August 29th-September 5th 2009

We had two anglers and their spouses join us last week. Glenn and his wife Velma were visiting from Atlanta, and David and his wife Kim were down from New York City. This was Glenn and Velma’s first trip to Mango Creek Lodge as well as Glenn’s first time fly fishing in the salt. David and Kim had returned for their third visit to MCL.

The tides during late August and September are high on the flats which makes seeing bonefish challenging. But even with tough conditions, Glenn scored several bonefish on the flats to 3 lbs with guide Perry. Both Glenn and David reported having shots at permit with David and guide, Miguel, feeling he had surely hooked his first permit to realize a small mutton snapper had charged the crab fly right from under the permit’s nose. When the flats were not producing, mudding bonefish were cooperative throughout the week with both anglers landing several fish most days. David managed to jump one tarpon and finally land another, much smaller tarpon, later in the week. Both were firsts for him.

Glenn with a Roatan flats bonefish.


An octopus Velma, Glenn, and Perry saw while walking a flat near Helene.

David enjoying the success of catching his first Tarpon on the fly.

Fishing Report: Jan. 10-17, 2008

Guest David Stocker was amazed upon his arrival to find that he was the only guest for his week with Mango Creek Lodge. This advantageous situation meant he was the only fisherman out on the flats each day and he had his pick of sites.

With a strong background of angling for red fish on the Texas coast, David was excited to try his luck hooking up a bonefish. He worked hard throughout the week with guide Tie-Tie to learn the new techniques required for spotting and catching bones. After a number of break-offs and several missed opportunities, David succeeded by catching two in one day. He was thrilled by the power of these deceivingly small fish and eager to return to catch even more.

Fishing Report: November 2008

Over the week of Thanksgiving, Mango Creek Lodge welcomed the arrival of a large group from Alberta, Canada. These guys were excited for some action and ready to hit the flats.

The weather, however, had other plans. Although the typical rains of this time of year were held at bay, low water temperatures kept the fish slightly lethargic. Undeterred, this great group of experienced fly fishers forged on. Over the course of the week, they brought in a number of bonefish, tarpon, blue runners, needlefish, grouper, and snook. The lone permit that was hooked up broke off, to everyone’s disappointment.

Toward the end of the week, the temperatures began creeping back to normal levels, and the water warmed. As the rest of the group departed for home, Bob Shaunessy, who stayed an additional 2 days, found the conditions on the flats much improved and took advantage of this positive change to significantly improve his tally for the week.

On a final note, Mango Creek extends special congratulations to Vincent Ircandia, who achieved his first saltwater catch on his second day of fishing by hooking up a tarpon. Congratulations, Vincent!

Fishing Report: August-September 2008

August and September were typically lazy summer months here on Roatan. As the temperatures warmed up, the breezes died down. August started with typical winds in the 13-15 mile-per-hour range, but by early September, they had diminished to less than 8 miles per hour most days. These conditions were great for casting and spotting fish! However, September also brought the challenge of high tides, which is the norm for this month on Roatan.

Chuck and Rod Hornor came to Mango Creek Lodge for a week but ended up staying two because of Hurricane Ike’s march through Houston. With their flights cancelled, the brothers decided to tough it out another week on the Roatan flats. And it was a good thing they did. Both brothers enjoyed consistent catches of bonefish their first week—-even with Rod taking two afternoons off to see the fish from the other side while scuba diving. They also took advantage of the flat seas to take a day trip to test Guanaja’s waters. They reliably reported several bonefish each day. They also saw good numbers of permit. In fact, both said they had their best chances ever that week, but neither could get one to take. The second week, the fishing cooled off some as the temperatures rose. However, Chuck finally hit gold and got his elusive permit.

Chuck was just here in March and is already planning another trip for the spring.

Fishing Report: July 2008

July marked the end of the busy season here on Roatan, and Mango Creek Lodge saw it out with a great group of anglers.

We finished the month with a full house and a camera crew! Cindy Garrison from ESPN and her team visited for a week as they filmed footage for a number of potential new projects. Cindy spent time with our managers discussing Mango Creek’s environmental and conservation initiatives before hitting the water to scout the flats. She met with success and caught a few bonefish—and her camera crew, of course, caught it all on film. Look for updates about Mango Creek and Cindy’s new projects coming soon.

Mike Krentzman and Cindy Garrison

While Cindy was busy filming, Gord and Cathy Joyce were enjoying their third trip to Mango Creek. This great couple has become like family to the lodge and even brought along photos from their past trips to share with our guides and staff. Gord and Cathy caught a number of fish on their days on the flats and also snuck in some spinning.

Also during this time, William and Will Joyce, a father a son, were doing their own exploring. While William fished, Will photographed the amazing sea life around the reef and got some terrific footage of his own. William did OK himself and caught several bonefish, a permit, and a couple of toothy needlefish.

William Talley and a bonefish

Next up were Bill and Sue Martin, who joined us the following week. Bill split his stay between time exploring with Sue and time on the water, where he really lit it up. He warmed up Day 1 with one good-sized bonefish and then followed that up on Day 2 by getting seven of them! On Day 3, Bill caught three bonefish on his morning trip and then met up with Sue for a picnic and snorkel on the secluded Pigeon Keys. Afterward, he was back on the flats with a pink crab pattern, which helped him bring in two permit! He was all smiles the rest of the week and said it was his best fishing day ever.

