We had three days of great sunny weather here at Turneffe Flats Lodge in Belize. Now the blue skies are gone. Last night I could feel the barometric pressure drop and hear the increase in wind. This morning we awoke to full on downpour, a cold front and a 27 mph wind from the northwest.
Traveling anglers usually think of how unlucky they are to have bad weather at a far off destination. But you can’t think that way. It is what it is and you need to make the best of it or you’ll waste the day. Horrid conditions are just as bad for guides. Our guide Kimbrel wants guests to catch fish as much as we want to catch fish. But today he was undoubtedly worried.
Blind fishing was our best alternative at the start. We headed into the Atoll hoping for a wind-shield from the mangroves. Protection was hard to find but we did get a little relief. The tropical downpour we met however damn near required a snorkel.
The weather in Belize can change quick. Although the wind may have picked up, the rain stopped. At this point the mangrove fishing had produced nothing. No better time for the “every once in a while” morning Belikin!
The morning beer trick worked. By the time Granny and I put down the last sip we got a dash of sunshine. Enough to take off our raingear and get back in the bow and start chucking to the mangroves again. I was throwing a blue and white Clouser concoction and picked off a handful of these rascal size barracudas.
The sun didn’t last long and was again buried by thick gray clouds. Eventually the mangroves stopped producing the tiny barracudas. We ended up on the permit flats for several hours. Visibility was so poor that unless we saw protruding tails it was useless.
If we weren’t going to catch anything it was time to do it another way. I pulled out my 12-weight with my 700-gr Big Water Taper Max Sink. Tied to the end of my stout leader was the heaviest chartreuse Clouser minnow I had in size 4/0. Then I told Kimbrel to take us to about 30 foot deep water with coral heads.
At first Kimbrel didn’t understand. But I explained there was no reason to struggle on the flats without visibility any more. If we weren’t going to catch fish we’d do it a different way. No doubt he’d never had a guest suggest fishing the bottom outside the reef in about 30 feet deep of water. I like it out here because this is where a fly fisher can get pulled right out of the boat! See Farquhar 2016
Once Kimbrel realized I knew what I was doing he was into it. We hit the deep reefs for the last hour of the day. Surprisingly however I only dredged up one fish. This is the ocean triggerfish (Canthidermis sufflamen). A fish that I’ve also caught tailing on the flats here in Belize.
It was a challenging day but by no means a bust. We could’ve have given up before we started with that terrible morning rain and wind but we didn’t. We have two days left and we experience another guide tomorrow. Unfortunately, the forecast is for more of the same.
Christmas is around the corner. DON’T FORGET my Online Store has gifts for the angler that has everything! I have painted over 60 species of fish now available on my coffee mugs and frosted beer steins. There’re also my new Solar Flex shirts in both men’s and women’s. AND my growing collection of fish decals can be purchased on Amazon.
Be sure to keep track of my upcoming travels around the world!
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Monsoon Currier strikes again! I highly agree with pulling out the depth charge and searching the depths. Some of my best and most interesting fish come from this technique. I’m still hoping to see you two in Baja!
And we will certainly do some dredging together Gary! Not sure where we’ll be in May but you will know if we make it to Baja.
If I learned anything from you on that trip it was how much fun you can have dredging (all night!) I like’s me some dredging now!! Still need that big Doggie… good job saving the day!!
Lance, if you want that doggie you and Kevin need to be with me next Dec at Providence! Make it happen!
I know!! I know!! Life’s expensive issues keep getting in the way… it’s a big travel budget problem. We’ll see?
I’ll keep crossing my fingers. I like fishing with you Lance. Those nights on the back of the boat were a hoot!