myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

As Steve P notes lab. conditions are very different to having an enraged 40 lb tarpon dragging your line over coral. We used 22lb 25 lb and 30 lb b.s. Berkley ironsilk which has a thinner profile than standard monos and compared to fluorocarbon, Penn copolymer and maxima was far more abrasion resistant in the "british standard braincoral rub 'o' test "

But in the field I lost 4 fish in a row on the 22lb line but then landed the next two, one approx. 30lb the other a 40 lb'er. However my wife, Tracey, had four runs and boated all 4 fish on the 25lb line!! A friend using the 30lb line has a 65lber. I guess it is in the lap of the gods and a tight line over coral will part very quickly.

The other advantage of iron silk over regular monos is the it seems not to twist so badly and in the absence of a swivel line twist means if you hook and land a tarpon or permit or a bigger Bonefish it is often impossible to use the line again without it 'twizzling' badly. A couple of fish, despite running the line off whilst under way in a boat and tightly rewinding, means it is better to refill the spool. We used mono instead of braid as that too cuts through very quickly if coral abraided and it costs a lot more then mono if you lose a lot.

Mike

Thanks for the tips Mike

Do you use a rubbing leader when fishing for tarpon?
We use a metre length of 50-80lb mono and judging by the mess it's in, even hooking and loosing a fish after a few jumps when they often throw the hooks, using anything less is fraught with danger.

We've never found that braid twists and kinks, like mono does, but it does sometimes have it's drawbacks, like snapping at the knots if you don't tie them correctly. We've settled on 30lb braid, straight through to a mono or wire leaders now and (fingers crossed as I type this - which is not easy) we loose far fewer fish as a result.

looking forward to testing out the theories soon.

Cheers
Steve

Steve

Yes we use a leader, I haven't learned how to tie a Bimini jamb as Kester or Kevin are so much quicker at it, but I find a standard shock leader knot to 100lb penn leader is fine. I tried 60lb leaders but when fishing light main line, 12,15, 18lb nylon, the fight can take 90 minutes or so and when you try and lift the fish into the boat the leader breaks at the hook due to the prolonged wear. We have now moved up to the heavier lines as it is kinder on the fish and despite the TT 'its a caught fish' when they touch the leader, we like the odd photo as a momento.

You are right about braid and the lack of twist but when we first fished there with 30 lb braid we had loads of cut offs, but as I said earlier the cut off is mostly down to luck and where you hook the fish. If you are in deepwater no problems with cut offs, but in boats near or from the shore its fingers crossed and make the most of it once you have fish on, those first searing runs, tail walks and head banging jumps are memories of a lifetime

Have a good one when you are there

Regards Mike

We had another evening on Grand Slam off Conrados yesterday accompanied by Chris Sykes and family. Unfortunately the tarpon were very slow - Chris had one take from a small fish that came off after 2 leaps and 10 seconds and that was pretty much it. We caught several good ladyfish of around 5lb or so and some houndfish and a couple of squirrelfish off the bottom. There were lots of baitfish around and the tarpon may not have been too hungry. Nevermind, it was a lovely sunset!

Steve H

Early session at Sandy Point this morning (5:30 to 7:30) with Peter Somers. We didn't catch anything but compared to the last time I was there (January), there were a lot more baitfish and birds (activity all the way along from Store Bay to Sandy Point) and some big fish. We were fishing poppers and floatfishing livebait from one of the jetties. Lots of small friars inshore and more baitfish activity 100-200yds offshore, possibly being chased by bonito. Saw a few swirls that could have been tarpon plus ladyfish/snook inshore.

Stopped off at Fort Milford on the way back - five or six big tarpon slurping up a large (tennis court size) shoal of friars. Left Peter wondering whether he might have a go at them from the CoCo Reef peddalo!

Steve H

Hi Steve

Thanks for the updates.
Looks like things have been a bit quite lately, but I'm glad that you've given Sandy bay another crack. It's one of my favourite beaches and has been pretty consistant ove the years and is a No.1 spot for snook.

