23/11/07 - Charlie White reports on a recent trip to Los Roques

It is often suggested that I have one of the best jobs in the world. Normally it is pretty easy to disabuse people of this theory by a) asking them to meet my bank manager or b) asking them to deal with an airline when luggage has been lost - neither of which is a pleasant experience if you work as a sporting agent. However, it has to be said that as I recently played a 5lbs bonefish under the bluest of blue skies in a magical location, in the guise of work, I did feel pretty fortunate.

I recently visited Los Roques, a location I have always been impressed by, however this time I was here to fish with our new partners, Sightcast. From being met by Tony, their transfer man in Caracas who speaks fluent English, to the first time I set eyes on the pangas and met the Sightcast guides, it was clear that I was in the right hands.

Sightcast was set up 11 years ago by Chris Yrazabal. Chris had guided in this amazing archipelago for many years before this and has now gathered a truly enthusiastic, dedicated and professional team around him. The guides all speak excellent English, know the area like the back of their hands and instinctively know when to change things to keep the fishing interesting; from simply changing the fly, the location or even the targeted species.

The bonefishing in November is challenging due to the height of the tides, meaning that the majority of the pancakes are unfishable. This does mean that it is possible to wade along the beaches, a very exciting way to target bonefish. These tides are really only in evidence in November and December so this is worth considering when booking a trip. Conversely, this is actually the best time for tarpon - so it is a question of balance.

The new posada that I stayed in, the Acuarela, proved to be extremely well run, very comfortable and with great staff and simply superb food. It helps if you are keen on fish, as with such a superb natural resource on his doorstep, the chef is keen to make the most of it. He can ship in excellent beef from Caracas should you so wish. All rooms are ensuite and have air conditioning but they are not huge, so I would recommend a single room unless you prefer sharing.

The one major thing I noticed was the lack of American guests on the island or on the flats. President Chavez's hostile stance towards President Bush has led to many Americans choosing to fish elsewhere which has made a huge difference to the pressure on the flats. I fished for three days and saw two other fishermen in the whole archipelago in that time.

The runway on the island is currently under renovation which does mean odd connection times but it is hoped that this will be finished by Christmas and then the schedules can revert to normal, making transfers to and from the island far easier than they are at present.

As always though, it comes down to the fishing and it is the average size of fish that really excites me about Los Roques. 4lbs fish are normal and really big fish are seen every day, not least in the harbour you cross every morning and evening. The tarpon are there throughout the year and I cast to, but did not hook, a very big permit, one of 12 I saw that day. Should it be difficult to catch bonefish in big numbers, there is an extremely productive reef to fish for all manner of other species, so it is easy to see why the destination is so popular, especially when combined with such a good posada.

My short trip reminded me why I enjoy recommending Los Roques so much and with real confidence in the dynamism and professionalism of Chris and his team I much look forward to the future experiences of our clients fishing out there.

Do please call to find out more about Los Roques or any of our other worldwide destinations.