Some days are special and not soon to be forgotten. Last week Karen and Taryn were fly fishing with Guide Hilian Martinez on the flats around Ambergris Caye in Belize. The ladies were all in looking for permit for the day. Two days prior to this memorable day, they did not see any permit! Today was different.
Hilian is a very skilled guide. He knows where to hunt permit based on tides, moon phase and wind direction. Hilian has put in 12 plus years as guide and that experience pays dividends constantly!
Most fly fishers are glad to have chances at permit and maybe hook up. Karen and Taryn landed 5 of these elusive fish often referred to as the Black Tailed Devil. They are considered the toughest fish to hook up with on the flats. A perfect shot with the right fly can still come up empty because permit are finicky at the best of times.
Taryn had not landed a permit although she did have chances at permit 5 years ago. Hilian and his apprentice Shawn had the boat set up and they got Taryn to cast to a school that was actively feeding. Taryn hooked up and she asked Hilian if she really had a permit and not a bonefish. There was a lot of laughter and then it was up to Taryn to bring the permit to the boat. Taryn is a skilled fly fisher so she knows how to fight fish. Once the permit was tailed it was time to celebrate. Pictures, hugs, big smiles helped to celebrate the moment.
Well that was just the start. Karen was up and she hooked into a permit too. Her permit decided to run into a mangrove bush. Hilian had to get out of the boat and untangle the line that the permit blasted by. Surprise, the permit was still there and Karen was able to bring her prize to the boat. Two permit? Wow!
Karen sat down and Taryn was into another. Karen did the same then Taryn completed the hat trick with her third. What a day. No, what an amazing day.
The ladies caught two permit on backhand casts today. being a decent caster is important. Hilian also skillfully set up the boat so the ladies had an excellent chance of getting good casts into the permit! It is not easy!
The ladies put away their fly rods and Hilian took the gals to find manatees. They were successful in that part of their adventure too.
I was waiting at the dock when Hilian, Shawn, Taryn and Karen came back to the dock. Hilian parked the boat and then everyone got out. Hmmm, that is unusual. I knew they must of had a great day. They all piled into the condo we rented to celebrate. There was lots of excitement.
Taryn had invented a drink called the Pink Gotcha after a famous bonefish fly! Well it was time to celebrate with a few pink gotchas and of course Doug and I heard all about their incredible adventure.
What a day. I was so happy for Taryn and Karen. They will talk about this day for years to come.
...and there is photo evidence!
Hilian had permit necklaces made for Taryn and Karen!
Taryn celebrating with Hilian
Yep those are Pink Gotchas!
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