Addicted To Bonefish

[Justin Spencer]

Just got back from our cruise to Cozumel where I spent a few hours bonefishing. As luck would have it the cruise ship was a little late getting in, then a long walk to find a cab and a 15 minute cab ride and I was running a good hour behind schedule. I finally located my guide, got settled up and boarded the 23 foot fiberglass boat with a 60 horse yamaha. The normal 40 minute boatride to the north side of the island where the lagoons are located became well over an hour as we battled 25 mph winds and 3-5 foot seas. Finally, after feeling like I went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson, we arrived at a small cut in the beach leading to a maze of lagoons and mangrove islands. The first lagoon was 3-4 foot deep and we anchored up with the guide telling me to blind cast and strip slowly. After 20 casts or so I hooked a small ladyfish and stripped it in unimpressed. Another 10 minutes of this and I suggested we hit the flats for some wading, as this first stop was not what I was after. Alfredo polled the boat to a small opening to another lagoon where we tied the boat to some mangroves and took to the flats. We hadn't walked 30 feet when a small school of bones approached from the upwind side. Needing a 30 foot cast, my best attempts in to the gail force winds left me well short of what I needed. These fish continued on without a look. Several singles and doubles cruised by within casting distance and also passed my fly much to my guides dismay. Then a group of 6 or seven fish approached crosswind of the 25 mph gusts. A few casts, adjusting for the wind, and the fly fell just in front of the moving school. Several slow steady strips and I had my first take! In a flash the biggest bonefish I would hook this day quickly had my slack singing toward the reel, as I was expecting my drag to begin to sing Alfredo gave a yell and reached for my fighting butt in a frantic attempt to unwrap my line which the wind had wrapped around my rod. Without even feeling a tug the bonefish hit the end of the line and popped the fly so cleanly I couldn't even tell the fish had been hooked. That would be the last time that would happen as I made a rookie mistake. I thought Alfredo was going to cry and a few minutes later I said, "that was a pretty good fish wasn't it?". His eyes lit up and he said it was a really big fish! We tied on another fly and continued to walk through shin deep water scanning for fish, tails and flashes. The best thing I can compare this to is combining squirrel hunting with fishing. You creep through the water scanning for fish, and when you find them you either wait, or stalk to within casting distance. The next 30 or 40 minutes we waded through water that was noticable warmer and saw nothing. Once we found a seam of cooler water we again started seeing fish. Attempts to cast into the stiff wind we once again met with less than stellar results but again a crosswind opportunity was met with the second take of the day. The fish grabbed the fly and turned with the school as line began ripping off, as quickly as he was hooked he spit the fly and was gone. I asked if I did anything wrong and Alfredo assured me that this time it wasn't me. Bonefish 2, Justin 0. At this point we began seeing larger schools of fish, and finally a group approached downwind of me. A 50 foot cast to the front of the school and Alfredo directed me to strip slowly. We watched as a single fish broke from the school, zeroed in on the fly and grabbed it. This time the fish was hooked solidly, line was cleared and the fight was on. With 2X leader on an 8wt. Redington Pursuit the drag was set heavier than anything I would do on the river. Despite the heavy drag this bonefish that was probably around 2 pounds ripped line off like it didn't know it was hooked. After the first big run he changed tactics and ran right at me. Finally catching up to him he was practically at my feet where he again took another blistering run once I put the pressure back on him. After a few minutes I finally held my first bonefish, a green and silver torpedo of pure muscle. A quick picture or two, a high five and we sent my first bonefish on his way. We continued stalking this lagoon with several rejections, several screwups by me getting too excited and pulling the fly away, and much struggling to cast in the wind. Finally another school approached from downwind and a long cast was again rewarded with a chase and take. This fish, while still less than 3 pounds, really put up a fight. Each time I would get him close he would again take a run just as strong as the last. He eventually tired and I held what would be the last fish of the day, I needed to be back to the ship by 4:30 and with the rough seas we decided it was time to head back to the boat. We fished our way back to the boat and had several more shots at fish that would not cooperate. From the reaction of Alfredo as fish after fish refused to eat I coud see they were being less cooperative than usual. Several times he would say that the fish were very spooky and on one occasion a school was spooked by the shadow cast by my fly line. A ham sandwich and several Tecate's awaited my back at the boat, and as we headed back to the ocean we saw several other fish that we left for the next guy. Even though conditions were less than ideal, and my total fishing time was less than 3 hours this was one of the best fishing trips of my life. I can't wait to get back to bonefish waters again, and hopefully conditions will make things a little easier.

Take a look at the bend in that 8 wt. And no I'm not wearing a rib pad, that's my fly box in my shirt.

[Gavin]

Awesome!

[eric1978]

So awesome. So jealous. Looks like a great time in a beautiful place. Now get back to work so I don't have to hate you.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Very cool! Just got back from Cozumel myself about a month ago but I didn't fish this time.

[ness]

You suck.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Love the "torpedo of pure muscle" reference. Sounds like alot of fun. Sucks about the weather, but maybe thats what made it so much fun at the same time.

[Justin Spencer]

Love the "torpedo of pure muscle" reference. Sounds like alot of fun. Sucks about the weather, but maybe thats what made it so much fun at the same time.

I think you are right about the weather. The challenge is half the fun, and after you catch that first fish everything else is just a bonus. With the wind you had to sneak into range and get the wind in your favor just to make a good cast.

For anyone wanting to do this, you can't beat the cruise out of New Orleans. Within driving distance, less than $400 bucks, guide can be had for 3-$400 for up to 3 people, great way to work in a bonefish trip while the wife does her thing at Cozumel. Cozumel is not a very popular destination for bonefish for some reason so they are good sized and there are plenty of them.

[Feathers and Fins]

The Ghost, very few thinks on earth like catching one.

[Addicted to Creeks]

looks so fun...mildly (very) jealous