Bonefishing
Friday, December 21, 2007
Yesterday I went to the beach with my husband, my
son, our business partner’s wife and son and a few
friends. As we arrived at the beach we took the boat
down the edge of the island to scan for fish. My
husband was certain they would be there as he
encountered them several times at this same beach
over the last month. As we were about to reach our
preferred parking spot, Jim spotted the bonefish.
They were swimming near the water’s edge directly off
of a small point.
We parked the boat, disembarked and the guys took off to cast. About thirty minutes and about 4 fish later, they returned for lunch. They enjoyed a quick bite and talked about what it was like to catch the fish in such an idyllic setting.
The sun was high and the water was beautiful. The sky couldn’t have been any bluer or the clouds any fluffier. The sunshine shone through the water allowing them to watch the bonefish and determine the exact location to cast the fly.
They went in and out of the water casting the rod to the fish most of the afternoon. My son and his buddy had their first bonefish experience at the tender ages of three and four. My son is already talking about what it is going to be like when he gets to catch the bonefish. Talk about a family adventure.
We parked the boat, disembarked and the guys took off to cast. About thirty minutes and about 4 fish later, they returned for lunch. They enjoyed a quick bite and talked about what it was like to catch the fish in such an idyllic setting.
The sun was high and the water was beautiful. The sky couldn’t have been any bluer or the clouds any fluffier. The sunshine shone through the water allowing them to watch the bonefish and determine the exact location to cast the fly.
They went in and out of the water casting the rod to the fish most of the afternoon. My son and his buddy had their first bonefish experience at the tender ages of three and four. My son is already talking about what it is going to be like when he gets to catch the bonefish. Talk about a family adventure.
Bocas del Toro Fishing
Friday, October 19, 2007
Why do they call it fishing and not catching? I think
this is an age old question. Today a group of four
guys went fishing. They left around 6:20 am and
returned at about 4:30 pm. They made their way to the
honey hole and tried to catch some fish. They saw a
bunch of fish and hooked one. They got that one close
to the boat, but in the end he got away.
So they spent part of the day collecting sand and shells to take back to their families. They decided they would take one more pass and see what happened. One guy hooks a tarpon at the front of the boat and brings him in. He is a good-looking fellow so they decide to go after another one. The next guy in the rotation is feeling a bit peaked so he passes on his turn. So the next batter steps up. He has gone saltwater fishing on four other occasions on other vacations but thus far he hasn’t hooked anything.
He hooks about a 60 pound tarpon. He fights him for an extended period of time and works with the fish to get him to the boat. He says it was one of the hardest things he has ever done. He smiles and says he knows that for a tarpon he wasn’t a huge specimen. But the fact that on his fifth trip out he brings a fish all the way to the boat – that is a smile you can’t wipe off of his face. So while the group spent most of the day fishing, they did do some catching.
So they spent part of the day collecting sand and shells to take back to their families. They decided they would take one more pass and see what happened. One guy hooks a tarpon at the front of the boat and brings him in. He is a good-looking fellow so they decide to go after another one. The next guy in the rotation is feeling a bit peaked so he passes on his turn. So the next batter steps up. He has gone saltwater fishing on four other occasions on other vacations but thus far he hasn’t hooked anything.
He hooks about a 60 pound tarpon. He fights him for an extended period of time and works with the fish to get him to the boat. He says it was one of the hardest things he has ever done. He smiles and says he knows that for a tarpon he wasn’t a huge specimen. But the fact that on his fifth trip out he brings a fish all the way to the boat – that is a smile you can’t wipe off of his face. So while the group spent most of the day fishing, they did do some catching.
Panama Outdoors
Saturday, September 15, 2007
What can you do from the dock? You can go fishing,
kayaking, snorkeling, or swimming.
