Belize - Turneffe Flats

[bonefishdick]

Made my second trip to Belize in two years and again had a great time. The weather was not as nice as my first trip, the wind was really blowing the whole week and made things a little hard most of the time.

Got a fair number of Bones and most were bigger than my first trip, They never cease to amaze me with their power and speed. The only thing faster than the Bones that I ran into was the Cuda that ate one of my Bones in One Gulp. Quite impressive, poor thing did not have a chance.

The only thing that impressed me more than the Cuda was my Guide. It is mind boggleing how he could spot fish, even with the wind blowing along with the clouds and rain as well.

I FOUND ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS TRIP WAS THE PEOPLE THAT YOU MEET. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO HEAR THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT TURNEFFE FLATS AND OTHER PLACES THEY HAVE BEEN AND HOW IT COMPARED TO THEIR OTHER TRIPS.

I HAVE NOT BEEN TO ANY OTHER LOCATIONS FOR BONEFISH SO I HAVE NO BASIS FOR MAKING COMPARISONS. I WAS REALLY THINKING ABOUT WERE I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON MY NEXT TRIP AND FROM SOME OF THE COMMENTS I HEARD FROM OTHERS ABOUT THEIR OTHER TRIPS, IT WAS AT TIMES A LITTLE DISCOURAGING. THEY ALL SAID THAT WHILE AT TURNEFFE THEY HAD SEEN MORE FISH AND MUCH BIGGER SCHOOLS THAN ANY OF THE PLACES THEY HAD BEEN.

FOR EXAMPLE, (i'm not picking on the Bahamas, just using it as one example, it was not the only place mentioned) MOST OF THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE BAHAMAS WERE THAT PEOPLE SAID THAT MOST OF THE FISH TRAVELED IN SINGLES AND DOUBLES AND NOT TO MANY IN LARGE SCHOOLS. THE UPSIDE WAS THAT THE BOTTOM WAS A LOT MORE SANDY AND MADE IT EASIER TO SPOT THE FISH.

I guess my point is, it made me think about what was important about were I went and what it was that I wanted from the trip. It really did make me think about were should I go the next time and would I be disappointed.

The one thing I can say about this trip and the last trip was that I really think my wife had a better time than me both times(maybe not , me as a single in a flats boat poling along with a guide, could it get any better). If you have a wife who likes to dive and snorkle this is the place. That is also one of the other considerations I try to keep in mind when I plan my next trip, activities for the wife. A happy wife makes for a Happy fisherman, so she tells me.

Looking for ideas with good info and it does not have to be limited to Bonefish.

All replys will be greatly appreciated.

[Tarpon41]

BFD

Weather Weather Weather ...my suggestions with a wife who does not fish...

1/ grand bahama island...staying at either sheraton or westin Lucaya... not during spring break...May 1-November 15 fishing west end...nowhere near the quantity of bonefish but larger...e.g. last march fished two days blown away two days but the blown days I did not fish thus saved 850.00 on the guide. IMO after doing this for over 30 years mostly in Andros and Key West, I don't want to stand on the casting platform for seven hours no sun...dark bottom...15-20 kt wind ...I cannot see the fish until their at 40 feet. The two days of fishing I requested larger fish...saw about 20 each day but in the 5 to 12 pound class...caught 3 first day and 5 second day...last fish of the second day 10/ 8oz guide estimate with his boga...but the last day we did not see a fish until the last two hours then 15-20 big fish presenting one, twos and threes...just when I thought this was going to be the best four days of big fish ever...I was blown off the last two...

2/ key west...staying at any of the nicer B & B...latter part of June through november best fishing and best guides are available and best weather but it is hot when not on the water...fishing for tarpon, permit and lastly bonefish...january,feb and march are good but very weather dependent

[LeeG]

Glad you had a good week, and the snorkeling in Belize was amazing. Better than anywhere I've ever been.

I spent a week fishing in glovers reef, with a great guide-Francis Cleveland. The fishing there is similar to turneffe and you're right-you can see huge schools of fish. I haven't really experienced those size schools in the bahamas often but truth be told, I find multiple shots and smaller pods more rewarding. The other upside is that if you blow a cast, you only scare away two fish, not two hundred.

My first time flyfishing ever was at Glovers reef so I assumed every bonefishing destination was like Belize. I tied all my flies based on what worked in Belize and discovered that sand bottoms were more prevalent in the Bahamas and the fly colors of choice were some form of tan or brown. Either way, both are great bonefishing destinations.

[sweet+salt]

Bonefishdick, you raise two points: the easy one, about bonefishing and the hard one regarding non-angler opportunities.

My wife and I fished Turneffe Flats two years ago in Mach/April and we loved it. Great people, spectacular environment and Fry Jacks. My wife has gotten into fly fishing with me and is becoming more accomplished and passionate with every passing season. Were it not for that I'd be in trouble because great fishing in untrammeled habitat rarely co-exists with fine dining, shopping opportuinties and an absence of biting bugs. Let me say this: Turneffe Atol is NOT a bonefishing destination. Good for tarpon and GREAT for permit (the reason to go there) but juveniel, schoolie bones abound. Worse yet, the bonefishing is largly done on the lovely reef flats where you tread upon living branch coral. Not only is that an ecological no no but when you strip even an unweighted fly you hook coral incesently - real shrimp and crabs don't grab onto the coral... If you want giant schools of bonefish, try Ascencion Bay in Mexico, fish out of Punta Allan. Smaller schools of bigger fish and singles, pairs or pods of half a dozen bonefish, where double-digit, broad-shouldered bruts are possible are found in the Bahamas. And then there are the upper Florida Keys, Islamorada - A quaint little drinking town with a serious fishing problem - where the bonefish are all big, live over deeper turtle grass carpeted bottoms and laugh at the majority of my attempts to to get up close and personal with them.

The Bahamas are hard to beat. If you have more sun than cloud, the wind stays under 20 knots and you have an experienced guide you will enjoy first class angling. Just find a camp with a nice ocean facing beach, a good cook and snorkling opportunities and have a Kalik, mon.

[backwater]

I had a really outstanding experience fishing Turneffe Flats in April. One thing I noticed about your post is that you didn't mention anything about permit, only bonefish. In April, the permit were on fire. I fished for a week and caught five, one was 35 pounds, and other one was at least 20. Anyway, I also caught a half dozen bonefish, but I thought that they were of the highly educated variety. Bonefishing at Turneffe Flats is not even close to easy. I saw plenty of fish but they seem to like really small flies and I probably threw every pattern I brought.

If you are interested in catching large numbers of decent sized fish, I would go to South Andros. There are other spots that I hear are good, but SA just seems to deliver. Its getting a little pricey but you'll see plenty of dumb bonefish that love a variety of patterns. I've stayed at Andros South and at the Glatos Bonefish Lodge. Andros South has the best selection of guides on the island, but its a little pricey, but a professional operation. Glatos is Bahamian owned. In fact, the owners live right across the street. Its a little different atmosphere, but it is much much less expensive. Check out Buccaneer Travel for booking. Both lodges use the same kinds of Dolphin style skiffs. The guides at Glatos are, IMHO, just about as good. Just depends what you're looking for. Everyone fishes in the Water Cays on the southern tip of the island so I don't think it matters that much who's guiding you.

Hope that helps.