Fly Fishing

hem · Posted: Fri 01/07/11 10:43 pm Post subject: Exuma In February?

Curious if anybody has fished the Exumas,specifically Staniel cay.I'm headed there the last week of Feb. for a week of fly rodding and snorkeling.We will have a 17' whaler for getting to flats and hopefully some close off shore fishing.Obviously our main focus will be bones,but I also want to try for barracuda,shark, and have an eye peeled for permit.Maybe dorado off shore.I lived in the keys for a brief stint in the eighties,so it won't be my first time stalking bones.Looking forward to the trip but sure would appreciate any info.,there doesn't seem to be much on-line.Thanks.

Kennebecster · Posted: Thu 02/10/11 10:28 pm Post subject:

Hem, I fished the exumas during february for the last two years . I fished south of staniel cay on the backside of both the main island and little exuma. I dont know if you have access to a guide but it is worth the money for at least one day of the trip. I dont know what kind of experience you have with bones , etc. but if you have been before than you know what the curve is like as far as gear needed etc. The guide I fished with said that he did see permit around the northern cays but that they were rare , especially since most fisherman are focused on the bonefish first and foremost.
As far as sharks there seemed to be plenty of lemons on any of the flats that had deeper channels or bigger water nearby. In most cases i was wading so stayed away from the sharks but I know one guy that has caught small lemons on popping flies. also when i was with the guide we saw plenty of sharks and "barry's" in the deeper channels where they edged up to the flats.
Also had great luck for bigger bones during that cold snap last year , the guide seemed to feel they had come in from the deeper flats to warm up in the shallows and catch the sun shine. ( one of his clients landed an 11 pounder the week before I was there)
any other questions feel free to ask

Kennebecster