Wake up call comes in but I'm already up anticipating another pre-dawn on the San Jose Lagoon. As I search for some coffee in the lobby of the Ritz, I remember the attentive the staff is here and simply put in my request for a brew of steaming dark wake me up coffee. I need to be ready for what's ahead. Walking out of the hotel the humidity and warmth of a San Juan morning strikes me and slows my pace up. I think "better than Boston," but the humidity will make me pay later. The coffee arrives at the same time as a cab. There is nothing better than Ritz coffee and there are many cabs a lot better than the cabs in San Juan. I've never been in a good one! 5 minutes to El Cangrejo Yacht Club and my adventure.
My captain awaits and his name is Omar. The legend of the San Jose Lagoon, the man who guarantees tarpon catches and the guide who developed the sport of tarpon fishing in this reclaimed body of water that is the result of the airport construction. Off and on this lagoon can be, well let's just say, questionable in water quality but as the years have gone by it get's cleaner and clearer. The journey to the fishing grounds is a combination of catching bait (thread fin herring) and perch (for the big girls.) A ride through the downtown takes you under a bridge that requires a heads up move and out into open water. The anticipation of a frenzy makes the heart beat faster as you round each corner. A frenzy as Omar calls them is a situation where tarpon school together to feed on bait on the service which has an area of a lagoon in a lather with crashing tarpon, snook and diving birds.
Today we are on our third day of fishing the early morning bite. A few jumps the first two days leads me to believe that my luck will turn as the fish are here and we change our tactics to work a ledge that the tarpon move along from the lagoon on the other side of the big bridge to the main body of water. It is the trick and the magic that years of fishing and studying tarpon makes Omar the best. While other guides are fishing the shore line to west we stick to the ledge just outside of the bridge. Fish on and I am into my first 60lb tarpon of the day on a nice fresh herring on light tackle braid. No sooner do I cool off with some iced down water (remember reference to the humidity) and we see a boil and I cast to that and ....fish on. 15 minutes later a perfect match to the first one get's released. High fives, water, more water, and another boil. Cast to it .......wait ....wait ....wait reel reel reel and the circle hook hits home. This shinning silver beauty contrasts with the murky Ritz brown coffee color of the lagoon and takes your breath away. Quick picture, release and more high fives! Lines back in, water now in my pocket, my guide shirt and hat soaked in sweat and lines back in. I can not drink the water fast enough as the excitement of the fight, the humidity and now the sun well overhead has me HOT! Just a breather please I think, but can never express to Omar as our friendship has developed into one of constant ribbing and barbs of Puerto Rican humor and Boston comebacks. Oh no.....fish on. Dear God let this stop! I reel and reel and the circle hooks catches and this fish jumps and jumps and she's a beauty of sterling silver. Do you think the fourth in one hour would give me a break and be smaller.......no no no she's pushing 100lbs. So I have Omar pour some water in my mouth over my head and back,,, and this refreshes me enough to dig in. Down and dirty we agree to see if I can pressure her fast to the boat. It works, she cooperates and we finally take a break after releasing yet another.
Well, I would like to tell you the morning continued with this level of intensity but it cooled down as my body did too and we jumped 4 more fish landing two all between 40 to 80 lbs. My best tarpon morning ever.
Now advice! Fish with Omar and if you can try to book morning trips and do so more than one time as you stay in San Juan. Stay in touch with Omar as the seasons for tarpon are fairly constant but he will call you when the bite is on. The rates are super fair and San Juan is such an easy inexpensive flight for me from Boston.
All you need is Omar's cell number which is provided. Call Omar tell him your level of expertise and fly fish when he recommends, but most importantly listen to his advice and stories. He is the legend and my friend. read more
