Mi mas reciente viaje fue a un pequeno bajo en el sur de la isla. Mi companera y yo fuimos a pasar la noche en la lancha y a pescar esa tarde y la proxima manana.

Aquella tarde llegamos y habian macacos comiendo por todo el bajo.Se podian ver desde la lancha!! Reme hasta el bajo y no pasaron cinco minutos cuando tenia mi primer macaco al final de mi linea. Pocos segundos despues escupio mi anzuelo. Dolio!!

Segui caminando y muy pronto ya tenia a otro en la mira le puse el “fly” en la cara y el la siguio pero no se la comio. Levante mi linea hice otro tiro y lo mismo paso. En el tercer tiro le di con el “fly” en la cabeza y en vez de esapantarse, le cayo arriba como un alacran! Lo proximo que se es que me estoy deshaciendo de la linea que tengo en el agua para que llegue al carrete y el se esta llevando como 100 yarda de linea lo que rapido se convirtieron en 175 yardas cuando vino a parar. Ahi empeso nuestra batalla, yo lo traia un poco y el se volvia a ir co 50 yardas de linea. Esto siguio como por 15 minutos. Cuando finalmente llego a mis manos y lo levanto eran 9-10 libras de un maravilloso macaco Viequense.

Despues de dejarlo respirar en mis manos un momento lo solte para que pueda batallar otro dia. Se estaba haciendo de noche asi que me sequee las lagrimas de los ojos y acabe con mi tarde de pesca. Esa noche mi bella companera cogio unas cuantas samas incluyendo una de alrededor de 6-7 libras. Tambien solto un pequeno Tiburon limon.

 

Al amanecer caminamos el bajo, vimos unpar de pejes pero ninguno al que se le pudiese tirar un “fly”. Despues de como 3 horas la marea habia salido bastante y pense que se habia acabado el dia hasta que vi un parcho de agua turbia. (Los macacos se reconocen por hacer estos parchos cuando comen en agues un poco profundas.) Hacen esto cuando revuelcan el fondo buscando comida. Cuando vi esto aventure como hast 3 pies de agua y empece a tirar.

En mi Segundo tiro, me dejaron saber queque estaban ahi cuando me corbatearo en menos de un Segundo. Denuevo dolio pero no perdi tiempo y amarre otro “fly”- “Crazy Charlie” marron con ojos de plomo.

Despues de tirarlo en el agua turbia lo deja bajar le di un par de jaloncitos cortos y se lo comio. La linea corrio por mis dedos hasta que llego al carrete. Lo unico que podia oir eran los gritos del carrete, y que lindo sonido aquel.

En clasica forma de macaco, en segundos tenia 130 yardas de linea afuera. Este peje me dio tres , todas empesando casi a mis y el derepente saliendo hacia el horizonte.

A mi sorpresa cuando llego a mis manos era unpoco mas pequeno que el de la tarde anterior pero todavia tenia sus buenas 6-7 libras. Antes de soltarlo, tomamos unas fotos para los archivos y lo aguante hasta que estuviera completamente recuperado, para que el tiburo “Bull” que estaba en el perimetro no se lo comiera de almuerzo. El pes pateo duro de mis manos y lo mande en su camino.

Fue tremendo viajecito de un di a otro lleno de pejes y buena compania. Para finalizar este report de pesca lo unico que dire es que hay macacos en Vieques y los tamanos no son chiste.

Buena pesca!!!
Capt. Franco González

Thank you for allowing me to put my “two cents” in about the fishing frontiers of Vieques and say something positive about our precious island.

My most recent trip was to a little flat on the south side of the island. My girlfriend and I went to spend the night on the boat, and fish that afternoon and the next morning.

When we got there that afternoon there were Bonefish feeding all over the flat. We could see them from the boat! I rowed in and five minutes after stepping on the flat, I had my first bonefish! A few seconds later he spit the hook out. It hurt.

I kept walking and a few minutes later I was stalking another fish. He was a single and from the size of his tail it seemed to have shoulders the size of mine. I put the fly in his face and he chased but did not take. I picked the line back up and placed a second cast. The same thing happened.

