Sunday, August 30, 2009

Trip Report: Isla del Sabalo (Aug. 20 - 23, 2009)

Bob G. displaying a gorgeous baby Tarpon landed while fishing the rios...

After fishing Tarpon Cay Lodge for a few days, we ventured over to Isla del Sabalo to fish this incredibly pristine area. This fishery never ceases to amaze me with its lush mangroves and gin-clear flats. Fishing aside, this environ is as near-perfect as any angler can hope for in terms of sheer beauty, wildlife diversity, and remoteness. Fishing here always reminds me that I have a unique opportunity to fish a part of the Yucatan that has not changed for eons. This place is truly special...

During our days fishing at Isla del Sabalo... we had great conditions for fishing the flats in the early AM. This yielded many shots at rolling baby Tarpon on a calm glassy morning. We enticed a few to the boat, but were often reminded that this environ and calm conditions can require an "A-game". A game of stealth and long accurate presentations. This is my most enjoyable way to fish for baby Tarpon. I appreciate just seeing these Tarpon roll lazily against the glassy surface, while emitting an audible "bloop" sound as they gulp air... to me, this is flats fishing at its finest.

As late-morning and afternoon winds picked up, we would head into the extensive rio system of this fishery. Entering these rios is like having your own playground with Tarpon. Near the mouth, most of these rivers are half a football field wide and allow for open casting to rolling Tarpon. Then, as one ventures further up the river system the quarters can get very "quaint" and turn into an alleyway brawl with Tarpon. We all had our stories of 20+ pound baby Tarpon that slammed our fly in these tight quarters, only to have them win the battle by jumping into the mangroves and dislodging our fly.

The Tarpon at Isla del Sabalo are robust and tough. Their body shape is very stout and their fins erect and full. This is a tribute to the health of this ecosystem. These Tarpon are well nourished by the bounty of this vast mangrove coastline and the pristine flats. All Tarpon are tough, but these fish just seem to have an extra reserve of brute strength that means a tougher fight on the end of your line. I love them all...

In addition to our Tarpon quest, we were also entertained by catches of cudas, snook, and other mangrove inhabitants (snapper, pargo, etc.) One of our group members and his guide even had a close up sighting of a saltwater crocodile that followed them for a short distance while poling up a river. Again, this healthy ecosystem supports so much wildlife... Above the water, there is always a variety of avian life that creates a nice backdrop while fishing. We were accompanied by many birds, including beautiful pink flamingos that are a standout against the lush mangrove shoreline.

In final, this past trip to Tarpon Cay Lodge and Isla del Sabalo was a most memorable one... not only because of the fishing, but the wonderful camaraderie that comes with hosting a group. Lots of laughs and fun during the trip, but we all departed knowing that we have cherished fishing memories to add to our lifetime fishing journal. Travel safe, fish well, tight lines, and good fishing to all...

Keith
Tad Aragaki (Sunnyvale, CA) and guide, Rodrigo, showing off a chunky baby Tarpon landed in the rios...

The most gorgeous backdrop to pursue baby Tarpon...

Downtime under the palapa after a fun day of pursuing baby Tarpon...

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Fishing Report: Tarpon Cay Lodge (Aug. 17 - 19, 2009)

Bob Giannoni displaying one of many nice baby Tarpon landed at Tarpon Cay Lodge...

This week, a few good friends and customers of Angling On The Fly are fishing with me at Tarpon Cay Lodge. We are experiencing very unseasonal winds in the Yucatan this summer. Normally, the months of July through September experience very little wind or none at all. To explain, this year´s summer season has seen an unusual lack of rain in what normally is the rainy season. And with rain, comes minimal or no wind conditions. Without the rainy season arriving yet, the conditions are clear with strong afternoon winds... almost like spring weather patterns. The locals say that it is quite a strange summer season and they are all waiting for the rain to come. As I write, there are a few thunderheads building in the distance in the inland direction... for our fishing, we are hoping that this storm will bring calmer conditions so that we may pursue the larger Tarpon off-shore... our fingers are crossed.

Now, I don´t want to paint a bleak picture of the fishing here this week. Despite the windy conditions, we are still experiencing stellar fishing sessions for baby Tarpon on the flats and around the mangroves. This season, the baby Tarpon seem to be much larger than average with some being jumped in the 12 - 15+ pound range. And again, the fishery is showing its health with good numbers of schools to be found in many areas around San Felipe.

The hot flies this week are the Puglisi Tarpon Streamer (size 2/0 in orange/yellow or rust orange), SeaDucer (size 1/0 in ginger tied weedless), Haskin's Deep Cover Shrimp (size 1/0), Merriman's Tarpon Toad (size 1/0 in chartreuse), and Haskin's Foxxy Minnow (size 2/0 in blush/tan).

This week, our customer Bill Ninke (Flemington, NJ) fished one of his hand-tied SeaDucers that proved to be the ideal fly to counter some of the fishing conditions encountered this week. The strong wind on some days caused the turtlegrass and other aquatic vegetation to dislodge from the bottom and litter the much of the surface. Bill tied his SeaDucers with a two pronged weed guard and this designed was very effective at keeping the fly "clean" while fishing these conditions. He reported that most of his fish this week was landed on this pattern.

Well, our fishing is complete here at Tarpon Cay Lodge. Tomorrow, we depart for Isla del Sabalo where we will continue to fish for baby Tarpon but in a much different environ. We are looking forward to sight fishing and fishing the extensive rios and lagoons at Isla del Sabalo. We will report back soon! Until then, good fishing to you and Fish On!

