An angler’s paradise in the middle of stunning saltwater flats, the area is approximately 2600 square miles, a vast offshore wilderness where you will rarely see another angler, other than people in your own group. It has to be one of the best places in the world to fly fish for Permit Tarpon and Bonefish.
Our liveaboard houseboats the Tortuga, Halcon, Caballones Avalon Fleet I and Avalon Fleet II, provide the only accommodation that can fish this huge area, with an average of only 12 skiffs on the water each day! Many of the good flats are fished only once every couple of weeks. With this much water to fish, the guides are able to spread the fishing pressure around so that the fish remain quite easy to catch in comparison to more heavily fished destinations.
The fishing for baby Tarpon (fish in the 15-40 pound class) is spectacular. It’s not unusual for clients to catch 10-15 or more in a day. Larger Tarpon, up to 85 pounds and some up to 110 pounds, especially in the late spring and summer months can be found. The island system is also teeming with spectacular Bonefish flats, many of which can be waded. Bones average 3-4 pounds but on some flats you will see much larger fish, many in the 6-8 pound class with a few as large as 12 pounds.
Permit are very common in the JDR, and these are “Florida sized” Permit, with many fish in the 25-35 pound class. Most of the Permit are found on flats closer to the deep water and the reef, on the ocean side of the island system, but there are many good Permit flats in the backcountry.
The large variety of flats fish and reef fish available make the JDR the finest destination in the World if you enjoy catching a variety of fish. Not only do you have the big three (Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit) but the JDR is perhaps the last place in the world where you can catch big Mutton Snappers on the flats, like you could in Florida forty years ago!
In addition to Muttons, there are many Jacks and some are huge. The largest Jacks are the Jack Crevalle, and it is not unusual to see twenty pound and Jacks cruising the flats, eating everything in their path! Big Horse Eye Jacks are common – up to 14 pounds. There are Yellow Jacks (great for Sashimi) as well as schools of Bar Jacks and Yellowtail Snappers.
Out along the reef, there are a huge number of big Snappers, and Grouper, including World Record size Cubera Snapper. Anglers that troll or bait fish along the reef will hook some huge Snappers and Groupers that they will never land. The big Goliath Groupers (Jewfish) up to 5-6 feet long, for 300/400 pounds, are common. The Sharks and Cudas are lots of fun to catch on the flats, and they can be caught easily by fly fishing on a variety of poppers utilizing wire tippets. Silky Sharks in the 3-5 foot range are very common and can also be easily caught while fly fishing.
If you have any questions on any of the saltwater fly fishing holidays we offer then contact us in the office, our experienced team will be happy to help you with any queries you have. Additionally, you can request a free brochure.
