Tobago Bonefish Tarpon etc

[bass hunter]

Anyone like me who can't afford the expensive Bahamas, Belize etc, should give Tobago a try. I went there last year and caught plenty of bonefish. The flats are'nt huge but beggars can't be choosers.

There's also excellent fishing from the shore where you will see huge tarpon crashing into bait fish. One swirled around my girlfriends legs while she was paddling, scared her a touch.

We stayed at the Tropikist hotel, diving for the missus and fishing just in front of the hotel

[Big Bones jones the fish]

I went there a few years ago and done all sorts of fishing from boat and shore. Fished the shore at sandy point infront of the old fort. Hooked numerous tarpon landed one 50lb. On my own very hard to control the fish on the gear I was using. Lot's of signs the other side of the two hotels on the point. Blood and scales on the wall must have come from one over 100lb. fished with Hard Play charters with Frothy. Excellent skipper. Best fishing for me was using a spinning rod with a carp reel and 5kg line to land 20+kg Mai Mai. What a battle. Got it all on video. Cant wait to get back out there some time. Sandy Point Hotel was OK. They had appartments right on the beach. So you could take some bait indicators gear and use floating lines for the big fish. Well thats another story!

[marktheshark]

You're right about Tobago: it's very good, shore, inshore and offshore. Was there in March and had some very good days including a marlin off Frothy's new boat and some excellent nights for snapper off the rocks close to the Grand Courlan/Grafton Beach hotels. If you want bait, help the guys pull their seine nets up the beach (they do it most mornings) and help yourself to sardines, greenbacks (small scad; best for snapper) and ballyhoo.
However, for value I'd say you'd be hard-pushed to beat Cuba. I've just got back from a late cheapie to Cayo Guillermo, and the fishing was sensational, especially DIY on your doorstep. Thomas Cook fly to Cayos Coco and Guillermo direct, so there's no days lost in Havana, and although hotel standards (especially food) aren't the same as the rest of the Caribbean, who cares when there are places nearby where you can catch 50lb-plus game fish from the shore, on bait, fly or spinning. And I didn't even try for bonefish and permit!
Like Arnie ... I'll be back!

[PanamaJack]

Really just to add to the recommendations on Tobago, and for those wishing to give it a try, I thought I'd include a couple of links from a chap called Steve Pitts. He usually posts to a UK fly fishing forum - www.ukswff.com - which is where I picked these up from. As well as catching them on the fly though the species mentioned can also be caught on lures or bait.

Firstly then a general review on the fishing through this link - http://www.mytobago.info/fishing.php. And then some images of the species you're likely to encounter - http://www.mytobago.info/photogallery06.php.

Finally just some specific observations, adding to what's already been posted, on where to try.
Dave


I think that Matt Hayes has been to Tobago a few times, but I'm not so sure that he's done much (if any) shore fishing - could be wrong. I know that a lot of people are attracted by the offshore fishing and from what I've seen of it that's pretty good too.

I don't think that hiring a car is essential if you are looking to keep to a tight budget, but I would certainly hire a car for a couple of days and get out to see the Northern half of the island with its rainforest and some fantastic coves and secluded beaches. If you're into bird-watching then a trip to little Tobago would be worthwhile. Also fantastic snorkelling and diving all around the island if you're into it. Sheppy's would give you a good 3-day car deal.

There are lots of budget apartments and lodging rooms in the Crown Point area - close to some good fishing and to Pigeon Point, which is the classic 'Bounty Bar' desert island beach.

Also quite a few eating places from take-away fried chicken and pizza, through small family restaurants (like Ru- B- Lou's) to the Coco Reef Hotel. But Vegas it ain't.
Most people are in bed by 22.00 and up early to benefit from the cool (75 degrees) early morning, before the sun comes up (90 degrees in the shade).
Self -catering is relatively cheap, if you have simple tastes and eat the local fruit, veg, chicken and fish.

If it's bonefish that you're after, the flats at the southern end of Tobago aren't overrun with them. Generally you'll find them in small groups or singles, but they are of good average size - smallest 2lb biggest just on double figures. I think our average is 4 -5 lb.
Good numbers of permit in specific locations, with the odd stray finding its way on to any of the flats around the airport end.

