What's Your Trip Of A Lifetime?

[flechero]

Ok, I have the best problem I've ever had. My wonderful wife has given me the fishing trip of a lifetime for my 40th B-day! The problem is that I'm having a heck of a time deciding where to go. I've fished many of the best Bass waters in the country so I really want to do something else. I'm 99% sure I'm fly fishing on this trip. Perhaps it's redfish on the gulf coast, stripers off the NE coast, or bones/permit in the Caribbean, ???. Even thinking about a musky trip.

I'm looking for pretty specific suggestions or recommendations of places/lodges/guides. I'll have 3-4 days worth of guide fees and 4/5 star accommodations, and gratuities provided!

Where would you go???

[00 mod]

Peacock bass fishing in the Amazon

[tholmes]

Wow! You already know this, but I'll say it anyhow.

You've got a GREAT wife!

I'm not sure I could pick just one!

The short list, in order of preference:

Lake Erie for Smallmouth.

Lake Fork for Largemouth.

Somewhere up north for big pike and walleye.

Tom

[Clancy Wiseman]

Top 5 bass lake in order in the US.

1. Falcon

2. Falcon

3. Falcon

4. Falcon

5. Falcon

.

[Lund Explorer]

I could suggest a quick pm to Dwight to discuss a few of the places he has been.

As for me, it would be a fly in trip to the northern part of Hudson Bay.

[OHIO]

Peacock bass fishing in the Amazon

X2! This looks like a blast.

[Jaheff]

Mine would be a 7+ day tuna trip out of San Diego.

The captain and the deckhands are your guides,The food the Chefs cook are awesome.Plus all the fish you catch is yours to take home(within your limits for the day).

[Sam]

1. South Louisiana for redfish.

2. Disney Worold ponds.

3. Mexico lakes.

[Fish Chris]

Amazon River..... but not for no wimpy little Peracock bass I wanna' catch a 150 lb+ Amazon catfish ! Or a 40 lb Pacu ! Or just anything crazy ! I bet I would get some of the coolest fish photos of my life !

Second choice would be Alaska for Halibut, giant Lingcod, and Rockfish.

I've already experienced some of the best bass fishing on the planet, so that would be the last thing I'd consider.

1. South Louisiana for redfish.

2. Disney Worold ponds.

3. Mexico lakes.

[senile1]

1. South Louisiana for redfish.

2. Disney Worold ponds.

3. Mexico lakes.

I have to go with Sam on his number one choice. Pound for pound nothing fights like a redfish. You hang into a 30 to 35 inch redfish on regular tackle and you're looking at 30 plus minutes, more or less, to bring it in.

[Alpster]

This one is easy! Fly fishing for tarpon and bonefish in Belize.

Check this out......I will go one day...

http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/fishing.html

[BassThumb]

Lake El Salto, Mexico - LMB

Amazon - Peacocks

Kenai River, Alaska - King salmon

A fly-in resort in Canada - Pike, walleye, SMB, grayling, lakers (Probably the surest bet that you'll pound some fish.)

[VABassin'14]

I would have to take a fly fishing trip for bonefish in the Bahamas. I know a few guys who have done it and they each have gone back or are planning to do so in the near future. This is one of the things that is on my bucket list.

 

[South FLA]

NO QUESTIONS FLY FISHING FOR TARPON IS GOING TO BE THE MOST FUN

!!Its the pinnacle of the fishing sports in my opinion!!

Casa Batida (Cuba)

The Florida Keys during June or July

Rio Colorado (Costa Rica)

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I've knocked a bunch of "dream" trips off my list. I've yet to do giant salmon fishing up north, though I hear that can be an absolute blast. Both El Salto and Falcon are still pretty high on my bucket list. Cairns Australia for billfish is still on top for me. If I had to give you a few places that are "must go to" spots:

Somewhere in the Amazon for Peacocks (just pure enjoyment if you get there at the right time of the year)

Fly Fishing in the Keys (Islamorada flats fishing for tarpon, bonefish, etc etc)

Tropic Star Lodge for billfish (giant baits, giant fish, giant fights, can't ask for more)

There are tons of phenomenal fishing opportunities out there. It's all a matter or how much you want to pay. If you're set on fly fishing, just come on down to the Keys. It's just as good, if not better than a very large portion of the Caribbean/Bahamas. I can tell you that from experience. I basically grew up fishing all over the Bahamas taking the boat over. It was almost a weekly trip to Bimini, several times a year to Great Harbour, and more to Andros, etc etc. If you've got the money and want a HELL of a trip for multi species, there is no better spot in the Ocean than Great Harbour. Very few people go there. It has a tiny airstrip, it's also a very long/hard ride across the Bahama Bank on a boat. It's been a while since I've been there, but I have never found a place with a better fishery. I doubt that would be a cheap trip right now though.

