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It
was a perfect day! When we started off at the bridge at Joe
Taylor Creek just outside of Punta Gorda, I wasn't sure if it
would all work out. We were a group of four, the (almost) seventy
year old mother, the four year old son, the husband who wanted
to do some fun-fishing and myself, the content wife being there
with those I love. I just wanted everybody to be happy. And
of course there was John
'Jackie' Young, the captain and fishing guide.
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John
'Jackie' Young fishing for sardines with a bait net in a calm
bay near a mangrove caye in the Port of Honduras Marine
Reserve in southern Belize. |
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A
well sized yellow tail caught at a drop off near the Port
of Honduras Marine Reserve in southern Belize. |
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We
left Joe Taylor Creek and turned north. The weather was excellent,
a few rain clouds could only be seen in the distance. We passed
the mouth of the Rio Grande and Frenchman's Caye, a small island
that houses an ancient Mayan ceremonial site. Our first stop was
in a quiet bay at a Mangrove caye where Jackie threw out his bait
net to catch some sardines. In the meantime we patiently watched
the pelicans nearby and the fish underneath. As luck would have
it, we saw a Manta Ray swim right by our boat. Since the movie
'Nemo' my son knows everything about fish and to see a live ray,
well that alone made his day.
When we
had enough Sardines for bait, we headed on a north-east track
and stopped at a drop off Jackie knew that would enable us to
catch some yellow tail and red snapper. Of course Jackie knows
all the best spots in the area for permit and tarpon and snook
and bonefish, but that was not our forté that day. Sure
enough we did catch some yellow tail. I am convinced that for
an amateur fisherman (or fisherwoman) it is the best fun to
fish where you do have a good chance for a catch.
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West
Snake Caye, an uninhabited island located just outside the Port
of Honduras Marine Reserve in southern Belize. |
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| Punta
Negra Lagoon, a fresh water lagoon and great Tarpon fishing
place is located south of Monkey River Village, east of
Punta Negra. |
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The
beach south of Punta Negra in the Toledo District of Belize. |
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After a while, we headed on to West Snake Caye. A spectacular
view welcomed us, the dark blue ocean that suddenly turns turquoise
blue at the caye, the white sand beach and the palm trees. Like
right out of a picture book. Swimming, lunch and some more swimming.
Then we headed further north to the coast just
south of Punta Negra. There a small path leads through the brush
from the beach to Punta Negra Lagoon. The lagoon is a great
Tarpon fishing spot, it is a fresh water lagoon and the fish
are locked in.
The non-fishing part of the family enjoyed some
more swimming in the ocean along the beach. The water was not
as clear here as at the caye, but just as warm and clean.
After a last stop at the Ranger Station of TIDE
(Toledo Institute for the Development of the Environment) who
oversees the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve, we headed back,
all agreeing that this has been excellent. Jackie, I have to
say, is one of the best boat guides I have ever met. It'll be
easy enough for you to locate Jackie,
for the people in Punta Gorda tell me that he is one of the
best sport fishing guides in all of Belize.
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