Belize Trip Report

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Daniel Davala

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Nov 2, 2015, 9:20:14 PM11/2/15
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Greetings from 30,000 feet! 

Presently in the air on the way home after spending the last 9 days in Belize on my first official assignment in the new role.  The first six days I spent at El Pescador on Ambergris Caye hosting the October Bonefish Bonanza with the Travel Department Manager Sarah Theis (my new boss).  We had several Orvis Fishing Managers on the trip as well, and I had the privilege of sharing the boat with Nathan Cook from our San Jose shop for three days.  Last time he and I fished together was in Alaska in 2012, so it was a reunion of sorts for the both of us. 

We caught some super nice bones but focused more on Tarpon and Permit.  Of course, couldn't pass up a school of marauding Jacks, so we harassed them whenever we found some.  Both of us landed Tarpon on the second day, and both in the last hour - blessed persistence!  On the third day, Nathan got what would have been his first ever Permit, but a huge Cuda' rushed in and bit it in half.  I'm counting it, since he made it through the first two runs and was probably 2 minutes from landing it whole.  Never even saw the Cuda until it was too late, not that anything could have been done about it anyway. 

All of our guests on the trip (about 20 anglers) did well and many species besides the big three were landed including a sweet Cobia.  Also, the average size of Bonefish was significantly larger than I've seen there in years past which was awesome.  Weather was the calmest I've seen it in five trips there, which made spotting fish easy and spooking them even easier.  Sand fleas were happy though, as we all made substantial blood donations to the local population!

After the Bonanza wrapped up, Sarah Theis and I headed to South to Dangriga for a few days to check out another operation for potential Orvis Endorsement.  Our friend Pat Timmins has been on the ground there for a few months helping legendary flats guide Lincoln Westby rebuild his guide service at a new location.  We had the privilege of spending two days on the boat with Pat and Lincoln, and to say it was an education would be an understatement. 

Lincoln and his flats delivered and I had a nice Permit in hand on the first day.  Sarah hooked a Tarpon and played it well, surviving about 4 or 5 jumps before it snapped the leader boat side.  We also found an abundance of large Bonefish on those flats, so the slam potential is very good there.  Our permit fishing was momentarily interrupted when a nice little Lemon Shark came on the flat.  Since Pat and I had a Cuda' rod rigged I gave it a shot and the shark immediately obliged!  Nothing but pure muscle those things! 

Awesome trip all around with awesome guides and awesome people!  I love that part of the world and am excited for the next opportunity to go back. 

Dan Davala



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Scott Stankus

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Nov 3, 2015, 8:13:41 AM11/3/15
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Awesome report, Dan - and great photos! Looks like it was a fantastic trip!

You're making us all jealous! Keep it up!

--Scott

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Misha Gill

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Nov 3, 2015, 9:56:05 AM11/3/15
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I shoulda booked my trip for Dangriga over Placencia, it appears! Thanks for keeping us updated Dan, it sounds like an awesome trip. 

Misha Gill

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Nov 3, 2015, 10:32:46 AM11/3/15
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By the way, were most of the flats you guys went to on the mainland shore? Or did you travel out to Turneffe or any other coral atolls?

namfos

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Nov 3, 2015, 10:39:47 AM11/3/15
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I'll be real interested to hear if and when the new gig sends you to Cuba

Mark

TurbineBlade

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Nov 3, 2015, 12:56:45 PM11/3/15
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I know all about those atolls, it's supposed to be like 12 bucks to drive on I-66 right?

Gene


On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 10:39:47 AM UTC-5, namfos wrote:

Jeffrey Silvan

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Nov 3, 2015, 1:07:07 PM11/3/15
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Gene I actually laughed out loud on that one.

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TurbineBlade

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Nov 3, 2015, 7:38:27 PM11/3/15
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I'll be here all week!  

Gene


On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 1:07:07 PM UTC-5, Jeff Silvan wrote:

Gene I actually laughed out loud on that one.

On Nov 3, 2015 12:56 PM, "TurbineBlade" <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:
I know all about those atolls, it's supposed to be like 12 bucks to drive on I-66 right?

Gene

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 10:39:47 AM UTC-5, namfos wrote:
I'll be real interested to hear if and when the new gig sends you to Cuba

Mark

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TurbineBlade

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Nov 3, 2015, 7:39:35 PM11/3/15
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That shark is impressive -- What does a shark leader look like?

Bryan Lanier

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Nov 4, 2015, 7:58:37 AM11/4/15
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The leader s the one with the wise look and knowing grin.


On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 7:39 PM, TurbineBlade <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:
That shark is impressive -- What does a shark leader look like?


On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 7:38:27 PM UTC-5, TurbineBlade wrote:
I'll be here all week!  

