Today was Granny and my last day fishing with Mikey here at Belize River Lodge. Mikey may be one of the newer younger guides here but he’s fantastic and Granny and have enjoyed him the past two days. After breakfast this morning we were in the panga heading straight up the Belize River from the lodge to take a crack at the tarpon that we did so well on two days ago.
It’s always a gorgeous boat ride up the jungle rivers of Belize. The greenery is easy on the eyes and the bird life jumps at every corner. We made a quick stop to observe the jabiru stork family lounging upon their gigantic nest. Two bends later we ran into a troop of howler monkeys. It’s hard to see but this female has a baby on her back.
The first stop was a place where we jumped and lost a tarpon. Granny went to work while I finished a morning coke from a bottle. Just like old times. On about her third cast she went tight but it was far from a tarpon. She yanked a cute little bay snook from the woodwork. That was it for that spot.
At the next spot Granny went tight with a fish much more significant. I had time to grab the camera and catch her attached to a baby tarpon just as he went airborne. Unfortunately that was it. The rascal spit the fly and it was time for me to take the bow.
It was our lucky day as far as wildlife. Believe it or not, I hooked this tarpon at our next spot. I guess you could say I was lucky because I landed him. But just as I did, Mikey yelled, “Tapir!”. We all looked in a nick of time just to see the unique animal finish swimming the river and climb out and vanish into the bush. Wow, pretty cool morning to say the least!
We were lucky to catch the tarpon and the bay snook. After I released the tarpon we hit a few more spots and traveled a bunch more river looking for tarpon. We found some but they would not eat our flies. We found many more howler monkeys however as well as this massive iguana at close range while casting to the bank.
Granny took the afternoon session off. Today is Misha’s birthday and they are having a party while the clients are off fishing. Granny doesn’t pass up a meal of barbequed ribs and fresh birthday cake. Mikey and I were headed to the flats and we had to pass the lodge on the way anyhow. Off she went.
Our plan on the flats isn’t what you would expect. In fact, Mikey has never had anyone request what I requested. Two days ago when we were chasing down my last minute bonefish in order to complete my Grand Slam deep in the mangroves on one of the keys, I watched an odd species of fish mulling around. Mind you this is out in the salt, but the fish looked like a type of cichlid to me. We had to go try and catch one and lucky for me, Mikey thought it was a cool idea as well.
Whenever I spot a strange fish I want to catch it. It’s the ichthyologist in me. Sure enough, as soon as we entered the hidden lagoon we spotted a pair of these fish. I tossed a shrimp pattern at them, my smallest, and they both took turns whacking it. Very similar to the way hungry bluegill attack. But my hook was too big. I’m always prepared however, and I had a few smaller trout nymphs including a stonefly. One cast with the smaller fly and I had my fish.
This is a Myan cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus), and they can live in the brackish waters where the freshwater meets the salt. When asked how many species I’ve caught on fly I always give the number and say “give or take two”. This species wasn’t on my list but I guarantee, when I was down here 35 years ago, running wild in my 20’s, I caught these. I’ve always been one to catch everything that swims. Either way, today I officially added him. I’m getting very close to 500.
I caught about a half dozen of the pretty little fish and got some nice photos. Then we bounced to several different flats locations. We searched for sheepshead which is another fish that guests to Belize rarely hunt. I got a few shots at them but they are tough. I have a friend, Jako Lucas, that has named them “prison permit” because number one, they are striped like they wear a jail suit and they are as hard to catch as permit. We had settle for four bonefish and save the prison permit for another time. This sheepshead is one I painted.
It was a great day of fishing here in Belize. Once again I can’t express in words how enjoyable it was to fish with Mikey. When I got back we had a special guest outside our porch door. This is the ever so cunning green-headed tree snake. Harmless and beautiful. He was probably looking for the frog I removed yesterday!
Time for dinner. Two more days of fishing!
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Congrats on the species! Beautiful fish.
Thanks for sharing!