Belize Fishing Report, 18-20 July: Search for The Slam

 How do you rate a fishing trip?  Well, I'd say any trip involving fishing is great.  If you break it down, you need (1) exotic location that's easy to get to, (2) target species that you can't catch in home waters, (3) great accommodations, food, and bev, (4) a guide who has the right temperment, knows where the fish are, and puts you in a position to get a shot, (5) seeing fish, (6) shots at fish, (7) hooking fish, (8) landing same

Oh, and most important is traveling with great friends who are as excited about fishing as you are.

So where to go ... Belize of course.  Once again we headed to the little Caribbean country in search of bonefish, permit, and tarpon.  Joining us on this advernture was long time friend, former squadorn mate, and avid angler Curt Toomer.

We flew into Belize City Thursday morning, and hopped on a puddle jumper for the 15 minute flight to San Pedro.  We stayed at Mahogany Bay Resort, a Hilton property a short taxi drive south.  The place has everything you need; very comfortable quarters, great restaurants and bars, access to a private beach, and a flyshop on the premises operated by Blue Bonefish, who guided us for two of the three days we were there.

I had done a little research, and most of the sights said July was the best month to get the slam.  I supose that's because there's very little pressure on the fish (I mean, who goes to the Caribbean in the summer?).  On the other hand, it's the wet season, and there's a good chance you'll be fishing in less than perfect weather.  Which we did.

The plan was to do two days of guided fishing, and one day DIYing it on the private beach.  Friday morning we were rigged up and met our Blue Bonefish guide Dayan at the resorts boat launch.  We've been fortunate to have had some great guides in Belize.  And Dyan proved to be one of the best.  You knew the guy was excited about fishing.  But he knew who he had in the boat, put us on fish without the pressure, and gave us some casting tips that helped immensely.

Of the three species we were going after, tarpon and permit are the toughest.  And, while not particulalry large, the bonefish are plentiful.  So this day was focused on feeling the tug.  Dayan took us off to some flats to find some bigger bones, which we did.  And got some decent shots, but no hookups.  So Dayan motored us back closer to San Pedro, to a spot that could only be characterized as a bonefish petting zoo.  For the last three hours of the charter, and in the midst of passing thunderstorms, we landed well over 20 bonefish feeding on the bottom.  While it wasn't exactly sight fishing, if you see mud, you cast into it, and a few short strips later you're more than likely hooked up.  We fished 8 weights with floating lines, 10lb tippet, and Crazy Charlie flies.  

Having got the numbers out of us, we spent day two looking for tarpon and permit.  Dayan took us north about 50 minutes north to Bacalar Chico national park and marine reserve.  Dayan spotted a school of permit soon after getting to the area, but they spooked, so he continued to a spot where tarpon had been rolling a few days before.  We saw Frigate Birds crushing bait right off the shoreline, and not long after Dayan spotted tarpon rolling, so the game was on.  The next few hours we cast and cast and cast and .... We saw plenty of fish, got some really great shots, and had a few follows.  But no hookups. 

 

The tarpon sightings slowing, Dayan called the audible and we headed back to the spot where he'd seen permit.  For the next several hours we chased multiple schools of fish.  Again, Dayan put us in great position to get shots.  Casting a 9 weight 80 feet in breezy conditions proved quite challenging.  But we still managed to get flies on the fish, enjoyed some follows, and even a couple of hits.  But again, no permit to the boat. 

Day last was DIY fishing at the resort's private beach.  On the ride over our boat captain Guermo recommended we head north up the beach.  Joe immediately picked up a nice bonefish about 40 feet off the pier.  After a few more casts we waded up the beach.  We only has a few hours to fish, and managed some mangrove snapper and a few barracuda as we waded along.  Unfortunately, no bonefish sighted.  Wading back to the resort beach (and some cold Belikins at the bar), I spotted gray shapes moving through the water right in front of me.  Had to be bonefish.  And they were close, within 10-15 feet.  I motioned to Curt to cast right in front of him, and on the first cast he was on, a nice 15 incher.  Joe caught the tail end of the school and hooked another.  The section of beach was half-moon shaped, with coral outcropping at the upper end.  As I neared the coral I saw the that school was turning back, got a quick shot off, and landed another bone.