As a matter of interest - are the locals fishing there much at the moment.
I have found the presence of the hand-liners to be a more reliable indicator of the current form and potential of a mark than the local bird population at times.

In all the posts that you've made, you haven't mentioned 'Jack Bay'.
Didn't John Morgan take you there? It's another one of those consistent places and as the name suggests, is a really good bet for BIG jacks.
http://www.mytobago.info/photos/fishing/mike-jack.htm

Of course, this isn't its real name, so if you have been there please keep the location to yourself, as it is about the only shore venue on Tobago that I am secretive about. When I'm over, we'll go there if you like, but I'll have to blindfold you and you'll have to swear an oath of secrecy......if we don't catch jacks on the poppers here, then I think you should give them up for good.

Cheers
Steve

Steve

No sign of locals at Sandy Point. It was low tide when we were there - I think it would fish better with a bit more water. There seemed to be quite a few fish around - it was just that we couldn't catch any.

I did try Jack Bay with John Morgan but there was a big swell coming in (about 2m) and we blanked. You'll have to take me there and show me how to do it!

Steve H

We had another intersting trip out with Rusty from Castara this morning. I was joined by Peter Summers and Matthew ?. We started off trying for tarpon in Celery Bay, but after an hour or two we had only managed a few ladyfish and a small snook. There were one or two tarpon about but it was fairly slow. We then tried some trolling along towards Plymouth and caught a good number of kingfish around 5lb, lots of small tuna (Rusty on his muppet), a barracuda and a small grouper on Rapala Magnums and Yo zuri deep divers. As we were heading back towards Castara we saw a huge aggregation of feeding birds across the far side of the bay. We couldn't resist zooming over for a closer look. There were black fin tuna chasing small flying fish over an area half a mile sqaure with hundreds of frigate birds, boobies, pelicans and gulls in attendance. Truly awesome to see nature on this scale. Unfortunately the tuna seemed a bit too focused on the flying fish although Peter had a 6-7 pounder that put a good curve in his 20lb boat road and Rusty lost a bigger fish at the boat.

A great boys day out messing about on the water.


Steve H

This is the first post that I am making on this site, site is really really good by the way...
Fished at Sandy point flats early on saturday and sunday morning from about 5:30 till 8. Got two snook about 26 inches in length and had a great fight with a hefty tarpon. Around this time of year the Joshua (baitfish) are plentiful on the sheltered side of the island where most of the flats are. Tides weren't too great for morning fishing since the water was a little too low for the really big tarpon to come close in. Some handliners made of with a 10lb jack crevalle on saturday morning. The jetty area seemed to be devoid of most of the action and served mainly as a resting point for the birds when they had their fill. The snook are plentiful on this beach right now as i can tell by the way the bait is being chased what is after them. I caught the snook and the tarpon with spinning gear and an aile Magnet white with green head diving lure, just be sure to keep the rod tip high when reeling in to avoid snags. hey Steve i think I know the jack bay heheh

Collins K wrote: hey Steve i think I know the jack bay heheh

Sssshhhhhhh!

Thanks for the report.
When I was on Tobago last April, snook were the most common catch and we had one of 11lb, which was not the biggest that I have seen from Sandy Point.

Glad to hear that the old Aigle magnet slider is doing the biz. and that there are a few tarpon showing on the flats.

12 days to touchdown

Cheers
Steve

Hi Stephen
Thats the kind of day out you want to read about when you are back in the office for the first week back after a wonderful time in Castara.
Sounds as if apart from the tarpon part that it was all action
It was great to meet all of your family they seem to be having a wonderful time in Tobago.

Steve
It looks as if things are warming up nicely for your imminent arrival, I have a feeling that the level of reporting on your exploits will increase this year.

Regards
Paul

Steve H and Steve P

Gentlemen by now I would have hoped for great fishing stories of monster fish being caught off the beach with a 39 m chuck. Showing me exact locations rigs and bait. The size of the fish you are catching at the moment could be caught from Regents Canal at the back of Kings Cross. No insult intended. The difference being Tobago is a far better location. Hopefully in 8 days time I will have more information gleaned from these excellent an informative forums. So that I can come out and show you how it is done. Now that I have layed the challenge I will pay for the breakfasts if I fall flat on my face.