On the third cast, I hit him on the head with the fly and instead of being spooked away, he jumped on it. The next thing I know, I am clearing my fly line and once I had him on the reel he took of with about 100 yards of baking which quickly became 175 when he decided to stop. This began our tug of war. I would bring him close until he would turn and run and take 50 yards; this went on for about 15 minutes. When he finally came to my hands and I picked him up, he was about 9-10 pounds of spectacular bonefish. After letting him catch his breath for a few moments I released him to fight another day. By this time it was almost dark and after wiping the tears from my face, I decided to call it a day.

That night fishing of the boat my lovely girlfriend caught a few snappers, including a big mutton snapper in the 6-7 pound range. She also released a small lemon shark.

The next morning we walked the flat and saw some bonefish, but they were not in casting range. After about three hours, the tide started going out and I thought it was all over until I saw a big patch of muddy water. (Bonefish are known for creating these patches when feeding in deeper waters.) In doing this, they stir up the bottom digging for food. This is known as “mudding”. Once I spotted this, I ventured out to about 3 feet of water and began to cast.
On my second cast, they let me know they were thereby breaking me off in a second. Again it hurt, but I wasted no time and tied another fly – a leaded “Brown Crazy Charlie”.

After I dropped it in the muddy water, let it sink and gave it a few short strips, he took it. Line sped through my fingers until I got him to the reel. All I could hear was the sound of the screaming reel, and what a lovely sound it is.
In true bonefish form, he sped out in seconds with about 130 yards of my baking. This fish gave me three good runs, all of them having him at my feet and he would suddenly head for the horizon.

To my surprise when I landed him, he was a bit smaller than the one the day before, yet he still had 6-7 pounds on him. Before release, we took a few pictures for the archives and I held on to him until he fully recovered, so the bull shark in the perimeter would not get him. He kicked hard out of my hands and I sent him on his way.

It was a great overnight trip filled with fish and good company. To end this fishing report I will just say that there are plenty of bonefish in Vieques and their size is nothing to be taken lightly.
Keep ‘em tight!!!

Capt. Franco González

Permitanme contarles sobre uno de los dias de pesca mas memorables de mi vida. Dado mayormente por el final incredible que tuvo. Empezo como cualquier dia de pesca, afortunadamente para nosotros una corrida corta de 3 millas hasta llegar al “drop” que va de 200 a mas de mil pies de profundidad. Con todas las espectativas de un dia de pesca echamos las lineas al agua. A los 20 min. de anciosamente mirar las carnadas aparece una aguja azul debajo del tangon derecho. Ahi mismo le da un par tortasos al balaju y desaparece solo para salirle de lado y caerle encima al balaju. Inmediatamente sale brincando hacia el horizonte unas 8-10 veces . Despues de una batalla de como 40 min. lo soltamos para que pueda batallar otro dia. Ahi mismo nos chocamos las manos y echamos las lineas al agua. Seguimos saliendo y como a la hora se tiran 3 tunas aleta amarlla. Me imagino que las otras dos eran tunas tambien ya que una rompio la linea y la otra se desclavo pero asumo que su amiga de 54# no nos iba a mentir. Nuevamente echamos las lineas al agua y al ser medio dia de pesca empieso a entrar hacia el muelle. En el camino nos encontramos con una mancha de miles de delfines y a la distancia veo una tijereta sola que se tira a comer. Encamino la lancha hacia alla y al acercarnos se tiran todas las canas y derrepente estamos redeados de Dorados, cientos de ellos. Ahi abordamos 3 y soltamos 5 mas,de loco ,pero. Ya no habia quien contenirea nuestras sonrisas .

Volvemos echar las lineas al agua cunado veo un dorado arriba de la superficie brincandocomo 30 pies de el bote. Creia que tal vez era uno de los que habiamos soltado hasta que veo una sombra gigante que le pas por debajo, era un marlin azul de cerca a 300# que se estaba comiendo al dorado. El marlin con su cabeza y pico fuera del agua le daba tajos al dorado . Viraba debajo de el y ahi mismo le caia encima de nevo. Era impresionante ver como el marlin viraba en un radio tan cerrado debajo del dorado. Hizo esto tres veces dejando el dorado mutilado tratando de nadar en la superficie. Derrepente sale el marlin completo fuera del agua y le cae ariba al dorado con la boca primero y eso fue lo ultimo que vimos del marlin y del dorado. Les tengo que decir que e visto sabalos de sobre 100# comiendo jareas grandes en las lagunas de san juan y he visto un Cheetah correr detras y comerse un Impala en los llanos del Serengeti, pero ver este Marlin azul cazando y comiendo dorados en su habitat natural fue una de las cosas mas impresionantes que he visto. Se que mis palabras nunca le pudiesen hacer justicia a la situacion pero creanme cuando les digo que es algo que nunca olvidare.

