the fishing day

The first day of fishing at Los Roques
Anglers and their companions will be picked up at their hotel very early (there are actually 2 flights, one at 5am and the other at 7am) in the morning and transferred to the Aerotuy terminal at the south end of the international airport (less than 10 minutes from their hotel). The scenic flight in the ultra-reliable 4-engine Dash 7 is included in the package and covers the 85 air miles to the island of Gran Roque in less than 25 minutes. After a brief stop in the open air terminal to pay the Park and Airport use fee, anglers are escorted to the lodge, stow their luggage, and depart on their waiting boats with assigned guides as soon as their tackle is assembled. Lunches and a selection of sodas, beer, and bottled water will already be iced down, on board, and there’s no delay in beginning what will be a full first day of bonefishing.

Anglers typically return to Acuarela Lodge at about 4:00 in the afternoon. As a matter of safety, and in cooperation with the Venezuelan Marineros, anglers are requested to return to the main island in the late afternoon. Hors d'oeuvres are served at about 5:30 and, in the Latin fashion, dinners tend to be served later, at 8:00. 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.

The normal fishing itinerary
Flyrodders typically eat breakfast at 7:00am, load into the boats, and depart for the flats half an hour later. The packed lunch on the arrival day is generic. After that, you’ll be asked each evening for your next day lunch preference and choice of beverages. Sight Cast operates a “well-oiled machine” and the boats are gassed up, serviced, cleaned, and loaded early every morning. Fishermen are off on their daily flats quest each day without delay, though the departure time for fishing might slightly change from season to season, depending on the visibility and tides.

Each two anglers and their guide are transported to the solid-bottomed flats in swift, safe, deep V-hulled vessels. All of the Sight Cast boats have radios, safety, and first-aid equipment aboard and are equipped with canopies to protect anglers from the afternoon sun.

All of the seaworthy, 28-foot Sight Cast boats have been modified for the fly fishing experience. They carry 1 or 2 anglers with both a guide and a licensed captain who stays with the panga, often dropping the anglers at one end of the long flats and picking them up at the other. This time-proven method eliminates back tracking and makes the day much more productive.

The most distant flats are less than 45 minutes away from the lodge, and the native guides know exactly which spots hold fish on each tide. Gran Roque is separated from the rest of the archipelago by a deep, several mile wide channel and the first portion of the daily commute can be a wet experience in windy weather, so a light rain jacket may come in handy. Strictly enforced government environmental policy dictates that there are only two islands in the huge archipelago where non-native habitation is allowed (Gran Roque and neighboring Frances Cay). With strictly enforced limits on the number of licensed anglers, and only one other competing outfitter in the park, once anglers leave the main island they’ll seldom see other fishermen.

The fishing at Los Roques
Flats at Los Roques are shallow, solid-bottomed, and seldom more than knee-deep. They are custom-tailored for the wading fly fishermen. Virtually all of the angling is done on foot, making this fishing trip particularly well-suited to physically fit anglers. While most of the flats of Los Roques are covered with light-colored sand and diatoms (crushed coral), there are dozens and dozens of “pancake flats” that average about 5 acres in size, each taking only a few minutes to cover. These are typically covered with turtle grass and are perfect targets during the ebb and very high tides. Another unique aspect of the Los Roques fishing experience is the pursuit of cruising bonefish from cay shorelines that drop off quickly from the beach. Diving pelicans telegraph the location of schools of small baitfish and the bonefish that are their constant companions. This kind of sight fishing is fast, exciting, and very productive.

Many of the traditional, picture-perfect flats stretch for miles and are often covered with fish. The guide will usually position himself nearest the least experienced angler until he (or she) gets the hang of it, then move between the fishermen alternately, helping them spot cruising or tailing bonefish and advising them on the best approach and position when advancing on the fish. (Extra guides can be arranged for a modest daily fee depending on availability. It is certainly beneficial to novice saltwater anglers and will dramatically accelerate the learning curve. A second guide actually translates into private guides for both anglers – normally they share a single guide. While not necessary, reserving a second guide for the first few days will help insure the success for first-time flats anglers and fishermen that have difficulty spotting bonefish.) Guides will usually position anglers with the wind and sun at their back, affording the easiest approach and presentation to the fish. Many of the fish on the flats of Los Roques will be tailing, meaning the best technique for wading is to cover the area slowly, looking for tails, or nervous water. Anglers must fight the urge to rush the fish and the cast, and approach fish very slowly in order to not disturb the water.

Larger schools of bones generally have smaller fish, on average. If trophies are the quarry, many fishermen concentrate on the edges of the flats, or beaches where big fish are more likely to be found, and allow the companion angler the more productive shallows.

When located fish are reluctant to take a fly, even after several pattern changes, anglers should move on. The bones may have been spooked by a previous angler, nervous because of some nearby predator, or aware of your presence. Consistently successful fishermen at Los Roques are anglers that cover more ground, and are willing to walk and hunt for the most productive situations.

Non-Fishing Activities
For those that do not fish (or simply want to take a day off), the lodge offers daily trips to isolated and beautiful beaches, accessed via a boat from the lodge. There is no extra charge for this service. SCUBA, snorkeling, motor vessel and under-sail tours of the archipelago can also be arranged for reasonable fees. And with both early morning and late evening daily flights to and from the mainland, day excursions, sightseeing, and shopping tours to the coastal resort community of La Guaira, or to nearby Margarita Island can be arranged for non-fishing companions.