Flats species on the fly therefore include - bones, permit, tarpon to 25lb, jacks (crevalle, bar and rainbow runner) snook, barracuda to 15lb, houndfish, snapper.
and ladyfish.

Off the beaches, rocks and jetties- Tarpon to over 100lb, jacks (horse-eye and crevalle) to 20+lb, snook to 15lb, barracuda to 20+lb, with the chance of grouper if you fish bait or lures.

There is also an excellent guide by the name of Kester Herbert, with a skiff (Grand Slam) for something like US$250 a day. He's very good with all flats and inshore/offshore fishing. Runs his boat out of Pigeon Point pier and is well respected for his skill with big tarpon on the fly.

I'm sure that BA fly direct 3 times a week, so you should be able to find a flight to suit your itinery. Flight time around 8.5 hours out of Gatwick.

[bass hunter]

Mark, could you tell me which hotel you stayed in at Cayo Guillermo? I much prefer it when you can go fishing on your own, rather that spending loads of extra cash on guides

[marktheshark]

Hullo matey
I stayed at the Iberostar Daiquiri in Guillermo; in March I was at the Sol in Cayo Coco. IMHO, Guillermo offers better opportunities for DIY; I've written half a book on what to do/where to go in Guillermo on the CubaMania fishing site this week (I use the same logon); all I can say is, I've just got back and I can't wait to go again. It was fantastic, and if I did spend most of my time being busted off by unfeasibly large fish, there's alway next time ...
The Guillermo hotels, all four of them, are pretty close togther. Cojimar (3*) is closest to the bridge; Iberostar (4*) has easisest tarpon fishing in the channels; and Melia (5*) has the famous Pasarel Hemingway pier. All these are close together; the Sol (3.5*) is about half a mile further west.
The Iberostar's not a bad place; food's OK (none of the hotels I've been to in Cuba has been a gourmet experience), rooms a little tired, grounds very nice. It's got a great beach, safe for kids, and is a good place if you're happy to laze and fish. Thomas Cook fly direct to the Cayos from Manchester and Gatwick.
Coco is supposedly better for flats fishing, with the vast expanses on the next island, Cayo Romano, a top place; but I think Guillermo looked far better all-round, especially the rocks at Playa Pilar for monster fish.
Let us know if you need more info.
Mark

[marktheshark]

PS: re Tobago
I found hiring a car very useful, as it enabled me to get to marks such as Arnos Vale (good fishing and snorkelling) and Canoe Bay (where the flats are at the south end of the island; also a restaurant, bar and B&B). If you want a boat trip, the inshore fishing is also good up in the north at Speyside and Charlotteville. Apart from the skippers mentioned, the manager of the Manta Lodge in Speyside is a fishing maniac named Sean: you'll have a good time on one of his boats.
I would warn people, however, to be very careful in Tobago. First, avoid driving at night if at all possible; the roads are treacherous and there are a lot of car crashes. Last year I was there when one of the local skippers was killed driving home late during sailing week: the whole fishing community was devastated.
Second, there was a warning advising British tourists NOT to travel to Tobago earlier this year after a spate of thefts, muggings, rapes and violence. When I was there in March, I fished rocks alone and at night, snorkelled a long way from the hotel, helped locals pull seine nets, walked a lot, ate in local restaurants, and wasn't threatened, but we did see signs: a platoon of soldiers protecting Englishman's Bay, helicopters searchlighting the beaches, a group of tourists at our hotel being advised to drive like hell away from one remote beach because a machete gang were waiting there. A lot of the violence emanates from Trinidad; the Tobagonians are as saddened by it as the rest of us. But be very, very careful and streetwise, especially off the beaten track.
I hope I haven't cast a dampener on this for anyone, but I think it's best to be advised. It's still a great place, with great people, all of whom love to fish.
Mark

[bass hunter]

Mark, thanks for the info, Guillermo sounds like a great place. Probably try and get out there later in the year and try to avoid the hurricanes. We got caught in Tobago 2 years ago, ruined the fishing for a few days.

Thanks

[fishiee29]

Hm... currently looking into a holiday with the g/f to tobago but having heard about the fishing in Tobago fancy packing a rod for some fishing while I'm there. Thinking of possibly staying at Arnos Vale mid-late april 2007. Any tips on when and where to fish? Really keen to latch into some tarpon but also fancy any other species available. I'm a bait and lures man. No experience with a fly.

