Zach Matthews
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George, Dave gave you some great tips, but be sure to also check out Oliver White’s podcast when it is released in January. Sounds like you and Jay Malyon need to compare notes.
Zach
Here’s what Oliver had to say:
I haven’t been there in some time honestly. There are definitely a few spots you can hit via car. If you are setting up a DYI there are better choices, if you are already going to be there, then go for it. You can also call H2O -Jason and Greg will do day trips if they have space. I think North Riding Point will as well, Paul is the man to ask there.
That’s pretty helpful. You guys should be sure to listen to his podcast when it’s released in January.
Zach
That actually might work. I was fishing off by Sweeting’s Cay, but if you look just north of Freeport on the map:
It looks to me like you’d have options. The guy we need to comment on this is Oliver White, who runs lodges on two of those islands… Hmm.
Zach
Jay how long are you actually in Freeport? It is a 45 minute drive from there to the other side of Grand Bahama, where there is a settlement called Maclean’s Town. You can hire a guide to meet you there out of Deepwater Cay (pronounced “Key”) Club and you would absolutely wreck bonefish. There might be a shuttle that goes in to Freeport. My understanding is that the western side of the island has deeper water and too much habitat destruction to offer good fishing.
Cozumel is an island off the coast of the Cancun area. I haven’t been to Cozumel per se but I have seen the tourist trash washing down beach off it. I would be surprised if there’s any viable flats fishing in reasonable range but it’s possible. The fish are certainly there, I just don’t know if there’s an industry. At a bare minimum in both those places you stand a fair chance of catching a bonefish just casting into the surf. I’ve done it south of Cozumel in basically the same water. They like it when the surf is up some. I would definitely bring a rod. 8 weight should do it – I can lend you one if you need gear.
Zach
Yes, they came in pretty fast. We saw one on the light within the first hour. I’ve consulted with Henry Cowen, who really knows that fishery. I probably messed up by fishing only an INT instead of a faster sinking line. Henry says they aren’t necessarily going to come up to the light itself; rather they’ll just be in the area.
Zach
So it kind of worked. We drew in a ton of bait and one decent 6 lb. or so striper, but I need to adjust my tactics for actually getting the eat.
I was using intermediate sinking lines with flies approximating the bigger of the baitfish we saw (say 4 inches or so). I worked by the light, around the light, out on the edges, etc. We never did get them actively crashing bait. I think we need the stripers to be up in the coves a little more to get that.
I know of another accessible dock light that I might go try on my own some time soon. It’s tough though; a long haul in the dark to Lake Lanier for me.
Oh well, home to decorate for Christmas.
Zach
He is! That’s a cool show. He has a very laid back attitude towards American fishing to say the least.
Zach
Colin I have three pounds of burger curing in my spare fridge right now. I am going to load them up in my jerky gun and smoke them/dehydrate them tonight.
Zach
Thanks Travis. I am looking forward to getting the mount back, but my meat will be ready today. I am hopefully going to have time to go pick it up before my party (we host a keg party every fall).
Now I can get back to striper fishing. I have an invite to come hit some dock lights with a homeowner. That could be killer.
Zach
Walt if the images are too big you might try a site like Imgur.com, which will auto-resize. You can then post here as a link. Alternatively you can resize them locally on your computer using a paint program.
Zach
Ralph with the two man technique a lot of times the fear is breaking the rod. My suggestion is to get some shelf-liner (can opener do-dads), and re-try the two man technique with maximum force. If the rod breaks, it breaks. I suspect once you just decide to go for it you’ll be able to get them unstuck.
You may have a piece of sand or grit in there serving as an anchor. Wipe the rod out with a cotton swab/q-tip when you get them apart and consider very lightly lubing with a little paraffin wax (not much). That should help in the future.
Zach