Return Of The Bonefish

Finally some great news: the bonefish have returned with a vengeance down here on Vieques. And after spending a week in the way too cold waters of Southwest Florida, this has really been a welcome change. Our big flat in Ensenada Honda has basically been a field of tailing bonefish each morning after sunrise, although only for the first few hours of the day. The fish we’re seeing out there right now are huge, but unfortunately they don’t get huge by being stupid.

The average Vieques bone is a five pounder, and bonefish of this size rarely travel in big numbers down here. We commonly spot them tailing by themselves or along with a similar sized partner. This makes them a more difficult target than the smaller bones that school up by the hundreds in places like the Bahamas. Every once in a while we do come across swarms of two pounders that will eat anything that’s cast near them, but this is the exception, not the rule.

The last few days in Ensenada Honda have not only been full of big tailing bonefish, but the occasional small school of baby tarpon, too. We haven’t landed any of those yet this week but that will happen soon. The tarpon of Vieques are amazingly dumb when you compare them to their cousins in the Florida Keys. They’ll eat anything at any time simply because no one down here fishes for them. I actually get kind of spoiled after tarpon fishing for a few days in Puerto Rico. Coming from a Key West background, it’s amazing to watch these fish eat with such wild abandon.

So to sum everything up for this past week, we’ve had calm winds, tailing bonefish, and brain-dead tarpon. Throw in the occasional permit that wouldn’t eat but still showed up anyway, and we’ve had a few great days on the water. Let me also mention that the average temperature down here on Vieques is about 82 degrees. So if you’re stuck in one of those ice storms but still have power, give me a call.

Pine Island, January 2009

I jumped on a plane last Wednesday to spend a week with my family up in Florida. I left an 85 degree Vieques and woke up to a 35 degree Pine Island the very next morning. I actually saw frost for the first time in over a decade.

The extreme cold was both a treat and a curse for my week in Florida. A morning of frost is nothing compared to what the rest of the country is experiencing these days. At least we didn’t wake up to a couple feet of snow or a crippling ice storm. Our biggest problem was the quick plunge in water temperatures that turned the flats species of Southwest Florida into lock jawed aggravation.

Despite the cold, the mangrove creeks surrounding Pine Island Sound were loaded with fish. I never saw so many snook, trout, and redfish in one morning as I did last Monday. Unfortunately, every one of them had us figured out before we could get close with a fly. A couple hundred perfect casts under the mangroves resulted in one briefly hooked snook, and even that didn’t last long.

There are really no surprises about this. We were seeing water temperatures in the fifties last week and that’s cold enough to kill some species. A big cold weather fish kill happened last New Year‘s in the Keys. With such a quick plunge, Southwest Florida’s fish will bunch up in the shallows where they’ll warm up quicker while staying aware of any intruders. In last week’s case, the intruders were myself and a friend on a high tech Maverick flats skiff.

On one positive note, the ladyfish were everywhere, despite the weather, and could be caught with abandon. If you don’t mind getting your boat covered in ladyfish goo, the next cold front that will hit Pine Island this weekend will be a gold mine. So get out there and catch something.

The Mighty Bar Jack

Bar jacks are a common species on the coral reefs of the Caribbean and Atlantic. They get their name from the bright neon-blue bars that run down both sides of their back.

A good size bar jack weighs in around two pounds and the occasional five pounder is not uncommon. Like every other member of the jack family, they're a tremendous fight on light tackle, especially fly rods. On top of being a great looking, strong running catch, bar jacks are delicious. Unlike most other jacks, they have firm white meat and are perfection when lightly grilled with olive oil and Old Bay.

The fish in this picture was caught yesterday in Ensenada Honda by Idaho angler Greg Gibson. We were hopelessly casting to a parade of tailing bonefish and getting rejected by every single one of them. A serious wake came pushing our way, which I assumed was another huge bone, and Greg threw a perfect shot right in front of it. The take was immediate and the fish burned all the fly line and a pile of backing off his classic Fin Nor reel.

It was the perfect bonefish fight until we got on top of Greg's actual catch. I couldn't believe it was a bar jack. It did everything a six pound bonefish should do except look like one. We were both disappointed that it wasn't a bone but I took a handful of pictures anyway.

Looking back, I have no idea why I felt bummed about catching a big bar jack instead of a bonefish. Here on Vieques, I've landed hundreds of bones on the flats over the last few years and only a few bar jacks worthy of a photo. Maybe that makes them a much more rare prize.

Come to think of it, if someone called me and requested a trip to specifically catch bar jacks on the flats, I'd tell them that they've got their work cut out for them. Casting to tailing permit is much more common.

Big bar jacks are a rare fly rod catch on the flats in most locations. They do everything that bonefish do and can make a great meal at the end of the fight. So why aren't they considered part of the elite flats species? This is a good question.

I have a great answer to this and I'll post it later. For now, if you want to catch and eat a great meal, try landing a bar jack like this on a fly rod. It's a hell of a lot tougher than you think.

