myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

i will be returning to rex turtle beach in october.i was out there last year and thrashed the water to foam every morning and evening and only had one take ! can any one advise if its worth trying the lagoon behind the beach ? it seems full of fish yet neither i nor a couple of other guys could get a take.i thought of buying some silver fish from the netsmen and fishing them under a pike bung may do the trick.its a lovely spot and the birdlife is amazing.
sorry for so many questions in my first post but would spinning from the beach/live baiting from the pier be a better option ?
i would charter fish but i get seasick on a peddalo
congratulations on a great forum

Hi Dave

Courland (Rex Turtle) beach is one of those odd places, which looks good, but has rarely produced fish for me.

I don't know whether it's because it is relatively featureless, no rocks or reefs etc. or whether it's due to the relatively high level of beach netting that is carried out, but in any event, the Plymouth end (by the pier) is the most productive for angling in my experience.

I have caught lots of kingfish and bonito on trolled plugs and muppets when fishing with the local fishermen from boats and most of these have come just a couple of hundred metres off the beach (slow trolling parallel to the shore). Early in the morning is best and the sea can be absolutely flat at that time of day, so you might want to try this option.

At certain times of the year, tarpon fill the corner by the pier, but it is futile even fishing for these, as you will never land one because of the pirogue moring ropes - it is tempting though.

Try where the Courland river runs across the beach, for small tarpon, jacks and snook on small plugs - no guarantees, but this is a feature on an otherwise featureless beach and these fish are often attracted here due to the numbers of baitfish in the sea.

I have never fished the lagoon (towards the Black Rock end of the beach)as it has always appeared stagnant and devoid of any life at all. But maybe you are referring to the river, which in the dry season, does resemble a lagoon, with no or little flow.

Let us know how you get on

Cheers
Steve

Dave

Just to add a little to what Steve Pitts has said:

- there are some good sized snook right where the Courland River hits the beach - they are literally on the surf line there. They tend to be present early morning/early evening, although if the water is murky I'm told they can hang around all day. I have tried livebaitning there once but we didn't catch one, although we saw a fair few fish, as well as some large mullet.
- I have caught quite a few fish off of Black Rock (barrauda, crevalli, ladyfish, southern sennet, houndfish). There are several places to fish from. You can climb onto the seaward rock and either fish the Plymouth side, or, if you don't mind a bit of climbing, go over the top of the rock and fish the Stonehaven side. Alternatively, you can walk through Fort Bennett, past the Gazebo and out through the gate onto the rocks at the far end. This is a more sheltered mark if there is any swell running and is probably the easiest to access.

Unfortunately I won't still be here when you come, but have a great time.


Steve H

Hi Dave
just returned from 2 weeks staying at Birdies Nest on the beach at Black Rock,fished up and down the beach at varoius locations.like Steve said in the earlier thread it is`nt the most productive of spots,but we did have some success.The river mouth is worth a try and the better spot for me was the exposed reef at the southern end of the beach which i fished at low tide,just outside there some small reefs that hold various fish(my mid morning swim to rex T is how i now).but if there is any swell be very carefull!!.The last few weeks the fish seemed to be towards Bucco,had a great evening session with kester on the small boat,bonefish,jacks,snapper and tarpon.
ps Steve H , the small sabaki rigs caught live bait ok,the cast net throwing has improved thanks to local fisherman`s tuition(cost a couple of lures)
regards Dan

Dear Dave

There are two places that i know off where you can do beach fishing the first is in pigeon point and to walk as far as you can go until you come to the bay there is a stretch of beach there last year we fished there and caught 8 Barracudas in 2-3 hours fishing.The second place is if you enter the Bon Accord estate until you get to the jetty facing Nomansland whilst we have never caught fish there i have witnessed the locals using rod and line and catching different types of fish.
The gear we used was a telescopic rod with silver spoons we also used Rapala lures but had our success on the spoons.
Hope this helps you
Tight lines.

Just noticed you're browsing the forum Steve.
Any news?

Spent the last hour tying up some Singapore leaders for fly fishing.
Once you master the knack, they are a really handy way of making a tapered leader out of just one length of 15lb line.

Getting itchy fingers now.

Cheers
Steve

Steve

Latest update under beach rods.

Danny

Glad to hear the Sabiki rigs worked well for you and that the cast netting is coming along. I have found the Sabiki works very well for small jacks - it also catches a few spratts.

I have seen the reef features you mention along towards Black Rock and wondered whether they might attract a few fish. As you say you can only really stand on them at low water and even then, only if there is not much swell. Glad they produced for you.

Steve H.

Hi Steve

Wasn't quite sure which thread to post this question in - we have so many on the go at the moment - but you mention Black Rock in this one, so the association is there.

Do you have an up-you-date email address for Kester please?
I realise that it will be probably be a bit hit and miss, what with the notorious local connections, but my mate Allan wants to email him.

Any info. gratefully received.

Cheers
Steve

Steve

Sorry don't have his email address, but I'll try to get it tomorrow when we go on another evening tarpon trip....

Steve H

Stephen Hull wrote:Steve

when we go on another evening tarpon trip....

Steve H

Another evening tarpon trip?
Does Kester do a frequent user discount?

Thanks Steve.
Al will be happy if he's got a new email address.

Cheers
Steve

thanks for the replies gents.just to throw a lure and hope for a take was enough last october,a perfect excuse for not catching any more than a tan ! this year i will be back with better gear and some top tips.the whole family are tobago mad so for me to catch a fish or two means the icing on the cake.the whole family is 27 strong and ranges from 2 to 73.
and yes i did lend my rod to my 12 year old neice and she caught a fish