Bill Martin and one of his two permit

Fishing Report: February 2008

Well, what can we say? The fishing has been great, and our season is proving to be as good as last year, with a number of guests returning to the challenge of our flats.

It may be an anomaly, but it appears that our bonefish are slightly bigger than last year. See this photo of Mango Creek Lodge guide Perry with a nice bonefish caught by guest Chuck Hornor.


At the same time Chuck was visiting, Joe Pozzi and Wally Filkins from Chicago joined us for some spin fishing. Tie-Tie, their enthusiastic guide, put them on a number of species. These included two permit, one grouper (30 lbs), snook, snapper, bonefish, and even small sharks. Their stay also included a trip to Guanaja, where they managed to land 12 to 15 bonefish.

Weather at this time of year includes trade winds that at times make it more difficult for the fly fisherman. However it is unusual for the wind to persist for more than a few days. For the experienced fisherman, this is not an issue.

This is a picture of Chuck. He really doesn't like getting sunburned. He reported that bonefish were present in great numbers, that they were not "spooky," and that he caught more than 30 during his stay!

He's coming back ...

Fishing Report: May 15-July 15, 2007

It's 83 degrees at 6 in the morning as you step out onto the porch of your cabana to watch a Caribbean sun peak up over the horizon. A cloudless sky and light breeze give you that giddy feeling--the one you get when you realize that the conditions are going to be perfect for a day out on the water. You look toward the restaurant to see your guide, already putting fuel in the boat and gearing up your rods. With no other guests staying at the lodge, it will be just you and him stalking fish up and down the island for hours. What better way to spend a summer day?

For those guests who've visited us during the past couple of months, this has been a very common scenario. And with the great weather and the small crowds, anglers have been taking advantage as best they can.

The beginning of July brought us a group of eight fishermen, most of them members of a fly fishing club from Prescott, Arizona. The group had a great time, both on and off the water, and caught a number of sizeable bonefish while often sighting permit as well. But without a doubt, the fish of the trip was the impressive 40-lb. tarpon that Mary Kryzsik caught with her guide, Tie-Tie. The fish and she did battle, with some spectacular jumps from both the fish and Mary. In the end, the fish was safely landed, photographed, and released. Mary, arriving back at the lodge, was clearly excited about her first tarpon and didn't stop smiling for the rest of the week.


Another great group was a family of four from Savannah, Georgia. From day one, the three boys--Matt, Trey and their father, Gage--were catching bonefish on a regular basis. The three fisherman took turns switching off between boats and guides and always had fish and a good time.

These guys also tried a couple of new techniques being tried out by our guides. Rumors of a secret tidal pond that was home to a number of huge, solitary bonefish were enough to entice younger brother Matt into loading up a couple of kayaks into the skiff for an afternoon. Once in the kayak, he ventured off with his guide, Kessel, in search of this fabled "lago de plata." Unfortunately, they came back empty-handed that afternoon, but the legend persists, and our guides are still eager to tap into this new-found fountain of fish.

On another afternoon, older brother Trey caught a beautiful, healthy bonefish while fishing with Kessel. However, when it came time to take the picture, Trey had to hand the fish over to Kessel to give some perspective as to just how large it was. At well over 6'4'', Trey's enormous frame and hands made even a fish that size look small. So, as the picture shows, Kessel (being an average-size man) was able to do the big fish some justice.


July also brought something very special to Mango Creek Lodge. A group of eight students accompanied by a couple of professors from Colorado College came to visit for a 10-day class dealing with writing and its connection with the ocean. One of the professors, Steve Brown, spends a good part of the year as a fly fishing guide in Telluride, Colorado. And, seeing as how he was already down here ... . Well, as you can imagine, Steve made it a point to sneak out onto the water a couple of times to have a shot at some tailing bones.

Early one morning, Steve managed to hook a nice fish while fishing the flat that sits right in front of the small village of Oak Ridge. Yet after the initial excitement of the take and first big run wore off, both Steve and his guide, Kessel, realized that there was a speed boat bearing down on them and about to run right over the line between them and the fish. Kessel, running toward the oncoming boat, started waving his hands wildly and begging the boat to stop before it mangled the line and, worse, lost the fish. At the last second, the driver let off the throttle, saving the line, the fish, and probably Steve's good mood as well. But this fish was far from landed. As soon as it left the deeper channel, it headed straight for the shallows of the reef, darting through the exposed coral heads that threatened to finish the job that the boat didn't do. Steve, in no mood to lose the fish after all this, took off after it. With his rod held high over his head, he deftly raced through ankle deep water, and around several sharp coral heads, in a desperate attempt to keep the fish on.

After such an epic battle, Steve was finally able to land and photograph this brave bonefish. That night, he was congratulated by both his students and our staff on his catch after retelling the entire story just before dinner. Ironically, the entire class was in the midst of reading Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. What better way to illustrate the ancient struggle between man and fish that this classic book discusses than actually participating in it yourself? Well done, Mr. Callahan.