                                                 

After a few beers at the beach bar, it was back to the resort, then hopping into our golf cart for the drive into San Predo to enjoy some of the local culture and food.  

All in all a great trip.  Not quite legendary, since we missed out on two of the three species.  But using my criteria, the trip graded out at an 85.2%.

Hell, that'll get you an A at Harvard.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Communing with Dolphins

Didn't have a rod in hand, but I was able to combine a workout, time on the water, and ocean life during a morning paddle and swim.   I'll be trading the paddle for the rod soon, but not a bad way to start the day.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

West Branch Tavern Fishing Report, June 15: Happy Fathers' Day!

 A nice surpise at the Lower Hole.  Three wild Browns on a Sulphur Parachute. (Third not photographed, but easily a 10-11 incher).  

Happy Fathers' Day,

Mikey D Fishing

Cape Charles Fishing Report, May 27: Striper Bite at Secret Beach

 It's been a slow start to the 2025 saltwater season in Cape Charles.  Winds from the E/NE dirtied up the water off the beach near the mouth of Plantation Creek.  Even when the winds died and the water had decent visability, there was nothing going on.

So I decided to head up to "Secret Beach," a stretch of firm sand up the north side of Plantation Creek.  We've caught some small Reds and Trout, but nothing in the slot.

I got on the water around 1300.  Temps in the 60s.  Overcast and light rain.  Winds from the west.  But the north side is well protected, so wind wasn't a factor.  

It was an inauspicious start.  Threw a popping cork, and hooked a Ray with a 4' wingspan.  Nothing I could do but hold on until it broke me off, popping cork and all.

Tried a Dyne XL, a go-to lure for Reds and Trout, but the water was moving too fast, and the lure couldn't get down enough for a decent retrieve.

So I switched to a Strike King spinner with a Slam Shady soft plastic, and moved up the grass a bit to fish the channel.

Within a few casts I was on a fish.  From the head shakes I thought it might be a Red.  But it didn't take off like a Redfish; it just kept shaking its head.  Got it to the bank and saw it was a Striper, easily 22".

Not much in the way of technique.  I just cast up and across the channel, and slowly retrieved the spinnerbait.  Missed some fish, but managed to land two more, both going about 26", over the slot!

Lost one more big Striper before the rain picked up, and a Cherrystone Aqua Farm skiff drove right through the channel.  Figured that was the sign to head home.

While fishing reports are describing hot Redfish and Trout action in the lower bay, they focus on the creeks on the other side.  Looking back to previous MDF entries, we really didn't start picking up Reds off Plantation Creek until June.  Not sure if the reason is that the Stripers are keeping the Reds away.  In the meantime, I can live with the tug from a big Striper.  The Reds and Trout will show up soon.

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

Good to Feel the Tug of the Tog - Indian River Inlet 14 May 2025

Spring is here and the fish are on the move.  While waiting for upgrades and maintenance on the Mikey D Fishing to complete, time on the water is limited to time along the water.  Not to worry, there is ample fishing along the inlets, back bays, and the surf.  So yesterday, I stopped by Old Inlet Bait and Tackle just north of the Indian River Inlet to grab a bait buffet that included bunker, sand fleas, and shrimp.  

The target was one that has eluded me for years -- Tautog.  Tautog, a.k.a "Tog" or  "Blackfish", is a sought after medium sized fish that is known for great table fare.  They can be found around rocks and structure, so the jetties on either side of the Indian River Inlet make a great spot to target them.  Minimum size is 16" in Delaware with a creel limit of 4.  They prefer cooler water, so I pursued during the back end of the spring season.

I picked a spot on the north side of the inlet in the early evening.  The incoming tide was ripping through the 300 yard gap that feeds Indian River Bay and Rehoboth Bay.  I was equipped with my 12' surf rod with an up and down rig, 5 oz. of weight, with shrimp and sand flea.  I figured the long stick would help me retrieve my rig and limit snags on the rip rap.  I also had a lighter jigging rod tipped with a 1/2 oz. slip weight and a sand flea.  

