Who knows about Fishing in Jamaica?

[jlibs]

Hello,

I'm heading to Jamaica for a family vacation this winter. I'd like to bring my fly gear.

Does anyone have any suggestions for technique, tackle, species of fish to fish for, strategies, etc. that can help me be productive?

I've searched on Google and I have been to a few bookstores. There does not appear to be too much information out there on fishing in Jamaica specifically.

-Any thoughts?

JLIBS

[jlibs]

OK. -How about fishing in the Caribbean? Does anyone have any suggestions?

JLIBS

[Mark Patenaude]

You'll need long leaders and nothing lighter than an 8 wt. for fishing the flats for bonefish. This is not so much related to the power of the fish but for punching through the wind with a large fly. Jamaica also offers the possibility of the tarpon and permit for which I would recommend nothing less than a 9 or 10 wt.

Tie up a bunch of crab patters for the bones and permit (they love em') and tarpon flies for the tarpon.

There are a number of guide services on island(s). Try getting on line and contacting them. Their services are usually fairly priced.

You can walk the flats all day and not see a bonefish. These guides can see a silver colored fish in clear water at 100'. Pretty amazing...

[jlibs]

Thanks for the good start. I have some crab patterns that I have used for Striper's. I would like to hire a guide. I've searched on Google and I have not come up with anything that looks great yet. I may take my 9-Weight fly gear and ask around when I'm down there. If you can think of anything else that can be helpful, please share. Thanks again,
JLIBS

[jlibs]

----- Original Message -----
From: Joshua Liberman
To: 'Capt. Steve Murray'
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 6:06 AM

Good morning Captain Steve,

Happy holidays and New Year!

I’m heading off to Jamaica for a family vacation starting this Saturday. We’ll be staying on the north part of the island near a town called Ocho Rios. The north region is supposed to be decent for inshore and beach fishing. Since I’ve never fished there, I can’t say for sure, but I hope to find out. The species present should be Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, and Bonefish. I was thinking of taking a 9-weight fly set up and a spinning reel too. Do you have any suggestions for gear, flies, lures, technique/strategy for presentation and for reading the water/finding the fish? I’m all ears if you can make suggestions to help me be productive. Do you think beach fishing realistic? I’m used to surf casting and fly fishing for Stripers and Blues up here in the northeast.
================================
Hi Josh,

I know some people from Jamaica. They tell me the fishing is not very good - but I have never been there. If there are bonefish in the area you might get into them wading the flats - or better yet a guide who knows the area. The Mahi and Wahoo are deep water fish and you will definitly need to charter to get into them. I would scope out the charter boats in the afternoon (around 2pm-4pm) to see what they are bringing in. If they are catching fish - they will be showing off the catch when they come in. From what I've heard about the area - all the charters will tell you they are catching fish (watch out - these guys prey on tourists). Also, make sure the boat looks seaworthy. One of my favorite bonefish flies is a merken (crab pattern) - if there are many smaller fish - crazy charlies work well - any shrimp pattern will work as well. For barracuda something that you can work fast.

Islamorada is only and hour and a half from Miami airport. Hope you get a chance to come down for some fishing. The Bonefishing should be getting pretty good as our temps start to warm. This area is a trophy fishery - most of our fish average 8 to 11 pounds. A really big one is 13 or 14 pounds. One or two fish in a day is good. That is on live bait. To get one on fly is a real challenge!

Have fun in Jamaica,
Captain Steve Murray
Phone: Toll Free (888)TARPON4 or [phone]
Web Page: www.tarponheadquarters.com
Email: [e-mail]

[jlibs]

Report from Jamaica.

I did not fish while there on the north coast. The fishing is better on the south of the island, locals say. The fishermen on the north of the island head out trolling with outriggers made from rough branches of trees in not very sea worthy boats. Many of the fish are caught in traps made from sticks and chicken wire (very crude).

Lobsters (spiny with no claws) are not trapped. They are speared on the shallower reefs at nights where it is extremely dangerous to be.

The main fish to be caught in the north are Snapper.

There are no regulations or season for fishing in Jamaica. The locals are saying the waters are over fished and the fisherman continue to fish during spawning times. The largest fish I saw caught, and there weren't many fish caught period, was a 10lb red snapper. Most of the fish caught, Parrot fish, goat fish, etc., were small trout size.

The east of the island is where boats go out for the marlin tournaments. In a nut shell, Jamaica is not the first place to go for a Caribbean fishing vacation.