Hasta la proxima marea!
Capt. Franco Gonzalez

Print this storyWhat would turn out to be the trip of a lifetime began with an unexpected call a sunny afternoon, late May. The call came from the Sport fishing association of Puerto Rico. They asked if I were interested in accepting an invitation from the Sport fishing association of Cuba to go Bonefishing in the “Cienaga de zapatas”region in the south of Cuba. This as part of a program to begin ties between both our sport- fishing communities. Without hesitation I immediately accepted.

A month, countless hours at the vise, and more than 100 flies later I boarded my first flight. This flight would take me from Vieques P.R., where we run The Caribbean Fly Fishing Co. a quaint flats fishing and offshore charter operation, to San Juan where I met our organizer Don Esteves and my fishing companions who also happened to be long time friends. Antonio Fullana Sr., Antonio Fullana Jr., Richard Rubi, and Paco Suarez , all well known amongst the fly fishing enthusiasts in P.R.. The next morning we would embark on a journey that would exceed our highest expectations.

June 26- At the airport before six AM, the excitement I felt was overwhelming. In a few hours I would be in Cuba a country I’ve wanted to visit for so long and blessed to be going bone fishing, this could only be a dream. Two flights later we landed in “La Habana”. Our delegation of fly fisherman passed through customs and immigration with well wishes and smiles from our first Cuban friends. Holstering about 15 fly rods, which received many an odd look, we boarded the bus that would take us across Cuba. During this passage I was amazed at all the cultivation and “valleyness” of it. We reach “El batey de don Pedro” our home for the next four days. We were greeted by some of the guides plus the great staff of the lodge with “mojitos”, typical Cuban rum drink, to celebrate our arrival. About “mojitos” there are other ingredients but the essentials are plenty of rum and sugar, so look out!! Conversation quickly turned to fishing where we talked of fishing days passed and more importantly fishing days in the immediate future. After a very tasty dinner we went back to our cabins for some rigging and a good night sleep for in the morning we would fish!

June 27- Wake up call at 3:45 AM for breakfast and then the bus ride to reach the boat launch, which was at the end of a dirt road that seemed eternal, yet beauty full. Once there we rigged our rods and met our guides. My guide was “Don Alberto” better known as “Japon”. Japon is a true fisherman, fishing since he could remember. In the past few years he has turned his enthusiasm to guiding for bonefish. From his smile and excitement that morning I could tell I was in excellent hands.

We boarded our poling boats that were meant only for guide and angler. The boats were perfect for the area since no engines could be used it was so shallow. My first morning started a little hectic. I had six fish right of the bat managed only one the others pulled the hook. Even then I was impressed that all the fish I had thrown the fly at we had seen before doing so either by wakes or tails. This would be the way we would all catch our fish for the next four days, sight fishing, what I think is the true essence of Bonefishing! After the rocky start I switched to a bigger fly and we ventured through a small passage in the mangroves and came out to a lagoon that left me breathless at the sight of this flat that seemed to go on forever. Some prehistoric Jacks that left a wake like a submarine in shallow water interrupted my awe. They were fast and we took one shot without success then they were gone. Soon we saw another big wake and “Japon” whispers “palometas”. I knew what he meant and the flash of those black tails confirmed it, Permit!!! We poled after them for a while until we finally got our shot maybe 60 ft. away. I let my Merkin crab sink amongst them and with a nerverackingly slow, long strip I saw one light up and with tail clear out of the water I set the hook and was suddenly hooked to a permit my first morning in Cuba. Heart pounding I cleared my line and after about 5 minutes he was gone. A sour taste was left in my mouth since I’m still searching for my first Permit. This added a little more disappointment to my morning but the ‘’palometas” and I would meet again before the end of our tip!