Tarpon In A Downpour

Fishing in the rain is never fun but it's tolerable when it's 80 degrees and the tarpon are biting. This is angler Bill Bruett from New Jersey with a nice fifteen pounder caught on fly on the north shore of Vieques. The rain was really coming down when Bill hooked this fish, but the lack of visiblilty isn't much of a factor with tarpon fishing down here. Most of our tarpon like to hang out in the deeper lagoons where the water is muddy and the bait are thick. So on a day when chasing bonefish would be impossible, catching a nice silver king is always a possibility here on Vieques.

First Bones of 2009

Yes, it is possible to catch bonefish in twenty-five knot winds, it's just not easy. The fish are here and so is the constant breeze, typical of winter in the Caribbean. These are the first two bonefish we've landed this year after casting to hundreds and loosing a small handful. Conditions are tough right now but the fish are here in good numbers. So if you're on your way to Vieques, practice your double-haul and be ready for some frustration. Also, pinch the barbs down on your flies. They'll be easier to take out of the back of your neck that way.

Stuff I Like: Ask About Fly Fishing's Internet Radio

This is a really great website I came across that features live weekly interviews with a host of notable fly fishing personalities from both fresh and saltwater. Ask About Fly Fishing broadcasts these ninety minute interviews live on a weekly basis and then makes them available to download within twenty-four hours.

I just finished listening to a great show featuring Capt. Earl Waters of Homosassa, FL. He and host Roger Maves were talking specifically about fishing for the famous giant tarpon of that area. I really enjoyed this interview since I spent a month in Homosassa last summer and got to know Capt. Earl a bit while I was there. We didn't get the chance to fish together that summer but he's the real deal as far as West Florida tarpon guides are concerned.

They concentrate mostly on the how-to and technical aspects of the Homosassa fishery, which makes listening to this show a must if you’re heading that way this season. One of the really cool features of this site is that when you listen live to the broadcasts, you can e-mail in your own questions and have them answered by the guest. My only complaint is that Roger should have spent a second hour and a half just having Capt. Earl tell fishing stories about the Homosassa tarpon fishing back in the Glory Days of the early 1970‘s.

Just click on the Ask About Fly Fishing banner at the top of this post and check them out. They have an extensive archive of all their past interviews and I've already downloaded a few hours worth for my next plane ride back to the States.

The Complete DIY Vieques Flats Fishing Package

Since Vieques is an excellent destination for the do-it-yourself angler, a lot of folks are e-mailing and calling me with questions about what kind of gear will and won‘t work down here. Since the majority of our visitors are coming from trout or bass fishing locations, many freshwater rods, reels, and flies won’t be the best choice for our bonefish, tarpon, and permit. On top of that, there is absolutely nowhere to buy any fly fishing gear on the island so you’ll need to bring your own.

I’ve decided to set up a link here on this site for those of you who find yourselves empty-handed in the saltwater department and want the gear to hit our flats without breaking your bank account. Click on the green banner below and on the right labeled “Vieques Angler Flats Fishing Store” and you’ll find seven items perfect for heading out on the shallows without a guide.

Starting with an 8 weight rod and reel combo from Wild Water Fly Fishing, you’ll have a great four-piece travel outfit. I first saw these rods last year in Florida and couldn’t believe how well made they were for that price, $235. The reel is machined from 6061 bar stock aluminum and has a carbon disk drag. Ten years ago you would have paid at least $500 for the same technology and capability in a saltwater fly reel. This is a very welcome trend that started a few years ago in fly fishing, the affordable rod and reel. With this combo you’ll also get a matching weight-forward fly line and a 150 yard spool of 30# Dacron backing. On top of all that, their rods come with an unlimited warranty, so don’t worry about breaking it, they’ll send you a new one.

Next you’ll find a box of twelve different proven bonefish and permit flies that will work anywhere these fish are found, especially here on Vieques. At most fly shops you’ll pay around $4 to $5 for some of these saltwater patterns. Here you’ll get them for less than $2 per fly. A tough, pocket size fly box is also shown here and is only $3. These boxes are really handy for a lot more than holding flies.

The leaders I’ve selected are the best available, the Scientific Anglers Mastery Series. You’ll find them in both 9 and 12 foot lengths and I recommend buying the longer of the two. They are tapered to 8, 10, 12, and 16 pound tippets and I recommend the two heaviest for Vieques and the big bonefish you’ll find down here. You’ll want at least two or three of each.

One of the most useful fly fishing tools is also included here and that is the Orvis Micro Scissors/Forceps. These are durable and inexpensive, but most importantly they’re small enough that they can be packed in your carry-on gear and not be confiscated as a deadly weapon by airline security. You are currently allowed scissors blades under three inches and these are shorter. You’ll need them for clipping leaders, removing hooks, and a variety of other uses.

