoy the place, VG is lovely.

[tobycoll]

I am getting my order together for flies, etc for Bitter End here in a couple weeks. Anything I may miss????

Thanks

TC