We poled in silence for a while until we reached a sand bar that again I could not see the end of. It was here that our day turned. We saw 3 bones heading our way, fly in front and again grins to our faces. We released that fish and decided to wade the area. Barefoot we waded and saw many schools of fish and by the time we got back to the boat we had scored 9 fish on that flat. It was near lunch time and I had kept radio contact with Paco, who had the great idea of bringing 2 way radios to keep in touch with one and other throughout the day. We had lunch shared our mornings and then parted ways again. Afternoons the water warms up a bit under the June Cuban sun , shocker! We scored one more fish in the afternoon and then headed back to the boat launch. Back at the launch happy faces all around and I knew everybody had great day. Everybody remarked not only of the great guides and the fishing but also of the beauty and vastness of this untapped treasure in Cuba.

That night I managed to get sick and woke up with a sore throat and the rest of the days I would spend blowing snot of the side of the boat.

June 28- I met ”Japon” and we headed to “El Tiburon” where we were the day before. The morning started of great within ten minutes we had our first, out of a school of 8 tailing fish. We got out of the boat and caught another one from two feeding near a small mangrove. Back on the boat we see a big wake very “palometa” like. They were Jacks not the size of the day before but jacks non-the less. I switched from my 4wt. to my 8wt. That had the Merkin on. I placed the fly in front of them and before it even stated to sink it was a matter of who was going to get it first. A feisty 10 pounder was the winner, who fought me with the brute strength that I think only jacks posses. We landed him snapped a few pictures then sent him on his way. We heard from nobody that day, but I know we worked hard for the other 5 fish we caught that day. Back at base camp the rest of our team had done extremely well with me having the lowest number of bonefish but also scoring a nice jack.

June29- Third day turned out to be special. This morning we headed opposite direction from the 2previous days. We were on our way to “Bahia de las piedras”. Here the bottom was like a big slab of rock lightly covered with sand. This bay in keeping with the rest of the areas we had seen did not disappoint, again I could not tell where it ended. Fascinating!! We came out of the mangrove passage to be interrupted by three schools of bones. This would be the order of the day, hard to choose what school to cast at. There were fish tailing all along the mangrove many schools cruising the middle of the bay. It was a sight these eyes will never forget. My eyes were interrupted by the news through the radio that Paco had just caught his first Permit on the fly. Way to go Tilla!! Bt the time we had reached the other side of the bay we had 17 bones in the books having seen each one of them eat. I know I keep going back to this detail about seeing them but if you love bonefishing like I do you know there is no better feeling than sight casting to BONES!! At the other end we ventured though the mangroves to get to “Bahia de Troya”. Through the mangroves we added 7 more bones to our list with Japons tactical poling, a bit of running and some heavy palming on my part. We didn’t loose one fish to mangrove. Reached “Troya” and it opens up to another amazingly big bay except this one has thousands of flamingos. These would take flight in perfect unison creating an intensely pink horizon if you got within 100 yards. Here we had some shots but no luck. We had lunch with Jr. who told me of his 19 I told him about Pacos Permit and my 24. We said good luck and went back on the hunt. We scored one more fish heading back to the boat launch. This day was the best bone fishing day I ever had, 25 Bones! Everybody had double-digit days and Paco his first permit. Back at the lodge we enjoyed sharing our day sipping on the deadly local drink “Mojito”. We were early to bed though, as to take full advantage of our last day of fishing.

June 30- The day the planets aligned and there was magic in the air!
Final day of fishing came upon us mighty quick, as they tend to do in fishing trips. The events of this day I will carry with me till I’m no longer a presence in this earth. My Friend Paco had released his first Permit the day before and as happy as I was for him I certainly wanted to catch one myself, my first! That morning “Japon” suggested we pole hard to where they had seen them the day before (entrance to “Troya”). I was all for it. On the way we passed on some bones just to get there early. In minutes we saw a big wake that could only be them or jacks, suddenly the unmistakable black tails and “Japon” says “palometas”!! We got close for me to manage a sloppy cast, bad enough to divert their course. We kept watching them and as they turned I got a sort of good shot at the lead fish. He ignored it but his buddy close behind didn’t. The take was aggressive, in seconds he cleared all my fly line and with baking screaming of my reel I was hooked to a Permit. Without declaring any victory I controlled my nerves, my knees from knocking and simply fought the fish. Some incredible runs later I landed my first permit on the fly or otherwise. “Japon” took some pictures of me with saltwater fly fishing’s “Holy Grail” then me of him. We promptly put “The Grail” back in the water and holding back the tears I saw him gently swim away. We cracked open some cold ones at 7:15 AM to celebrate my first Permit!! At this moment my trip was complete and anything else that came our way bonefish or other would be a bonus.

