hunting 4 jacks in september

[Frank Butau]

Am off to trinidad for a wedding in september. I have planned a 7 day stay in tobago for some fishing and will be after jacks, barracuda and snook. I have sifted through the threads in the forum (which were very helpfull). I have bought all the gear to equip me for fishing from the beach and also plan on renting a vehichle for the week in tobago to help me get around. I am staying close to pigeon point and althogh i am planning on taking a charter boat for two half day sessions in that week i also intend to fish from the beach. I have been to tobago in 2007 and had foolishly taken some soft lures (storm lures) and got a complete baptism from some obviously unknown big toothed under water gangsters (did not land any at all). Thanks to Steve P and veals (carribbean fishing dvd) i think i have a rough idea of what will be needed for the trip.

Guess what i am after is any help with regards to what time to try. I know early morning and dusk is best , but is it the only time to got out for a spin? This info would be vital as the Mrs has already been raising her eye brows at the new gear i have bought and reminded me that she will not be doing any bait scouting. Also is has anyone ever had a strike when there are no bait fish or birds?

on a lighter note, is it possible to fish (spinning) in trinidad, i know i am off topic but was hoping collins K could shed some light on this for me as i plan to maximise all the time i have out there?

Cant wait to get out there(three months and counting), the dvd is must for any virgin fishing nuts who r off to tobago> I highly recomend it to any one planning a trip out there, although the Map of the hot spots was not loading on my DVD player (joke) many thanks to you Steve P & Mike ladle. If you read this (Steve & co) any chance of a heads up on the best beach for jacks or a decent flat for barracuda?

[Collins K]

Hi Frank,

As you are aware the best times to fish the type of fish you are after are early morning and late evening. Reasons for this are numerous but the most logical include the fact that the fish are within casting reach at those times since the baitfish that they feed on move in closer to the shore for protection in the shallow water when the water is cool. When the water heats up about 8-9am or so the bait move out a little and the predators are either filled or out of casting distance since they follow the bait. The baitfish normally seek protection by rocks and like I mentioned shallow water. You can however catch fish even though you may not see any baitfish or birds around and I have proven this over an over again both in Trinidad and in Tobago. Normally you would catch larger fish when there are no birds or bait since the larger fish are normally loners looking for an easy meal and you just might get lucky. The odds are always better when the bait and birds are present though even though I use them as a guide rather than an assurance. Barracuda for instance would bite at any time of day as would any of the other species.
Trinidad has some excellent spinning locations such as Toco by the lighthouse, Ortoire at point Radix, Guayaguayare to the southeast etc. I may be better able to narrow it down for you depending on where you are staying since some of these places would require a long drive as well as some hiking through the forest. Let me know where if its the east or west etc and I may be better able to assist in this regard.

Good luck on yur trip and September makes good fishing on both islands...

[Steve Pitts]

Hi Frank

Sorry about the delay in replying - just got back from Baja where the roosterfish taught us a lesson or two.

Dawn (05:30 - 07:00) and dusk (17:30 - 19:00) are the prime times for jack blitzes and my advice is always to find where the baitfish are before the jacks do. That way you'll be ready and waiting if they turn up.

For the reasons Collins K suggests, I think that mornings offer the best chance of a blitz kicking off where baitfish are present and the evenings a better chance of solo fish turning up, but the loners are often bigger fish as a trade-off. I've caught my largest jack, snook and tarpon at dusk.

We fish throughout the day too and you will notice that most of the film and many of the photos from Tobago, Belize, Bahamas and Grenada are shot in broad daylight, with the afternoon being as good a time as any and most places you won't have other anglers to compete with, which is a bonus.

Crown (aka Sandy) Point is pretty reliable for jacks and it's where the local beach fishermen are often to be found in the early mornings and evenings. For cuda - try the flat to the south of Canoe Bay resort or the rocks around Bacolet Bay.

Cheers
Steve

[Frank Butau]

Big thank to Collins & Steve

I will be giving it a go when i touch down in Tobago. I will be sure to post a summary and pics of my efforts.

Was wondering what sort of gear (shoes boots) to wear when walking into the flats, i have heard af people stepping on coral. rays etc and wanted to know what other people wear when they venture out?


Some buddy of mine at work has been warning me to look out for bull sharks if i intend to fish the flats. Should i be worried? Or is he just trying to test my resolve.

[Steve Pitts]

Hi Frank

I swear by neoprene reef boots (not divers boots as the sole is too thin).
There are a number of good brands like Simms, Orvis, Pategonia and Snowbee.

You shouldn't be stepping on living coral, but there are plenty of chunks of dead coral lying around on the flats which can cause nasty grazes and cuts to unprotected feet. I've never come across sea urchins on the flats, but have bumped into stingrays on many occasions.



To make sure they get out of your way, walk slowly and shuffle your feet if wading in water which is not clear. A friend of mine ended up with a stingray spine through his calf muscle when he stepped on a stinger in Belize. It took a long time to heal, so best to avoid the things if possible by a few simple precautions.

I've encountered mostly nurse sharks and small reef sharks when out on the flats and these will approach you, but usually shoot away when they realise that you are biggger than them, but my pal Mike found himself being stalked by either a bull or tiger shark at pigeon point a couple of years ago after he accidentaly hooked it on a plug. I think he got out of the water PDQ to be on the safe side.

Cheers
Steve

[Hugh S]

Hey Steve,

This is my third week in Tobago and I have not had a chance to fish yet. Working on my dive homework, getting ready for Carib Stuart in a week.

I'm sure that others would like to hear more about your Baja trip. I have fished up and down the penninsula but not the East Cape area.

Thanks, Hugh

[Steve Pitts]

Hey Steve,

I'm sure that others would like to hear more about your Baja trip. I have fished up and down the penninsula but not the East Cape area.

Thanks, Hugh

Hi Hugh

My friend Mike Ladle has put a few words and pictures on his website.
Check out -

http://www.mikeladle.com/archive/catch233.html

http://www.mikeladle.com/archive/catch234.html

http://www.mikeladle.com/archive/catch235.html

http://www.mikeladle.com/archive/catch236.html

I enjoyed Baja very much, although the fishing could have been better, at least we caught a rooster each.

Cheers
Steve

[Hugh S]

Thanks for that Steve,

Great story and photos. Brings back lots of memories. We made nine driving trips to various parts of Baja, mostly Bahia de Los Angeles and nearby bays, almost always in the heat of summer, always camping on the beach. The last few we towed a boat or two and usually had a caravan. With the way things are around the border now I would not do it again although it is still nice to fly in and stay in San Jose del Cabo and fish the pangas off the beach. Lots of changes going on down there. And I have barely scratched the surface of fishing here in Tobago.

Hugh

[Steve Pitts]

Hi Hugh

I get the impression that the fishing can still be very good, but not a patch on what it used to be (same the world over).

I've put a snippet of video on Youtube for a bit of fun http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fhwswvUhOUM

Cheers
Steve

[Hugh S]

Steve,

Thanks for the video link but this dial-up connection takes too long so I have to wait either for Blink (256k DSL, which TSTT promises is available) or until I return to California. I could see a beautiful Baja morning on a flat Sea of Cortez but that's all for now.

I'm now watching what looks like a pretty good storm rolling in from my gallery in Bethel! Glad I finished my dive course yesterday. More on that later . . .

Hugh