Venezuela Bonefishing: Los Roques

Bonefishing at its best

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The Area

Los Roques archipelago is a collection of some 350 islands and cays covering several hundred square kilometers and offering some of the world’s finest saltwater fly-fishing.

Lying 140km offshore and only a short hop of 40 minutes from the domestic airport at Caracas, the main island of Gran Roques is a surprisingly sophisticated settlement of 1500 or so souls. The islands are a highly preserved national park and a favorite sun spot and retreat for Venezuela’s elite and their magnificent yachts along with adventurous holidaymakers from different countries.

Gran Roques village has excellent facilities and is a marvelous place to chill out with a Margarita and watch the sun go down.

The main island acts as a confluence spot for truly monstrous shoals of minnows stretching for kilometers along the beach and attracting the attention of some of the worlds most sought after saltwater game fish. It is completely unexceptional to wander from your Posada and see tarpon, bonefish and Jacks hammering schooling minnows right onto the beach at the village within seconds of leaving the front door.

Los Roques has become known as one of the best fly opportunities in the Caribbean. The numbers of bonefish can be compared only to the Seychelles. Schools with thousands of fish are common and anglers are constantly stalking smaller groups of larger fish. This is a place for those who love to stalk fish on foot rather than being confined to a boat. While the archipelago is famous for its pancake flats the area also offers great opportunities on its coral banks, sandy beaches, massive flats and mangrove lagoons. In addition to world-class Bonefishing, other opportunities include Tarpon, Permit, Jacks, Tuna, Snook, and Barracuda. Along with the great fishing, Los Roques also benefits from some of the most stable weather in the Caribbean. It is outside the hurricane belt and does not suffer the cold fronts that can occur when fishing further north.

Fishing in and around the village can be exceptional for big bonefish and tarpon in the 30-80lb range however it is merely the shop window to what is on offer around the archipelago.

By ranging far and wide with our guided fishing teams throughout the hundreds of kilometers of flats, mangroves and small islands a roving fly fisher can have magnificent sport stalking big spooky bones on white sand flats, pitching to tailing permit and intercepting marauding Jacks. Exploring into the mangrove bays and islands produces abundant shots at small to medium sized Tarpon and even Snook in places. If you can take the adrenalin hit then Barracuda on the fly is an explosion of savagery and power that many have yet to experience.

Enjoy the good fishing, friendly knowledgeable guides, superbly comfortable accommodation, great seafood and incredible cocktails all in a laid back Latin American beach atmosphere.

 <<< Click here to find out where Los Roques is located.

The Fishing

Bonefish:

Bonefish are the big deal here. Everywhere in the park between 8:00 and 12:00 the Bones are feeding hard on the small silver minnows. They average 4+ pounds overall in the park but there are plenty of areas where 5-8 pounders are common. In some places the bonefish go up to 12-13lbs.

Tarpon:

Gran Roque provides the focus point for the larger Tarpon, 30-80lbs although fish of 100lbs+are caught. They feed hardest during the early morning and this is when we focus our attention on them although you can see or snorkel with them throughout the whole day. Further out in the park there are great numbers of 5-35lb Tarpon in some of the lagoons, which can accommodate 3 anglers for 2-3 hours. Many have hooked 30+ fish in a session. Snook can also be caught in these areas up to 25lbs. The best time to catch Tarpon at Roques is Sept-Dec. They can be caught Feb-April although they are not as numerous.

Jacks:

The other big attraction is the Horse-Eyed Jacks (5 - 40 lbs). Smaller ones work in groups and attack the large schools of minnows in periods of frenetic activity and being able to drop your fly amongst them during these frenzies will practically guarantee between one and half a dozen strikes as you work the fly through the school. Larger ones are alone or in pairs and are common in a large zone where the current is always very fast. Guests have a good chance of catching 1-5 (more if you're good) of the 10-15lbs class fish.
There are lots of schools of smaller Jacks, Blue Runners, Iron Mouth Jack, and Black Jacks (all from 3 to 12 pounds). You should catch several of these every day while searching for Bones. Multiple hook ups when these Jacks charge the shallow flats in large numbers are common and are a severe test of nerves and composure in the rush to get flies airborne and into the zone.

