February fly fishing

[Sandy Pittendrigh]

I'll be in Tobago first week of Feb 2006
I'm an experienced fly fisherman, with 8wt and 10wt rods

I'd like to find a good guide and spend 2-3 days fishing.
I've caught a zillion bonefish in the Bahamas. Barracuda too.

I've never landed a Tarpon or a big Jack. I'd like to give
that a try. Any recomendations?

[Steve Wooler]

Hello Sandy

Welcome aboard!

The first step is to read to our Fishing article, available in the Out & About/Activities section. Hopefully this will tell you more, but by all means come back with any specific questions and hopefully our fishing guru, Steve Pitts, will be able to answer.

[Sandy Pittendrigh]

I'll try to be a little more specific.
I did read the activities pages. Tobago sounds great.
My sister was born in Trinidad, and I've never been down
this way before. So I'm looking forward to it.

I'll be at a place called the Blue Water's Inn Feb 5, 6,7, 8, 2006
I'd like to have at least two days fishing with a guide.

I like to fly fish best, but it does sound like shallow-water
fly fishing is not Tobago's strong point. I like all kinds of fishing.
Hand lining with a crushed crab is a lot better than not fishing at all.

But I would like to try catching a tarpon on a 10wt fly rod.
I'm good at it. There aren't many gringos who can cast as
well I can. So at least I'm not a hopeless case.

Can anyone recommend a good guide, for those dates,
at that end of the island?

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Sandy

The Blue Waters Inn is one of our favourites on the island and you couldn't ask for a more beautiful setting.

I'm no expert on fishing and hopefully our fishing pundit, Steve Pitts, will check the forum within a few days and hopefully be able to pass some comment. However, I have to say that most of the well-known fishing operators and guides operate on the Caribbean coast at the other end of the island. I'm not familiar with anyone in Speyside, where the Blue Waters Inn is based, but you are only 15 minutes drive away from Charlotteville where you will find Curtis 'Aming' Antoine of Workshop SeaTours. He knows his stuff.

Sadly I have no contact details for Curtis. He's easy to find though. As you drop down the hill and arrive in Charlotteville village, he's effectively the first building on the beachfront. There are about three small shops immediately before you get to him - and almost opposite Sharon & Phebe's Restaurant, which is the first building on the right-hand side.

Once you get to the Blue Waters Inn, they will be able to contact Curtis for you and he'll probably pop over and discuss things with you.

[Steve Pitts]

Sandy

The top end of Tobago has no flats at all - mainly deep water right off the beaches and rocks. Having said that, deeper water can be very good for jacks and big tarpon. Your 10wt outfit will do, but I would leave the #8 back at the hotel room. A fast sink line or intermediate (Jim Teeny lines are great, as I'm sure you're already aware). Large deceivers in blue/white or red/white will be killers. Poppers would also work early in the morning or if you find a pod of fish busting bait.

You could contact King David Tours, based at Castara, as they advertise ocean flyfishing on their website (details in the charter fishing section). Almost certainly this means a trip across the island to Charlotteville, but there are monster tarpon over there at certain times of the year (depends if the baitfish are running) and jacks can be very prolific, so I understand.

A trip out to the sisters rocks could offer tuna on the flygear, which would be someting else!

Cheers
Steve

[Sandy Pittendrigh]

Thank you for responding:

I'll try find a way to spend some time at the other end
of the island....if that's were the flatter water is.
We will be staying at the Cuffie lodge (birding)
for a few days. Maybe I can make something happen from
there.

[Steve Pitts]

Sandy

I know you claim to be a good caster (for a gringo), but Cuffie River to Buccoo flat takes a lot more than a double haul.

You'll be closer to Castara, so drop King David Tours a line. They do a nice beach BBQ too, if you are with the family.

Cheers
Steve