Hit two nice bones this morning at Malmok between 10:20 and 11am... both sighted on crazy charlies. The fish were NOT where I would have expected them, I think any experienced bonefisher would agree if you saw the conditions there. They came pretty good for about 90 minutes. I wasted a dozen good shots at fish with an unweighted snapping shrimp (trying to avoid the coral) that didn't get a take, then went back to the charlie and bingo on the second fish which was smaller than the first but took the backing to Venuzuela. The movement went dead at 11am but for a couple spook shots and I had to go tend to the serious barbequeing of my legs in the equatorial sun. I really wish I was not alone to get some photos of the action particularly the screaaaaaming drag and backing out there on the horizon. BUT NO ONE ELSE WAS FISHING! Crazy how unexploited it is. Waves were of the tide surge variety, soaking everything to the nipples so NO IMAGES but tomorrow I will be back with the waterproof case and will post some images. (watch, the stripe will get me if I have the cam).
Also got a really cool looking snapper of some sort, almost tempted to "invite it home for dinner" per the original Aruba bonefish club article linked above but since I have no idea what's what I got it off with the hemostats and continued on my quest for a snook or a permit.
Saw a tailer and cast to it a few times before realizing it was a large trunkfish tailing as it fed
After the #2 bone, about 4.5-4.75 pounds I would estimate, I chopped my toes on the marl and decided to head to the south tip - Baby beach and Rodgers' beach on the extreme other end of the island. BIG MISTAKE - it's CARNAVAL weekend and the place was no less of a mob scene than a Led Zeppelin concert in the 70's. Wasted so much of the afternoon I had only a short shot left and with the sun glare on the west shore I was doomed to doing my beached albino whale imitation (sunbathing) and headed back to the hotel for dress-up dinner duties.
But we all know what will be on my mind... TOMORROW MORNING on the flats! Carnaval shifts from San Nicolas on the south end to the main downtown area so I will try the south end again tomorrow. Lots of sugar sands and nothing to chew my feet up.
One funny story-
after I sliced up my foot on the coral, I headed to the rocky bar near California LIghthouse on the north tip. Fish were busting and pelicans were diving into the fleeing pilchards and mullet. I headed out there with the Atlantis ready to make the long bomb casts into the busting fish when a local pulled up, beeped, and make the shark signal with his hands. THinking about my bloody toe I opted to retreat and headed back down to Arashi Beach (Arashi == bonefish in local dialect). The same guy pulled up asking why I left, I said I cut my foot and he warned me about shark. He laughed saying no "big fish dere!" and I laughed. What a chicken sh*t I am! I will go back there tomorrow with the Atlantis and a massive popper to see if I can raise some big jacks to the surface. It's a long shallow rocky bar with a deep channel alongside coming right to shore loaded with bait and had lots of busting fish and birds while I was there.
Anyway, look for arashi photos tomorrow. Waterproof case will be on the neck all morning. Hope that didn't jinx things!
Also got a really cool looking snapper of some sort, almost tempted to "invite it home for dinner" per the original Aruba bonefish club article linked above but since I have no idea what's what I got it off with the hemostats and continued on my quest for a snook or a permit.
Saw a tailer and cast to it a few times before realizing it was a large trunkfish tailing as it fed
After the #2 bone, about 4.5-4.75 pounds I would estimate, I chopped my toes on the marl and decided to head to the south tip - Baby beach and Rodgers' beach on the extreme other end of the island. BIG MISTAKE - it's CARNAVAL weekend and the place was no less of a mob scene than a Led Zeppelin concert in the 70's. Wasted so much of the afternoon I had only a short shot left and with the sun glare on the west shore I was doomed to doing my beached albino whale imitation (sunbathing) and headed back to the hotel for dress-up dinner duties.
But we all know what will be on my mind... TOMORROW MORNING on the flats! Carnaval shifts from San Nicolas on the south end to the main downtown area so I will try the south end again tomorrow. Lots of sugar sands and nothing to chew my feet up.
One funny story-
after I sliced up my foot on the coral, I headed to the rocky bar near California LIghthouse on the north tip. Fish were busting and pelicans were diving into the fleeing pilchards and mullet. I headed out there with the Atlantis ready to make the long bomb casts into the busting fish when a local pulled up, beeped, and make the shark signal with his hands. THinking about my bloody toe I opted to retreat and headed back down to Arashi Beach (Arashi == bonefish in local dialect). The same guy pulled up asking why I left, I said I cut my foot and he warned me about shark. He laughed saying no "big fish dere!" and I laughed. What a chicken sh*t I am! I will go back there tomorrow with the Atlantis and a massive popper to see if I can raise some big jacks to the surface. It's a long shallow rocky bar with a deep channel alongside coming right to shore loaded with bait and had lots of busting fish and birds while I was there.
Anyway, look for arashi photos tomorrow. Waterproof case will be on the neck all morning. Hope that didn't jinx things!