Finally, as part of the students' ocean experience, Steve's wife, Amy, took the four female students out early one morning for a brief casting class and a look at the flats. Amy is also an avid fly fisherman and gives casting classes to clients in Telluride. While the girls were casting, Steve snuck off to the far side of the flat to get some shots at some early tailing schools of bonefish. By the time Steve headed back toward the boat, Amy had all four girls spaced out along the edge of the flat, already casting to moving fish. It was a striking sight: five lovely young women casting in near-unison as the rising sun allowed a view of nothing but their silhouettes over the glaring water. That, friends, might be the greatest way to spend a summer day.

Fishing Report: April 15-May 15, 2007

May fishing at Mango Creek Lodge has meant one thing: big bonefish. In the past month, with less pressure on our flats and more trips to the island of Guanaja, fisherman have been landing some impressive bones. As with anywhere, fly selection and presentation are paramount at Mango Creek. But recent success has shown that the senses of these larger fish are even more acute than the typical bonefish and require slightly different tactics.

First, a lighter-weight rod and line allow for a softer presentation of the fly. In instances in which a bonefisherman might normally opt for an 8-wt. set-up, gearing down even to a 7-wt. might make a difference (as long as the distance and accuracy of your casts don't suffer too much). Also, unweighted flies in the size 10-12 range make casting to a school of tailing bonefish even less conspicuous. So, with many days of calm water and spooky fish ahead of us this summer, thinking small might be one key to catching big fish. As one past guest put it, "It's saltwater spring creek fishing."

Here's a run-down of our recent guests:

Guests Andy Klein and Bob Pearson both hooked up to a number of nice-sized bones during their week stay at the lodge in early May. Andy had been to Roatan before on a diving vacation but had come this time to check out the flats with his old college roommate, Bob. The two of them had nice weather and plenty of shots at bones and permit. In the end, after 6 days of fishing and plenty of sightings, the permit wouldn't cooperate. However, their guide, Kessel, worked hard to get them onto some great bonefish.


These guys caught most of their fish on a small, brown bonefish bitter pattern--a Mango Creek staple. Our guides use this pattern often, both in brown and olive colors. They also found that a sturdy weed-guard was vital to keep the fly from catching the bottom of the shallower flats. As a quick solution, a short piece of monofilament can be tied and then glued to the head of the fly. This is possible with a variety of typical saltwater flies, making them more practical in shallow flats.

The week before, our guests included John and Margi Pearson, along with Margi's parents, Tom and Becky. After spending a few days on the flats near the lodge, they decided it would be worthwhile to make the trip over to Guanaja for a night. Leaving early Wednesday morning with our guides Tie-Tie and Kessel, the foursome spent 2 days wandering the sandy flats surrounding Guanaja and catching some huge bonefish. All four anglers had a wonderful time and said that the adventure to Guanaja really enriched their experience here. Undoubtedly, the chance to cast to bonefish this size in rarely fished water is a treat. But to be able to do it in such a gorgeous environment with the tall island of Guanaja in the background is what truly makes it special.



As far as other new fishing developments go at Mango Creek Lodge, everyone is excited about the unique possibilities offered by our Hobie kayaks. A few of our guides and management staff have had the chance to take these sleek crafts out for some exploratory runs. And after spending hours navigating the mangrove mazes on the far eastern end of the island, all agree that there is an enormous potential for some great fishing. Paddling the shallow mangrove ponds, well-hidden in the interior of the island, we spotted five or six large bonefish and a number of nice-sized snook. Our guides said that much of this water is unreachable in a skiff because the mangrove channels are too narrow and unwadeable because the bottom is far too soft. But in a kayak, we were able to get into these secluded areas quickly and quietly.

What has really been impressive is the stability and maneuverability of these kayaks. While moving along the slim canals, our guides were standing up in their boats and poling them along as they spotted fish. We've also found that the kayaks are more than stable enough to make a good, long cast with a fly rod without worrying about tipping over.

Finally, our expeditions in the kayaks also led us to discovering another great fishing opportunity. On the island of Morat, which sits just beyond the eastern most tip of Roatan, there is a large tidal pond that is rumored to be a good snook fishery. In the past, it has been tough to make any decent cast to these fish. Just like the mangroves, there was no way to get a skiff into the pond, and the bottom was not nearly hard enough to wade. Yet again, we hoped that the kayaks would prove to be invaluable in reaching this area. But to our surprise, despite what many of the locals had told us, the pond was nearly dried up when we arrived. To make matters worse, the bodies of dead snook lie along the cracked edges of the water. Our Mango Creek guides told us that the pond had never been so low and were concerned that the remainder of the dry season would leave the pond completely emptied. Not wanting to lose such a promising spot, a crew was immediately sent up from the lodge to clear out the blocked connection with the ocean. Within 2 hours, the pond that had been almost completely empty was again filling with water. Hopefully, our efforts will be able to save the fish population of the Morat pond and provide us with another interesting place to explore.

