Back To Belize Part Three - March 8, 2019 - Deep Drop Reef Fishing

Vermilion Snapper

For our second excursion we had planned on doing some snorkeling and more reef fishing.  The day was nice and sunny but the wind made the water a bit rough for snorkeling.  Our guide, Eisley suggested we try some deep sea fishing out beyond the shallow part of the barrier reef.  We agreed and after a short stop to net some bait we sped off to deeper waters.  

Eisley rigged up some sturdy boat rods and we began drifting with bait weighted on the bottom.  Cynthia caught the first fish, an Almaco Jack.  Nice fish!  Pretty soon we all began catching some Vermilion Snapper, which was a new species for me.  Cynthia and Dotty caught most of the Snappers.  These were much bigger than the ones I caught on the previous two fishing trips.  

My Wife Cynthia with an Almaco Jack (Jealous!)

My Sister Dotty caught them three at a time!

A Vermilion snapper with bite taken out of it by a shark!

To my delight I had a great multi-species day.  In the end I totaled four new species.  The most awesome one was a big scary looking Green Moray Eel.  Other species included a Striped Grunt and a Cottonwick Grunt. 

Green Moray Eel

Striped Grunt

Cottowick Grunt

I definitely would book another trip with Eisley.  We appreciated his skill and his willingness to be flexible.  See his Facebook page for more information. https://www.facebook.com/esleyusherfishingtours/

Upon returning to our cabins we enjoyed a swim in the pool and some libations.  For dinner that evening we had Snapper Francaise and Conch Ceviche. The fillets were rolled in flour, dipped in egg and fried in oil. These were served with a mango sauce for dipping.  We rounded out the meal with a bottle of Cerros Beach Hibiscus Wine.  

I only made one more attempt at fishing.  The next day I got up at daybreak and headed out for a bit of shore fishing.  I was awarded for my effort with a new species, a Yellowfin  Mojarra, and a couple more Checkered Pufferfish.  For these I used bits of raw shrimp on a #8 hook two feet below a bobber. 

Yellowfin Mojarra

We just loved Caye Cauker.  The island is small and laid back.  The locals were very friendly.  Tours off island to other destinations are available, but we found enough to do locally.  Suffice to say we are already planning our next trip to Belize!

A List Of Species Caught On My Most Recent Trip To Belize

1. Schoolmaster Snapper  Lutjanus apodus
2. Yellowtail Snapper  Ocyurus chrysurus
3. Grey Snapper  Lutjanus griseus
4. Lane Snapper  Lutjanus synagris
5. Vermilion Snapper  Rhomboplites aurorubens
6. Green Moray Eel  Gymnothorax funebris
7. Checkered Puffer Sphoeroides spengleri
8. Great Barracuda  Sphyraena barracuda
9. Striped Grunt  Haemulon striatum
10. Cottonwick Grunt  Haemulon melanurum
11. Yellowfin Mojarra  Gerres cinereus

Back To Belize Part Two - March 7, 2019 - Conch Diving and Reef Fishing

Before leaving home I booked two fishing/snorkeling combo trips.  The arrangements were made with Captain Eisley Usher, who had some good reviews on Trip Advisor. The first trip combined a little bit of reef fishing with some snorkeling in search of conch. 

Captain Eisley Usher

Captain Eisley sent a taxi in the morning to pick us up at our cottage.  (The taxis here are really golf carts.  Regular cars are banned on this island with the exception of emergency and a some commercial vehicles.)  The taxi brought us to the same dock near were the tame Tarpon are found.  The first stop was along the shore of a deserted island that was developed as a luxury resort complete with golf course, piers, and large villas.  Totally empty now.  Eisley used his casting net to catch some baitfish.  

We began fishing by trolling live bait close to the reef.  Eventually Cynthia caught the first fish, a  large Needlefish.  A little while later I reeled in a small Barracuda.  Both fish were released.

Cynthia's Needlefish

Being a partly cloudy day it was late morning before visibility was good enough for snorkeling. Captain Eisley anchored near the reef and we dove in.  The rough water and less than deal light conditions made it difficult to find camouflaged Gastropods in ten feet of water.  Though the three of us didn’t find any, the captain more than made up for our lack of skill.  With a few Conch in the bag it was now time to try for some Snapper.  

We anchored at another nearby spot and settled in for some bottomfishing.  We all caught some fish including a couple of Lane Snapper that were big enough to eat. Satisfied with our catch and the snorkeling we returned to the island.  

Dotty With A Striped Grunt

Checkered Puffer - A New Species For Me

Later that evening Dotty made some delicious Conch Fritters While I made Conch Ceviche.  We also cooked the Snapper and some leftover Barracuda. The fritters and fish were served with mango sauce and a creamy cilantro dressing for dipping.  

