TytLynz

IGFA Approval Received!

March 19, 2011 will, pending IGFA approval, will go down in fishing history and give St. Maarten the world recognition that it deserves for its’ fantastic inshore fishery. I’ve had the pleasure to fish with Don Jones over the past two weeks whom has become a good friend of mine over the years. We’ve caught countless snook together on his yearly visits to St. Maarten and formed some memories that will last us both for the rest of our lives and hopefully the hereafter as well but yesterday was the best. The snook action over the best three weeks had been getting better everyday as the inshore waters warm and bait is taking up residency along the beaches. I introduced Don to a new spot earlier this week and after a great morning we decided to pay it another visit yesterday afternoon since he is scheduled to return back home today. I arrived shortly after him and the first thing I did was ask him how he did that morning. Don quickly replied that he landed a tarpon 15 – 20 lbs but was disappointed that his efforts didn’t produce any snook. We made about a dozen casts each before we found the ladyfish, which these days have become a nuisance. They are like mosquitoes buzzing in your ear, never quite letting us concentrate on what we set out to do which was catch snook. After landing about a dozen between the two of us I heard Don’s drag start to sing. By the sound of it we both agreed that he was into his first snook of the afternoon. As the moss started to build up on his line we were more concerned with that and the snook getting away than looking at the fish to confirm that it actually was a snook. Much to our surprise, when he finally got it to shore there was a 5-6 lb bonefish. (Video to be posted to YouTube shortly.) Don said that it was his first ever Bone. I congratulated him then advised him that he was one snook short of qualifying for the IGFA Inshore Grand Slam Club. http://www.igfa.org/Clubs/Inshore-Grand-Club.aspx After explaining what an Inshore Grand Slam was Don was anxious, me too, for him to land a snook and put himself and St. Maarten onto the world inshore fishing scene with the only Inshore Grand Slam recorded in the Caribbean other than from the island of Cuba. Another dozen ladyfish later and he felt that strike that only people fortunate enough to have caught snook dream about. At first Don he did not want to believe that it was a snook but once he saw those yellow fins we just wanted to make sure not to loose the fish. With video camera rolling I had a pleasure to record Don pulling the snook onto the beach to solidify his Grand Slam. High fives, hugs and congratulations were traded. People that were on the beach at the time were really curious because the snook was small and we were too busy celebrating to explain to anyone the significance of landing that small snook. Now here’s the kicker about Don’s accomplishment. He caught all three species on the same lure. Rapala is going get some mileage out of this. It makes my four snook and seven jack crevalles this morning seem insignificant.

Well as always my intentions are to update my readers on a weekly basis my hectic schedule never seems to give me the chance. Anyway here goes. The snook bite has really slowed over the past several weeks. Although plenty of fish are being sighted they all seem to have lockjaw. A client had the #*^*& scared out of him last week when a 20# snook surfaced at his feet. Even the live pilchard didn’t interest him. The problem is the inshore water temps haven’t stabilized keeping the snook in deeper pockets where the temps are more consistent. The snook are coming into the shallows only to scout where they’ll be hanging out later on. With the air temps starting to warm and the winter winds dying down it should be a matter of weeks before the snook should move into the shallower waters and start feeding as baitfish have already appeared along many shorelines. As far as tarpon are concerned it’s the same old thing. FANTASTIC! Some days are better than others but the average client is hooking about 15 fish in an afternoon, averaging one or two landed. Although they ill hit plastic, live pilchards have clients hooking up to 25-30 fish an outing. And the answer is no, these are not tarpon in the Salt Pond for those of you that know about it.

Tarpon, tarpon and more tarpon. Over the past week my clients have been at times overwhelmed with the Silver Kings. A livewell full of whitebait, fluorocarbon leaders and a #2 Mustad Ultrapoint Live-bait hook is all that’s needed. A 15 foot cast, 10 – 15 second wait and BOOM! Drags are screaming and a tarpon from 15 – 100 lbs launches into the air. Combine that with a beautiful sunset and it forms the perfect vacation fishing trip. Every single bait that is being cast is hit, without exception. In a four hour outing no more than fifty sardines are used for two clients. Why, because you’re constantly fighting fish. Jump two or three in 5 minutes then the hook finds home on the next fish and then you’re struggling to land it for the next 15 – 20 minutes. Tim, a client from Texas, stopped counting strikes after 35. He already reserved his trip for next year. Although the largest landed within the past week was about 50 lbs. Several that were hooked were close to the 100 lb. mark. Sore arms and rest periods between fish were the name of the game this week. Sweet paradise!

I was surfing online and found that you guys were having a discussion about fishing on St. Maarten so I took the liberty to join your site and give you some information. First let me state that I am a local fishing guide that does surf/wade and onshore excursions. I have spent the majority of my 47 years fishing St. Maarten waters. So I think my comments can be trusted. If not I'll buy you a beer when you get here. The island is best know for deep-sea fishing. At the particular moment the boats are coming in with wahoo with a small showing of mahi-mahi. Over the next few weeks the wahoo will be replaced by mahi-mahi as their season is fast approaching and should be in full swing by the end of the month. The lesser known inshore fishery on St. Maarten is shifting into its' spring activity although strong winds and rough inshore waters still have the fish a little uncomfortable. Sunday morning I had a client pull out on me but I decided to go out anyway. I loaded my livewell with sardines and headed to one of my favorite spots Although the surf was pounding the fish were there. Within an hour and a half I landed a total of seven fish; one lady fish, one jack crevalle and 5 snook largest estimated at 8 kilos. So I think that gives you an idea of some of the fishing on St. Maarten. We look forward to having you guys here. Tyt Lynz P.S. This is one of my buddies from just south of your border on his trip here with me last year.

Name: Richard Garrin (Tyt Lynz Guide Service) Location: St. Maarten Home Port: Simpson Bay Boat Name/Type: Mini Me, 16ft Center Console I fish for: Snook, Tarpon, Jack Crevalle, 'Cuda, Bones( when I can find them) ================== Hello to all from the sunny island of St. Maarten.