Fishing Report: March 15-April 15, 2007

As far as the fishing goes at Mango Creek Lodge, it seems that March showers have brought April flowers. The weather has taken a welcome turn for the better, and more and more schools of permit are being spotted, cast to, and caught by our fishermen. In addition, the challenging, good-sized bonefish on the flats are consistently rewarding to catch. Unlike other areas of the Caribbean, a bonefish at Mango Creek Lodge is not a given; these fish are bigger, spookier, and more discerning. But many of those who have been patient and diligent have been rewarded by hooking bonefish in the 7-lbs.+ range. Here's a recap of the latest action.

The end of March saw the arrival of four guests from Sweden eager to chase down fish on our exotic island. And although the Scandinavians were dealing with the tail end of our ugly March weather, fisherman Jonas Andersson and his guide, Kessel, landed an enormous permit. It was estimated to be between 25 and 27 lbs., and it had been found cruising along a deep water edge. Interestingly enough, this monster was hooked not on a typical crab pattern, but instead on a 10-wt. rod rigged with a shock leader and a tarpon fly! Still, even with a heavy outfit like that, the fish took more than 25 minutes to land and put up a staggering and exhausting fight.


Also in March, we were visited by a lone Englishman, Alexander Kennedy, who stayed just long enough to get a taste of what Mango Creek has to offer. In a couple of days of clear skies and light winds, Alexander caught a number of good-sized bonefish with the aid of his guide, Miguel.


Regularly, bonefish have been spotted in great numbers. In fact, fisherman have been returning to the lodge in disbelief of the enormity of the schools of fish they were able to stalk and cast to. Yet many of these anglers have also been dumbfounded by their pickiness. Generally, small (size 10-8 hooks with some as tiny as a size 12) patterns that match the bottom are allowing for a quiet presentation and a better chance of a hook up. Also, it must be stressed that because most of our local flats are turtle grass and coral, a sturdy weed guard can be the key to ensuring you don't spend the day snagging the bottom.

On Easter Sunday, a couple from Colorado managed to sneak away from their last week of skiing to get some time in on the water. Be it for the long winter or the pina coladas, both said it took a couple of days to "get the kinks out." But once they did, guests Sammy and Weatherly made the most of their tropical holiday with their guide, Kessel. Several bones were caught, both in the deeper areas along the north end of Barbaret Island and on the flats around Helene. Most importantly, Sammy struck gold halfway through their trip when he managed to land his first permit. With the trophy fish behind him, he and Weatherly were able to kick back and enjoy the gorgeous scenery as they fished out the rest of the week, finding time for a little snorkeling as well as a siesta here and there.

Without a doubt, the fishing only continues to improve as the peak of the busy season is already behind us. With a little more spare time on our hands, everyone is anxious to explore new areas beyond our well-known haunts to expand the lodge's repertoire of flats. Also, pioneering excursions by kayak are taking place as we speak into the mangrove canals that run like veins through the eastern quarter of the island.

Fishing Report: March 1-15, 2007

Still in the early part of the busy season, the fishing at Mango Creek has been steady but somewhat daunted by windy conditions and some rainy days.

Taking advantage of some sun at the beginning of the month, a foursome of spin fisherman from New Jersey caught a large assortment of species in the 5 days they had on the water.

In fact, guests Peter Tabia and John Sbarbaro landed (and photographed) nine types of fish in 2 days on spinning gear: barracuda, snook, sun shark, grouper, box fish, yellowtail, red snapper, bonefish, box fish, and a trunk fish. Near the end of the trip, each landed at least one permit, one of which was caught in front of the lodge near the end of the day.

During the same week, the two other gentlemen from Jersey spent their days hooking some spectacular needlefish and barracuda. Guest Gene Wowk also landed a nice-sized permit with his spinning gear while wading the flats east of the lodge. Congratulations to all four guys on a successful trip.

The following week, the action returned to "the fly." Guests Peter Litwin and John Potter spent a few days on the flats near the lodge catching several bonefish with their guide, Perry. On the morning of March 15, they landed permits within an hour of one another. Finally, as an added bonus, Peter caught a large snook on his last day of fishing to finish off a great week.

The boys also chose to head over to Guanaja, an island that lies about 20 miles to the east of Roatan and is rumored to have a plethora of flats that see very little pressure.

Despite the rough crossing, both fisherman caught bonefish, but not in the mythical amounts they were hoping for. Trips to Guanaja cost extra (because of the distance traveled and the necessity of using two boats to go) and are extremely dependent on the weather. And though the fishing there has not yet lived up to its reputation, Mango Creek Lodge guides are anxious to explore and better learn this new collection of flats.

Fishing Report: December 2006

December for Mango Creek proved another excellent month for our anglers.

Conditions for the the first two weeks were pleasant, with calm seas and sunny skies. This, combined with favorable tides first thing in the morning made it easier for spotting bonefish and permits on the flats.

We were joined by high school teacher Jeff Tonac for a day fishing at our lodge. Although lots of fish were spotted, unfortunately none took the fly, and he struck out.

Our next guests were Stella and Ben Khan, all the way from London, England, who dropped by to take a look at the place. They were soon out fishing, and Ben was thrilled to land his first permit!


