The wind was strong all night long. Stronger than it had been in a few nights. I laid awake most of the time waiting for the rain. But the rain never came. And when I stepped outside around 5:15 AM to see how things looked, there was hardly a cloud. Yeah, the wind was awful but at least it looked as though we would have all sunshine for our last day fishing on Cosmoledo.
I fished with my roommate Ken Anselmi. Ken is a retired Optometrist from Virginia. He’s been fun to hang out with all week and chat with before bed. Today it was about time we fished together.
Our guide was Brad Simpson. Brad is head guide and manager of operations here at Cosmoledo Eco Lodge. It’s a big job and he’s been terrific. His results each day after guiding have been great too so I was really looking forward to fishing with him as well.
We headed off across the lagoon for bird island. The waves were big but it only seemed right that the body take one more beating before we head home. Brad started poling us down the leeward side. It was actually kind of nice.
Though I insisted Ken start, he wasn’t ready and therefore I took the bow. The skiff was positioned close enough to the mangroves, coral and rocks that I could reach them with a cast. We were looking for GT’s but I asked if I could blind cast while in the process. Brad was keen on the idea and I went to work. Five casts in, a bohar snapper to be reckoned with eased his way out behind my fly. I whispered, “Huge freaking bohar”. I knew he would eat my fly and as he did I drove my hook home and ended with a yell, “Game on!”.
My 12-weight is rigged with straight 130lb mono – the preferred for GT fishing. My fly was a big 6/0 black Brush fly. The first thing a bohar does is return to his coral and rocks. It was my job to prevent this. Easier said than done but I got a grip on my Big Water Taper line and didn’t let up. Despite my Winston on the verge of splintering, I was winning. But suddenly I could see the coral getting closer. Brad had his pole buried to help hold the boat but he slipped and the 25lb plus bohar pulled the entire boat into the rocks and buried me.
Brad regained control of his pole but it was too late. I could see my line going down in a rocky hole. I had no alternative other then pull. To my delight out came my bohar and it looked as if I had him. But no, he made one more surge and it was enough that he opened the gap on my 6/0 hook. Dang it! What a fish!
Despite not catching the bohar it was a good start to our day. But other than Ken landing a small bohar, that was the only good fish we’d see before lunch.
In the afternoon the wind slowed down some. Its kind of sad when 15 mph feels light but it did. Brad parked on a flat and sent me off for triggers while he and Ken went looking for bones. I’d get two really good looks from triggers but they wouldn’t close the deal. Ken hooked and lost a couple bones.
For the last hour of the trip, Brad suggested we go catch a few big bonefish near the lodge. I was game. If you read this blog often you know how much I love big bonefish. Sure enough when we got there we found a school. I hooked up right away. The amazing thing was, as I was fighting my bonefish, a yellow permit was trying to get the fly from his mouth!
I’d catch one more bonefish as well from this same school. During this battle, not one, but two permit chased him trying to get the fly. After I landed him, and he was a beauty, I had ten minutes before we had to call it a day. I wanted those permit. Sure enough I found the school and the permit were lingering in with the bones. The problem is, the bones beat the permit to the fly yet again.
We ended with a bang with those bonefish. It would have been something if I ended the week with a permit but maybe next time.
The rest of my guys did well today too. A couple are well worth mentioning. First of all, Mike landed a huge bonefish and very nice GT. He got some great photos including this of his bonefish.
Randy caught two triggers today. One a mustache, and this, the only yellowmargin caught all week. Catching a triggerfish is an accomplishment on its own, but to get one of each species in a day – wow!
Tonight it was nice enough to sit outside and cocktail it up. While we did that our chef, who has been incredible all week, set up his barbeque and put on all kinds of delicious protein over the flames. It was a great time and of course, yet another amazing meal.
After diner I broke out my sharpies and did up Ken’s pack and every one of the guides packs and boxes and hats. This took us late into the night but I didn’t want to leave anyone hanging. There were a bunch of GT’s and a few permit like this one on the Yeti.
That’s all for today. Its time to pack up my stuff and get ready to travel. Expect a few more pics and a recap of the trip tomorrow and I’ll highlight my fishing plans for the upcoming week. But I’m not coming home yet!
This is a Yellow Dog hosted trip and if you ever want to go feel free to contact me or go directly to Yellow Dog. While my April Providence trip is full, it won’t be long before I set up one for 2023 or at worst, 2024. That’s all for today!
Be sure to keep track of my upcoming travels around the world!
Follow me on Instagram – jeffcurrier65
Follow me on Facebook – Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing
0 Comments