October 2007

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This October was filled with fish, fish stories and many returning guests, as well as several new groups who we look forward to becoming repeat visitors. The tarpon migration lasted longer into October than any time in recent memory. Jim and Cathy Bender of Massachusetts came for their annual October trip; and Jim landed between 2 and 6 Tarpon daily and jumped many more. All four members of the Ragatz family enjoyed their first visit...all caught bonefish and Hanson Ragatz landed a nice 15 lb permit (his first). We look forward to the return of the Ragatz crew, who were a pleasure to host in every way, and Ellie filled evening casting workshops with laughter and good humor. Frank and Becky Hallowell were also first timers...Becky caught her first permit and proudly wears her pin everywhere around the lodge. We look forward to Steve and Kathy McDonald's visit from Maricaibo, Venezuela, each fall. Steve is one the best casting guests we have each year and produces Tarpon, Permit and Bones of formidable size every visit...he is tying some crab patterns with very long rubber legs that are becoming a very hot Permit pattern. Two other groups of first timers had memorable visits...first was Jeff Bell -- who had never even held a flyrod before arriving, landed between 30 and 40 bones on his first day! As Jeff tells it "we just lost count - I would have done much better if my casting was a little more accurate". 30 to 40 Bones may be a lodge record for a rookie; we look forward to your return Jeff. Dave and Lynnette Cauble of Bend, Oregon came to El Pescador for their first visit and alternated between days of diving and flats fishing. Dave managed to land nice Tarpon and Bones...one of his Tarpon jumped four feet into a mangrove but he landed it just the same. His most memorable catch, however, was a 5 foot long croc which he hooked perfectly in the upper lip! As soon as he sends photos we'll put them up for all to see. And last but not least Patrick Giles brought his Dad down, and father and son had a great week of fishing for Bones and Tarpon. As we move into the fall there are still plenty of resident Tarpon here as well as the ever-present Bones. Our Permit population seems to be increasing to even larger numbers...still hard to catch...but with even more residents, your odds are increased just by the sheer numbers.