Stella jumped into our new Hobie sea kayak (which is powered by peddling instead of conventional paddles) and had a blast exploring, while her husband battled on the fishing flats. At the end of the day, they both had smiles on their faces.

Our next visitors were Eric Lider and his son Lars. They were with us on a windy and overcast day. They saw lots of bonefish, but the casting was difficult for them because of the wind. A large tarpon was landed, however. The next day, another father-and-son team landed their first permit in sunny, calm, perfect conditions. The son, 15, had never been saltwater fly fishing before, and so they were both very happy with their day.

On Dec. 27, a cold front arrived at Mango Creek, bringing with it more difficult fishing conditions. Day fishermen Kent LeMonte and his son Travis decided to give it a try anyway. Bones were spotted, but none landed. Undeterred, Kent returned for 2 days with his family (6 all together). He liked the place so much he wanted his family to see the lodge. He figured that there was so much to do here it would be a good spot to bring the troop while he fished. We are looking forward to seeing the LeMontes back here soon!

That cold front that hit us toward the last week in December had a negative effect on our fishing only for about 2 days.

Tony Hughey and his wife, Lauren Kerr, from Washington DC, arrived on Dec. 23 for a 1-week visit. Tony arrived with enthusiasm. We are sure he didn't even get his bags unpacked before he was off to the flats with his guide, Kessel.


An hour later he returned, excitedly reporting "There were so many bones on the flats you could practically walk on them." The next day, he caught one bone before breakfast and another two that afternoon.

Tony was excellent at casting and continued to catch fish every day he went fishing. He did, however, take time off to spend with his lovely wife, Lauren. That included snorkeling with our guide Randy and kayaking.

All in all, we considered the month of December a success. We also added a 32-foot Albermale Sport fishing boat to our fleet. This could add a whole new dimension to our fishing fun here at Mango Creek! Stay tuned!

Fishing Report: August-November 2006

The month of August in Mango Creek was hot and sunny. Winds were light predominately coming from the east at about 10 knots.

Tides were low allowing for frequent easy access to the flats. All of this provided excellent conditions for fishing.

Although August is considered towards the end of Permit season there were still plenty of them spotted on our flats. Bonefish are in abundance year round and August was no exception.

September saw a continuation of August weather conditions. We were visited by Jake and Lee Sinna. During their stay they landed numerous bonefish and Jake caught his first ever Permit. (He wrote: "I don't have a vocabulary rich or deep enough to adequately describe the awesome experience you and your staff provided Jake and me at Mango Creek. A very heartfelt thank you. Dr. Lee Sinna")

October and November are generally considered our rainy months. October this year was better than average, but November was worse than average. There were plenty of fish of all species spotted during this period.

Fishing conditions were dictated by weather. If it rained hard, it became difficult to see the bonefish and permit tailing. Tides were also high.

On the other hand, when the weather was clear, the fish were seen and caught. Adam Olmstead, a professional guide from Colorado, managed to hook up with four permit and landed two in difficult conditions. He also managed to land snook and bonefish.

Thomas Horton was successful landing bonefish. He also hooked up on tarpon and is looking forward to returning.

The last week of November has been encouraging. Both weather and tides have returned to normal. Large schools of permit have been reported by all our guides, and bonefish are more abundant during this month than any other month of the year.

Fishing Report

Weather conditions were variable during the months of June and July. The first half of June was calmer with easterly breezes between 5 and 10 mph. Later in the month until now, the wind has increased in strength but has been steady. This whole period, we’ve had regular passing thunder showers occurring at night, which has been great for keeping the water cool. As a result, the fish are staying on the flats for longer at low tide and are more active. The large schools of bonefish and permit are still seen every day.

Early in June, angler Trent Shepherd and his wife had some good bonefish catches and were amazed at the wonderful sight of large numbers of tailing permit on the flats. He wrote:

Sunday, June 11, 2006 11:17 am
Subject: Thanks for a great trip!

We’re back home and still glowing from such a great trip to Honduras. Thanks ... for the best fishing trip we have been on to date. Both my wife and I landed our first bonefish (and several more after that), had a chance at some permit, and even some tarpon. Can't wait to go back to Roatan and the Mango Creek Lodge - the hosts were so friendly, the service great, and the fish aplenty.

Cheers, Trent

Angler, Al Winzerling landed good size bonefish each day, as well as 2 permit in one day. He said:

... Thanks again to you and your staff for a great trip. ... Fish, fish, and more. There are so many Bonefish and Permit on the flats, there is hardly a break during a day of fishing. Most of these fish were spotted by Perry, my guide. Long before we spotted the tailing Bones or Permit's dorsal fins, Perry picked out the "nervous water" way out there. Not to mention the rolling Tarpon in the Mangroves.

Variations of shrimp or crab were the fly to use.

Flats fishing for these amazing fish will tax the stalking, presentation, and landing skills of the best fly fisherman.

Al Winzerling
Durango, Colorado
(Trip dates June 3-11, 2006)

Paul and Bryan Shepard had good catches every day. They caught at least 6-8 bonefish on the flats daily, plus another 3–6 in deeper water, between tides. All were between 4 and 6 lbs. They each landed a permit (10 lbs and 5 lbs). Of course, there were jacks and snappers caught along the way, too.

