first pics from Tobago

[GregAdler]

hey all....

Was fishing on Monday morning and yesterday for almost all day... was rewarded with quite a nice Bonefish in the
6-8 pound class while fly fishing!! Caught at noon time right next to pigeon point...at the flat! Was also at the bon accord mangroves but nothing there....but saw a lot of small minnows!

On Monday I was at Bacolet Beach in the morning and lost one nice snook!!

That was it so far!

Greg

[Robert T]

Way to go Greg!!!! Beautiful fish!!! Leave some for me please!!! See u very soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Rob

[Brian E.]

Great going Greg!!
Great bone, and that is a good size. Makes going to surgery difficult know isn't it!
Maybe i'm heading out to Tobago in April, like you i'm a total flyfishing freak. Maybe we can stay in touch for some practical information about the place. I still haven't decided if Tobago is the destination.
Hope you can give me some information about tarpons.
All the best and hope you can get some nice fish, poons, bones and who knows some permit.
Keep us informed

Petri Heil
Brian

[Steve Pitts]

That's a great introduction the the bonefishing potential of Tobago Greg - well done!

Cheers

Steve

[Brian E.]

I have a question on my mind regarding the descission of coming to Tobago for a fortnight or another perfect tarpon place: Curacao.
Are the baitfish a constant in Tobago? I mean, are they around all year or are they migratory. I am asking this for I am a flyfisher and being a fisherman with a "distance handycap" it would be nice to know if would have a change of daily poon sightings close to shore. Those baitschools attract tarpon like magnets, and usually they are near the shore at times.
I hope Greg can shed some light on the situation at the moment. Also Greg how is the water condition, is it murky or as the britisch say: Gin clear .
Much obliged for any information someone could give about these matters.
Thanks
Brian

[Robert T]

Hi Brian,

I'm currently on Tobago and have spent vast amount of time fishing with Greg since Thursday. We haven't caught anything of the big league yet (besides Greg's bone which he had before my arrival). The conditions aren't the best at the moment as there's a lack of baitfish coming close to the shore. This evening was the first time that we actually saw tarpon in action. We had some bonefish takes on flies at Pigeon P yesterday. Met a French guy this morning on Grange Beach and told us that the jacks had put up a good show on the same spot yesterday. ( we tried our luck at Sandy Point....)
He also said that he'd fished Friendship Flats with a guide but due to a very murky water fishing was totally pointless. We went there this morning around 8am only to find that what he'd said was the grim truth.

Tonight we had some fun at Sandy Point from the jetties with freelined flying fish pieces. Anyway tomorrow is a new day with something else to offer.

Robert

[Brian E.]

Thank you for the information, and to bad that the conditions aren't the best you can get. I certainly know how that is whilst being on a fishing trip. Unfortunately is have been on 3 tropical trips in search of bonefish, but every time we ran into murky waters and bad weather.
But for now it is bad, but how is it normally arround this time of year, or in april?
My buddy is coing over today to tie the knot about the destination.
Well good luck today and the coming days, keep us informed, and remember:
THIS THREAT IS USELESS WITHOUT PICTURES!!

All the best
Brian

[Steve Pitts]

Hi Brian

If I had to write you a guarantee for finding baitfish close inshore, then I'd put money on April through to July as the peak months.

You'll find baitfish for most of the year, but early on (say, February / March ) they will be small and later months into September and October the shoals are less densely packed and further out, as the baitfish are bigger.

Here are a few examples of the tarpon, bonefish and snook that we have found through tracking down the baitfish.

http://www.mikeladle.com/archive/catch174.html

http://www.mikeladle.com/archive/catch173.html

http://www.mikeladle.com/archive/catch140.html

http://www.mikeladle.com/archive/catch141.html

10 days and I'll be there and the first thing I'll be looking out for is the presence of baitfish before I even make a cast.

Cheers
Steve

[GregAdler]

hey guys....

just put in some more pics of bonefish I caught yesterday!
Had two takes could land one!!

keep u guys up!

tight lines Greg

[Robert T]

Hi Brian,

Just a little follow up to Greg's post as promised. The baitfish still don't show in large numbers and the birds are still quiet. Yesterday afternoon we fished Grange Beach , lotsa takes I lost a monster (god only knows what) which almost took my gear in a hurry. This morning I landed a big fat snook, and a pretty mutton snapper. (pics coming later as I forgot to bring my cable).


Robert

[Brian E.]