We keep a few fishing rods rigged up with small hooks for people to catch and release fish on the dock. Kids enjoy catching crabs along the dock and putting them into a bucket to be used for bait. The fish are plentiful in the morning as they are used to a morning feeding. We save all of the food remaining on people’s plates each night for the fish. The fish along our dock have grown in size and number ever since we began the morning feeding. We have a wide variety of fish cruising the dock looking for a tasty meal. Our guests have snagged snapper, barracuda, and others with the crabs. We ask that they release the fish back into the ocean so that they may be enjoyed by other guests in the future.
These same fish are great for viewing when you are snorkeling. We have coral formations right at the dock which allow you to observe both the coral and the fish in action. You can either snorkel and swim right at the dock or go for a longer distance swim which incorporates a bit of exercise into the process as well.
If you would prefer not to get directly in the water you can observe many of the underwater activities from the vantage point of your kayak. The water is clear and shallow throughout the bay so you can paddle about and check out the different coral formations.
We keep a few fishing rods rigged up with small hooks for people to catch and release fish on the dock. Kids enjoy catching crabs along the dock and putting them into a bucket to be used for bait. The fish are plentiful in the morning as they are used to a morning feeding. We save all of the food remaining on people’s plates each night for the fish. The fish along our dock have grown in size and number ever since we began the morning feeding. We have a wide variety of fish cruising the dock looking for a tasty meal. Our guests have snagged snapper, barracuda, and others with the crabs. We ask that they release the fish back into the ocean so that they may be enjoyed by other guests in the future.
These same fish are great for viewing when you are snorkeling. We have coral formations right at the dock which allow you to observe both the coral and the fish in action. You can either snorkel and swim right at the dock or go for a longer distance swim which incorporates a bit of exercise into the process as well.
If you would prefer not to get directly in the water you can observe many of the underwater activities from the vantage point of your kayak. The water is clear and shallow throughout the bay so you can paddle about and check out the different coral formations.
Bocas del Toro Snorkeling
Friday, August 24, 2007
Snorkeling is an easy and fun way to explore
underwater life. The water here in Bocas del Toro
Panama can be as warm as your bathtub all year round
which makes it a great family adventure. Much of our
island and the surrounding marine area are included
in Bastimentos National Marine Park so water and the
plants and animals included in it are a key resource.
Snorkeling does not require any special skills or exertion to stay afloat. Face down in the water and breathing through a snorkel, your body is naturally buoyant. Non-swimmers can safely snorkel using a flotation device.
As you float over a field of coral, the environment you see through your mask is a riot of color and movement. Various fish swim amongst the coral, feeding on plants, algae, or each other. Crustaceans move along the bottom of the ocean. Soft corals, sea fans, and sponges wave among.
The hard coral which forms the structure of a reef may look like colored rocks but it is actually a living creature. Many tiny polyps are found inside the calcium rocks. These polyps are generally seen at night when they are feeding. The color of the reef is dependent upon the algae which lives within the reef.
The fish which make their way in and around the reef come in a variety of colors and shapes. Some are easy to spot with neon coloration and others are well disguised so that they blend in with the reef itself. Some fish travel in schools and others are lone swimmers. Hover for a while over a coral patch and watch. You will be amazed by the show that unfolds in front of you.
Snorkeling does not require any special skills or exertion to stay afloat. Face down in the water and breathing through a snorkel, your body is naturally buoyant. Non-swimmers can safely snorkel using a flotation device.
As you float over a field of coral, the environment you see through your mask is a riot of color and movement. Various fish swim amongst the coral, feeding on plants, algae, or each other. Crustaceans move along the bottom of the ocean. Soft corals, sea fans, and sponges wave among.
The hard coral which forms the structure of a reef may look like colored rocks but it is actually a living creature. Many tiny polyps are found inside the calcium rocks. These polyps are generally seen at night when they are feeding. The color of the reef is dependent upon the algae which lives within the reef.
The fish which make their way in and around the reef come in a variety of colors and shapes. Some are easy to spot with neon coloration and others are well disguised so that they blend in with the reef itself. Some fish travel in schools and others are lone swimmers. Hover for a while over a coral patch and watch. You will be amazed by the show that unfolds in front of you.