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CAMPECHE BABY TARPON REPORT - JOHN SHIELDS
Don,
Unfortunately, the tarpon trip was sub par, over
four days we jumped 20 tarpon, catching 10, plus one
nice snook. On Thursday and Saturday, we saw only a
few fish, and caught only one 2-3 lb-er by dangling
a fly six feet away in a small creek. Our major
problem was the weather, as a cold front blew in the
day we arrived, with 25-30 Mile per hour winds from
the North, chilling the water and pushing the water
deep into the mangroves along with the tarpon.
According to Cody, the outfitter, it was his worst
trip since he started the operation, although a
group of six, ten days before had similar weather,
and only slightly better fishing. His next group
does not arrive until Feb. 9th, and from
the first of March, he is booked through May.
While the fishing was very slow, the accommodations
were outstanding, some of the best I have ever seen
on a fishing trip, the town of Campeche is
fascinating, clean and safe, and historic. Cody is
an enthusiastic and capable outfitter, and has done
a nice job in setting up the experience. He joined
us every day, including his lead guide, Neco. Cody
has a good understanding of the area and how to fish
to the tarpon when they are available. As Cody was
with us the whole time, we did not get a good
understanding of the skills of the guide, but he has
very little English. In fact, the town of Campeche
is not “English speaking” as there is very little
tourist trade, and only a very few Americans live
there.
We spent a lot of time discussing the experience
with Cody, who is a very close friend, of one of my
old fishing guides, who also happens to be a good
friend of Chet’s son, who is also a fishing guide in
Colorado. He needs to improve the pre trip data,
could easily supply the right fly’s and leaders,
which are different than those easily bought a fly
shops, needs to determine a method to catch the many
snook we saw on the flats, which refused the vast
number of good presentations we made to them, needs
to develop a back up activity for bad weather, he
can offer many more activities through the Hotel,
etc.
We ate at the Hotel two nights, and out one other.
I would have gone out another night in retrospect,
as the food in the small restaurants was
outstanding.
While we were disappointed in the fishing, the
experience was fun, and I believe with the right
conditions, would be an outstanding trip. Catching
the small tarpon on a 7 wt. rod was fun, and the rod
of choice for the small fly’s we found effective,
additionally we found the need to lengthen our
leader to about 10 ft., and go down in tippet size
to avoid spooking the fish, especially the snook.
I would be reluctant to do this trip again in
Jan/Feb, as the weather risk is too high.
Additionally, I would seek a period of greater tidal
change, as we had slack tides, and the fish did not
seem to come out in slack water as the bait was not
concentrated or moving.
John
TRIP REPORT
Fly Fishing Adventures
888-347-4896
flyfish@napanet.net
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