Fishing for Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit at Los Roques As Good As Ever

It’s good to hear, from three different subscribers, no less, that the wade fishing around Los Roques is as good as ever, not just for bonefish but also for juvenile tarpon and the occasional permit. All three of the subscribers who checked in recently fished with Sightcast Los Roques (www.sightcast.org), by the way, but they booked their trips with two different agents. Interestingly, all three report seeing permit, though none was brought to the boat.

The first report is from subscriber Dudley Cunningham, who visited Los Roques on a Frontiers trip (www.frontierstravel.com) hosted by Barry and Cathy Beck this past January during a period of almost perfect weather. He says bonefish were plentiful during his visit (three- to six-pound average, he says, with his best weighing seven-plus pounds), and there were some baby- to juvenile-size tarpon around. He also had chances at permit, especially on the last day when he stalked a half dozen different fish and had three good shots. His only complaints are his guide’s lack of English and the omnipresence of Muzak in his lodging. Fortunately, it was turned off after dinner, he says. He gives the cost of his sixday, seven-night trip as $3,900. He recommends the experience to fellow subscribers.

The second report is from subscriber Michael Gerrity, who was not as lucky with the weather during his visit in early April, noting that the wind blew 25 miles an hour most days. In spite of the wind, he says he caught approximately 12 bonefish daily, most of them in the five- to six-pound range. His only complaint is about the lack of Internet service in the lodge. He gives the cost of his trip as $5,400, plus tips of $400. It is not clear if that includes the cost of airfare. The trip was booked for him by Frontiers. He recommends his experience to fellow subscribers.

The third report is from subscriber Clyde Faucett, who booked his late-March trip to Los Roques with Western Rivers in Salt Lake City (www.wrflyfisher.com). Faucett was also not fortunate with the weather, calling it “very windy” during his visit. Despite the bad weather, he reports catching some very large bonefish. He also says he saw more permit one afternoon than he has seen in all of his previous trips. He had one hookup, but failed to bring the fish in. His only major complaint is about the difficulty of getting in and out of the boat. “I am 61, and they did not help me get back in the launch after wading,” he writes. “They need to have a rope or ladder for anglers like me.” He also warns fellow subscribers to avoid the lunch salad, as three members of his group missed from one to two days of fishing due to stomach problems. He gives the cost of his trip as $4,000 and concludes that,overall, he would recommend the experience to fellow subscribers.