Guadeloupe Fly Fishing Report: Tarpon, Snook, Bonefish and Permit

Posted under fly fishing reports by Will Benson

2009 has been on on fire.  Bones, Snook, and Tarpon said “yes we want to play”. The bones have been more than willing to play in good numbers, and I have had the pleasure to guide all “newbies” to their first bonefish on the fly.  Some bones above 7 pounds were lost, but many schools of 6+ lbs average were on most flats. Baby Tarpon where numerous in January, but the water did not warm up enough to make them stay.  They thinned out in Feb, but we managed to jump some nice ones in those early months, from 8 lbs to 15 lbs. With the summer months coming and the water warming up, some big tarpon have started to show up sporadically, and laid up babies from 8 to 20+ lbs are now waiting along the mangroves to smash flies! June is coming and I’m awaiting it eagerly as it’s one of the greatest times to catch tarpon up to 150+ lbs in channels and some rivers.  when the conditions are right we even catch them up to 100+ lbs on the flats at sun rise.  On the snook side, the fishing has been top notch!   Sight fishing for them on shallow mud like what Jeff, Kevin, Bill and Dave do in the Everglades is just one of the most thrilling games we have here in Guadeloupe. Some spots where crawling with fish up to 20+ lbs. We’ve caught mainly snook from 8 to 13 pounds and Mr. Wallner’s son, on his first day, with his second cast, hooked up and landed a 17 pounder 10 feet from the front of the skiff.

Tarpon season will be on heat in June, and until end of October.  September and October being the months after June that I prefer to fish for Tarpon.  For those who can’t make the move in June, September and October often have great fishing as well.  The summer months of July and August are a great time to wade for bonefish and permit…take your chance on Guadeloupe flats, you can’t be disappointed!!!

Alex Ducros