After my guiding season marked by fishery emotions, I take off towards new Caribbean horizons, on the island of St-Barth. A total discovery for me! Although it is better known for its celebrities … 😉 it can also offer pleasant experiences both through the discovery of its fauna and flora. I invite you to follow the story of my adventure in these new waters !!
For the sake of ecological ethics and with the conviction that these practices are the future of recreational fishing, I wanted to tackle this area from the shore, or by kayak if necessary, with lure and fly, in “no-kill” ” These approaches are the ones I have always practiced and are the ones that, from my point of view, make fishing the most exciting. In this way, I also significantly minimize my impact on the environment.
I left without any specific information, except that there would be the same species of fish that make me love fishing in Guadeloupe: tarpon, bonefish, snook, jacks and permits …
When you dream of seeing and fighting these legendary sport fish, in a new territory, all the more in such a short period of time, the ideal is sincerely to take a professional fishing guide. For my part, I left, among other things, with the idea of testing my abilities to analyze and understand fishing elsewhere than on an island that I know by heart!
However, meticulous cartographic work was carried out upstream, which allowed me to know that this island is dotted with natural reserves, some partial, and others total.
So here I am arrived safely after a few adventures. The company I took, without wanting to name a name, is called here “Air Maybe”! And yes, half an hour late on an hour-long flight and the possibility of picking up my suitcase only the next day, this is a stay which begins strongly. However, this is quickly forgotten because St Barth is a magnificent island, like a life-size version of the Saintes: turquoise waters, white sand beaches deserted in this period, iguanas and tortoises and goats everywhere in the paths, high mountains with breathtaking views of the islets, St Martin and breathtaking sunsets. With these many cacti, I felt like I was somewhere between the Caribbean and Arizona.
The day after my arrival I was finally able to start my quest for fish. I quickly realized that in addition to the reservations, many accesses to the coast are forbidden to everyone, and yes, large properties, villas and hotels line the coast. This obviously did not make it easy for me! Two days of prospecting without being able to fish were necessary to select the most interesting sectors. I also realized that the practice of fly fishing could be very complicated, despite my strong attraction for it. Indeed, conditions have started to turn in the wind. The exposure of the spots with gusts in the face and fish generally a little too far away, finally made me choose the lure to continue my quest.
At the end of the 3rd day, having tried to gather a maximum of parameters necessary for the fishing success of this trip, I leave, I admit, at this moment, slightly defeatist!
As I continued to take a turn on the island when, I suddenly see out of the corner of my eye, without being sure yet, a fin sticking out of the water. I do not neglect this short overview which then represents the only real indication of the presence of predators. I stay a moment to observe this sector. After a few minutes, a flush erupts on the surface, I hasten to take my cane and get into position. The first throw will be followed by a violent touch on the surface, a beautiful candle that allowed this tarpon to drop. There followed some nice disappointments with several tarpons off the hook, until finally concluding this session with several fights with snooks, tarpons and small blue trevallies.
This morning was decisive for the 2 and a half days of fishing I had left. Confidence had returned. I of course returned to this spot and discovered 4 other conclusive ones!
I ended this trip by taking 5 tarpons of sizes between 1 meter and 1 meter 30. A tarpon estimated at more than 1.50 m dropped. 5 snooks including 4 between 50 and 60 centimeters and one of 95cm.
As for the flats with bones and permits, I observed that they are very few and rather present in reserve area. I also observed a few small sharks and many sea turtles almost at each fishing trip, and this in a setting, it must be said, idyllic. Many islets and rock heads add a sacred charm to the landscape!
To conclude, this trip was for me a great discovery and a successful “mission”. My experience as a fisherman and fishing guide in Guadeloupe was decisive in my catches. Prospecting for a new fishing territory requires many flairs, but more certainly a good sense of observation and an increased knowledge of the environment in which the target species evolve. It is important to be able to adapt and adapt your fishing to constantly changing climatic conditions, without which, there is a risk of breaking your teeth …!
The details of my trip here in video !!!
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