David,
Great story. Sorry it didn't work out, but the place sounds cool.
While down at Casa Blanca, I ran into the biggest bunch of permit snobs. No even interested in casting to bones. "I can catch all I want in the Bahamas. I want permit." Well, I for one had a blast bonefishing down there. Sometimes it was so easy--cast into a school and you could catch 10 fish in a half hour. The real fun was fishing to the tailing singles in really skinny water. Man, they were tough!
It really is a different ball game than striper fishing. After living on Ascension Bay for four months, what I figured out was that aside from the hunter mentality, what it took was time on the water. Seeing fish. Casting into wind--accurately. I never became great, but after fishing every day, I learned a lot.
The thing that I can't figure out is the guys who fish on the flats once a year, can't cast for crap, and catch 100 bones and 3 permit in one day (I saw this, I swear)!!!
Anyway, it is a blast and I really miss it. Casting to a tailing 25lb permit at 40 feet, having him go down on your crab 3 !@##$$%ing times, and not eating, will make your knees knock you right off the bow! My wife was with me and said, "Honey, are your knees REALLY shaking?" Yup.
Sean