Beach Fishing Down South

[Pippen]

Hi All,

Going to be in Tobago from Xmas day through the 5th of January.

We are in the midst of booking at least 1 day of offshore fishing with a local charter. Given the limitations of what I can travel with but as we are on a beach I am looking at two options; 8 wt fly rod with bucktailing flies and some freshwater flies OR chucking gear with a collapsible spinning outfit and recommendations on what one would take down?

Don't have a repertoire of flies for this kind of thing but would swing by Pac Angler to see what I can grab. Alternate is chucking some gear with the aforementioned set up with spinners and smaller sized spoons.

Totally new to this and any help would be appreciated. Have read quite a bit about bonefish on the flats but have ZIPPO idea as to what they would bite on.

Will be fishing with my "Gritty" doll for those following the Hockey Thread.


Cheers.

 

[UkeeDreamin]

Clousers and deceivers for general purpose flies that work everywhere. Some crazy Charlie or gotcha type shrimp flies as well as some crab flies for the flats/ bonefish.

For spinning gear I always take zingers and/or zeldas as more versatile than just spoons as they can be jigged or worked fast ( most salt spp react to gear being worked 10x faster than you’d think!). For on the flats, small jigs w/ soft plastic grub and paddle tails in tans, pink,, white and smoke colours work as good or better than shrimp flies. Also can take some basic terminal gear - egg sinkers, swivels, leader material and hooks. Find small shrimp, crabs, sand worms, etc for bait and you’re in the game.

Jealous, I’m heading south but in the So Cal desert nowhere near any fishing water!

Cheers!

Ukee

 

[Dogbreath]

I've fished Tobago in the past-inshore is quite depleted and it's tough to fish many spots without a boat-not hopeless though just tough I wouldn't bother with FF gear at all it's a useless waste of time.

If you see someone pulling seine they usually welcome help and it'll give you a good idea of what's swimming off the beach.

If it's Hard Play you've booked be aware it's more of a booze cruise-make the captain aware you're serious and he'll try harder.

A pile of Blackfin Tuna caught out of Charlotteville mostly on live bait I did catch a few on Deadly Dick jigs though not fished Salmon style just throw it out/crank it in

Yes they kill everything to sell including this Hammerhead that was incredibly strong-if you end up eating Bake and Shark this is what it's made from

 

[Pippen]

thanks @Dogbreath for that. Tough to tell and based on trip advisor they seem pretty good. In my inquiry to them I did specify "WE WANT TO FISH".


It's so tough but intend to cruise down to the main marina to feel out skippers on the 27th.