South of the Border

This time of year always leaves me yearning for open water.  The red river again exploded out of its bank leaving the fish safe and sound.  Spring break led me to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.  I was ready for some open water, a little salty but open none-the less.  The first day I was out snorkeling and drooling over all of the different types of fish that were exploring the reef.  The next morning before the beach filled up with swimmers and sunbathers I hit the beach with my rod and reel.  We began catching smallmouth grunt on tiny soft plastic baits during the early morning.  As soon as the sun rose we began pitching jigs when a large something grab my dad’s jig and zipped 5 yards of line out before it snapped the line, my guess would be a barracuda.  Soon enough schools of sheapshead/sunfish looking fish schooled in.  They were definitely not really a predatory fish and would not take any sort of artificial baits.  After using some creative thinking I strung up little chunks of fish food on my bare hook and sure enough after a little baiting they would work themselves into frenzy and the fight would begin.  These fish took my medium heavy rod and bent it in half, making the drag sing.  After straightening out a few hooks, we started landing some of these gigantic sunfish shaped fish.

  After getting a little bit of fishing into my blood again, my dad and I headed down to Ascension bay in search of Bonefish.  Getting down there was a story in itself, the ride was nothing like I have experienced before.  We rode down in an 8 seat van down a single lane dirt road for 20 miles which ended up taking over an hour.  This was no ordinary road; it was down the Boca Paila peninsula.  This strip of land which repeatedly gets dominated by hurricanes is only about 100 yards wide took us to our final destination.  After enduring the bumps and passing groups of armed military convoys we stepped off at Pesca Maya.  After getting settled we jumped in the boat with rods in hand and took off into the blue waters of the Caribbean.   First it was off to find some hermit crabs for spinning bait.  Before too long the two guides had 30 or so crabs while my dad and I were able to find 0.  I guess they have a special knack for it!  The first spot lead to a bunch of nibbles and missed opportunity at a few permit.  It was when I stepped off the boat and began to wade the flats it was when I was able to hook up on my first Bonefish on a fly.  As soon as the fish took the fly, it was off burning line off the reel.  After making these 100-foot runs it finally ran out of gas.  I was amazed for how small of fish they are, the fight they produce.  After stalking a few more schools of fish with no luck we switched back to spinning gear.  We fished a deep mouth of a mangrove river and started pulling in a variety of fish.  Before too long our day on the flats was over.  Luckily the fishing wasn’t.

 Deep-sea fishing would be the next adventure and it was definitely an experience.  The sailfish were coming up the coast and were just making it to the southern parts of our fishing grounds.  Another week and they would be in the area hot and heavy.  After throwing out what seemed like 50 lines we were finally fishing.  It took a little while but we had a sailfish and man o man could that thing fly.  It was behind the boat about 100 yards and it was easily jumping 10 feet out of the water.  The fish would move side to side so fast you would think there was multiple fish on.   After being hooked for a few minutes the fish spit the bait.  Not too much longer young Tyson Genz hooked into a massive kingfish that took him for a ride.  Just when we thought it was under control, it took a run that stretched the equipment a little too far.  The captain was amazed standing there with a rod that broke right at the seat of the reel.  Even though no fish were landed it was a great trip with some good friends.  As I made my way back to the states, all I could think about was getting back down south and searching the flats for some more bonefish.  Now that the spring is under way Devil’s lake is heating up and the first day was a success.  Stay tuned for some more fishing action!  From the sun soaked beaches of  Mexico…..Keep Livin’ the Dream!

Comments

[Travis Frank]

You Lucky Dog!