Fishing in the Caribbean with Roxtons 

True all year round fishing with some of the best wading and guiding in the Caribbean. Lying the furthest south of any Caribbean destination, the island group is unaffected by the hurricanes which blow between August and October, curtailing the season further north.

As a bonefishing destination, Venezuela ranks amongst the very best with endless firm flats to wade and numbers of fish that are simply incredible.

Chris Yrazabal and his team run the fishing operation with a dedication that can only come from a team with a passion for fishing and a depth of knowledge that is unsurpassable.

A great attraction of Los Roques is that the flats provide a wealth of opportunity for wading and stalking bonefish, the ultimate challenge in clear water. Nursery tarpon are ever present in the many channels and in the shadows of the mangrove roots systems which offer protection from larger predators. The larger fish tend to be taken in deeper water, primarily in the cooler months of the year between October and March.

Permit are increasingly caught on the flats and here there is a real chance of landing a grand slam every month.

With good numbers of bonefish found and a wide range of other species to go for, with firm sandy flats on which wading is positively encouraged, coupled with the ability to fish here in every month of the year, fishing in Los Roques should be considered by any and every saltwater angler.

Chris Yrazabal, owner of Sight Cast, has over 11 years of experience guiding the Los Roques region. His operation started in 2002 and he has built a solid team of local guides, all of which speak some English, with years of experience.

Chris's team has extensive knowledge of each of the approximate 300 flats and different fishing areas at Los Roques. Each flat is unique and slightly different in depth and composition from the other. Their differences can be subtle but Chris has gained an enormous amount of experience during his 11 years of guiding at Los Roques and he has passed this knowledge on to his crew.

Guests on Los Roques stay at the delightful Acuarela Posada, which is just a short five minute walk from the airport and one minute from the beach where you start your days fishing.

The Acuarela is a excellent lodge with 11 charming bedrooms, all en-suite. The owners have taken great care over the detail and have produced a cosy central area around an open indoor garden in which to relax after a hard days fishing or following a day of reading a book on the beach.

The food is of an excellent standard with great variety although given its location, it is unashamedly biased towards seafood.

Rod and Reel
The ideal rod for bonefishing in Los Roques is a 9ft 8 weight with a robust reel constructed from a non-corrosive metal such as aluminum with good smooth drag control. The reel should hold at least 150 yards of backing. You should ensure that you have a spare rod in case of breakage as well as a spare reel and spools in case of accidents. This tackle will also suite well to catching permit.

If you are fishing for tarpon these immensely powerful fish require a 9ft, 10 to 12 weight fly rod, outfitted with a good quality tarpon reel.

Lines
High visibility weight forward lines compensate for the ever-present trade winds and can be seen in the air or on the water in bright light. Take an extra fly line just in case the first suffers damage. For tarpon and permit fishing you should also have an intermediate line as well.

Nylon
Leaders should be 9 to 12ft, tapered clear nylon with tippet between 5 lbs. and 10 lbs. Ensure that you carry plenty with you. Most tackle stores stock excellent pre-tied bonefish leaders.

Flies
Below is a list of some of the flies we recommend:

Bonefish flies

• Pop's Bonefish Bitters
• Pop's Egghead Bitters
• To-Dy-For (small unweighted shrimp pattern)
• Gotcha, Horror, baited Breath
• Crazy Charlies - white, pink, brown
• Raghead Crab
• Various small shrimp and crab patterns

Permit Flies

• Del Brown's Permit Crab
• Raghead Crab
• McCrab
• Various other crab patterns

Tarpon Flies

• Apte style tarpon flies
• Cockroach, black & purple, orange & black, red & black
• Dark colors tend to be better in the early morning and brighter colors work best when it is bright

The list is endless and will depend to a large extent on the kind of flat you are fishing, its background color and depth.

Other Items

• Lightweight long sleeved shirts
• Lightweight long trousers/shorts
• Wide brimmed hat
• Wading shoes with socks
• Lightweight sweater or fleece
• Lightweight rain jacket

Los Roques is not only a fishery but also is home to several PADI certified dive shops, which can arrange superb diving for both the beginner and the expert. Several wreck dives and a wonderful array of coral reefs offer a wonderfully colourful diving experience that has to be seen to be believed.

Snorkelling is also excellent and the family friendly beaches are clean and unspoilt, offering a day of undiluted relaxation. First and foremost a destination for the serious saltwater angler, it also offers non fishing guests the chance for a fantastic holiday in great comfort.

Season
You can fish in Los Roques 12 months of the year

Time Difference from GMT
4 hours

Electricity
The Posada has 110v 2 prong plugs so Europeans will need converters and adapters.

Currency
Venezuelan bolívar

Tips
Tips are very much discretionary but are very welcome in US$. At the Posada we recommend approximately $10 per person per day to be paid at the end of the week directly to Mimo, whilst a reasonable tip to the guide would be $30 per day per rod. It is usual if you are fishing on your own to double the latter amount. A small contribution to the boat crew would also be most welcome.

Visa requirements for UK citizens
None

Medical Requirements
You should check with the relevant embassy before travel. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is not a requirement to enter Venezuela, but there have been cases where officials have illegitimately fined travellers who have been unable to produce such a certificate. Please consult your doctor prior to your trip. It is essential that you carry any personal medicines that you might require.

Tap water is considered unsafe to drink unless it is first filtered or boiled. Bottled drinking water is widely available.

Insects
Whilst on the flats you may sometimes encounter mosquitoes. However, you will find them on Gran Roque in the evenings and we therefore advise you to bring repellents such as Jungle Formula. You will find that each room has mosquito netting over the beds.