Bob G. and guide, Cresp, heading out for the afternoon fishing session...

Bob lands his first-ever baby Tarpon
First light at Tarpon Cay...

Bob with a nice baby Tarpon landed on the flats at Tarpon Cay Lodge

I landed a migratory Tarpon off-shore one calm afternoon...

This Tarpon landed on a 2/0 streamer tied by Charlie Bisharat

"White Lines" are NO BUENO! Unseasonal strong afternoon winds this week...

Bob lands another fine baby T during the morning calm...

The happy staff at Tarpon Cay Lodge are always ready to serve you!

A nice baby Tarpon landed on a windy flat one afternoon...

Monday, August 17, 2009

Trip Report: Isla del Sabalo (Aug. 9 - 15, 2009)

Jon sporting a grande "baby" Tarpon at Isla del Sabalo

We just received a fishing report from our good friend and customer, Jon H. of Cupertino, CA. Last week he fished Isla del Sabalo and reported a successful trip with good fishing. Here is his fishing report and some other insightful comments:
"My tarpon count was twenty two, one small snook, a two foot long barracuda and a few pargo.....one around three pounds. I asked Lee [Haskin] to tie up some Gurglers and he added a couple Neutralizers. Caught six tarpon using those two patterns in the creeks and lakes."
Well, it looks like we may have to add a couple more of Lee Haskin´s patterns to our recommended list of flies for Isla del Sabalo! Way to go Jon!
As a side note, I am blogging to you from Tarpon Cay Lodge this week. I will be fishing Tarpon Cay through Wednesday, and then heading to Isla del Sabalo for another few days. I will blog again tomorrow with a report from Tarpon Cay Lodge. Good fishing to you all!
- Keith
Isla del Sabalo guide, Rodrigo, displaying one of Jon´s numerous Tarpon landed last week...

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

HOT FLY: Modified Raghead Crab for Permit

A Raghead Crab, but with some nice modifications for shallow flats fishing...

Every season, it is always interesting to see what creative flies are developed for a fishery and become the "hot fly". At Isla Blanca, it is no mystery that the Raghead Crab (Umpqua Flies) is a staple for Permit. However, this season our clients saw an improved variation of this productive pattern. Isla Blanca guide, Luis Patron, made a few modifications to this pattern that proved to be a winner. Take a look at the photos and you will see that he modified the pattern with bead-chain weight (for super shallow flats), jointed tan legs (instead of straight white legs), black mono eyes, and an opaque white underside. The pattern accounted for many Permit this season...
(photos by Jim Christensen and Guy Deaner)

Opaque white underside...

This pattern looks good enough to eat at a crab feed!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Trip Report: Tarpon Cay Lodge (July/August)

Robert with a really nice Tarpon at TCL!

We received a nice report from customer Robert Hill (Billings, MT) who fished Tarpon Cay Lodge recently.

" I had a great time at TCL, I saw and had more opportunities at juvenile tarpon than I have ever had at other places I have traveled. The two 50 lb tarpon that I caught on the same day with the same fly was memorable. Accommodations, staff and food at San Felipe Hotel were great. Thank You, Robert E Hill"

50 pounds of silver-clad power brought to hand...

Another nice Tarpon for Robert... way to go!

A surprise by-catch (Jack C) while pursing migratory Tarpon...

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Photography: Yucatan Baby Tarpon

Silver-clad Baby Tarpon (photo by Lance Nishimura)

Tarpon are a creature of beauty... whether they are 5 pounds or 100 pounds, they each have an aura and glow about them that no other fish has. Their flanks are bright as a mint silver dollar, while, at the same time, the scales throw hues of purple, olive, blue, and even pink. And lucky for us, beneath this beauty is a brute that gives anglers one of the best fights on a fly rod... Fish On!

The subtle, and yet beautiful colors of Tarpon (JohnGSherman.com photo)

Monday, August 3, 2009

Trip Report: Tarpon Cay Lodge

Damien and Kurt displaying "double-trouble" for baby Tarpon at Tarpon Cay Lodge

Last month, our friend and customer Damien Nurre of Deep Canyon Outfitters (Bend, OR) and Kurt Brickner fished Tarpon Cay Lodge. They reported a spectacular week of fishing for baby Tarpon and other species. Read below for his trip report and photos:

"This was by far the best experience I've had at TCL... We went looking for migratory fish twice. The wind was always present,... We only had a handful of shots at the big boys. I had one eat with out a hook up and Kurt had one eat and brief battle after a tailed out cast. The babies where abundant and we experienced the "Tarpon Boil" a few times. We fished Sunday morning before our flight and had the best fishing of the trip. In a few hours, we easily jumped 20 fish! Guide Cresp was great. He had a much different style than the other guides I'd fished with. He was very patient and confident, and it paid off for him 9 out of 10 times. I tried to keep score for the week, I jumped 47, landed 7. Kurt jumped at least 25 and landed more than I did. I got schooled on fighting the fish this trip. The highlight of the trip was landing 2 doubles on the last morning. We had 4 doubles on. On Kurt's 2nd cast of the morning he jumped 3 tarpon. I've fished a number of famous locations, and the fishing at TCL is by far the best fishing, regardless of species. Beto was great as always, as was the rest of the staff. We had a great trip! - Damien Nurre (Deep Canyon Outfitters)"

Baby Tarpon going vertical...

Tarpon headshot...

Damien excited about baby Tarpon!

All smiles for Kurt and baby Tarpon!

Damien with one of many baby Tarpon for the trip...