Tight lines to you both and others who are fishing or will be fishing in the near future. The forum is excellant and I will post a reply on my experieces (Steve Pitt) Hopefully on return from this Long weekend I will have more information to catch the fish of a life time. Before I fly out to Tobago on the 6th May.

Regards

Nick T

Nick, Steve P and all

Another early session at Sandy Point with Peter, Matthew and Mark this morning. Little sign of birds or baitfish when we arrived, even though it was just after high water. Undeterred, we fished along the beach towards the oil terminal with assorted poppers. After 45 minutes of nothing, we headed the other way towards the jetties. There was a bit more action here with a few pelicans and terns. The occasional tarpon was surfacing in front of the Tropikist. I tried a few floatfished livebaits. The tarpon continued surfacing but none near my float. Meanwhile Matthew caught a lizardfish on a popper, followed by a small grouper. I ran out of livebaits and put the magpopper back on and in a couple of casts had a small barracuda - hey Steve, my first fish from Sandy Point!

We'll give it another bash soon.

Steve H

The first one is always the hardest.

Now that you've broken your duck, you'll have no problems from now on.

At least there were a few fish showing and Matt didn't blank....well, not entirley - but I'm a little worried out your comment - 'little signs of birds or baitfish when we arrived'.
You shouldn't be able to see your hand in front of your face when you arrive......you were at least 20 mins too late

Cheers
Steve

Steve

We were on the beach at 5:35am - I had to drag them out of their rooms at CoCo Reef! To be there before first light at this time of year, we would need to be on the beach by 5am - it was starting to get light then when I left the house. I don't think my alarm clock has a setting before 5am!

I was surprised there were so few birds this morning - faw fewer than Monday when it was low tide. There were quite a few baitfish, particularly along towards the oil terminal but no fish were chasing them when we were there - the terns were just picking off the occasional fish. There were also a lot of friars off Tropikist and all along towards Fort Milford.

The tarpon kept surfacing (and feeding) at Tropikist until around 7am when they moved away towards Fort Milford as the tide fell.


Steve H

Stephen Hull wrote:Steve

We were on the beach at 5:35am - I had to drag them out of their rooms at CoCo Reef! To be there before first light at this time of year, we would need to be on the beach by 5am - it was starting to get light then when I left the house. I don't think my alarm clock has a setting before 5am!

Ah ha!

I think we have the answer to your problem.
I thought that you WERE fishing by 5am - it's broad daylight in the UK at this time of year.
http://www.mytobago.info/photos/fishing/snook-dawn.htm
The photo should actually be entiltled 'Mike Ladle plays his 2nd snook of the morning, at dawn' - the first one was caught by moonlight 15 mins earlier and we had numerous other takes when it was still dark.

We reckon that the absolute best time of all is when it is just about light enough to see the splash as your lure hits the water. The next dozen casts will tell you if it's going to be a good session and we've had multiple hook-ups at this critical time, with two of us playing jacks and tarpon at the same time.

If your alarm clock doesn't do 5am Steve - I'll bring one over that does!

Better start sorting out some tackle tomorrow (Bank holiday Monday here) and take a trip to Veals for a few last minute goodies.

Cheers
Steve

Steve

On the beach at Sandy Point at 5:20am this morning with Peter, Matthew and Paul Rudkin and family. Caught nothing in the first twelve casts...
Had a small crevalli at around 5:45 in front of the oil terminal on a mag popper.

We then went round to the jetties - there were a good number of tarpon surfacing in the small bay between Tropikist and Fort Milford, all well within casting range. We spent the next hour or so throwing all manner of poppers and lures at them but they refused every offering, even one's dragged in front of their noses. Must have seen at least 20-30 fish surface and one or two leap out over the course of an hour - the most activity I have seen in all my time here. However, it seems they are very focused on eating the small friars at present! And this was a rare day that I didn't have any livebait with me.

