{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Belize Trip Report

Dan, sounds like you continued the good luck and adventures after leaving us. It was a great surprise and pleasure to have timed my honeymoon trip to El Pescador during the Bonefish Bonanza and able to see a familiar face. Thanks for all the tips and help along the way and again, best of luck in Vermont. Let me know if you ever make your way down to the Peabody store. 

On Monday, November 2, 2015 at 9:20:14 PM UTC-5, Dan Davala - TPFR Founder wrote:

Greetings from 30,000 feet! 

Presently in the air on the way home after spending the last 9 days in Belize on my first official assignment in the new role.  The first six days I spent at El Pescador on Ambergris Caye hosting the October Bonefish Bonanza with the Travel Department Manager Sarah Theis (my new boss).  We had several Orvis Fishing Managers on the trip as well, and I had the privilege of sharing the boat with Nathan Cook from our San Jose shop for three days.  Last time he and I fished together was in Alaska in 2012, so it was a reunion of sorts for the both of us. 

We caught some super nice bones but focused more on Tarpon and Permit.  Of course, couldn't pass up a school of marauding Jacks, so we harassed them whenever we found some.  Both of us landed Tarpon on the second day, and both in the last hour - blessed persistence!  On the third day, Nathan got what would have been his first ever Permit, but a huge Cuda' rushed in and bit it in half.  I'm counting it, since he made it through the first two runs and was probably 2 minutes from landing it whole.  Never even saw the Cuda until it was too late, not that anything could have been done about it anyway. 

All of our guests on the trip (about 20 anglers) did well and many species besides the big three were landed including a sweet Cobia.  Also, the average size of Bonefish was significantly larger than I've seen there in years past which was awesome.  Weather was the calmest I've seen it in five trips there, which made spotting fish easy and spooking them even easier.  Sand fleas were happy though, as we all made substantial blood donations to the local population!

After the Bonanza wrapped up, Sarah Theis and I headed to South to Dangriga for a few days to check out another operation for potential Orvis Endorsement.  Our friend Pat Timmins has been on the ground there for a few months helping legendary flats guide Lincoln Westby rebuild his guide service at a new location.  We had the privilege of spending two days on the boat with Pat and Lincoln, and to say it was an education would be an understatement. 

Lincoln and his flats delivered and I had a nice Permit in hand on the first day.  Sarah hooked a Tarpon and played it well, surviving about 4 or 5 jumps before it snapped the leader boat side.  We also found an abundance of large Bonefish on those flats, so the slam potential is very good there.  Our permit fishing was momentarily interrupted when a nice little Lemon Shark came on the flat.  Since Pat and I had a Cuda' rod rigged I gave it a shot and the shark immediately obliged!  Nothing but pure muscle those things! 

Awesome trip all around with awesome guides and awesome people!  I love that part of the world and am excited for the next opportunity to go back. 

Dan Davala

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