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The Fishing

The fishing around Whippari Caye is extremely varied both as to the terrain you fish as well as the species available. Naturally you are looking for the big three so even though there are lots of Jacks, cudas and a myriad of other fish these trips concentrate on bonefish, Permit and Tarpon.  I think the best reason to visit is the permit fishing. It is oneof they few destinations where you will wade for them.  The guide will usually pole until he sees on of those sicle tails out of the water. He will quietly anchor the boat and you  will wade wiht him to get real close.  You are able to get much closer than with the boat and have a better chance of geting the fly on target.

Bonefish are plentiful through out this area. The fishing is usually around or between islands that have flats either surrounding them or at least on one side. Some flats are just in the middle of nowhere - another three feet and they would be islands. Maybe they where a few decades ago! You will fish mangrove studded flats, clean white sand flats, and grass flats in pursuit of these fish. There are some larger fish in the area because there is quite a bit of habitat for them. Some fishing is from the boat and some is wading.

Permit numbers go up significantly when you travelsouth from Turneffe or Ambergris and the protection of the reef offers the perfect home for permit: Deeper water with lots of structure and crab flats within an easy swim. There are lots of permit flats that go from the island itself south to Honduras. This would be a good venue for the exclusive pursuit of permit. ( this doesn't mean the others are not available in great numbers just that the permit are found in higher numbers than normal). Permit have a great sense of smell and great eyesight so getting them to eat a fly is something of an art - or at least persistence, well luck and persistence is more like it.

Tarpon can be found in deeper basins near mangrove islands, near the main land in rivers and creeks and in the late spring and summer they can be found on the flats. The resident fish range from 5-80 pounds with the migratory fish that weigh in over 100 pounds. Tarpon are the largest fish that can be stalked sighted and cast for. Billfish require a moving boat, with teasers so it is a little bit like trolling and then casting once a fish is teased in. (the boat is still moving when you cast!) There is nothing like casting to a huge roll near the mangroves, watching the tarpon track the fly, inhale it, turn and feel the hook. If you haven't done it before, get ready to be cut down to size as the fight that follows is classic.

Julian Cabral

From the time he was a young boy, Julian was wed to the sea. Using his family's home on the cayes as the jumping off point, he spent many hours fishing with and learning from his dad, honing his instinct and skills. Today that passion for the sea has become his life.

Using Whipray Caye (which he now owns and operates since his dad retired) as a fly fishing  base and home, Julian is usually the first one on the nearby flats when he is guiding.

Some of his customers are the same ones who knew him when he was just starting his fly fishing career over 18 years ago. Some are grandchildren of his first customers.

It was curiosity that got Julian into fly fishing, when two fishermen from Montana came to town with their fly rods looking for someone who knew the area.  He took them to the flats, watched what they were doing, swapped a few stories, and a career was born.

With his personable smile and salty language, Julian engages his customers and guests in lively conversation while stalking those elusive permit, tarpon and bones on the hunt for the Grand Slam.

But, Julian is a purist, so don't expect to have a quick fix with bait on your line. He still feels that with game fishing the thrill is in the stalking, the catch, maybe a quick photo,and the release.  No one works harder than a good fly fishing guide, and Julian is no exception - thinking nothing of getting up to catch a 4AM tide, and stalking the flats until dusk, then having a lively discussion for the next few hours over a hearty Belizean meal and a nice cold Belikin in his restaurant (and he's also a great cook).

Julian ties his own flies and has created some that are reliable workhorses -- but he uses whatever he feels will work that day to catch fish - the real reason he's out there with his clients, anyway. 

What does Julian like about being a fishing guide? Fishing is his life, and as long as he's fishing, he's happy.

Perhaps the most telling comment about Julian's guiding ability are the clients who have fished with him for years, as attested by Donne Moen, who says of Julian:

Over the past 13 years it has been my pleasure to fish with Julian.  During this time he has shown great patience and skill in instructing two of my sons (me too!) in the art of fly fishing. To complete the family cycle I have introduced my grandson and granddaughter to Belize, so I now have no shortage of fishing pals to share my annual 2 week visit.  During these many years with Julian, he has demonstrated not only a knowledge of where the fish are, but how to catch them, in all types of conditions. Based on my own personal experience, it also important to note that Julian is not only hardworking and resourceful, but also a great cook and medic.And then there's R.K. Belt, who has fished Placencia since 1986, many times with Julian, and who calls Julian the "mentor" of the clan Cabrals of Placencia fly fishing guide fame.

The infamous pirate Cabral that hid out in Placencia during the 1600s was probably responsible for the large clan of Cabrals who live in Placencia Village.  At least 4 are fishing guides, and Julian is the mentor.

 
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