Turks & Caicos DIY??

[stephen]

Guys,
I will be in T&C on Provo Dec7-14th. Never been there and heard the guide prices are steep. I'm breaking the bank just getting the family there so no extra funds for fishing.

Bonefish would be fine but I'm fine with pitching flies in the surf as well. I won't have a car available but can rent one if necessary. I'll be at the Beaches resort.

ANY info would be greatly appreciated. PM or e-mail me at smikel1@aol.com if you prefer over posting. Thanks a million.
Steve

[pgBilly]

Hi Stephen, I spent 2 weeks on Provo last March and I'm heading back in May for 9 days. Much of Provo is protected as national parks and closed to all fishing. However there is some nice DIY flats and salinas on the south end of the island around Turtle Tail. When you go to get your licence (at turtle cove marina, its about $35.00) there is the DEA office on the way from the Beaches Resort, stop in and ask them where the boundaries are. I heard fines for fishing within the park boundaries was enormous. From Beaches a rental car would definitely be the way to go as Grace Bay is closed to fishing. I didn't see any opportunity to surf fish on Provo, Middle Caicos looked like it had some places with a little more surf.

Cheers and enjoy, it's a beautiful Island. PM me if you have any more questions.

Bill

[John M]

I will be there from Dec. 24-31. Is there any place you could rent a skiff and explore some of the flats on middle caicos? Are the park areas that are closed to fishing marked and who enforces the area? Will be my first time on the island and we are renting a jeep for the week.

[pgBilly]

Hey John, I don't know a lot on the skiff rental side of Middle Caicos but I did meet Arthur Cardinal who guides from Middle, Bottle Creek and Conch Bar would be good places to start looking. On Providenciales, Windsurf Provo has skiff rentals and kayak rentals. None of the Parks I visited had visible 'no fishing' signs that I recall, but once talking to the guys at the DEA office it was very crystal where I could and couldn't fish. The DEA has fisheries officers who conduct patrols via land and water, when I stopped in asked for park bounderies and regs there was at least 5-6 officers there getting ready to head out.

[John M]

Bill thanks for the info. We are actually staying on provo and I've heard you could go as far as Parrot Cay in a skiff rented at Windfurf Provo. I have the Bahamas Fly Fishing Guide and there is some helpful info in there. Just trying to gather as much information as possible before I go as my time fishing the salt is limited.

[John M]

Stephen just curious how the trip was and if you got into any fish?