BONEFISH.
First, Ascension Bay fishing doesn’t require the precision and
intensity of say the Florida Keys. There are lots and lots of fish
and we are convinced that most of them have never had seen a fly
before. Bonefish are extremely abundant and in 90% of the cases,
very willing takers. It is not uncommon to encounter very large
schools of 50-100 fish. School fish tend to be smaller, 1-3 lbs.,
but there can be some larger 2-6 lbs. fish mixed in.
Larger fish are generally lonely or in smaller groups and will
run 4-8 lbs. We have used 7,8 & 9 wt rods for Ascension bones and
feel that a 7 or 8 wt is all around ideal. Flies for bones should
run to the variety colours of tan, brown and olives. When fish are
tailing in one foot or
less water, we find that size 8 Charlies such as the Root beer
Charlies are best. We have fished with people who used rather exact
shrimp imitations and did well but I believe that size and color is
far more important than exact imitations.
When the bones are in knee deep or deeper water we use the
Langostita (little lobster) pattern in size 6 & 8 almost exclusively
because it seldom fails. There are a few places where bones will
stack up in channels 4-6 ft. deep and then we use size 4 Langostitas
which sink faster and encourage larger fish, under those
circumstances. This channel scenario can be unreal in terms of
numbers of fish. Several times we have become jaded from catching so
many. We also use
small crab patterns for bones with good results in deeper water and
the strikes are often very hard.
PERMIT. Lots and lots of these beautiful fish can be found in
Ascension Bay ! They can run quite large, 20-30 Lbs. and like every
where are hard to catch, ordinarily, although we have seen
exceptions. McCrabs, yarn crabs, etc. in mottled brown, tan and
olive green are the standard, size 2 & 4 standard. Also, large
Langostitas work well. A 9 wt rod is right for permit. Permit show
up all over the area but there is a flat near the ocean within 20
minutes of Punta Allen that seems to have them in good number regularly.
TARPON.
There certainly are tarpon in and around Ascension. We have found
them out in the open, off beaches in the late fall of the year.
Otherwise they are in special places back in the mangroves, in
lagunas and lakes. The tarpon run 10-50 lbs. and when feeding they
are not picky. Lime green needlefish imitations and Cockroach
patterns in 2/0 works well. Some lagunas are tea colored, so purple,
multi-winged patterns are advised. A ten weight rod will handle
tarpon.
BARRACUDA. Are abundant and a great fly rod fish. Anything,
long, green and stripped fast works.
SNOOK. Found mostly in the southern part of the bay and they
are not
fussy, multi-winged streamers in 2/0 work well.
Fishmaster
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Fishmaster Finland Ltd - Kuokkakuja 8 - 21260 Raisio - Finland
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