Finally, I’ve included Teva’s Proton Water Shoes in both men’s and women’s sizes. You’ll definitely need some kind of footwear anytime you wade the flats and these are my favorites. I actually own two pair of Water Shoes and wear them constantly, on and off the water. If I’m fishing, I’m wearing my Water Shoes, and if I’m going out to dinner, I’m wearing my dry pair of Water Shoes. Try a pair, you’ll love them. They’re light, comfortable, and a lot better looking than those unattrative Crocs.

So there is everything you’ll need for a Do-It-Yourself bonefishing trip to Vieques or almost anywhere else in the Caribbean. If you pick up all the tackle I recommend above, your total will be $337 before shipping. It’s hard to find a single fly rod in most shops for less than that. You’re also ordering this gear from Amazon.com so you have total security and a quick delivery time. You’ll be in good shape with anything you see on this site, so check out on the green link and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need some other recommendations.

A Vieques Hitchhiker

So here I am at the beginning of 2009 on Vieques and I’m in a slump. I have yet to land a bonefish this year and it hasn’t been for lack of opportunities. Our Christmas trade winds died off just before New Year’s Day and the conditions have been outstanding. I should be racking up bones left and right but I’m becoming convinced that the fishing gods are conspiring against me.

Take last Saturday for example. I had a very skilled angler on my boat, a young college student named Kurt who was a real artist with his fly rod. He had great eyes and spotted every fish I pointed out to him. On top of that, he followed every single direction I gave him, starting his casts and presenting his flies exactly when I asked. In other words he was a guide’s dream, and he didn’t catch a damn thing with me.

Kurt had great shots at over a dozen bonefish and actually had two eat his flies, but both came unhooked through sheer bad luck. Sometimes my most deserving anglers are the ones that come home empty handed. So after six hours and nothing but pure frustration, we gave up and headed back to the beach.

I launched my boat that morning at a spot called La Platita, a little clearing in the mangroves out in Ensenada Honda. This is at the end of a five mile dirt road just a few miles short of the old Navy bombing range on the eastern tip of Vieques. After I put in at this spot I’d park my Jeep and trailer way back under the mangroves and go fishing.

When we came back to shore and hauled out the boat I noticed something unusual tucked into a corner of the Jeep’s canvas top. It had a lot of hairy legs and clearly did not belong in my vehicle. I poked at it with my keys, hoping to convince it to leave. But the Giant! Freaking! Spider! had other ideas. It dropped right into the passenger’s foot well and then disappeared. I wasn’t exactly sure what species of spider this was, but it was definitely a member of the I-Really-Don’t-Want-This-Damn-Thing-In-The-Car-With-Me! order of arachnids.

Kurt and I spent a long time poking under the Jeep’s seats hoping to chase the spider out into the open, but it didn’t happen. We finally climbed in and headed down the bumpy dirt road, hoping the monster would stay hidden and not crawl up one of our legs during the next half hour. Talk about a long ride home. When I got back to the house I emptied half a can of Raid under both seats. Goodbye, spider.

So the next morning I decided to head down to Encampment Beach for some wade fishing since I had the day off and really needed to catch a bonefish. I'd forgotten about my troubles from the previous day's trip and was just enjoying a drive through Vieques on a warm January morning. Life was good. Then I looked down and THERE‘S MY BUDDY!

Yes, it was a definitely a tarantula. He was climbing up the steering column and clearly getting ready to do something radical, like drop right down on to my crotch. If I were James Bond driving his special Aston Martin I would have hit the ejection seat right there. Unfortunately, the ‘89 Jeep Wrangler didn’t come with that option so I aimed for the sidewalk and jumped out when the front tire smacked the curb.

Tarantulas are actually common on Vieques but rarely come out in the daytime. I’m not arachnophobic and I’ve gotten quite used to finding them in the dark corners of my garage or laundry room but this was too much. Why can’t they at least chirp like a friendly cricket to let you know they’re coming?

This tarantula avoided the Raid fogging and was clearly trying to make a statement. He crawled to the top of the steering wheel and was staring me down when I finally stepped back towards the Jeep. This was one tenacious spider with a twisted sense of humor, so I decided not to kill him. I snapped his picture to send to my spider-hating friends up in Florida and flung him on to the road with my ball cap.

I could write a whole book on all of the creepy-crawly things I’ve encountered down here in the tropics and tarantulas are far from the worst. They’re totally harmless and their bite is no worse than a bee’s sting. No one has ever died from being bitten by one, but if I'd been careening through traffic in San Juan instead of cruising an empty road on Vieques, I may have become the world’s first tarantula-related fatality. What a humiliating way to go that would be. On top of that fun little incident, I didn’t even catch a fish when I finally got to the beach. That was a really great morning here in Paradise.

First Fish Of 2009

Here's our first fish of the year here on Vieques. This five pound mutton snapper came from the flats in Ensenada Honda and hit a root beer colored DOA Shrimp. These big snapper are sometimes common on certain flats down here and make a great sight fishing target. They eat the same things that bonefish and permit feed on and in addition to being great looking, they excellent on the grill. This fish was released unharmed.