Those are some pretty decent fish Steve, well done.
Nice bonefish again Greg, have you ever fished for bones prior to this trip? I mean it can be quite tough spotting them if you're not used to it. I hope you can spot them and not via blindcasting....that is. Otherwise in my perception it takes the most fun out of bonefishing.
We've booked the tickets so my buddy and I will be fishing tobago's shores mid april, looking forward to it. I'll have to start tying seriuos ammounts of flies.
Greg if you stumble upon a kayak rental place arround pigeon point i would be much pleased to hear it. for now we are thinking about taking inflatable kayaks to be able to fish the mangroves opposite nomans land.
Good luck and hope you'll meet some tarpons soon.
Brian

[Frank Butau]

Robert & Greg

Looks like things are starting to pick up for you both. Remenber, just being out there is a great experience (i.e. no boss fussing over you @ work!! ) Have any of you guys been fishing before sun up or are you fishing through the day? What lures/set up you using for the snook? Sorry to overload you with questions but if you don't ask you don't get. Having only one Tobago session under my belt i am eager to learn

I have already booked another trip in April and cant wait so please keep us posted as your upates give us a chance to day dream whilst at work .

Steve. i hope you have a productive break and please keep us posted with reports on your adventure

Good luck Robert & Greg

[Robert T]

Hi Frank,

Nice to see you back on the forum. We try to fish as often as we can though since monday I'm the only one for the morning sessions as Greg works at the hospital from the early hours till midday. I usually go out in the dark but it proved to be more productive right after sunup around 7 am. For the snooks I'm geared up with some home made jigs though had some on shallow diving plugs as well. ( i'll try to upload the pics of today's haul later) Daytime isn't that productive but it seems a good time for the bones. Afternoons and early evenings can bring some good action also.


Wish you all the best for April.

Robert

[Martin Smirthwaite]

Hi Greg and Robert,
Good to see youre catching some fish at last, I went to Sandy Point Sunday Evening with no luck...the tide was too low.
Let me know your next location and I'll try to get there and meet up.
Regards
Martin

[Martin Smirthwaite]

hi guys,
well its 9pm,
and raining hard tonight hows the fishing been today ?????????


Martin

[Steve Pitts]

Hi Greg

Looks like you've cracked it with the bonefish.
Are you blind casting or sightfishing and which flies are proving successful?

I spent yesterday evening rigging most of my lures with 4X trebles and up-rated split rings, so feel ready for the jacks now.

What time in the morning is it starting to get light, as I like to be on the beach a good 20 minutes before the crack of dawn, what time would you suggest this would be?

Cheers
Steve

[Robert T]

Hi Frank,

Today I landed my first bonefish of this trip. A really big specimen. It took me around 15 min to get that little fighter.
What a battle it was. I cannot do anything but admire these little fish for their power and stamina!!! It also took me and Greg quite a time to nurse him back to life!
It is generally still slow a bit but everyday brings something new.


Tomorrow's tide prediction works in our favor for the morning session so I'm hoping it'll produce something to write about once again.

Regards

Robert

[GregAdler]

Hi Steve...

mostly I am doing some blind casts in area where the fish seems to be. Other than that the water was too high to spot bonefish. Had some good luck at pigeon point and wanna try some other spots in my time here in Tobago.
Been out fishing with Kester on Saturday...but wasnt too good..We had one Bonefish(on crab) and one houndfish(fly). That was is it. Though we saw two small permit on buccoo flats but they were too close for proper cast. so I spooked them!!
At first we tried for Tarpon but the sea was too rough and not too much Baitfish were around. Kester couldnt spot a single Tarpon!

Hope too see u guys soon

Safe trip to tobago!!

cheers Greg

[Brian E.]

Hi there Greg,
how are things nowadays? did you do any fishing these last two weeks.
Can you tell us some more? I'm looking forward on coming in April, getiing everything ready for the trip, tying flies and looking up info.
Can you, or someone else for tat matters, tell if there are kayaks to rent pigeon bay. It did find some info that some hotels might have kayaks, but usualy for their own guests.
I would be very interested to head out along the mangrove lined bay east of pigeon point, opposite no-mans land. I was thinking about taking an inflatable kayak and peddle along the mangroves. How is the water, is it still rough or calm? Should be prime baby tarpon waters by the looks of it.
Downside with taking a kayak is the weight, positive side, you have your own and can start ealy during the day, way before kayakrentals open.
Hope somebody can give some info.
from a very cold and snowy Holland,
good weekend everybody.

Brian

ps Greg, i was i Vienna last week, i would prefer Tobago even though the wiener schnitzel was ok.

[GregAdler]

Hi Brian...

Didnt do much fishing due to the bad conditions there were....but I think they have improved by now. Lost another bonefish the other day at pigeon point but the water was just too rough there where it is supposed to be very calm. There was a swell around the tobago area making fishing really tough because the baitfish didnt stick around and so did the big ones. Going on a trip with Kester Herbert tommorow hoping to find some fish!!!
There is a kayak rental at p point but cost you around 10€ per hour...so u might be better off to bring your own!!! But just make sure the sea aint too rough!!

tight lines
Greg