This is Chris, reporting on Day 2 of our offshore bash. The day started with a run up to Placencia to pick up fuel, which meant an earlier than planned start. However by 7 am we were up on plane running due east of Placencia headed for Gladden Spit, a well known area of reefs with a deep water channel several miles wide in the middle.

Plan was to check out the deep water off the reef for tuna and other blue water fish, then troll the channel, and come up onto the banks and troll the shallow flats inside the reef. We tend to use 30lb class outfits outside the reef, as even the tuna will take too long to bring in on light gear. A fish attack (most often kingfish or barracuda but sometimes shark) is likely if the battle goes on too long. Inside the reef we switch to 10lb class or even lighter. Apart from a solitary Spanish mackerel in the channel, things started slow.

However once inside the reef on the flats, things started warming up (literally), despite being on a falling tide. A couple of barracuda and a small yellowtail snapper (who had an unexpected starring role later) came in quick succession. Then a solid take on my Bomber Jointed Long A (in bonita colour) had us puzzled for a while. Barracuda almost always jump shortly after hitting the lure, especially in shallow water. This fish did not jump; in fact it just kited around with short powerful runs. The mystery was eventually solved when a tarpon of around 25lbs came sliding into view. We prepared to hand land it but just as it came to the side of the boat the hookhold slipped and the fish sank away from view. Long range catch and release we call it! We do not gaff tarpon; slipping the hook out at the boatside is preferable.

So after a quiet period at the bottom of the tide, we went back to trolling the channel. Meantime we had stopped for a quick lunch. Ian’s idea of lunch is to find some shallow water drop anchor eat a quick snack and then up anchor and roar off before Sue and I have even got the champagne bucket, white table linen and silver cutlery out…. Going fishing with Ian, is exactly what it says. No time for eating.

Anyway, back to the channel. Our first run produced one spectacular take, with a sizzling run of around 80yards. This we recognized as classic kingfish behavior, and sure enough a small kingfish of around 8lb eventually came in. We often debate the eating merits between kingfish and barracuda. The local view supports barracuda as top eating fish, and we ourselves tend to eat barracuda pretty much every week. However when it comes to BBQ, I prefer kingfish steaks which hold together better than barracuda while on the barbi.

Ian decided that as I had dominated the morning’s proceedings, he would rig up his surefire lure for Sue. This turned out to be a blue and white rubber skirt with two 6/0 single hooks ganged together, baited with…. you guessed it, the yellow tail snapper caught earlier. Ian cut a very intricate flapper from the fish and Sue ran it out behind the boat.

Now it would be untrue to report that the instant it entered the water it got hit. However, it was only out for a few minutes before Sue finally got off the mark. This turned out to be a barracuda of around 8lbs. Shortly after, using the same flapper, she had a very powerful hit from a fish which moved up ahead of the boat and made repeated long runs across the channel. We could now see this was a barracuda of some 20lbs. Sue got it close to the boat and the fish jumped fully six feet in the air. Although spectacular to see, it does remind you not to try to land these fish until they are ready. A large barracuda thrashing around in the boat is a recipe for disaster! Eventually however, this fish came in and was expertly gaffed by Ian, a really good fight on 10lb class tackle, beautifully played by Sue.

A few more bits and pieces turned up, a couple more yellowtail snappers, a very small barracuda, all of which were safely returned to grow bigger. It was time to be heading back so we decided to troll back outside the reef with big lures. It looked very promising, the water was thick with baitfish, but ominously they were just swimming around aimlessly, not being chased. Were there bigger fish around? Maybe not. Anyway we had to give it a try.

I used a Yo Zuri L Jack Magnum, and Sue used a red YoZuri vibrating lure. After about half an hour, the soporific calm, and the heat of the sun had lured us into dozing. However we were rudely awakened by the sound of my Penn LD245 screaming its head off. This was a heavy fish moving slowly away. Guessing this would be a grouper (as we were over a mainly rocky bottom) I tried to pile on the pressure. At first it seemed I was making progress. Then came that horrible moment. Transmitted up the line from a hundred yards away, I felt the unmistakable feel of the swivel breaking. A sickening moment. This was a quality swivel, American-made, but I guess the pressure was just too much. I have yet to land a big grouper in Belize, despite hooking several, and my jinx had continued.

After that little episode, our day was over. Something of an anti climax, but none the less an interesting day, in the most breathtaking crystal clear waters of our little bit of paradise. As we left the area, a pod of dolphins popped up to wish us goodbye, always a cheerful sight. We can’t wait to get back.