PPS Destinations Report 

El Pescador, San Pedro, Belize

Date:        September 15 - 21, 2008

Reported by Dr. Ken Spint, Solana Beach, CA

Water’s Fished: Flats and channels south of resort almost to Long Caye

Personal Guide: Gilberto

Booking Agent: Jim & Bob @ Yellow Dog Fly Fishing — who were very helpful in sorting out our transport problem due to Hurricane Ike

Outfitter/Guide Ratings: Very competent, excellent eyes and enjoyed being with him for the four days.

Airline/Level of Service: Very good rating for Continental. Hurricane Ike, delayed our luggage for several days, but there was always someone there in the shutdown Houston airport to answer our questions.

Species Fished: Mainly tarpon, secondly bone fish, and one shot at a permit. Small barracuda, snapper, and jacks also were hooked but not intentionally. One 4-5 ft barracuda intentionally fished to, but didn’t take fly.

Description of Catch: When you are looking for tarpon you don’t catch a lot of other fish. In the 4 days I saw 6 tarpon that I could cast to, hooked two, and landed one. The one I didn’t get to the boat because I upper jaw hooked him, was estimated 60-65 lb.. The one I did get to the boat was 25 lb.. The bone fish were very numerous. I didn’t, but with what little I did fish for them,  I could see a 40 fish day with the average 2- 3 lb.

Type of Fishing: Mostly sight-casting, and when I got desperate blind casting into deep channels.

Equipment Used: 6 wgt-bone fish, 8 wgt- bone and permit, 10 wgt- small tarpon and 12 wgt. for large tarpon

Flies Used: Bonecrusher # 6 for bonefish and it was almost a guarantee take, 2/0 and 1/0 Black death for tarpon

Comments on Weather/Water conditions: Very little wind, but always a dark sky with with rain threatening — one day couldn’t fish at all because of the squall.

Trip Problems: Delayed luggage in Houston Airport because of Hurricane Ike

Trip Highlights: For me it was the sight fishing for tarpon even though it was hampered by dark overcast skies —but overall I was pleased with the opportunities. The bone fish were not finicky about eating the fly. Jeanne enjoyed the pools (one fish, two saltwater),reading and the excellent meals.

The non-fishing highlights has to be the lodging and the staff. The Villa we stayed in was beautifully constructed, outfitted, maintained, and would be our choice when we return. The lodge rooms are older, very clean, but too small. The staff was excellent and was genuinely interested to meet all our needs — it reminded me of the staff on 4 star cruise line.

Cost of Trip, excluding airfare: $5,000 for two, 6 nights with 4 days of guiding, all meals including beer and rum drinks — rum makes an excellent margarita.

Would You Recommend This Trip: Absolutely

Activities For Non-fishing Companion: We stayed right at the resort except to go to San Pedro to buy some necessary clothes—the small town is one big traffic jam of scooters, golf carts and occasionally auto. Snorkelling with the dive master was very exciting — sharks and all.