Marvelous Bonaire!

One of my fondest flats fishing experiences has been in Bonaire. This island is part of the Netherland Antilles -also including Aruba and Curacao- which lie not far off the coast of Venezuela. I had known that Bonaire is one of the top diving spots in the Caribbean, but was informed a number of years ago by another writer of some excellent saltpan (salina) flats on the South end of the island. Since I travelled frequently to Curacao at the time, I found out that all it took was a short flight on ALM airlines out of Hato airport in Curacao, and i'd be landing in neighboring Bonaire's airport within an hour's time. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO CHECK DUTCH ANTILLEAN FLIGHTS CAREFULLY FOR THESE ABC ISLANDS, AS THERE HAVE BEEN WHAT I SEE AS TOO MANY CHANGES IN THE AIRLINES THAT DO AN INTERISLAND BUSINESS.

My research at the time led me to book the island's most famous guide, Chris Morkos, well in advance of my arrival. His website is www.bonairefishing.com/piscatur. We arrived from Curacao some months later in the afternoon, and got in an afternoon of superb snorkelling. We had dinner at the Green Parrot, and fed bonefish with bread off their dock as the sun went down! This is all true, and the bonefish were 6 to 8 pounders that came up from the deep dropoff to eat the bread in the docklights. We retired that night sun-kissed and well-fed, knowing that Chris would be knocking on our door for a pickup the next morning at 8 a.m.

Morning came quickly, and we soon found ourselves heading south in his pickup. We passed the old slave huts, and stopped before we reached the lighthouse. Chris told us to hop out and headed to the rocks. " Let's get some bait", he said. We spent the next 30 minutes catching crafty calico-colored crabs for our bonefishing. When he was satisfied that we had enough, we drove another mile south. To our left lay miles of salt flats.

HOW WE DID-

It was not long before we spotted a group of five fish tailing in the moderate, but ever-present wind. A quick cast five feet upwind of the fish had the school cruise over to my bait, and one picked it up. I struck the fish smartly, and the run was on! I had to hold the rod high, as there were many stick-up rocks in the area. On our half-day charter, we released about five fish and had an excellent day. We saluted our trip later at Zee Zicht restaurant over fried fish, funchi, and cold Amstel beer.

This may be one of the best destinations that feature great fishing, snorkelling, and plenty to do for non-fishing companions.

Jan
www.flatsfishingonline.com