| Don,
I'd suggest just bringing a couple of light tackle rods/reels and buy your
baits/lures down there. They'll know what's hot and what's not.
Also, if you're into flyfishing, flyrods can be tons of fun for bones.
Have a good trip and let us know how you made out.
-Joe
|
|
St. Croix has flats and Bonefish on the South side, deeper water
and Tarpon on the North side. Of course there are other offshore
species too.
The best live baits for Bones are Shrimp and Crab. As Joe
mentioned, flyrods are a good choice, but Bonefishing is not the
place to learn it.
The old standby for spinning or plugging is a bucktail jig.
Everything in the ocean eats them. For Bonefish I'd suggest you
use from 1/4 oz. on down to as light as you can cast with a given
rod. Bring white(#1!), beige, brown, pinks, some bright stuff too.
There are Bonefish jigs available and I'm sure you'll be able to
find some while your there. Also bring your bassfishing imagination
with you and remember that certain Gitzits etc. do a pretty good
job of imitating certain crustaceans. I'll bet you've already got
some stuff if you open your plastics box and think shrimp...
A reel with a nice smooth drag that'll hold lots of 8lb. line
and, preferably, a long rod that's not too stiff. Something that
you'd throw crankbaits with maybe? Bonefish swim about 25-30 mph
so you want the drag -smooth-, they also tend to go in a zig zag
fashion and you want the long rod to keep the line as high as you
can. Remember all the pictures of guys with the rods up over their
heads? That's why.
-Always- bring other stuff, like Sluggos, Rapalas, Rat-L-Traps,
etc. Just because the fishing writers haven't thought to use a
certain lure in a certain area, doesn't mean that they won't work.
Drag your feet when you wade so you don't step on anything nasty,
and have a great time!
One week to Florida.... I can't wait!... B.C.
|