At this point I was pleased with the species hunting aspect of the trip having caught six different kinds of fish including one new species.  The next day we would be fishing in deep water where it was very likely that other fish species would be encountered. 

Conch Fritters!

Conch Ceviche!

Back To Belize Part One - Barracuda!

Cerros Mayan Ruins

This was our second trip to the Central American country of Belize.  The first time was during the extremely cold winter of 2015.  The winter of 2019 was considerably milder but it was still great to get away from chilly New England for a couple of weeks.  

Cerros Beach  February 26 - March 2, 2019

Cynthia and I flew into in Belize City on February 26th. We then hopped onto a smaller plane which took us to Corozal in northern Belize.  We stayed at the same spot as on our previous trip.  The Cerros Beach Resort is the perfect place to just relax and become acclimated.  Here we enjoyed the hospitality of the proprietors, Bill and Jennifer.  Bill is an excellent cook with a knack for fusing American Cusine with local flavors and ingredients.  They also make and brand their own wines which are quite good.  Activities on site include sea kayaking, swimming, bird watching, and hiking to nearby Mayan ruins.  I made a few casts from a kayak but didn’t even get a nibble.  After a several laid back days we got on another small plane and flew to Caye Caulker near Belize’s famous barrier reef.  

Our Cabana

Cerros Beach Resort

Sunset Over Corozal Bay

Caye Caulker  March 3-6, 2019

My sister, Dotty, would be joining us on the island in a couple of days. Prior to leaving home I booked two fishing and snorkeling combo trips for the three of us.  Cynthia and I just couldn’t wait another day to get out on the water so the first thing we did after checking in was to book an all day snorkeling trip with for the following day.  

The barrier reef in Belize is the second largest of it’s kind in the world and a very popular snorkeling spot.  The eight passengers in our boat were just a small fraction of the total visitors to the reef that day.  Despite the crowds the fish watching was very good.  Saw many different species of fish including some that I never saw before like the Longspine Porgy and a Sand Tilefish. Besides the usual colorful reef fish we saw large stingrays, huge Tarpon, nurse sharks, and a big sea turtle.  Before returning to the dock we stopped in an area known for it’s huge tame tarpon.  The tarpon here have been conditioned to snatch food (small dead fish) dangled by hand over the water.  It’s become quite a tourist attraction. 

Friendly Tarpon

Later that evening we hiked to the western side of the island to watch the sunset. Of course I brought along a fishing rod “just in case”.  I used a micro rig that consisted of a two hook sabiki baited with bits of shrimp. After a whole lot of bait stealing I managed to catch a pretty little Schoolmaster Snapper. 

Schoolmaster Snapper

The next day my sister Dotty arrived. We spent most of our time exploring the island and lounging by the pool where we met two families who were traveling together and staying in the other cabins.  One was from Colorado and the other from British Columbia.  The two men in the group, Ed and Larry, had a fishing trip planned for the following day.  They invited me to come along and help share the cost of a half day trip.  I enthusiastically accepted their invitation!

Soon after we arrived at the dock we were greeted by Captain Ish.  Ish is a jovial fellow with a personality as colorful as his clothes.  He’s also good at putting his clients on the fish.

The first stop was a nearby area with a Magrove covered shoreline.  The Captain used his casting net to easily catch (Well, he made it look easy) a bunch of Redear Sardine baitfish.

Captain Ish Netting Bait

Redear Sardine

Soon after we arrived at an area more than half way to the mainland and began trolling.  We used conventional reels on boat rods with braided line.  The rig was simply a long sturdy wire leader tied to a large hook with a live sardine as bait.  This was trolled slowly without any additional weight.  We took turns holding the rods two at a time.  

On the second pass near a reef I hooked up.  The Barracuda made an initial leap and then fought fiercely all the way to the boat.  Captain Ish gaffed the fish. After a couple of photos the fish was put on ice. Next Larry hooked up and reeled in another cuda about the same size.  After several hit and runs, Ed hooked up and pulled in a huge Barracuda.  

First Barracuda Of The Day

Next on the agenda was some bottom fishing for Snapper. Captain Ish anchored near a reef and the mate cut up some bait.  My first fish was a colorful little Yellowtail Snapper.  This was soon followed by a few Gray Snapper, and a bunch of Lane Snapper.  A few were big enough for eating and were put into the cooler. 

Yellowtail Snapper

Gray Snapper

Lane Snapper

We got back to the shore around noontime.  The captain cleaned our fish, tossing the remains into the water where big hungry Tarpons swam waiting for a handout. 

Captain Ish Cleans A Fish

That evening we dined on Snapper and Barracuda Franchaise with Mango Sauce.  The sauce was made with lime juice, local hot sauce, and Mango jam made by Bill, the proprietor from the Cerros Beach Resort.  The fish was washed down with ample quantities of cold fruity libations. We were a bit wary about eating the Barracuda.   It’s been known on occasion to cause ciguatera poisoning.  The toxin occurs naturally in coral where it enters the food chain.  The toxin becomes magnified at the top of the chain.  Our questions and research revealed a lack of recent ciguatera incidents in the area.  Barracuda was also on the menus of a number of local restaurants.  We decided it was probably safe enough and I we lived to fish another day.   

