After 22 years fly fishing I finally got to catch my first bonefish! The girls wanted to take a cruise vacation so I thought I would use my time on Cozumel wisely and booked a 6 hour trip to the flats on the north side of the island. A big front followed us down from Galvaston a we still had a big north wind on Friday the day I was scheduled to go out. I met my guides Ricardo and Alfredo at the marina, kick started the iffy outboard and off we went. Lost some time working the panga through the big seas with waves up to 7 feet. As we arrive. I hand my fly box to Alfredo and ask him to pick one out and he selects a light tan puff type fly on a #8 hook.
We poled our way into the flats then got out to wade. The first hour we saw nada bonefish and I was beginning to wonder if this was a classic Mexican boat ride. The clould cover was really hurtin visability and anyone who has fished for bones knows how hard they are to spot without sunlight. Just as I had relaxed my guard Alfredo hisses out "Bon feesh, nine o'clock" I stare and see nothing and just as I'm about to give up I spot a faint shadow moving left to right about 20 feet away. WTH? I thought these were spooky fish, what's he doing so close? I drop the fly down too hard about a foot behind him and he was gone. @&$#! Well at least I've seen one. We stay in that spot and 10 minutes later Alfredo gets real excited. "Beeg skoo comeen at us, two o'clock". With the sun at my back these were easy to spot. A school of 8 fish working along the low mangroves bearing right down on us. Sweet but now I have a new hurdle. I'm a southpaw and I neglected to mention this to my guide. While we were scanning for fish he had moved to my left and I was out of position for a straight away cast. The wind was hard on my right shoulder so an over the shoulder cast at that distance wouldn't have much of a chance of hitting my target. My only hope was to slip behind Alfredo and get to the left of him. He of course is trying to figure out what the idiot gringo is doing when he should be casting. He turns around and gives me a little bump and I step on a coral outcrop and stumble. A little splash and the school spooks. Shot number two blown!
We work our way downwind another 70 yards and stop. Having to wait for another cloud to pass. As it drifts by I hear "feesh 2 o'clock" . I look but can't see em. I ask Alfredo how far and he says 50 feet. I drop the fly on faith and as it lands I can see I am behind him 3 feet. He never sees it but he doesn't spook either. Progress! I pull it back and try again but by now he is out of range.
We wade a little further while I go over in my head how I have missed so many chances.
Just then its "two fish 12 o'clock". This time there is no hesitation. I see them heading directly towards us 60 feet away. I drop the fly at 55 ft and about two feet to the right. Too far off? No Alfredo whispers, "wait wait....strip strip slow, strip... " the one on the left sees the fly and shoots in front of the other. A determined individual, I like that! He follow the fly for a good eight feet before I feel him pick it up. One good strip strike and its on!
Now for all these years I have read about bonefish runs and took them with a grain of salt. Not anymore. This fish had me in my backing in a matter of seconds and he wasn't close to being finished. He had 4 more good runs in him throughout the fight. We got him to hand and that's when I remember the camera is in the panga 40 yards away. This fish wasn't being released without a picture. I can see that it's a solid hook set so I walk him over to the boat. A quick lesson with Ricardo on how to operate the camera. A few quick snaps and a good release.
The rest of the day saw a few more shots with two fish following the fly until the leader was in the rod guides. That will get your heart racing!
We got to some deeper water and tried to drift but the wind was just too much. We would see them the same time they saw us and be gone before I could get the cast off. I did manage to put it in front of one fish twitch but he was too smart to take the fly.
All to soon Alfredo taps his watch and sets "ees time to go back to boat amigo". We hurry back enjoying some cold beers and beautiful scenery along the way.

There's really nothing like it, is it? They are fun!

And, where are said pictures???

Very cool! Congrats for overcoming all those obstacles and getting one!

BTW, I highly recommend these guys. Alfredo speaks better then average English and they will work their butts off to put you on the fish. Ricardo may not be much of a photographer, (3 shots of me with my head cut off) but he knows how to handle that panga in rough seas.

I chartered them through http://www.fishingcozumel.net/

Jim Wilson is the stateside contact. jim@fishingcozumel.net

Congrats man!

Cool deal. Congrats man!!! I'm jealous!!!

that's great Spiny-p-

Sweet I can't wait to go after bones for a whole 8 days this summer, only 3 more months!!

Cool! Going for the ghosts in Oahu this June...can't wait.

Yes!

Takes a real man to wear that big green ear ring. ;-)

I heard it was all the rage in Mexico. What can I say, I'm a fashion maven!