Los Roques is an off-shore national park located about 85 miles from the Venezuelan mainland. It was first “discovered” by the fly fishing community in the mid-1980’s, and immediately was reported to be one of the great bonefisheries on Earth. The Fly Shop was one of the original pioneers of Los Roques, hosting the first group of anglers ever licensed to legally fish this magnificent archipelago in March, 1987. What we found then still exists today, and these flats have since re-defined the standards for Caribbean and Central American bonefishing. The place is a fly fishing dream come true and qualifies to be on every serious flats fisherman’s bucket list.

There are over 350 cays dotting this fly fishing paradise, ranging from tiny, to hundreds of acres in size. All commercial fishing in the huge saltwater national park is prohibited, and about a third of the archipelago is even off-limits to sport fishing. The remainder of the cays and flats are targeted daily by a strictly limited number of licensed fly fishermen and their guides. Many of the cays are surrounded, or connected by light-colored, firm-bottomed flats. Nearly every inch of this is wadeable, and often covered with bonefish averaging nearly four pounds. The numbers of bonefish in the park can only be compared to Christmas Island or the Seychelles. Almost as important to the angler is that bonefishing is done here the way most prefer it, on foot. For anglers who love to wade fish for bones, Los Roques is truly one of the finest flats fishing destinations in the world today.

Los Roques is easy to reach, particularly from the East Coast (see Getting There). Anglers usually spend the evening prior to their first day of fishing on the mainland, departing for the island very early the next morning, in time for a full day on the flats. Fishermen can easily and comfortably arrive and rendezvous in the coastal resort community of La Guaira (adjacent to the Venezuelan International Airport) from anywhere in the continental United States in a single day. The well-designed angling package includes nearly every reasonable item from the time that guests arrive in the modern Venezuela International Airport (see Rates and Reservations).

Los Roques is blessed with a near-Equatorial location, similar to Christmas Island, and consistent weather and water temperatures. Air temperatures are usually in the upper 80’s to low 90’s and water temperatures never vary more than a few degrees above 75°. The archipelago actually has a very dry climate, and while there are nearly constant, mild trade-winds, it seldom rains. There are none of the winter “cold fronts” frequently experienced in the Bahamas, Mexico and Belize; hurricanes bypass Los Roques to the north; and with little rain or naturally occurring fresh water there are few mosquitoes and no sand fleas.

Years of experience at Los Roques has given us a complete understanding of the tides and weather patterns, and two decades of outfitting clients destined for the area has taught us that the most reliable angling is from early March through the end of October.

This is an authentic Venezuelan experience, highlighted by a talented angling outfitter, Chris Yrazabal, and his Sight Cast team. It is an experienced, well-coordinated, and pro-American company, and includes a remarkable, well-trained collection of savvy, native fly fishing guides. They’re all English-speaking locals well-versed in the habits of Los Roques bonefish, the complicated tides, and totally familiar with the intricacies of fly fishing.

Sight Cast has wisely selected Acuarela Lodge, as the Gran Roque headquarters for The Fly Shop’s bonefishing guests. Acuarela’s owner and chef extraordinaire, Angelo Belvedere, serves wonderful four course dinners that showcase the region’s fresh seafood. After the predictably fine evening meals, anglers usually share their fishing stories and enjoy the breeze, cocktails and conversation while watching the sun set from the rooftop veranda.

Guests retire each night to tastefully-decorated double and single occupancy accommodations, each equipped with ceiling fans, air conditioners and private baths. These accommodations, combined with magnificent snorkeling, diving, wind surfing and other water-sport non-fishing options, create one of the most appropriate destinations in the saltwater world for families and non-angling companions.

Los Roques is a treasured Venezuelan National Park and stands as an environmental model for other multi-use saltwater recreation areas. It is a beautiful and pristine fishing location, without paved roads or cars, in a friendly, pro-American setting. In 1996 Venezuelan Government regulations made an already fine Los Roques experience even better with the implementation of license requirements and limitations. Today anglers must be accompanied by concessioned guides, and only a strictly monitored number of daily licenses are issued. The Los Roques National Park impact/entry fees, sport fishing license fees, and concession fees all support the park infrastructure and finance the strict enforcement of catch-and-release regulations and other progressive angling and environmental restrictions.

Practically everyone on the travel staff here at the Fly Shop has visited Los Roques; some of us many times. We have the experience and an intimate familiarity that translates into better planned and organized trips for our clientele. Give our talented travel team a call at 800-669-3474, or contact us via e-mail and let us help you select the best times or provide you with up-to-the-minute information and guidance to this wonderful flats destination.