Left to Right: Larry, Me, Ed

Ice Fishing Season 2019 (Part Two) - Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Trout

This year we rented a cottage on Meredith Neck, just a short walk to The Lake.  I drove up on Sunday and stayed through Thursday.  Cynthia drove up with the dogs on Monday and left on Wednesday.  

February 3, 2019

The first stop was in Tilton to buy bait at a general store. Next I drove over to Sanders Bay and fished till sunset.  No catches, not even a flag on the tip up. Before leaving I set up six Cusk Devices baited with extra large live shiners.  Stopped at a pizza joint to buy a chicken parm sub for dinner and settled into a cozy cottage for the night.

February 4, 2019

The next morning I got up early to check on the Cusk Devices on Sanders Bay.  Half of them had the bait stolen.  I chummed the holes with chopped mackerel and reset the the devices.  Headed back to the cottage in Meredith to spend the rest of the day fishing nearby while waiting for Cynthia to arrive with “the boys”, Choggie and Scuppy our newly acquired rescue dogs. Choggie is a Bichon Frise. Choggie is also another name for a Cunner, a small saltwater fish in the Wrasse Family.   Cunners have sharp little teeth so there is somewhat of a resemblance. Scuppy is a white Toy Poodle and was named after the Scup, another small saltwater fish.  

Cynthia and Scuppy

Just before Cynthia came out onto the ice a tip up flag went up signaling that a fish had taken a bite on a large smelt.   A few minutes later I pulled in a Lake Trout.  It was the only fish we caught for the day.  However we enjoyed the unusually warm winter day and Choggie had a great time barking at his echo. 

February 5, 2019

We had a leisurely morning and then drove over to Sanders Bay to check on the Cusk Devices.  As I started to pull in the second device I felt something heavy tugging on the end of the line.  It was a twenty two inch Cusk!  We pulled up the devices and drove back to our cottage in Meredith where we fished for the remainder of the day.  One other fish was caught.  It was a Landlocked Salmon that was immediately released because in New Hampshire it’s illegal to harvest a salmon caught through the ice. In fact the fish shouldn’t even be taken out of the water.  At least we had the Cusk for dinner.  

Cusk aka Burbot

Cusk Tacos Fixings - fish francaise, spicy coleslaw, soft tacos

February 6, 2019

Cynthia took the dogs and headed back home in the morning.  I chose to spend the day fishing close to our cottage.  This was a decision I later regretted.  Got skunked!  Not even a bite.   

February 7, 2019

This was to be my last day of ice fishing for the year.  I decided to go to an area where there would be more action.  The area is called States Landing and is located along the northern shore.  Last year I caught Chain Pickerel and Fallfish at this spot.  

Once out on the ice I drilled one hole over a shallow weed bed and another in deeper water.  It only took a few minutes for a flag to pop up at the shallow spot.  As I expected it was a Pickerel.   Then soon after I caught another pickerel...and another...and another.  Meanwhile the Yellow Perch found the bait in deeper water.  Pulled in the tip up from the Pickerel spot and tried some jigging before packing up and heading home to Cape Cod.  

The home waters were still frustrating local anglers by being frozen enough to deter open water fishing yet not frozen enough to support ice fishing.  Fortunately for me I would soon be fishing in tropical waters.

Ice Fishing Season 2019 (Part One)

Cusk with a baited line.

The local weather here on Cape Cod was just cold enough to hinder open water fishing on the ponds but not cold enough to produce safe ice conditions.  As a result I only had one day of local ice fishing.  

Better conditions were found to the north.  This year I made two trips to Lake Winnipesaukee.  Here’s the details.

January 15, 2019 - Lake Winnipesaukee - Long Island

Arrived at the bait shop in Meredth, NH just before noon to buy shiners and smelt. I decided to spend the afternoon at Long Island in Moultonboro.  This has been a good spot in the past for Lake Trout and big Yellow Perch.  It was quite cold and windy when I got there.  Only had one flag go up on a tip up. It was a nice size Yellow Perch (12in.).  Usually when you catch a Yellow Perch, more of the same will soon follow, but not today.  I wanted to go over to Sanders Bay in Gilford to set my Cusk lines out before it got dark.

Yellow Perch

Got to Sanders Bay as the sun was reaching the horizon.  I set out six Cusk devices to leave  in overnight. Chummed the holes with cut up fish (Yellow Perch and Mackerel) and baited the hooks with extra large live shiners.  Checked in at the Bear Tree Inn in Meredith and settled in for the night.