Peter caught a nice bar jack off one of the jetties around 7am on a popper to round off the action but we went home frustrated at our inability to hook into a tarpon.

But things warming up nicely for your visit, Steve!


Steve H

Stephen Hull wrote: Had a small crevalli at around 5:45 in front of the oil terminal on a mag popper.

Told you the first one was the hardest - there'll be no stopping you now.

It's a shame you had no livebait. The tarpon do get 'fixed' and very selective on certain kinds of bait sometimes (most times). At least there are reasonable numbers of fish within casting range now.

Tarpon are mainly night-time feeders, so a really early start would give you the best chance of a hook-up - if you can get the others out of their pits

Ah well - off to work now. Remember work Steve?

Cheers
Steve

Steve

We did another trial run on Grand Slam in anticipation of your arrival. I was joined by Peter and Mark. We had to sail a little earlier than we had planned - at 2:30pm because we had to be back just after 6pm. Apparently the Management Committee that runs Pigeon Point has decided to enforce the locking of the gates at 7pm, so there will be no more evening tarpon sessions from Pigeon Point - they will all be late afternoon sessions from now on. We were a little concerned that finishing early would miss the best tarpon fishing and frankly wondered whether we would get anything at all.

Kester took us along to Buccoo Bay where there were a lot of baitfish inshore. At the first mark, there were tarpon surfacing when we arrived and things looked promising. However after 45 minutes with no takes and no sign of any more tarpon we moved along to a point just off the rocks/cliffs that separate Buccoo Bay from Nomansland. Again, this area was stuffed full of small baitfish. We had a number of takes here (around 4pm). I landed a tiny tarpon (about 7-8lb) which put up no fight at all. Peter also had a larger fish at the side of the boat (about 15lb) and Mark lost another small fish. This would probably be worth a try from Buccoo Beach early morning if the baitfish are still around in a week's time (!).

We then moved across to the other side of Buccoo Bay into the deeper water where a number of pelicans and terns were feeding. Again the water was thick with baitfish and we saw several tarpon surfacing. After twenty minutes or so, I hooked into a big fish (around 5pm) that entertained us with some spectacular leaps up to 100 yards off. It then chose to slug it out near the boat for another 20 minutes or so before Kester hauled it aboard. Kester reckoned it was 70lb and I won't argue with that.

We managed to get some footage of my rod bent double and the fish coming aboard, but not of any of the leaps. A photo of the fish is at the end of the link below. [Now that I have worked out how to blog I will try to include a few more photos in my posts].

http://hullsintobago3.blogspot.com/2006/05/tarpon.html

Unfortunately we didn't have any more takes after that, so it wasn't exactly a red letter session but at least we caught some fish in the afternoon, which I didn't think we'd manage and I, at least, went home happy.

Hope your appetite is now thoroughly whetted. Do you know if Dr Mike is also joining you yet?

Steve H

[quote="Steve Pitts
Tarpon are mainly night-time feeders, so a really early start would give you the best chance of a hook-up [/quote]

Oh well - there goes another theory!
When I said early, I didn't mean early afternoon.

Belting fish though Steve. I bet you were as pleased as punch and it has certainly been a good week for you.
Please leave something for me to catch.

I can't understand this latest management decision, at Pigeon Point, to lock the gates at 7pm. I though the whole ideal of buying back the estate for the peoples of Tobago was that everyone, including the fishermen, could come and go without the hassle and fear, under the previous regime of recent years.

From what I have heard so far, there appears to be very little in the way of change in the management style and if anything, the worst examples of the autocratic and heavy-handed dictatorship, to which the users of PP were subject, seem to be thriving.

What are the THA and PP Heritage Park Committee thinking of?
I am almost expecting to see newly installed razor wire along the top of that bl**dy monstrousity of a chain-linked perimeter fence.

If I am asked (told) to wear one of those wrist bands, they can kiss goodbye to my entry fee too. This just seems like another way of squeezing the tourists and local peoples alike.

Rant over - time to take another blood pressure tablet.

Cheers
Steve