We would have a car so would be able to explore the whole island. Not at all interested in boats and big game fishing. Just fishing from the shore.

Any tips would be much appreciated. Also keen on the wildlife as I'm a keen photographer too. Main interest would be the insects, reptiles and amphibians!

Any tips on decent self catering accomodation near to restraunts and fishing wouldn't go a miss either!

Cheers!

John

[marktheshark]

Hullo matey
Stayed at Arnos Vale in March: great snorkelling on your doorstep and very good birdwatching too. They put food out at breakfast and teatime outside the restaurants, and the hotel's got a couple of tame parrots that will share fruit with you if they're in the mood. The hotel's very quiet, a little pricey (I didn't stay all-inc) I thought, but the food's good. A lot of steps and walking there: it'll keep you fit!
Fishwise: it looked good. To the right side of the bay as you face the sea you can walk round the bay to some pretty wild water, with a lot of rocks and structure and some pretty fierce currents. I fished it quite hard, mostly lures and fly, for mixed results: a nice grouper in the bay on a heavy Krokodile spoon, plenty of garfish on spinners and small surface plugs, and I lost a barracuda of c12lb trying to haul it up on rocks outside the bay.
In retrospect, I think it would have been worth trying for snapper at dusk on live or freshly dead sardines ... that worked like a charm in similar conditions farther round the coast at Grand Courlan. Plenty of sardines around the rocks, but how you get them is another matter; you might have to jag them. Careful on the rocks, especially at high tide and after rain, as they're very slippery.
If you have a car you might want to visit Gran Courlan/Grafton Beach for bait (it's 20min from A Vale). At 9 most mornings the local guys pull a seine net and bring in loads of sardines, ballyhoo, bonito, jacks etc. The best bait for snapper is the small scad they call greenbacks. If you help the guys pull the net (bleedin' ard work it is) they'll let you take some bait.
Tarpon are common around the coast and they get some big ones between Crown Point and Plymouth. People livebait for some good ones from the famous pier at Pigeon Point, and The Wall at Mount Irvine is supposed to be good, especially with poppers (you'll also pick up jacks like this). The entire coast in this area is rich in bays and beaches, with plenty of rock marks between, and the tarpon move around. There was an article in Sea Angler last year about some specialists who shore fish for 50lb-plus tarpon, but they didn't reveal the marks ... you have to work it out from the rock formations. A guy call Steve Pitts is a specialist, and he has also written a good general guide to fishing there on the www.mytobago.info site. If you can track him down he'll give you the keys to the kingdom. The mangroves at Buccoo Bay are full of small tarpon, plus ladyfish and jacks, but you'll need a boat.
Near the Hilton, on the other side of the island, Frothy de Silva (famous skipper, and excellent big-game specialist if you're looking for an offshore charter) set up some ponds stocked with snapper, tarpon, snook and mullet. It looks quite tame but there are some fish in the 20-30lb class hiding in the margins. I had a go and caught a 3lb mullet on floating breadcrust; it seems a bit of a way to go to try carp tactics!
Foodwise, if you like the local hot stuff, rotis and curry, the stalls at Crown Point (next to Coco Reef hotel) are a great place to eat for not much money (under £2), but there are cheap eats all over the southern half of the island, plus plenty of supermarkets. There are few restaurants close to Arnos Vale though, and the nearest one (The Water Wheel) is one of the priciest on Tobago. Best meal I had was at the Seahorse in Stonehaven Bay (£15-25 a head).
Hotelwise, the places I've stayed at I enjoyed are the Grand Courlan and Coco Reef (both pretty expensive; Coco Reef doesn't have much of a local feel but it is well-placed and has some fishing and snorkelling. Grafton Beach is cheaper and the fishing is good (same beach as Grand Courlan). Rex Turtle Beach is further round and the fishing on your doorstep looks less good; no rocks). There are several villas and guesthouses between Stonehaven Bay and Mount Irvine, all of which are situated in prime fishing territory, but which I haven't tried.
Up to the north, the boat fishing is supposed to be best off Speyside and Charlotteville. The shore fishing looks good too - plenty of fish and turtles in the sea when I was snorkelling there - but I didn't fish it.
Any use?
Mark

[fishiee29]

Excellent information. Very much appreciated all you have provided. I will now have to take it all an and digest it!

Many thanks!

John