Fly fishing the flats of the Bay Islands
is a unique opportunity to experience fishing in a remote setting. These
flats have not seen a lot of fishermen and are as close as a 90 second
boat ride! The six rod per week limit will keep these flats fishing
well for a long time. Bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, 6 species of
jack, barracuda, lemon sharks, snappers, and the unusual black durgon
triggerfish will all challenge your fly fishing skills. Fly fishing
is catch and release.
BONEFISH The “ghost of the flats”
can be found in good numbers around the island of Roatan. Most of the
fly fishing is done while wading the turtlegrass flats. Anglers can expect
to see bonefish tailing, cruising in schools and as larger singles, and
mudding in deeper water. Fly fishing for bonefish is consistent year round
with the average fish weighing 3-4 lbs, with larger fish approaching 8-10
lbs.
PERMIT Permit are known as the holy grail
of flats fishing because of their keen eyesight and sense of smell,
and also their wariness in shallow water. The permit of the Bay Islands
are found on the same flats as the bonefish, but also can be found cruising
deeper water on the edges of certain flats. Stalking permit on foot
is a rare fly fishing experience that is second to none and can only
be done in a few places! Permit fishing is year round with the best
numbers of fish found February – July. The average permit weighs
8 – 12 lbs, but can reach 30 lbs.
TARPON Tarpon are known as the “silver
kings” because of their shiny scales, but it’s their acrobatics
once hooked that will make you smile. Most of the tarpon are found in
the brackish water of the mangrove lagoons and are considered to be
baby tarpon. Imagine holding a fish of 40-50 lbs and calling it a baby!
Most fish are smaller but there is no mistaking when a tarpon hits your
fly regardless of size. Fly fishing for tarpon is year round, with peak
season being October – January.
Tides– Tides play an important part
of how the flats fish in Honduras. Higher tides associated with the
full and new moons mean deeper water and often there are more permit
found on the flat instead of around the deeper edges. If there is some
wind to push these tides a little deeper, you’ll have landed in
permit heaven! These same higher tides make it more difficult to spot
bonefish unless they are tailing. Lower tides make it easier to spot
those bones, but also easier for them to spot you. The lower tides also
push the tarpon out of the depths of the mangroves and it into the deeper
holes where they are fishable.
THE USUAL SUSPECTS Although
most of the fly fishing is geared around the grand slam species mentioned
above, there are numerous other fish that will eat a fly. Snook can be
found along the edges of the same mangrove lagoons where tarpon are found
and can reach 10 lbs. Six different species of jack ,including yellow,
horse eye, and crevalle can be found in a number of different habitats.
These fish grow large and put up a serious fight! Snappers are found in
all shapes and sizes and can spice up a slow afternoon. The most unusual
fish found swimming the flats has to be the black durgon triggerfish (shown).
Hook one of these unique fish and hold on!
GUANAJA The pristine flats of Guanaja are
a fly fishing angler’s dream! Fish populations on these flats
are unsurpassed and you won’t see any other anglers. The number
of bonefish alone is astounding! Not to mention the permit, jack crevalle,
and host of triggerfish found cruising the flats. There are no other
lodges or outfitters fishing these flats, made famous by Jack Samson
and his quest for permit. The only fishing lodge that was on Guanaja,
Posada del Sol, has been in ruin for a few years.
Day trips to Guanaja are available weather
permitting. This entails an early start and then an hour and a half
boat ride to the flats on the eastern side of the island. Fish to your
heart’s content with a lunch break at Graham’s Place, where
you can catch bones at the beach by the bar!