After the surf rig was doing its job, I grabbed the St. Croix jigging rod and cast straight out.  The current quickly drew the rig in a wide arc.  As it neared the rocks, the rod bent in half.  The headshake that followed alleviated any concern that I might just be snagged.  The Tog gives a fun fight for its size and keeping it out of the rocks can be a challenge.  The key is to retrieve as quickly as possible once you have him near the rocks and keep his head up.

As you can see, they have human like teeth to crush crustaceans.  They may not be the prettiest in the sea, but they sure eat good!   And for me, it was the first tog I have landed and a keeper no less!

Tight Lines,

                                                                            

Mikey D Fishing

Potter County Fishing Report, 09-11 May: Fishin' With the Edmonstons

 A year ago this past weekend Clare and Bery joined us for some spring fishing.  Conditions were ideal, bugs were hatching, and the fishing was great.

A year later, we had to work for them.  Go figure.

Over the previous weekend we had almost 3 inches of rain, along with cooler temps.  For most of the week, the streams were unfishable.  Fortunately, as the week wore on the water cleared enough, and came down to suitable levels. 

But not a lot of bugs.

Given the bigger waters were still a tad high, I figured the mountain streams would provide a better opportunity.  So Bery and I lit out for Upper Kettle Creek, which is a Brook Trout stream.  I was surprised that even at the upper reaches the flows were high, and the normal fishy lies weren't conducive to a productive outing.  We had to search for good water, and only found a couple of spots worth trying.  

We found some fish, but not many.  Tan Elk Hair Caddis did the trick on a couple of Brookies, but that was about it.

On Saturday we headed out to Sinnemahoning State Park to fish a section of the North Fork that we'd had good luck on the year before.  Conditions continued to improve.  Temps rose into the 70s, and although the water was a bit deeper than I would have liked, it was fishable.  

Unlike last year, only some Caddis and a few March Browns were coming off.  Trout were rising sporadically, but didn't seem as cooperative as you'd expect for this time of year.  We did manage a couple of fish, one Rainbow and a Tiger Trout.

Most of the day was spent just sitting and watching....

Finished up the day at the Pavilion Hole, which almost never disappoints.  Bery tagged a nice Rainbow on a "Fegg" (Felker-tied egg) before dinner.

We still needed to get Clare on the board.  So Sunday morning before Clare and Bery departed for home, we ran up to Rainbow Paradise, a pay-to-fish locale.  While the purists might wince at such a place, I like going there.  It's a great place to learn the basics of fly fishing: casting, setting the hook, and fighting the fish.  Clare took advantage of the opportunity, and in the ensuing two hours she got dialed in on hooking and landing fish.  Didn't count, but at least 20 trout, including a few fish that went at least 18 inches, came to the net.

That's fishing for you.  Sometimes the fish gods smile on you, and some times they make you work for them.  But all in all a great weekend in God's Country, with haute cuisine (Bery makes a killer filet), good bourbon and cigars, and great friends.  

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing

West Branch Tavern Fishing Report, 20 April: The Old Man and the Stream

 "My big fish must be somewhere"

- Santiago

Brother Kelly brought Dad out to God's Country to get in a little fishing and enjoy the Potter County spring, which has finally arrived.  Sunday morning, after a great breakfast of scrapple and eggs (thanks Kelly!), we headed down to the Pavilion Hole.  Temps were in the upper 50s, and a bit gusty.  So we opted for the spinning rod and tossed minnow lures and Panther Martin spinners (single hook) for about an hour, to no avail.

Having worn out our welcome, we moved down to the lower hole.  It was protected from the wind, so I moved to the bottom of the run with the fly rod and fished an undercut bank that had held a fish a few days earlier.  So I wasn't paying attention until I heard commotion behind me, and saw Dad's spinning rod bent over.

I looked down into the water and saw a monster Brown.  Biggest fish I've seen in this stream. He must have been hiding under a sunken log near the far bank, and decided the Panther Martin looked like a tasty meal.

We landed the trout, took a couple of quick hero pics, and back in the water it went.  Easily 22 inches, maybe 23-24.  A trophy Brown for sure!

Not bad for a 92-year old.  If you can get to the water, you can wet a line.  

Tight Lines,

Mikey D Fishing