Cozumel Bone fishing March 2017

[snagged in outlet 3]

I'll start this thread and finish it over a couple posts.  Keep in mind these pics were shot with a disposable camera.  I can't risk losing my phone or getting it in saltwater.

I stayed near the Airport at Moon Palace as I have a bunch of times.  Great resort and maybe the best in Riviera Maya. IMO.  I book my trip with Aquarius again and these guys are great.  

My day starts early about 4:30 AM and then a 1 hour taxi ride to Playa Del Carman, I quick walk to the ferry terminal, a 45 minute ferry ride to Cozumel, a 10 minute cab ride to another marina and a one hour panga trip up to the north end of the island.  I'm with Mike and his grandpa (Graffa sp?).  Even though the ride was pretty rough Mike says enjoy it because when we come back it will be really rough.  And he was right.  I fished with Mike and his dad last time and you can read that report here too.  I get on my flats boots and get ready to go.  $4 Converse Allstars from goodwill.  They work great and I always leave them behind when done.

 

 

[buckwhisperer]

Cozumel is a beautiful place, I'm looking forward to the rest of the story. Thanks

[mhmorg]

Nice sneakers Pete!

[Quillback]

The sneakers are cute, but where are the fish pics?

[Mitch f]

I was in Cozumel 2 weeks ago, my middle daughter was getting kissed by a dolphin

 

[joeD]

Why the attention to Converse All Stars?  A Goodwill purchase is fine, yet, in fact, really shouldn't be mentioned, let alone being proud of, from a white male who can afford a Mexican vacation and guided fishing trip.  It would be better if you had nice flat boots and NOT call attention to them. 

Reverse elitism is obviously a bugaboo of mine. 

However, you are fishing, which trumps all.

Party On Mr Three.

 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

 

 It would be better if you had nice flat boots and NOT call attention to them. 

Because expensive flats boots don't work any better than high top tennis shoes and you don't have smelly boots to bring back in your suitcase.  I was just trying to help out anyone else facing the same situation. 

BTW, hybrids had not moved up to my honey hole as of this weekend.  Same 9 weight as I use for bone fish.

[snagged in outlet 3]

 

The sneakers are cute, but where are the fish pics?

Some of us have to work. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

Mike put me an tarpon right away.  We come into the open pool in the mangroves and there are 3 of them circling around.   All of them around 3-4 feet long. I flip the fly in and the first one charges it and takes the fly.  I get a good hook set on him but before I know what's happened it jumps and I forget to bow to the king and my fly pops out.  Mike shakes his head like all guides do when you screw up and I laugh and say it is what it is.  We hang around there for another hour without any action and I tell Mike lets go catch a bone.  Mike and Graffa.  when you go with these guys it's like going with your buddies.

If you look closely at the first picture those are sticks woven together with twine and pounded into the sand.  It keeps the channel open and Mike does those himself.

[snagged in outlet 3]

On our way out of the main mangroves we spook about 20 tarpon but I didn't get a cast to them.  BTW we fished a completely different area than last time.  Previously we fished water 6- 12 inches deep.  This area was 3 feet deep all over.  We walked for maybe an hour without seeing a fish and honestly I was bummed out because last time we saw hundreds of bones.  As we stay near the shore we suddenly see the whole are light up with bones flashing.  I plop down the first cast and probably 20 of them chase it until one grabs it.  I lean into it like a tarpon and break it off on the set.  You know what happens next.  Mike's shakin his head again.  The bones don't spook and some of them swam up to about 5 feet from us and Mike are I laughing but trying to stay still.  We get the next fly and I fire it the edge of the school and one turns and grabs it.  Fish on!!  And it's into the backing right away.  We stayed in that one spot and caught 5 fish total out of it.  Mike and I just laughing because in the deeper water they just don't spook as easy.  all of them were 18 - 20 inches.