Turks and cacois island

[cod king]

Hi i am visting the turks and cacois island in easter and i was wondering what sort of lures work best and what colours and stuff any help will be appreciated.

[PanamaJack]

I guess it's going to be Providenciales that you'll be holidaying on.

On the flats, the areas of shallow water, that surround large parts of the island you should encounter things like Bonefish, several species of Jacks, Barracuda and probably also, in slightly deeper water, Tarpon and Permit. Here's a url identifying some of the flats you should be able to wade fish yourself, without a guide - http://www.bahamasflyfishingguide.com/turkscaicos.html.

I'd suggest you'd take a lightish spin outfit to balance 8/10lb line for the Jacks, Bonefish and Permit. The Jacks are very agressive and respond best to surface poppers - things like the Yozuri Hydro Tigers, both sizes, are very effective. You need to wind them quickly. As to the Bonefish and Permit I find they respond best to bait - shrimp and conch for the Bones and small crabs for the Permit - fished freelined, or perhaps with a small split shot to aid casting. But you can try small Bonefish jigs, 1/16 or 1/8oz size. Those rigged with a brown dressing would be fine. All you're trying to do is simulate a small crustacean trying to escape through a slow retrieve, 'puffing' sand.

You should be able to buy those lures, on line, through somewhere like Harris Angling, else one of the 'Stateside outlets like BassPro or Captain Harry's in Miami.

As to the Barracuda tube lures work well, again cranked FAST. I recall there's another thread I've responded to where, I think, someone identified a UK source for them. Any colour works although I prefer those made with red surgical tubing.

As to the Tarpon swimming lures, preferably sinking lures, work best - anything between 5 and 8" long. Ones imitating mullet are good. Make sure though they're rigged with double or triple strength trebles and, if possible, through-rigged with wire. Also for Tarpon though I'd suggest you try livebaiting with mullet or things like Pinfish (small, bream-like) on float tackle. Tarpon have almost inpenetrable mouths, likened to being lined with concrete, and you'll find circle hooks are very effective. Otherwise, if you're going to use 'J's use strong, short-shanked ones. The jury's out as to whether to sharpen them (out of the box) or not. I tended - I now use circles most of the time - to use them straight out of the box. The point, when you tighten into them, is more likely to find a channel between their mouth plates and hold.

Just a last point, for Tarpon, you'd need a heavy rod, one balanced for 16 to 20lb test.

And whilst wading the flats - shuffle. You don't want to risk standing on a Stingray! You can buy specialist wading boots with rigid rubber soles, they certainly help if - and there always will be - broken coral around. Plimsoles will work at a pinch, but they do tend to fill up with sand.

Hope that's of some help.
Dave

[PanamaJack]

There's an image of them on this thread - http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=58069 - and one of the respondents reckoned that you could buy them through http://www.eangler.com.

[cod king]

Thanks for all the help im realy looking forward to going out there now.

[PanamaJack]

Hi Cod King
Here are some urls that might give you more of an insight into Flats fishing. A couple of the 'Stateside magazines have features, or 'how to' articles on their web sites.

This is a reasonable one on flats fishing with spin gear - http://www.shallowwaterangler.com/gear_and_how-to/040952/. And although I couldn't necessarily find others that were relevant they're constantly updating the site, so it's worth checking back on http://www.shallowwaterangler.com/gear_and_how-to/.

Now you'll find some excellent articles on this one. Ignore the fact that it's about saltwater fly fishing a lot of the information's relevant. You need to click on Features from the home page - http://www.reel-time.com - it's top left. A few of the titles use american parlance so, as well as the obvious, also look for 'Silver Kings' or 'Grey Ghosts' - Tarpon and Bonefish respectively - or 'Grand Slam' - catching the 3 species on one day, Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit.

[cod king]

Thanks again mate.

[rock hopper]

cheers mate were all looking forward to going . do you have to play the bonefish / permit / jaks on a light clutch ???



many thanks



rh

[PanamaJack]

You'll need a reasonably light setting for the Bonefish, heavier for both the Jacks and 'Mr P'. Whilst the Jacks are likely to slug it out with shortish, but powerful and fast runs both of the other species are likely to disappear for the horizon.

And a big Bone, 10lbs plus, is more than capable of a 100 yard plus run. Some I've heard of have managed 150 plus and then run again stripping a reel of 200 yards on line. But those sort of fish are the monsters - I've heard tales of fish estimated at in excess of 20lbs from the remote West coast of Andros Island in the Bahamas.

With all after they run out of steam use your finger on the spool when you're pumping to ensure you can retrieve line. It's much more sensitive than an overly heavy drag setting. And the finger ensures that you're not just winding against the clutch imparting twists in the line - and getting no where!

[cod king]

Hi what saut of spinners can i buy from this country that will be affective over there. Will poppers, and diving lures etc work. Thanks.

[PanamaJack]

I really can't think of any more to add than I did in #2 on this thread. The range of Yo-zuri lures that you can obtain on lines from retailers like http://www.veals.co.uk/ and http://www.harrisangling.co.uk/ are excellent. But for the micro-jigs for Bonfish and Permit you'll, I think, have to get them from the 'States - http://www.basspro.com or http://www.captharry.com. That's unless anyone else can suggest a UK retailer.

Just bear in mind, other than the Tarpon and, of course the Permit & Bonefish, give any of those tropical speedsters too long to eyeball a lure and they'll turn away. Most diving plugs just kick up too much resistance to be cranked fast. However, if you get the opportunity to go trolling on your friend's dad's boat, then along the reef edges some of those diving plugs may be effective. There're some for sale currently at 'bargain prices' through Harris.

Best of luck
Dave

[PanamaJack]

If you're looking for specifics in the Yo-Zuri range I'd suggest the following.

Hydro Tigers (poppers) for the Jacks

Hydro Magnums for trolling off the reef edge, plus

Magnet Darters, Crystal Minnows or Tobimarus for the Tarpon.

Don't forget the tube lures for Barracuda though.