Well bonuses were around the next turn of the bay. Permit, feeding this time. My first 2 casts were on the $ but no takers. A little cheesy but, third times the charm. With a sharp thrust from his tail he had the fly and before I knew it I had him on the reel with just sweet music blasting from it. Again I controlled my nerves and enjoyed the fight. Moments later I had landed my second permit of the day and LIFE! “Japon” said 10-12 pounds on him like the first, but as for me I only saw Permit, black tails and yellow belly!!

On the first fish “Japon” had asked me for my fly to keep as a trophy, I gladly handed it to him. After releasing the second I also gave that one to him. I tied another crab pattern not a Merkin. While discussing the second fish and contemplating our next beer some familiar black tails interrupted us not far from our boat. We decided to wade to them. I got a few shots in but they showed no interest on that crab. We were far from the boat so I ask “Japon” to lend me the crab I had just given him, which fortunately he had on his hat. I tied it on and on the first cast one of the 4 permit showed interest enough to have me hooked to my third permit of the morning. He cleared my line and then was gone. No disappointment this was a lot more than I ever expected. Then the tails show up again a bit further. We stealthily crept to them and on my first cast I let the fly sink and again with the turtle like long strip I hooked my fourth permit of the morning. At this moment I needed to get smacked because this was simply unbelievable. With a huge smile on my face I cleared my fly line and a short battle later my third Permit was in the books. Smaller than the first two but Permit non- the less. It was 9:30 AM and again we broke out the cold ones, our last. But we needed to celebrate. ”Japon” told me that no one had ever caught 2 permit in one day let alone 3. I felt extremely blessed and fortunate for the morning I had, but the morning wasn’t over yet! After the beers “Japon” suggested we check the other side of the bay where they also like to feed. I pretty much told him to take me wherever he wanted because this couldn’t get any better. How wrong I was!! We get across the bay and were rewarded immediately by some cruising Permit. The fish would cruise then stop to feed and cruise again and feed some more. I got some shots at them while feeding but no takers. After the last shot they started to cruise again heading away from us but as luck would have it they turned and headed right for us. My shot was downwind to them and landed a few feet in front of the lead fish. When the fly sank the lead fish jumped on that crab, his tail came out of the water and we knew this was the biggest of all the ones we had seen earlier. He turned away from us and with lightning speed he left with at least 250 yards of baking. Right there I knew we were in for a battle.

Before I mentioned the brute strength of the jacks. I now think the permit have that strength too adding to it the finesse of those long screaming runs. You know the ones where the reel seems it’s going to fall apart.

The fish kept his distance for a while and whenever I brought him near he would take of on incredibly long runs. This went on for about 40 minutes. We finally get him to the boat and this bad boy had easily 20 pounds on him. With the leader in hand “Japon” reaches in off for the tail and the fly came off and the Permit swam happily away. No pictures for us with the big one, only eternal memories. “Japon” and I looked at each other, laughed, and I knew that we didn’t only share a great friendship but also a bond that no other angler and guide had ever shared in Cuba. Four Permit before 11:00 AM. We caught a few bonefish before lunch. We had lunch with Richard who congratulated me and then proceeded to call me a bastard.

After some encouraging and kind words from Richard we went back to fishing. All I could do was try to believe the events of the morning, which were so freshly in my head. Our fishing was over and back at the boat launch in what seemed to be the norm of everyday everybody had great final day of fishing. After 4 days of fishing between all of us we released 253 bonefish, average size 4 pounds, 1 Jack Crevalle and 5 Permit. Trip of a lifetime or what!!

Back at the lodge our now Cuban friends had prepared for us a roasted pig dinner with plenty of Havana Club to go around. Needles to say we all had a great trip and were in celebration mode.

What more could I say about this trip except for the great friends we made in Cuba and for me spending time with some of the best company I know. It was a true pleasure! I look forward to returning to Cuba and seeing all my friends again.

A special thank you to Mr. Del Brown, whom unfortunately I’ve never met, but I just know that it was his fly pattern (Del’s Merkin Crab) that worked the magic on that unforgettable June morning in Cuba!!! Thank You!!!

Keep ‘em tight!!!!!
Capt. Franco González
Vieques P.R.

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