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November
14, 2011:
Non-tropical
ruminations: Saturday, November 12, I took an afternoon
off from what would otherwise have been office work (our
office is generously-proportioned, but always full of
office equipment, business reports, booking sheets, fishing
gear, and sometimes drying waders and assorted paraphernalia).
I'm fortunate to live near several northern-California
trout, steelhead, and salmon rivers, so I spend quite
a bit of my free time in the fall, particularly, with
a 10-foot 7 weight fly rod in hand on one of those streams.
Last Saturday, it was the Klamath, between Hamburg
and Seiad Valley. With just two hours to play around
in, I selected a favorite set of riffles and runs, and
began casting across and down; swinging a size-2 sculpin
through the current. On about the sixth cast, the
line tightened, and I felt that familiar but oh-so-thrilling
throb in the rod and into my arm and shoulder, then a
large steelhead shot up from the current and into the
calm autumn air a good 4 feet. We diced with one
another, but my barbless fly held, and I landed one of
the largest Klamath River steelhead I've ever caught,
at least recently. I taped it at 26 inches, so I'll
guess roughly 6 pounds or so. That's pretty big
for the Klamath, which is known more for sheer numbers
of smaller (we call them "half-pounders) steelies
than for the bigger fish that divert from the Klamath
into the Trinity or one of the lower coastal tributaries.
In the following hour and a half, I caught 4 other fish
of the half-pounder class (16 to18 inches length), and
drove home wreathed in the smoke of an Italian cigarro
and a great deal of satisfaction. If you ever have
a hankering to catch some steelhead in a relatively easy
manner (and often some numbers of fish, too), you could
do MUCH worse than meeting me here in Yreka, California
in the fall. I can just about guarantee that you'll
catch some genuine steelhead, and we'll have a great time
watching the fall colors and the wildlife as well.
October
17, 2011:
Reports from
both the Bahamas and Mexico follow. We've had angling
customers in several places this month, and they've reported
excellent bonefishing from South Andros, Long Island,
and Acklins Island; VERY hot baby tarpon action from the
Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. One pair of anglers
who recently visited Rio Lagartos on the Gulf shore of
Mexico were so enthusiastic on their return that they
immediately rebooked another trip. In a full week
of fishing (6 1/2 days), they caught roughly sixty 8 to
25 pound tarpon between them, plus jacks, mackerel, snook,
and some oddball large sunfish that I'm still attempting
to identify from the pictures they sent.
And as usual,
the Bahamas have provided a second, and relatively unknown
peak bonefishing season in the fall: clients who
traveled to the above-mentioned islands came back very
satisfied with both sizes and numbers of fish caught.
I love the fall
months for tropical fly-fishing: no crowds, even in the
most popular places (which we don't book, anyway), and
fish of all species that have become accustomed over the
summer and early fall months to cruising the flats for
snacks without any angling pressure at all.
If you want
to participate in the most relaxed tropical fishing on
the flats and around the mangroves, you cannot better
the months of October, November, and December. Even
January usually offers reliable weather and greater then
usual numbers of mostly unwary fish of all sizes on the
flats.
Try it out -
you'll agree that the autumn months are among the very
best for the angler who wants solitude, great fishing,
and fine weather.
August
05, 2011
If you've missed
fishing Rio Lagartos or Isla Holbox for tarpon this summer,
you've missed one of the most extra-ordinary seasons of
tarpon fishing yet.
A recent visitor
(June 26 to August 03) caught an average of 13 tarpon
daily during his visit.
Bahamas visitors
have also benefitted from crowded (by bonefish; NOT people)
flats. In early July, some anglers of ours at one destination
estimated that they hooked up with no fewer than 20 bonefish
daily PER PERSON, and also caught a permit, tarpon, sharks,
jacks, and even some snappers.
Our special
on Deadman's Cay fishing continues - just $1823 per person
per person for double occupancy;
7 nights + 6
days guided; meals, lodging, and 6 days guided bonefishing.
Tips, travel, and bar beverages not included.
Don't miss the
fall 2011 season in the tropics.
Feb
2009 March 2008 TRIP REPORTS
Rio
Lagartos, Isla Holbox, Xcalak, Mexico
(why
you shouldn't cast to Brown Pelicans...) and other
stuff
plus BAHAMAS!!
commentary,
facts, fiction, blog-odditites....read more...
May
2011
This has been
an exceptional year for Bahamas bonefishing. The fall-off
from peak travel in 2007 and 2008 has meant fewer anglers
on the flats, and more "room to roam" for those
making the short hop to our friendly neighbor islands
in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Really, the tropics
of the world considered fairly, there is no more expansive
area of perfect bonefish habitat anywhere. Added to that
are expert guides, lodging from budget to luxurious, and
ease and low expense of getting there. To encourage traveling
anglers to make the trip, we at Buccaneer Travel are offering
a budget but extremely quality trip for two to the best
wading flats in the world at Deadman's Cay, Long Island,
Bahamas. Price at just US$1823 per person for a full week,
this trip shows the white-sand wading world of the mid
and southern Bahamas at their best.
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While
the worldwide economy falters, and destinations around the world
report falling sales, Buccaneer Travel continues to post growth
in sales, customer satisfaction, and just plain FUN. 