Gene

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 1:07:07 PM UTC-5, Jeff Silvan wrote:

Gene I actually laughed out loud on that one.

On Nov 3, 2015 12:56 PM, "TurbineBlade" <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:
I know all about those atolls, it's supposed to be like 12 bucks to drive on I-66 right?

Gene

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 10:39:47 AM UTC-5, namfos wrote:
I'll be real interested to hear if and when the new gig sends you to Cuba

Mark

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Daniel Davala

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Nov 4, 2015, 9:03:08 AM11/4/15
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Misha

We were south of Turneffe and about 15 miles off the mainland.  If you check out Google Earth, you can see the barrier reef and some islands.  We fished around the islands and on numerous shallow coral flats that seemed to rise up for out of nowhere. 

Besides the flats, I was impressed with the easy access to true bluewater which according to the guides holds many Pelagics.  I see some seriously untapped Bluewater Fly opportunities for sure, though I think I'll have to go back to verify!

Dan Davala

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namfos

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Nov 4, 2015, 9:20:54 AM11/4/15
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LOL, Gene! 

Cue the theme music https://youtu.be/keiuXB3dJ0E




On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 7:38:27 PM UTC-5, TurbineBlade wrote:

jamie.charles1

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Nov 4, 2015, 10:25:28 AM11/4/15
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Dan, sounds like you continued the good luck and adventures after leaving us. It was a great surprise and pleasure to have timed my honeymoon trip to El Pescador during the Bonefish Bonanza and able to see a familiar face. Thanks for all the tips and help along the way and again, best of luck in Vermont. Let me know if you ever make your way down to the Peabody store. 

TurbineBlade

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Nov 4, 2015, 10:39:44 AM11/4/15
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Well done Bryan!  Kuddos.

Sorry Dan -- those are lovely fish and a great report. 

Gene


On Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 7:58:37 AM UTC-5, Bryan wrote:
The leader s the one with the wise look and knowing grin.

On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 7:39 PM, TurbineBlade <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:
That shark is impressive -- What does a shark leader look like?


On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 7:38:27 PM UTC-5, TurbineBlade wrote:
I'll be here all week!  

Gene

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 1:07:07 PM UTC-5, Jeff Silvan wrote:

Gene I actually laughed out loud on that one.

On Nov 3, 2015 12:56 PM, "TurbineBlade" <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:
I know all about those atolls, it's supposed to be like 12 bucks to drive on I-66 right?

Gene

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 10:39:47 AM UTC-5, namfos wrote:
I'll be real interested to hear if and when the new gig sends you to Cuba

Mark

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Daniel Davala

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Nov 4, 2015, 10:52:23 AM11/4/15
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No worries Gene.  Your shenanigans bring even more color to the report!  Glad I'm heading north before the Rte. 66 atolls take effect though, I'd have to take on extra work just to afford the drive in!

Dan Davala

On Wed, Nov 4, 2015 at 10:39 AM, TurbineBlade <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:
Well done Bryan!  Kuddos.

Sorry Dan -- those are lovely fish and a great report. 

Gene

On Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 7:58:37 AM UTC-5, Bryan wrote:
The leader s the one with the wise look and knowing grin.

On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at 7:39 PM, TurbineBlade <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:
That shark is impressive -- What does a shark leader look like?


On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 7:38:27 PM UTC-5, TurbineBlade wrote:
I'll be here all week!  

Gene

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 1:07:07 PM UTC-5, Jeff Silvan wrote:

Gene I actually laughed out loud on that one.

On Nov 3, 2015 12:56 PM, "TurbineBlade" <doubl...@gmail.com> wrote:
I know all about those atolls, it's supposed to be like 12 bucks to drive on I-66 right?

Gene

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 10:39:47 AM UTC-5, namfos wrote:
I'll be real interested to hear if and when the new gig sends you to Cuba

Mark

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Bryan Lanier

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Nov 4, 2015, 11:26:45 AM11/4/15
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I really enjoyed reading the report, Dan. Made me jealous.

Gene, that was pretty low-hanging fruit your served up. Couldn't resist.

Bryan

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TurbineBlade

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Nov 4, 2015, 12:50:44 PM11/4/15
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Oh no, "low hanging fruit" is one of the more painful sayings in my office.  I've started combining phrases for better effect.  Examples of the phrases are "low hanging fruit" "under the bus" and "rubber meets the road".  What you get is:

1.  Grab up that low-hanging bus.
2.  Well, this is where the rubber meets the fruit.

Etc. -- I think my office is where phrases go to die. 

Good to hear from you Dan! 
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Bryan Lanier

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Nov 4, 2015, 1:15:17 PM11/4/15
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Well, I'm the master of mixing metaphors. Imagine Serana picking an apple to smash over the net. You get apple sauce.
Maybe I should stop.
Sorry, Dan

Bryan

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