Mike Holeman, too, was very happy with his bonefish catches, saying they were the biggest he has caught to date. He also commented on the large numbers of fish on the flats. He praised the guide on correcting his mistakes with helpful advice and instruction, leading him to bring in all the fish he hooked.

The weather is warming up, but we’re staying cooler than all the places suffering heat waves to the north! Come to Roatan and cool down!

Tight lines!
Mango Creek Lodge

Guest Review

My son, Bryan, and I spent the first week of July at the Mango Creek Lodge for a fly fishing vacation. The folks at the lodge could not have been more pleasant or accommodating. The food was great! Most importantly to us was that the fishing was great also. We caught many bones during the week.

Bryan's favorite pattern was the Agent Orange and mine was a bitters. Lightly weighted or no weighted flies were the choice.

We each were able to catch a permit during the week. Bryan caught his on his first day of saltwater fly-fishing. Perry estimated Bryan's at about 10 lbs and mine at about 5 lbs. I can't say enough good things about our guide, Perry. He would meet us at 6 a.m., and we would wade fish until around 9:30 and then come back to the lodge for breakfast and to collect packed lunches and then off again to fish from the boat until the tides were right again for wading.

We would usually return to the lodge around 6:30 to 7:00 p.m., where drinks were served and then a delicious dinner. Our last day, we fished for 14 hours with Perry. I have never been to a lodge before where the guides would spend a 12+ hour day with you. At other lodges I have been to, the guides would always have you back at the lodge by 4:30. Since I caught my permit at about 5:30 in the evening on the flats, I would not have had that opportunity at any other lodge. We greatly appreciated Perry's skill and his dedication to our having a great time and catching a lot of fish.

Overall, we had a great fishing week and look forward to returning.

Paul Sheppard

Guest Review

Roatan Honduras may not be for you if............

If you don't like walking the flats at high tide (knee deep) and casting to pod after pod of 8 to 12 lb tailing permit, you might not like it here.

If you don't like walking the flats at low tide (ankle deep) and casting to pod after pod after pod after pod of tailing 7 to 10 lb bonefish, you might not want to go here.

Since the fish are in shallow water and are extremely wary, be prepared for a reel screaming, mind erasing, explosion of a run well into your backing if you hook either of the above.

If you don't like fishing from sun up to sun down with guides that are dedicated and enthusiastic, you might not like it here.

If you don't like poking around the mangrove swamps looking for snook and tarpon between tides, you might not like it here.

If you don't like cruising the deep flats between tides looking for 20+ lb permit or 100+ lb tarpon, you might not like it here.

If you feel you need to pay twice as much to fish, you might want to stick with the Yucatan.

If you would rather have your alcohol added to your trip expense rather than included in the price (no limit), you might not like it here.

If you would rather your guide demand a cast beyond your current skills, you might want to consider other options. The guide we worked with, Perry, evaluated our skills and worked to find us the best fish we were able to reach, rather than finding a fish and waiting for us to figure out how to get to it. There was no huffing or eye rolling when we fumbled.

If you can't sleep in a custom made cabaña decorated with hand-carved mahogany furniture and accents, complete with a constant sea breeze, you might not like it here.

However, if any of the above feels right for you, I strongly suggest you contact Mango Creek and book some time on the flats. They truly care that your experience is exceptional.

Cheri and I enjoyed ourselves immensely. We collapsed each evening after the full day's fishing and a couple of cocktails. It was hard work of the
best kind.

Jerry Poole

P.S I attached a copy of the fish again, I just don't get tired of looking at the picture. For all of you with scale problems, the fish was in excess of 23 lbs.

P.P.S. I get to brag about this one for the rest of my life.

P.P.P.S. Eight years, and the last couple were more than two trips a year.

P.P.P.P.S. Thanks for letting me share.

Fishing Report

The fishing has been consistent on the flats during March, April and May, with everyone catching bonefish (2 – 5 lbs) and even a few permit and baby tarpon.

Two anglers, Darrell and his father Donnie, managed to catch a pair of permit ... one after the other (5lbs and 6lbs, both on Turneffe crabs). Their photo shows them side-by-side, each with a permit in hand, and grins from ear to ear! They tell a great story of how guide, Perry, worked this trick.

Buzz was here last week, and apart from bonefish he had a "mini grand slam." The permit was a tiny baby the same size as his hand, and the tarpon was about 5 lbs. Brooke, also here last week, had a nice permit, about 10 lbs. The really big permit (20-30lbs) are still visiting the flats, but lately no one has landed one on a fly. They have been breaking off and getting away after a good fight. However, June, a tiny lady from Manhattan caught a permit of 23 lbs on a spinning rod. The fish looked almost as big as her! Jacks, snappers and barracudas have been caught regularly too.


The weather has been consistent, though temperatures are rising (77 F-89 F), and we are getting some fairly strong breezes (from NE, 10-15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph).
There are still plenty of bonefish and permit visiting the flats when it’s windy, and a bonus is that they are less spooky than they are in flat calm water. It’s worth practicing casting in the wind.