Snook:

As a rule relatively scarce in the park however there are two or three places where you have a good chance but Snook are smart, see well and spook easily. They seem to be affected greatly by the temperatures of the water and consequently we catch them early when the water is cooler. Good fishermen should have one or so over the week (3 – 25lbs).

Barracuda:

Barracuda fishing is outstanding. Large bonefish type flies and poppers work well. Barracuda can be found everywhere and there are places where we can find cruising pairs of big ones every time (15-50+lbs).

Permit:

They are not abundant in the park although there are good numbers in one area, (15-40+ lbs). They do however require the utmost stealth and generally speaking anglers will only be presented with one opportunity before the fish are spooked. Whilst they are usually seen every week only the most proficient stand a good chance of landing one.

Blue Water Species:

On the rare calm days we can search around outside the park, in the deep water. Seasonal variations aside the opportunities exist for Tuna, Barracuda, Wahoo, large Jacks and Billfish amongst others.

A Typical Day

Alarm clocks are required at around 5.45 for those wishing to maximize the day’s possibilities followed by a bracing cup of coffee as the first rays of sunlight crest the horizon. This early period between 6 and 8 is when the aquatic world kick starts back into life mere yards from where cocktails were dispatched the previous evening. This early period is precious and for those with the stamina this is the best time to engage the Tarpon as they roll in from the deep in pursuit of the dense clouds of minnows. It is not a time for the faint-hearted or those in need of relaxation as the time is punctuated by ferocious ‘Jack attacks’ escorted by squadrons of Pelicans lifting and then crashing in unison into the thick seam of minnows, which runs along the beachfront.

A quick respite for breakfast and then depending on personal preferences each of the different boats heads off to different areas of the park. There are 6-7 different areas, outside the public zone and consequently an enormous variety is on offer to suit all tastes, styles and the prevailing conditions. Fishing can be done from the boat however mainly the Bonefish are accessible from the beach, wading in the warm, crystal clear water under the watchful tuition of one of a handful of highly experienced guides. Whilst Bonefish may be the primary target be on ones guard at all times as the enormous variety of suitable quarry is ever present.

We like to fish hard until around 1-1:30pm even 2:00pm at which time we break for lunch, which is provided by the Posada each morning. Each of the boats comes with a cooler so a ready supply of drinks is on offer throughout the day to replenish or revive as required. Our guides are known and welcomed throughout the park and this gives us our own array of unique and exclusive lunching destinations. The opportunity to eat ones catch and relax in a hammock, away from the tourists, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and little else is close to tranquility at its simplest.

For those who cannot waste a moment lunch can be offered on the go whilst we troll around under the shade of the boats canopy. Be warned however your lunch may be seriously interrupted. The ever-present threat remains to bait or lure from the submarine like Barracudas, which cruise ominously around the park, waiting to strike at any moment. It will require substantially more time than it takes for your beer to turn tepid to get one of these monsters under control.

We usually return to Gran Roque around 4:00pm. From there you can continue fishing locally, nap, shower, snorkel or simply soak up additional sun. There is some excellent fishing to be had along the beachfront and those with sufficient energy can usually pick up a brace of Bones prior to a wash up and an evening cocktail under the setting sun at Bora de la Mar at one of the other bars.  Those in need of additional recuperation can always book a massage on the terrace of the posada.  The evening meal is a veritable feast and the food is simply outstanding.  The adventurous and wild can drink and tango long into the night however most are in bed by 10:00pm, tired by the sun and the fun with anticipation and dreams of an arm-wrenching tussle the following day.

