My second guide was Raton who’s English was much better than Grlindo’s. Since I could cast about 50 feet I was looking for fish out that distance. I asked Raton how far he was looking and he said 200 feet. Being on the raised platform the guide can see father than the caster.
On sighting fish the guide maneuvers the boat, taking in account the direction of the feeding fish, the drift of the boat and the direction of the wind for the potential cast. So the sooner you see the fish, the better the stalk.
Sometimes the fish are on you fast; before the guide can say “Thirty feet at ten o’clock!”.
On the first day we saw several tarpon with a few good presentations but no follows and no takes. The El Pescador boat next to us did catch a tarpon and I got to see the take, set and catch so I know it can happen.
On the second day we saw one tarpon, no take but I did have a follow by a permit and a take by a jack. I missed the jack because I got excited and blew the strip set. Hey, it happens – if I didn’t get excited, I wouldn’t be there!
One thing I learned – not all guides are equal. There was one guide at the resort whose clients caught a tarpon just about every day. Next time I’ll be requesting him!
I didn’t catch a tarpon. It could have happened – I did everything right, just didn’t have the”take”. As they say, “That’s why it’s called fishing and not catching”.
I was so involved in the quest of a tarpon that I wasn’t overly disappointed in the failure of the catch. It just means I will have to continue the quest.
And besides, this beautiful sunset the night before we left Belizewas worth the trip!
Till we put in again…….
Michael
By: Michael Banks, DDS
