The Gentleman Magazine Issue 6 | December 2017 | Página 57

To my frustration, my poor vision in the cloud meant the strike
came too late, and the bonefish had rid himself of my fly before
I could set the hook.
The experience played over and over in my mind that evening
as I consoled myself with more rum and a traditional meal of
Belizean seafood cooked in pineapple. Without sun the task
was proving difficult for our group, but I was feeling taunted by
these fish, which only enticed me more.
The second day the sun was stronger, making for much clearer
sight fishing and beautiful views of the Belizean shoreline,
the shallow flats glinting in the light and revealing flashing
bonefish scales beneath the surface. I climbed to the front of
the skiff as our guide spotted a school and with hard focus I
spotted my target and cast carefully. With a quicker strike than
I had the day before, my inaugural bonefish was off, the reel
screaming just as I had been advised it would. With tireless
play and gritted teeth, I got my bonefish to the boat for a quick
picture before a careful release. The trip would see many more
of these spritely creatures and there was a new lesson learned
each time. With careful observation, accepting expert advice,
and battling the natural elements, a challenging day’s fishing
can yield results I could only have dreamed of.
The Gentleman Magazine | 57