Post "Otto" Fishing on St. Maarten

[Tight Line SXM]

Well, I think I should take a little time to update everyone on what's been happening here on St. Maarten over the past few weeks.

Well, the biggest challenge to catching fish has been the rash of hurricanes and tropical storms that have passed close to the island this year. But there is good news and bad associated with them.

The good news is that the fishing 36-48 hrs before each storm is great as the fish feed ahead of the bad weather. Double digit tarpon (no landlocked fish) and almost as many snook are not uncommon in a 4 hr trip for those that want to get up early.

The problem is that depending on how long the storm sticks around the waters whip themselves into a frenzy enough to scare anyone. There in lies the problem for my last two clients that visited the island last week.

After the storm finally passed and the rain finally ended the water around the island was unfishable until this past Saturday.

The great part was Sunday morning the fish were literally pushing the bait onto the sand in may locations. The tarpon and the snook in the water reminded me of the bluefish blitzes I would fish on Long Island.

Fish of all sizes! Tarpon from 5# - 100# could be seen rolling and feeding, none too shy to take a hook. The best of the day was about 40#.

The snook although present had a hard time finding the hooks because of all the tarpon in the water although a few to 10# were brought ashore with my friend Peter from "Top Carrot Cafe".

Monday was a basic repeat of Sunday but less tarpon which meant more snook. Both my girls Nicole and Mia landed their share of both.

A peak at the weather forecast for the remainder of the week shows promising conditions so I expect to be out on the beach as much as possible.

Although Dave didn't get a chance to fish with me last week because of the weather I hope that Ray his pal, who's staying and extra week, get's to land a few with me before he returns stateside this weekend.

Tyt Lynz everyone.

[Tight Line SXM]

I had the pleasure to guide a couple, Ray and Mary-Margaret, from California yesterday evening.

After I picked then up we made a brief stop at what was one of my favorite snook spots that was close to their hotel. Much to my surprise the previous storm, Otto, erased a once beautiful beach leaving bare rocks and a few seaside villas ready to be claimed by the sea. We made the best of it and moved on.

After sitting in traffic to get to our next spot we arrived just as the sun was setting. The water was quiet...Too quiet. A few large mullets could be seen playing and jumping like school kids. Not what a guide wants to see. But as the sun sank below the horizon and darkness set in the telltale signs of snook on the feed became present.

Swirls with varying degrees of "largeness" began to become apparent as Ray and Mary-Margaret casted under the starlit sky.

Then the soft lapping of the water on the sand was interrupted by Ray's drag screaming to life as he held on to his first snook.

After playing tug-of-war for several minutes the snook decided to play dirty. He found a buoy about 15 yards off the beach and then made a 90 degree turn. Thinking that it was all over Ray asked my advise. I told him to keep the line tight because I'm going to get wet.

Well I waded out, then tippy-toed further and finally swam to the buoy. When I finally got there I could see the yellow tail out of the water and realized that it was touch and go if the fish was going to come ashore.

After a little finesse I finally felt the fish's gill rakers slicing my fingertips. Victory was ours!

Ray caught his first snook!

[Steelhed]

Yeah, Dave was/is disappointed at my bad timing last week (16" of rain in 4 days). My first snook will have to wait until next time!