My week in Aruba...

Photo courtesy of Jan Bach Kristensen

It has been a hectic time and we decided to take a quick holiday away from everything... the deal was that it had to include fishing. After mulling a few ideas over we decided on Aruba. Most folk say "Where?" Its in the Dutch Antilles... near to the coast of Venezuela.

A few emails later I had secured the services of Laurenz who runs FlyFishingAruba.Com. The idea was to do some testing of flies and fly line connections and I had Laurenz and his flats boat for two days...

                                                      Laurenz and his truck

This is an account of the week away...

I learnt early on that my casting was rusty... and a few pointers from Laurenz and I improved... the conditions highlighted to me my weaknesses but I was able to put the fly into a hole from a reasonable distance in the mangroves...

Talking to folk on the island they said it was windier than normal... 

Saturday AM Druif beach in front of our room... I put an olive and polar white DNA Bushpig fly on the line... a few casts down the beach, I felt the take and then slack line... I'd been bitten off by a barracuda. I met with locals and watched them fish local style... netting small bait fish and then hooking them as bait for small barracuda... they had no luck either!

Sunday AM... there weren't too many fish in the mangroves until late morning when I managed to entice a couple... the first took both Laurenz and I by suprise... the tarpon took the fly as I was lifting it off the water to recast - on and off in seconds. I continued casting and recasting - God it was hard work... at one point I exhaled in desperation and a tarpon spat the fly! The next  was one of the best experiences... I shot the fly into a hole from about 50 to 60ft away... stripping the fly back Laurenz spotted the fish... I strip struck and got a connection and we watched the tarpon take the fly some 40 to 50ft from the boat... the fish turned for the depths and I struck again to get a better hold... it jumped, and spat me out... I asked Laurenz the weight and he gave me 20lbs... We did fish for bonefish as a break between early and late morning tarpon sessions, the best was a bonefish of about 5lb following my fly but chose to dislike the flavour and not eat it!

Monday... a fruitless day... I could see terns and pelicans hitting baits on the beach but felt that in the middle of the day it would be suicide to shoot for them amongst the swimmers!

Tuesday... up even earlier today... with Laurenz guiding, we fished the flats for tailing bones... and I was knackered... I shouldn't have cast on Monday. I couldn't make a long cast to some tailing bones in the building wind... I spooked them and that was it! Back to the lagoon yes there were some fish but they were not eating or I couldn't get the hole quick enough... wind was up again... best shot was into a hole where two fish were sitting I shot for the hole and stripped... the two didn't take and bolted I went to lift off for a recast and a third tried to take the fly on the lift... pah... another fruitless circuit and my arm was falling off... We went for home... Laurenz knowing I hadn't landed a fish decided to try and get me a barracuda... wind was too high and after 3 casts we called it a day. Back at the hotel and somewhat despondent with the day (that's fishing guys!) I emailed Laurenz to see if we could meet up again. So...

Wednesday evening... he took me to a secret spot...  We took it in turns to cast and he managed to hook a snook and gave me the rod... I actually don't like taking a rod and it was poetic justice that the fish fell off at our feet... I would never have published the hero shot... it would have been a hollow victory, however he was doing the guide bit... my turn to cast... by now dusk had gone to dark. I was casting between two bushes that was blacker than the sky behind and managed a hit from a tarpon but not a solid take. Mosquitoes and beckoning food and bed had us call it a night.

Thursday morning... 6am I was up... I worked the beach and where I had seen the birds hitting baits on the beach I positioned myself... using an Andy Elliott synthetic deceiver style fly... a dozen or so casts and a 3ft barracuda hit the fly... what an electrifying take... I bullied the cuda and he went airborne... trying to beach him he bit through the 50lb leader... doh!

Friday morning... not a lot to report a few missed takes and a large jack hit some fish 2 foot away from me... what a sight... would have been a good photo from the beach!!!

Friday 1315 hrs leave for the airport....

That was my Aruba induction! It was hard work... Laurenz worked his balls off for me... a low fish count, higher winds than expected and rusty casting and I still saw and caught fish... that in part was down to the guide! 

Well there you are an account of my trip... 

Andy Elliott's synthetic deceiver style fly that worked its charm on a 3ft barracuda!

Jan Bach Kristensen of Tapam fame has kindly allowed me to use his photo of a mangrove tarpon... similar to the picture of the tarpon in my mind...

>