myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Any advice on fly fishing would be great -size of rod, flies, where to go for various species. Can you have any luck right off the beach? I am staying near Stone Haven Bay / Grafton so would like to fish nearby. Do I need anything bigger than an 8wt.? This web site has the most info I have found and is great - I have been on every day since I found it. Any fishing on Trinidad - we are there for a few days also. Thanks.

You can catch bonefish, tarpon, permit, dolphinfish, tuna, bonito and even sailfish on a fly in Tobago. There is a local guide who can take you flyfishing: Kester Herbert (868) 683 1958. I have fished with him a few times now and he knows the waters inside out. You can sometimes hook tarpon off the beach at Sandy Point but they tend to be 40lb plus fish so you will be lucky to land one. An 8wt will be ok for the bones but you will need something stronger for the rest. Best of luck.

Hi Oliver

Sorry for not reponding sooner, but things have been hectic for me since August and I haven't had much time to view myTobago.

I agree with Richard that a trip with Kester will give you a good chance of fish on the fly - especially tarpon.

If you want to fish from the shore around the Grafton area, then try anywhere from Plymouth to Mount Irvin. The beaches are all accessable and if you fish at the crack of dawn (05:45) then you stand a good chance of a tarpon, jack or snook as the sky lightens. I've found that both species like to hang around any rocky outcrops or cruise parallel to the shore, in search of baitfish. As the sun comes up, the fish leave for deeper water and your chances of a hook-up diminish.

You'll need a 10 - 12 weight for the tarps and jacks to stand any chance of landing one. Jacks to 20lb pull just as hard as a tarpon twice the size.
We've landed tarpon to 75lb from the shore on spin gear, but I wouldn't recommend it if you've got any heart problems. A good reel with a smooth drag is mandatory and at least 150 yards of backing will be required. Pretty much standard tarpon gear really.

Any large bulky fly, like a deceiver or a popper will do. These fish chomp anything that moves at this time of the day.

Snook are fine on an 8 weight and range from 2 - 12lb, but average around 4lb. They are usually very close in at dawn - just a flick in the edge will often do.

We generally use floating or intermediate lines with 30lb mono leader straight through. If tarpon are on the cards, then I loop on a 70lb rubbing trace too.

There are bonefish, which would be perfect for your 8 weight, but not near where you are staying. If you have a car, then look out for the flats down around the airport. There are snook, barracuda, snapper and baby tarpon around here too.

I always ask for feedback from my posts of hard-won info, but rarely if ever, get any. If you do fish please post a report to add to our knowledge of the sportfishing - don't forget to enter sportfishing as one of your reasons for your visit on the Trinidad and Tobago visitors entry form.

All the best
Steve

Hi Oliver,

I will be in Tobago from the 3rd until the 18th and will be staying at
Grafton Beach.
I intend doing a bit of saltwater fly fishing. If you are looking for a
bit of company drop me a reply.
I was thinking of spending a session with Kester Herbert early in my stay.
I have emailed him but have not heard back from him so may call him this
weekend.
If there is place for a extra rod then you would be more than welcome.
This will be our first trip to Tobago(me, wife and 1 year old daughter).
We live in Scotland but I am originally from South Africa. I have fished a
lot but not that much with the fly in the salt (still learning)

Regards
Gerard

Hi Gerard

Glad you found http://www.myTobago.info

I hope the angling pages have been of help.

Cheers
Steve

Gerard,
I would be interested - we will arrive on the 7th and stay until the 12th. Let me know where you are staying - we are in a villa just above Grafton Beach. I can give you a call when we get there. Are you staying at the Grafton Beach Resort? What gear are you bringing? I think I am going to try fishing off the beach in the mornings early.
Hope to see you there.
Oliver
email: [email protected]