Something old, something new...something SILVER

Carolyn and I tied the knot last week down at WaterSound Beach and then headed straight to Belize for our honeymoon. We enjoyed nice weather all week, along with good tides and plenty of bonefish.

We arrived on Ambergris Caye via a Tropic Air puddle jumper and flew directly over the many flats and channels that made their way through the maze of mangrove islands. After landing, we drove through town to where we were staying - immediately noting that it helps to know your fish species when navigating the streets of San Pedro.

Tarpon St.Permit St.

We started our marriage out on the right foot by taking a flats trip on the first day of our honeymoon. We fished with George Bradley on his panga and were in schools of young bonefish all morning. They were tailing and mudding as they fed through the rising tide. Gotcha flies and my 6wt rod were the ticket.

The highlight of the day was when Carolyn set the hook on her first saltwater fly-caught fish, which resulted in as many runs as smiles.

Carolyn, bonefish, and guide George BradleyWe caught 9 bonefish between the two of us on the first morning, and even got a short glimpse at a few permit that were working a channel edge.

I fished with George again on Friday, this time searching for the elusive permit. Though we only saw one cruising the flats in a hurry, we found plenty of bonefish again, and I caught 10 that day in just a few hours' time. George Bradley is the man to fish with for anyone traveling to Belize. (Tel 011.501.226.2179, Email roxsam@btl.net)

We found some juvenile tarpon rolling in the lagoon on the back side of the island

Belikin, the beer of choice in Belize

On Wednesday, we went reef fishing and snorkeling. We caught some little snappers in the morning, barbecued them for lunch on a nearby beach, and then went snorkeling at the Hol Chan marine preserve where we were joined by a large nurse shark and many more interesting types of marine life.

Mutton, grey, and mangrove snappers

It was hard to leave the shady beaches and colorful waters to come home.

8/14 Skinny skinny

Fished with my dad and Carolyn's dad this morning under overcast skies and a full tide. We've had storms the last 2-3 days and the water was pretty churned up, despite the heavier push of new tide water during the morning incoming swing. After some searching, though, we found some clearer water and a few willing redfish tailing up in the skinniest of skinny waters. Congrats to Big Phil on his first sightfished redfish.

before...

...after...

PSJ

Had a pre-wedding fishing trip with two of my best friends from home this past weekend. Matthew and Bucky drove down and we met over in Port St Joe to fish for a few days. Though we had late season tarpon on our minds, we came prepared for a variety of species.

Day 1: We fished over in Crooked Island Sound and ended up getting on some tailing reds during the morning since the beach front was pretty rough. With the outgoing tide, the reds were tailing hard in the thick eel grass. We managed two reds and some trout as well.

Matthew w/ redfish, pre-sun burn redfish breakfast

me w/ tailing red

In the afternoon, we put the boat on the trailer and headed over to St. Joe Bay. Its the middle of scallop season and there were boats everywhere. Still, the lush grass beds and clear water over there are pretty awesome. We finished the day with some fresh oysters on the half shell at the Indian Pass Raw Bar, then headed back to the Dixie Belle for some shut eye.

St. Joe Bay grass flatsBack Country on the roost

Day 2: We had much better weather and headed out to CIS in search for tarpon. Though its the tail end of the tarpon season, we were able to see a bunch and have some decent shots at singles and doubles migrating through. Matthew had one fish nose the fly to the boat and turn at the last moment, but that was the closest we got. In between tarpon, however, we got into some rather large spanish mackerel on the fly.

In search of silver...Bucky and Matthew, pretending to be friends

nice Spanish mack on fly

Day 3: Bucky and Matthew had to head back today, so we sat on the hook for a few hours hoping to have a few more shots at tarpon. We saw a few, but for the most part it was slower than the previous day. We took out about 11:00 and everyone headed their respective ways. Great weekend in some beautiful waters.

More reds...

Went back out to the bay this morning with Carolyn, but we were met with unfriendly wind gusts when we got to the ramp. We went on anyway, figuring we could blind cast some grass flats for reds and trout. Not too long into our first flat, Carolyn hooked a nice little trout. Fortunately, the wind died and the white caps disappeared about the same time the sun came out, and we were then able to sight cast to a few reds. They were mostly just laid up on top of the submerged grass, but the sun lit them up so well they were almost neon orange in color. Most of the fish were solo, with the biggest group being 4-wide. We ended the day with a trout and 3 reds ranging from 17"-30".

August reds

Got to slip out for a quick morning trip today with my good friend Jason Stacy, manager of the Old Florida Outfitters shop where SWE is based. Its always a treat fishing with someone who can see and throw to fish as well as Jason can, and then will hop up on the pushpole and switch ends of the boat. We were dragging bottom all morning trying to find some crawling redfish. We saw some with their backs out of the water and a few tipping their tails up. Though we didn't see a ton of fish, we still managed 2 to the boat - both on a 6wt with a little shrimp fly that has been working well all summer.

 Jason with a healthy panhandle red

My fish had some crazy spots going on...