The Lodge

There are a number of options for your stay on Gran Roque however we for almost all of our guests we use Posada Acuarela. There are however a variety of options and we can find alternative accommodation to suit the tastes and requirements of individual parties.

Posada Acuarela

Italian owned and run Acuarela is a medium sized posada, (guest house/hotel) which caters for both fishing and non-fishing parties.  The atmosphere is very much that of a Caribbean hideaway as opposed to a dedicated fishing lodge and consequently it is as popular with both fishers and non fishing partners.  Run by Angelo, an enigmatic Italian whose passion for food is matched only by his flare for art, which decorates most of the walls and the warmth and hospitality of the staff at the lodge.  The quality and variety of the cuisine is often vaulted by many a fishing lodge however at Acuarela this holds truer than most.  Angelo is a celebrated chef in his own rite and the mixture of Italian recipes and fresh seafood is without equal.

Lodge Facilities

All the rooms have air-conditioning and private bathrooms and are typically a mix of both double and twin rooms.  The key staff all speak excellent English and will ensure that you are looked after to the highest possible standard.  There is a comfortable roof terrace where guests can relax in the twilight after a days fishing and massages can be arranged for a very reasonable rate.  Finally the posada is located a couple of minutes walk from the beachfront and the best of the local bars so you are in prime position for an early morning fish or an evening sundowner.

Non Fishing Options

Los Roques is in itself an extremely popular and exclusive destination and should be considered a perfect family Caribbean retreat that just happens to host some world-class salt-water fly-fishing. Powdery sand and sun rule and the options for an idyllic sunshine holiday beckon. Whilst some non-fishing partners prefer to be left to their own on a secluded beach or island many prefer to take advantage of the boat as an ideal way to view the archipelago and all it has to offer. It has even been known for some to take advantage of the services provided by our excellent guides and many an unwary Bonefish has become a personal first for those willing to give it a try.

Almost all the population lives on the island of El Gran Roque, and this is where the guest accommodations and airstrip are located. Just three sandy streets wind between colorful family homes, tiny stores, and the posadas (inns). The central Plaza Bolivar is ground zero for all community celebrations and the place for lively social gatherings. Here tourists and locals mingle to dance barefooted, a potpourri of salsa, rock-n-roll, tango and popular tunes played from a turntable that is rolled onto the plaza most weekends and on holidays. The sensual dance of the drums is also a common occurrence in the plaza and in the fishermen's homes that line the streets.

Diving & Snorkeling

The fish are not the only ones to benefit from the super abundance of marine life at Los Roques. With its numerous protected cays and varied coral reefs, El Parque Nacional Archipielago Los Roques is also one of the best destinations in the world for scuba diving, and there are several certified scuba diving services/instructors from which to choose. If however you would prefer the simplicity and freedom of just a mask and snorkel then you will find the opportunities on offer for the snorkeling enthusiast are boundless along the miles of coral banks in crystalline clear water.

Windsurfing & Kitesurfing

The constant cooling trade winds and the relatively shallow waters of many of the cays provide unrivalled conditions for honing your skills at either of these sports.

Birdlife

The scenes of frenzied feeding that you will witness every day by many of the ninety-two species of birds including the blue-eyed brown booby, pelicans, laughing gulls, frigate birds, terns, lapwings, plovers, and great blue-and white-necked herons should satisfy all but the most ardent and exotic of bird-watchers. The sight of 50+ pelicans rising into the air and simultaneously folding back their wings and diving into the minnow balls never ceases to amaze.

If you would prefer to speak to us directly regarding a trip to Venezuela, please contact us at the following:

United Kingdom Office:
Justin Maxwell-Stuart
Mobile: +44 (0)7711 519 857
Fax: +44 (0)20 7352 0942
justin@wherewisemenfish.com

United States Office:

US Country Code: +1
Telephone: 347 284 6333
info@wherewisemenfish.co.uk

Or alternatively email us via our Booking Enquiries Form to request more information.