[zenyoungkoh]

There is only one option: Peacock bass / payaras / pacu / big catfish / Arapaima @ the amazon river!

I mean you could brag about fishing in the amazon to all your large mouth friends!! I'd recommend amazon tours, something is wrong with their website now though http://amazontours.com/

[Huntnfish]

Andy Meyers Lodge in Ontario Canada. Muskie, Northern, Walleye, Lake Trout, Smallies..you name it. Plus the guys that run it are awesome

[Bluebasser86]

The Mexico bass thing is a blast, I've been twice and would jump at the chance to go again. Probably the most exciting and at the same time relaxing fishing trip I've ever been on. Nothing but fishing for monster bass for 4 days. No tv, no cellphone, no bills, no work, no concerns at all except how big the next bass you catch will be . It really is an amazing trip. That being said I would have to go on a multi-species trip to the Amazon if I had my choice of fishing for anything. You could fish for the more flashy fish like the Peacock bass and Payara that smash topwater lures, to the giant redtail and paribia catfish that grow to monsterous proportions. If you do decide to go musky fishing Huntnfish is right about Andy Meyer's Lodge, that place is top notch. I went there with my dad several years ago and the lodging,fishing, and food are all great. Eagle Lake has some monster muskie in it. He has one replica on the wall that if I remember right is 57" and he caught it on a Poe's giant jackpot. I couldn't imagine a topwater strike from a fish like that! Good luck choosing your trip and I've got to say I'm very jealous of your "situation"

[SirSnookalot]

Lots of options depending on what kind of fish turns you on.

Hawk Cay resort in the keys if my wife wanted to come along. Without her I would go to Xcalak, Mexico

http://www.costadecocos.com/

For me nothing compares to light tackle spinning or fly on the flats with a pole guide.

[JamesH]

Bull Sharks in south Florida or if you can afford it Great White Shark in South Africa.

[piscicidal]

Tuna/marlin @ Cabo San Lucas or walleye/smallmouth/pike/musky @ Lake of the Woods

[piscicidal]

Bluebasser,

I used to go to Eagle Lake every summer with my father/brothers/uncles/cousins. Awesome trip. We stayed at Sportsmans Lodge on the east side. I would catch several trophy Walleye (+9lb) and Smallmouth (+5lb) every trip. That place has MONSTER muskies also, although I only hooked up with one. We'd lose a walleye or two each day to a four foot plus muskie. Awesome place.

[Catt]

#1 Billfishing the Kona Coast off the Big Island of Hawaii

If you want to fish south Louisiana there is only two guides Jeff & Mary Poe Big Lake Guide Service

http://biglakeguideservice.com/

You can stay in Lake Charles @ L'Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort

[Fish Chris]

When I replied, I had forgotten about Tarpon ! I always wanted to catch a 100 lb Minnow {of course I'd REALLY like to catch the bass that could eat a 100 lb Minnow }

But I always hear about "fly fishing" for Tarpon..... and honestly, I don't have any desire to fly fish for anything. Isn't their another way to catch them ?

Oh..... and who here wouldn't want to catch a Goliath Grouper ! Now those are just like a 500 lb Largemouth, if I have ever seen one !

Of course any billfish would be awesome, and obviously, the bigger, the better, but I'd really like to catch a Swordfish !

Peace,

Fish

[SoFlaBassAddict]

When I replied, I had forgotten about Tarpon ! I always wanted to catch a 100 lb Minnow {of course I'd REALLY like to catch the bass that could eat a 100 lb Minnow }

But I always hear about "fly fishing" for Tarpon..... and honestly, I don't have any desire to fly fish for anything. Isn't their another way to catch them ?

Oh..... and who here wouldn't want to catch a Goliath Grouper ! Now those are just like a 500 lb Largemouth, if I have ever seen one !

Of course any billfish would be awesome, and obviously, the bigger, the better, but I'd really like to catch a Swordfish !

Peace,

Fish

Sounds like you need a trip to south Florida, Chris. You can do all of those from the same boat, on the same day. As far as the Tarpon go, catching them on fly is a blast. Personally, if I'm chasing BIG tarpon, I'll go away from the fly rods.