January 16, 2019 - Lake Winnipesaukee - Sanders Bay/ Twenty Mile Bay

Next morning I went back to Sanders to check the Cusk lines. There were two Cusk on the lines.  The Cusk is more commonly called a Burbot.  The same species is found in cold deep northern lakes in North America, Europe, and Asia. It’s a freshwater member of the Cod family. Like the Cod its a very good food fish.  

The night before two guys in the room next door said they caught Lake Trout and a bunch of White Perch in Twenty Mile Bay.  I decided to give it a try. When I got there I noticed lots of old frozen holes but nobody else was on the ice.  There had been a lot of activity here over the weekend.  I fished until after sunset but didn’t catch any Lake Trout or White Perch. Only caught two more Yellow Perch. Packed it up and went home.   The Cusk and Perch went into the Chowder Pot. 

January 22, 2019 - Santuit Pond

By the third week of January we finally had a cold snap long enough to put a good layer of ice on the local ponds.  I headed over to Santuit Pond in Mashpee where the shallow north facing coves were sure to be iced over.  I found a solid four inch layer of black ice, definitely safe enough to walk on. I had a few small killifish and some nightcrawlers for bait.  Only had three tip ups out when the flags started to pop. Caught a pickerel on a killi and a bunch of Yellow Perch on the crawlers. 

Chain Pickerel

It was fun to be ice fishing locally, but I knew it wouldn’t last.  Sure enough warm temperatures over the next few days put an end to Cape Cod’s very short 2019 ice fishing season.  It was time to plan the Annual Family Ice Fishing Trip To The North Country.

2019 New Years Resolution (Or My Species Wish List)

Schoolmaster Snapper, Belize, February 2015

2019 Species Wish List

I made a wish list last year that included 18 species.  By the end of the year seven of those targeted species had been caught.  They were: Cusk (Saltwater), Whiting, European Perch, Blue Runner, European Ling, Lizardfish, and Freshwater Cusk (aka Burbot. 

The Saltwater Cusk was caught while bottomfishing for haddock on a party boat from the Yankee Fleet in Gloucester. The Whiting was also caught while party boat fishing for Haddock this time with Captain John Boats from Plymouth. The European Ling was caught on a Party/Charter boat off the west coast of Ireland.  Also from Ireland was the European Perch which I tried but failed to catch in the Azores last year. A few Blue Runners were caught while Kayak fishing off Dowses Beach in Osterville.  The Burbot, a freshwater relative of the Cod was caught while ice fishing in New Hampshire. 

I found the Lizardfish at the same location where I last caught one four years ago, just off the beach in Megansett Harbor. These odd looking fish with their lizard-like heads are only found in my area from late August to early October. They rest on the bottom in shallow sandy areas and ambush small baitfish using large toothy jaws.   

This year’s list includes 19 species separated into three categories. 

Lizardfish, Megansett Harbor, October 2018

Species caught in 2017 that I shouldn’t have missed in 2018.

Wolffish

False Albacore

King Mackerel

Spotted Hake

The Plan: 

1. Plan on additional party boat trips out to Stellwagen Bank to provide a shot at catching Wolffish.   

2.  More Kayak fishing on the south side of Cape Cod to target False Albacore and King Mackerel.  

3. Planning a vacation to Belize in March which will provide another shot at catching False Albacore and King Mackerel.  

4.  A few more hours spent Kayak fishing in Cape Cod Bay might help with bagging a Spotted Hake.

Wolffish, Captain John Boats, June 2017

New species to target 

Ocean Pout

Walleye

Banded Sunfish

Mahi

Snook

Bonefish

The Plan:

1. Best chance for Ocean Pout is as a by-catch while fishing for Haddock on a party boat. 

2. Could get lucky with Walleye while Ice Fishing this winter.  The Connecticut River would be the place to go.  

3. There’s a chance of bagging Mahi, Snook, and Bonefish in Belize.  

Species that I haven’t caught in a while that will be targeted in 2019.

Northern Pike

Weakfish

Redfish

Skate

Gray Snapper

Mahogany Snapper

Yellowtail Snapper

Schoolmaster Snapper

Bluestriped Grunt

The Plan:

1. Northern Pike, like the Walleye, is a good ice fishing target. Both species are found in the Connecticut River.  Pike are also stocked in a number of other large ponds closer to home.  

2. On Cape Cod, Weakfish occasionally move into the estuaries during the Spring. I have a couple locations in mind to try this year.  Party Boat fishing during the late fall in Rhode Island is another opportunity for Weakfish. 

3. Redfish are another Haddock fishing by-catch species.  

4. Fish at night off the Cape’s north side beaches or Kayak fishing in Cape Cod Bay for Skate. 

5. I caught all of the other species on this list on my last trip to Belize in 2015.  Hoping to be just as successful the second time around.