Tight lines,
Mango Creek Lodge

Guest Fishing Report

This past week saw good fishing on the flats around Roatan and Guanaja, Honduras. Weather was good with light winds and for the most part sunny skies and temperature in the eighties. There were a few cloudy afternoons and the occasional light shower.

There were a few bonefish to be found on the home flat Monday afternoon. This flat holds a solid population of bonefish but not too many permit. The occasional triggerfish can be found cruising and tailing on top of the reef. Cloudy conditions combined with chop from a northeast wind and the high tide made it tough to spot fish unless they were deliberately tailing. More fish were spooked than caught.

Tuesday morning the wind continued and this helped push more water on to the flat near Helene. The deeper water meant prime conditions for permit! Before we even landed the boat on the flat, we saw black tails glistening in the morning sun. There were permit everywhere! Larger schools of smaller fish (8-10 lbs), schools of 2-3 fish, and larger singles covered the flat. We had many shots but only managed to hook one fish that promptly screamed off the flat, wrapped the leader around a coral head and shredded it. Best flies were Turneffe crabs in cream and olive, size #6
and lightly weighted.

Tarpon fishing was also good around the docks of Helene. Angler Don Wilkerson jumped three, landing one of about 20-25 lbs on an orange grizzly Cockroach. Capt. Ted Lund also landed one tarpon of 6-8 lbs on the flats of Barbaret. We also found agreeable mudding bones in the same area. We had shots at some smaller snook on one of the beaches of Barbaret as well.

Wednesday we were off to Guanaja. The winds had calmed which made for a smooth ride over to the island. As we approached the first flat at the eastern side of the island, we were greeted by hundreds of waving bonefish tails! Bonefish populations on the flats of Guanaja are outstanding! The day's fishing produced a number of bones from 2-4 lbs. Best flies were Bonefish Bitters of any size or color. Our best shot at permit came mid morning, two 10-12lb fish were following the Turneffe crab before a Yellow Jack sped in front of them and mowed it down.

Thursday found us back on the flats near Helene looking for permit. We found a good school cruising the smaller flat east of Helene. A good cast in front of them sent them scrambling to find the fly but upon stripping the fly so the fish could see it, it hooked on some turtlegrass and the fish quickly lost interest. There were also some tailing bones in the same area. We moved to the larger flat, where we had good shots at schooling perms but no takers. There were a host of triggerfish, 3 foot lemon sharks, barracuda of all sizes and also 3 fully grown(3-4 ft) Rainbow Parrotfish on the flat as well. Look for permit working behind the triggerfish. The largest fish we saw that day (20 lbs) was following one of the larger triggers.

Friday was the day after the full moon. Winds were calm and the tide was not as high as it had been. We saw one school of fast cruising permit on the flats that wasn't very interested in eating. There were some larger bones tailing but the calm conditions made them tough to approach and cast to. The triggerfish and parrotfish had moved from the flat to on top of the reef in the fly line snagging coral. We also saw a few lemon sharks and a four foot cuda crashing bait. This day proved best for a few Port Royals and rum cocktails and stories about sea monsters and the elusive
Easter leprechaun.

Jason Balogh

Guest Review

What a fantastic trip. It was one of the best fishing trips I have ever experienced. I have fished in many locations and I found the service of the Mango Creek Lodge staff to be superb. Perry (guide), Pam and Graham (managers) and the staff at Mango Creek Lodge were excellent. The fishing was challenging which required good fly casting skills. I would recommend any fisherman to take fly casting lessons suitable for flats fishing. I enjoyed the diversity of fishing; bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook. My fishing guide, Perry, was excellent.

I fished for five days with Perry and I was the only fisherman. It was singular experience not to see another fisherman. My wife and I stayed at the Reef House Diving Resort in Oak Ridge. My wife was getting her diving certification. I wish we would have stayed at Mango Creek Lodge.

As to the fishing, the weather was not cooperative. We had two rainy days and every day was windy. I thought I could fly cast adequately, but in the wind it was a humbling experience. The first day I had a bunch of missed opportunities. My problem was presenting the fly properly especially in the flats. I think Perry was getting frustrated with me. And when I did hook up, I did not perform the strip strike correctly. By day 3, I was getting better. The other problem was spotting the fish. Perry would tell me to cast and I could not see the fish. Perry actually hooked up the largest bonefish (8lbs) and I landed it. My largest fish was 5 lbs and it was one of those ideal times where I saw a single fish, made the perfect cast and hookup. We bonefished some areas where Perry poled the boat. The spotting and casting was much easier and I could catch more fish.

I did fish for Tarpon with bait (Sprat fish; looks like a minnow) around the docks in St. Helene. I hooked up with four Tarpon, but only landed one fish about 15 lbs. I also caught a Snook and a number of Barracuda. I did not have a heavier fly rod for Tarpon fishing. Also I did not get a chance to go to Guanaja due to bad weather.

I am ready to go back to MCL. I went to Christmas Island twice, traveling with a fly shop in California. By the way, in comparing the two locations, I could catch more bonefish (10-20/day) at Christmas Island, but it was difficult to find larger fish. At Roatan, every day I had an opportunity to catch fish 5 lbs and up. I also enjoyed the Tarpon fishing.

