North 40 Hosted Trip: Epic Fish Chase - Belize - Day 2

Taylor Hess also contributed to this story.

Calvin’s Day

Taylor went fishing today.  I didn’t.  I was able to take the day off and spend it with my family; swimming, sunbathing, paddleboarding, followed by poolside snacks and drinks.  It was an amazing start to the day.

While sun-bathing, I noticed several large fish swimming around the dock that resembled bonefish.  They were about three to four pounds and in schools of five to 10 fish.  As I watched them feed and looking at the “NO FISHING” sign on the dock, I did what any normal fishermen would do.  I ran back up to the room, grabbed my 7-weight, told my son Landon that we were going fishing, and got him on the front of a paddleboard.  We were about 2.3 minutes into our DIY Belize bonefish expedition when we saw our first bonefish.  Landon threw a perfect cast and within seconds had four bonefish fighting over his fly.

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A fish peeled line off until it was into his backing.  I threw my arms in the air the way a dorky dad does when he’s excited for his son’s achievements.  As Landon reeled the fish in, it popped off.  He as devastated because he didn’t get to see it, and he has never seen a “real bonefish before…”

Moments later, we were at another “flat” and saw several fish milling and feeding.  I had Landon strip off some line and start to cast.  As he was casting, I was spinning the paddleboard, so he could get a lead on the fish.  My wife, Camille watched us from her lounge chair on the beach, as Landon laid a perfect cast in front of the feeding fish.  Within seconds, line was shooting out toward the deeper water with a perfect beginner bonefish attached.  Landon reeled line in and let the fish run as it needed to.  Within minutes, we had the bonefish to hand and my wife was running down the dock to get a picture of my son’s first bonefish… and it was on fly!  After a few quick pictures, we let the fish go.

Taylor’s Day

I joined in on some good times when I stepped onto the boat this morning. We had about a 30-45-minute boat ride to our first flat, and we were intent on targeting permit. After my unfortunate delay in Houston, that almost jeopardized the entire trip, I was ready to spend some much-needed time on the water.

Chasing Permit in Belize

Upon arriving at the first flat, Darrel our guide spotted a school of 20-30 permit. He spent about 15-20 minutes training me on how to follow the push water and nervous water, which is crucial. I definitely can pick up on fish moving about the flat. After chasing the permit back and forth across the flat, my boatmate for the day, Jim, and I swapped on and off waiting for our chances at these nightmare fish. We chased the school across the flat, receiving no chances at any casting situations.

Next up, we switched flats and I was up. Again, we spotted a school of permit, and we followed them for about 150 yards until they turned straight back towards us. Now was my chance. Long black tails glimmered in the sun, and I lifted my fly off the water. As I hauled back, I picked my point and landed the fly about 10 feet in front of the tailing permit. Darrel told me to wait. One. Two. Three. Strip, strip, strip. The line shot out of my hands for a split second. Something wasn’t right though. The run felt shaky and short, not what I expected from a permit. As the fish approached, we all realized what it was. It was a bonefish, not a permit. Strike one for me.

After that, we had a little bit of a lull midday. We ate an awesome lunch of seasoned pork and hard salami sandwiches, cornbread, watermelon, but unfortunately, no cervezas. We started around the new flat with Jim up on the bow. We poled around, for about 15 minutes and our guide-in-training, Francisco, spotted the school. We rushed over and almost right away the fish turned towards us. Here was Jim’s chance. Jim’s fly landed about 10 feet from any fish, but then all of a sudden, a big boy rushed right in as the fly hit bottom. The fly slowly crawled across the bottom as Jim took Darrel’s instruction, “strip, strip, STOP!” As the fish bumped his nose to the sand, it turned its head and swam off, spooking the rest of the flat. Strike one for Jim, strike two for the boat today. But, it wasn’t over, yet…

On the last flat, we felt some urgency for the remainder of the day. We found one last school and went in pursuit. As we poled around, we couldn’t keep up with the fish. Darrel points at me, and says, “Jump in! Come on!” Calvin warned me of this…

Jump in! Read about Holy Grail Permit - Belize - Day 1

Darrel and I dredged through knee-deep sand and mud, in pursuit of the permit. We had our first chance come when the school turned right towards us. I was sinking in on my right leg, putting me off balance. Darrel held my line away from me so I could get a good cast without tangling. On Darrel’s mark, I sent the fly. One, two, three, strip. The fish all turned and looked at the shrimp fly, and turned right, quartering away. Strike two.

A Most Epic Fish-Chase

We trudged some more, still knee-deep in sand at this point. My bare feet could feel the sand scraping the skin off my ankles, but we kept moving. I was thinking to myself, “This is the most epic fish-chase I’ve ever done, and I love it.”

Then, another school showed up and joined the other, effectively doubling its size. We had them now. The fish came right in and we presented once more. A fish charged the fly and as I was stripping, the fish all swarmed the fly, and it was all chaos, I couldn’t feel or see the fly. Strike three, and you’re out! Right?

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Day two came to end, and although I felt defeated, I remembered that we still have more time to fish, and not all permit come in on the first three situations. The week is young, the weather is fine, and we’re in Belize. No worries, ma ’an!