Fly Fishing - Aruba Bonefishing

jeremy · Location: Portland, Maine

Hi everyone,

I personally have never fly fished in Aruba. I got the following email from a member (sue) - Does anyone know any more than I do - or has anyone every fly fished there or have friends who have fly fished there - again, i know nothing about this. thanks. If you can help Sue out - please reply with any info you may have - thanks.

Sender's Name: SUE
Sender's Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Message: I have a chance for a great place in Aruba for a week in May is there good Bonefishing there do you know??? If so where.

Sue

Marcel_Karssies · Location: Enschede - The Netherlands

I have only seen reports on Bonaire, I know somebody on a Dutch flyfishing forums who goes by the nickname Arubaman.
I will ask him for a reply

hedrush999 · Posted: Wed 03/08/06 6:48 pm Post subject: Aruba Bonefishing

I have done a small amount of internet research, and it seems like there are bonefish in Aruba, although its not filthy with them. I would love to hear about the experience there, and if you learn anything about Aruba bonefish please feel free to post it on [url]http://www.fliesandfinssouth.com[/url].

arubaman · Posted: Thu 03/09/06 10:33 am Post subject:

Hi there, done research? maybe not that well. I probably am what they call a semi-local. Lived there for almost 20 years and moved to the Netherlands. Picked up fly fishing in the Netherlands but still go to my roots once or twice a year. The last times I went with my fly gear, I got the spotting abilities and the watersense as I grew up there and went to search for bones.
There are bones on Aruba, I caught several of them and I know of many more that have been caughts accidentally in nets and on handlines. The advantage is they are not fished on a lot, so they pick almost every fly you will cast at them. They are very strong too, this because theres not that much flats or mangroves where they live. Probably they cruise around in the deep seas and feed on the shoreline of Aruba when in the neighbourhood.
Untill now I can say it has been hard to get them, december I will spot an average of a bone a day, in june 2005 I was there and only saw three bones in a period of 5 weeks. Hooled two of them but didn´t manage to land them, they race out and break of on coral Sad

To come back to the point of the research: I have written a lot about it and some other fisherman also reported on Aruba on an other forum, http://www.flyfishingforum.com If you read the postings there you´ll learn about the best flat: Malmok.

One warning I can give you is to go fishing DIY, there are no guides who know anything about bonefishing or flyfishing at all, paying a lot of money to get yourself dropped of at the flats allready well described on a forum looks like a big rip off to me.... The guides won´t know anything about spotting so on that they can´t help you. Buying some wading booties and a good polaroid helps you more.

Any questions, always feel free to send me an email, but it is handy if you read all the stuff written before.

Ciao, Arubaman

ps. I don´t frequent this site, so maybe won´t answer on any questions posted down below quickly.

mikeo · Location: Auburn, Ma

maybe this post will be relived i went down to aruba this past november. I found flyfisharuba.com and utilized the guide service for one halfday morning. From what i understand seeing one bone alone is how you will spot these fish. I caught mine false casting off the flat and working the drop off. A beautiful fish that got the drag singing. This was my first saltwater experience it is a beautiful island with lots of great night life and yes bonefish . If you go Laurenz the guide i spoke about picked me up at the hotel and returned me at the end of the fishing trip, provided me with an unforgettable time. -Tight Line on "One Happy Island"

aruba

there is one specialist on the island of Aruba, who can be reached at: flyfishingaruba.com

enjoy!!

mkoloch · Posted: Thu 03/04/10 10:16 am Post subject:

During our wedding/honeymoon, I was lucky enough to sneak away for some casting. My bride did not much care, white sand beach, clear blue water and a cold fruity drink kept her happy. I spotted one bone during my fishing adventures and was unable to get a take. I agree with above, they are not as plentiful as other areas. However, Aruba is full of sea life. I did catch fish, many of which I could not name. Put a smile on my face, thats for sure. I did the best near Baby Beach. There is a good flat along the coast, in the Eagle beach area (old beached ship is a dead give away).

My best fish was a nice jack, there was a few of the schooling baitfish around some old pillars near our resort. I ran back to our room, grabbed the flyrod and ran back to the beach. I got a few looks during this, but once I had a fish on, people where very impressed.

Definitely go snorkeling, its amazing. If you need Aruba info. or help booking a trip, email me matt@tripguy.com