Sight Cast - Los Roques 

Venezuela

When asked which bonefishing destinations in the world get our highest marks, no conversation is complete without mention of Chris Yrazabal’s operation in Los Roques. The reasons are many. The flats fishing is truly remarkable; the accommodations are exceedingly tasteful; and the guides and staff are as good as they get.

Technically an atoll within the Lesser Antilles, the Los Roques’ fly fishing region is made up of more than 300 cays, with a vast diversity of saltwater habitats including magnificent coral beds, grass and hard sand flats, pristine beaches, and remarkable “pancake” flats. Better yet, nearly all of the flats fishing is done while wading. While the area abounds with tarpon, barracuda, and jacks, it is the world-class bonefishing that draws anglers back year after year.

Similar to Christmas Island, Los Roques is blessed with consistent weather and water temperatures, not to mention high fish counts. Bonefish average 4 pounds with numerous fish in the 6 to 10 pound class. Meals and accommodations at Acuarela Lodge are greatly enjoyed by anglers and discerning non-anglers alike. For anglers who love flats fishing and to wade fish for high numbers of good sized bonefish, Los Roques is truly one of the finest flats fishing destinations in the world today. Stays of varying lengths are available.

Location:
The Los Roques Archipelago is a 22 mile ring of small islands in the Caribbean Sea located 80 miles north of Caracas, Venezuela.

Fishing Program:
With more than 250 square miles of fishable water, the Los Roques area is a wade fisherman’s dream come true. While many of the more productive flats are covered with turtle grass, coral flats and hard sand flats also abound. Virtually all the flats fishing in the Los Roques’ region is done while wading, greatly adding to the region’s appeal.

Regarded primarily as a bonefish fly fishing destination, the vast and varied waters surrounding Acuarela Lodge also provide ample opportunities for species such as barracuda, tarpon, jacks, blue runners and Spanish mackerel. During the prime months of February through mid-October, Los Roques offers impressive numbers of bonefish that average 3-4 pounds. Bonefish over 5 pounds are common, and good numbers of bonefish in the 7-10 pound range are present. Bonefish over 10 pounds have been taken, and the lodge record is an honest 13 pounder! The Los Roques bonefish season runs from mid-January through October. Fishing is done from 28 foot fiberglass boats with one guide and one captain per two clients. The fishing day is approximately 8 hours, but times vary so as to hit the best tides. If the best tides for tailing fish are late afternoon, the fishing day may be from 10:30AM – 6:30PM. When fly fishing anglers tire of walking the flats or tides are not optimal for wading, anglers can fly fish from the boat’s casting platform. While these boats are too large to be poled effectively, the boatman can “walk” the boat across deeper flats, while the guide helps anglers to spot fish from the bow. The guides can also take anglers to deep-water “muds” or "secret" bonefish holes where even beginners can catch an abundance of bonefish.

Fisheries:
The Los Roques Archipelago is a 22 mile ring of small islands in the Caribbean Sea located 80 miles north of Caracas, Venezuela. While the area is often referred to as an archipelago, technically Los Roques is an atoll within the Lesser Antilles characterized by magnificent coral beds, diverse and varied flats, sandy beaches, clear waters and incredible natural beauty. The entire atoll was declared a national park in the mid-80’s and since that time there has been very little development, thus insuring the pristine nature of the area for generations to come. There are in excess of 300 distinct fishing areas/flats in the region.

The island Gran Roque is the largest of the archipelago and has a permanent population of about 1,500 people. The island is very safe and clean and popular among foreign tourists and affluent Venezuelans alike. There are no cars on the island, leaving folks free to walk the quaint sand street barefoot.

Located 11 degrees north of the equator, Los Roques’ air and water temperatures vary little throughout the season. The area is also characterized by a dry climate and is relatively unaffected by cold fronts and hurricanes. These factors make Los Roques one of the safest bonefishing locations in the world in terms of weather and water conditions much like Christmas Island.
Chris Yrazabal, owner of Sight Cast, is a fourteen-year veteran to guiding the Los Roques region. His guests are housed at Acuarela Lodge, a small elegant lodge which is located only five minutes from the airport on the atoll’s largest island, Gran Roque.

Non-Angling Activities:
The lodge’s boat can take non-anglers to a nearby beach to relax. Other activities for non-anglers include scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kite surfing and sea kayaking.

Accommodations and Meals:
Accommodations are at Acuarela Lodge, which is located within the village of Los Roques on the island of Gran Roque. Anglers stay in tasteful double and single occupancy guestrooms, each with a ceiling fan, air conditioner and a private bath. The lodge is very tasteful and appropriate for non-anglers as well. Owner and chef extraordinaire, Angelo Belvedere, serves wonderful four course dinners that showcase the region’s fresh seafood and there is a great roof top sitting area for enjoying the evening breeze.

Sample Itinerary for a 7 Night / 6 Day Fishing Package:
Day 1: Arrive Caracas and overnight.
Day 2: Fly from Caracas to Los Roques. First day of fishing.
Days 3-6: 4 full days of fishing.
Day 7: Full day of fishing. Fly back to Caracas and overnight.
Day 8: Fly home.

Typical Daily Schedule:
7:00AM: Anglers typically eat breakfast
7:30AM: Depart for the flats
12:30-1:30PM: Lunch will be served depending upon the fishing and angler needs.
4:00PM: Anglers typically return to the lodge
5:30PM: Hors d'oeuvres are served. Late afternoon naps fit well into the schedule.
7:30-8:00PM: Dinner

"We had a fantastic time in Venezuela. We absolutely loved Los Roques, everything is amazing! The flats were so beautiful! We will be going back. Angelo and his staff made us feel very comfortable and welcomed. They took such good care of us. We would definitely stay at his posada again. Thank you for booking our trip for us." K.P., Canada

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