I liked the remote setting of Mango Creek and dedicated fishing. I love to fish and when I take a fishing vacation I want to fish as much as possible. At Christmas Island, I was limited to the amount of fishing time and the flats open to fish. I can understand their position, since there were 25 - 30 fisherman. Perry and I fished from sun-up to sun-down for five days.

Edward Kim

Guest Review

I'm looking forward to my next fishing trip for bones and permit next spring. This trip will come a month before I head back to Alaska for a couple of fly fishing trips for salmon. Most of my fly fishing experience has been with salmon in Alaska. I was looking for a different kind of fly fishing experience when I decided to visit Mango Creek earlier this year.

I initially came to Roatan for the diving. It's great! I then became interested in flats fishing and have been trying for a couple of years to find someone knowledgeable who could show me the ropes. I was thrilled to discover your lodge and meet your experienced guides.

My last trip fulfilled all of my objectives. I caught both bone fish and permit and I greatly improved my flats fishing technique. There are some great differences between fly fishing for salmon on narrow bear streams in Alaska and fishing for bones in windy conditions on the open flats. I found that I'm hooked on flats fishing in part because of the stalking aspect. To stalk the flats looking for bone fish and permit, to spot them and make a successful cast is thrilling.

My most memorable moment was when I hooked and landed my permit. I was separated from our guide and my fishing partner who were locked onto some tailing bone fish. I spotted a school of permit approaching! They were coming quickly directly towards me so I knew that I would have limited chances. As they got closer, I crouched low on the water to reduce my profile and was able to make a good cast ahead of the approaching school. I stripped the line a couple of times, felt it tighten and set the hook.

Immediately after hooking the fish, the school bolted, right at me. They passed right by me, on both sides. I couldn't strip fast enough to keep up with my fish as it blew by but caught up with it on the other side. I was still facing where the fish were and stripping the line over my head until it tightened and I was able to turn towards where the fish were heading. I could see the school of fish moving towards the deep with my fish in the middle. After 125 yds- 150 yds, I turned him and the school moved on.

About this time I caught the eye of my guide who was still stalking the bones. He gave me a big thumbs up as I continued to fight the fish. After landing the fish and taking my celebratory photos, I released him to go find his buddies. I was amazed at how quickly this fish recovered and swam off. They are strong and powerful fish!

Since I've returned home, I've thought about fly fishing for permit & bones versus salmon. They are very different sports. But it's kind of like asking what's your favorite meal; steak or fish? I enjoy them both. I'm hooked on flats fishing and I'll see you next spring.

Marv

Guest Review

My wife and I spent a week at Mango Creek Lodge on Roatan, Honduras, the week that straddled January and February. The trip was arranged for us by an outfitter. We were told to expect very pleasant accommodations and flexible guides who were willing to work very hard and very long. We were not disappointed.

We stayed in one of two cabanas built on stilts over the water, making it possible for a morning pick up or evening drop off literally at your doorstep. Two more of those structures were under construction during our stay. Another alternative would have been to stay in the lavishly decorated main lodge. The owners, Terry and Patrice, are fanciers of fine woodworking and woodcarving, and everywhere in the main lodge, in the casitas and in the restaurant are beautiful examples of these art forms. The grounds are equally impressive with 4 full time groundskeepers and could be highlighted in some sort of landscape digest.

The fishing is somewhat unique in that flats exist within only a few hundred yards of water that may be 300-400 feet deep. Though I would prefer not to admit this, in the spirit of full disclosure, I took off a morning of fly fishing to go trolling. The guide and I caught a wahoo that yielded 73 pounds of meat. Not my idea of sport, but the taste of fresh wahoo was more than worth the sacrifice. That afternoon, I caught a bonefish. I spent a total of 5 days fishing and landed at least 1 bonefish per day with the largest being about 4 pounds. Access to what was considered the best bonefish flats was denied by constant windy conditions. Of course, the morning we left was dead calm.

An email note on my computer indicated that the only other angler, a beginning fly fisherman, caught 23 bonefish this day. He, by the way, was the only other sport fisherman I saw on the flats all week. I had only one shot at a permit which rushed the fly but didn’t take, and hooked and lost one tarpon. I also caught and released at least 10 other reef species in relatively brief periods of fishing.

The flats are mostly covered with turtle grass, so weedless flies and knotless leaders were helpful. The two flies I used most were bonefish bitters and small Clouser’s deep minnows. My personal feeling is that fishing should improve as netting has recently been outlawed and as more is learned about this developing fishery.

Other activities include diving and snorkeling which we were told is exceptional. The owners have sailed extensively and offer the use of a small sailboat here along with instruction for beginners. Picnic lunches on small remote islands and my wife’s favorites – hard core loafing in a hammock, reading a good book and walking the grounds with an occasional trip to town for shopping are also possibilities.

The bottom line – Would I recommend Mango Creek? Absolutely, if they understood the niche that Mango Creek fills. It does not offer world class fishing for any one species. It does offer a good and diverse fishery along with multiple other activities in a beautiful setting with pleasant people.