Tarpon and Bonefish

[Stefan Vester]

Hi
I planning to go fishing Bonefish and Tarpon for the first time.
I wonder if anyone can help me with a good location in december or january.

Best regards

[Tarpon41]

Assumptions: 1/ Flyrod; 2/ sight fishing ; 3/ reasonable budget

Bonefish: Central America or Bahamas weather in the Bahamas can be problematic in December January that evil cold air from Canada; however, for me on Andros for the past 35 years all my big fish are in those two months.

Tarpon: not Bahamas then... maybe a lucky by catch in the big creeks.
Central America/Mexico: bonefish/permit and tarpon maybe

IMHO Tarpon on the fly sight fishing flats is the Florida Keys lucky March and April, best May June and July...that said my biggest fish(125 plus) was Long Key late March oceanside.

My suggestion if new to bones would be good lodges Central America and lower Mexico and Permit and some shots at smaller tarpon

[scottsum]

I've had very good success in various parts of the Yucatan. Up higher on the peninsula (Isla Blanca) you'll probably have excellent shots at baby tarpon, permit and snook, but the water's a bit cold for bonefish mid-winter that far-up. Ascension bay is supposed to have the opportunity at a slam in the winter, but I haven't actually fished it yet (I'm going in March.) I fished Boca Paila Lagoon last year for a half day and had several shots at permit, and landed a few bonefish, and according to the guide, there are tarpon around, but a half day isn't really enough time to do it all (go figure). If you can afford a package deal, go for Paradise Lodge in Chetumal Bay. My Dad and I went down there several years ago and had an absolute blast. Bonefish are everywhere, there are tons of baby tarpon in the lakes and lagoons, and you have a good chance at permit and snook as well. This is a great place to learn flats fishing as the fish are plentiful (though not necessarily large) and pretty forgiving. I will say, that for bang for the buck, I have absolutely loved fishing a day or two with Enrique in Isla Blanca the last two years. And don't discount snook. I caught my first several last year and wow! Bonefish run, tarpon jump, but snook are the whole package and extremely aggressive. I'll post a nice shot of one of my snook with Enrique last year. Here's the link to his website too: http://www.cancunflatsfishing.com/


Good luck with your search.

[Onshore]

If you want to go a little closer to home, you might take a look at some of the guide postings on the Florids Forum.

[mrlee]

I have been fishing for tarpon down here for 8 years, and they are abundant.
The bummer is we have no bone fish (or if we do, it's a secret!
We sight cast to tarpon in FRESH WATER lagoons! These monsters can grow to over 200 lbs and many have never returned to the sea; they just hang out and grow large. These fish migrate up the rio san juan (boundry between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, then hang a left at the many tributaries.

the beauty of fishing here is that it is so cheap, as long as you stay away from the expensive lodges on the Caribbean side, where they get the big bucks. Yes, you may get more shots at tarpon in the ocean, but to be able to sight cast to a monster for less than half the cost, in fresh water is a one of a kind experience

[catspaw]

Mr. Lee,

How far up the rivers are you fishing and are there any facilities in the area? I fish tarpon in the Fla. keys every year but am always looking for a new adventure.

Thanks

[pschwart00]

I'll start by saying I've never fished in the Rio San Juan (which I believe is what is being referred to here).
However, from what I do know most of the tarpon fishing in this area is done by trolling lipped plugs or casting lipped plugs. Quassi blindly. I.E. you see fishing rolling in the area but are not casting to a specific fish.

Also, sounds like a major PIA to get there. But that aside I think the quantity of fished jumped in a day can be very good.