Fly-Fishing - Castaway Cay

[power_alaska]

Does anyone know what the pertinent "fishing regulations" are at Castaway Cay? Can I bring a flyrod and go fish the tide and shoreline? Promise that I will use barbless hooks, NOT remove the fish from the water and release them? Not even concerned if I caught anything, I just like "waving a stick at bodies of water"

 

[videogal1]

Does anyone know what the pertinent "fishing regulations" are at Castaway Cay? Can I bring a flyrod and go fish the tide and shoreline? Promise that I will use barbless hooks, NOT remove the fish from the water and release them? Not even concerned if I caught anything, I just like "waving a stick at bodies of water"

Can't imagine fly fishing there...more like bottom fishing...There is a fishing excursion available but I haven't talked to anyone who has done it...The rule for that excursion is catch and release and it refers to bottom fishing in the excursion description...You might find a more complete description on the DCL website under the topic, EXCURSIONS.

 

[BeenHad]

You have to get to Castaway Cay first and DCL has a poor record of getting there. Search for this information.

 

[mmouse37]

Well contrary to the above post...we have a record of 12 out of 13 for Castaway Cay and were just there this past January. The only time we did not make it was this past September due to Hurricane Jeanne.

My son and husband did the Fishing Excursion and really enjoyed it. They did the morning excursion and it left CC at about 9:30 and they returned around 12:30. Most everyone onboard caught something. They fished in an area between CC and Abaco Island (the island you can see off in the distance on a clear day).

There were about 6 or 7 people on the excursion plus the Captain and a 1 or 2 crew.

Here are some pics of that day....someone caught a 5.5 ft. shark but as they were reeling it in the line snapped. My son caught the barracuda and said it was one of the best fishing trips he has been on!!!

Check out the link:

http://community.webshots.com/album/249426676dZcBlp/3

Once at the site just click on each individual pic to see it larger.

 

[Gupsmom]

You have to get to Castaway Cay first and DCL has a poor record of getting there. Search for this information.

What exactly constitutes a poor record? The numbers don't mesh with your statement.

Jess

 

[power_alaska]

MMouse73 - Some great pictures. Maybe I will reconsider the Bottom Fishing trip. Especially since I just locked in a trip to Ambergis Caye in Belize for next December. Since I live in Alaska and will go Steelhead fishing in about three weeks, halibut fishing in two months, and the lakes are beginning to show signs of the advancing spring, I GUESS I can pass on hauling my fly fishing gear along just to flog the Castaway Cay shoreline ...

Thanks

 

[MrsMork]

You have to get to Castaway Cay first and DCL has a poor record of getting there. Search for this information.

Six out of six has made it to Castaway Cay. Have to respectfully disagree with this post. DS and DH wanted to do the fishing excursion, but it was booked already. Suggest booking this as soon as they will allow if you want to go as space is VERY limited.

 

[mmouse37]

MMouse73 - Some great pictures. Maybe I will reconsider the Bottom Fishing trip. Especially since I just locked in a trip to Ambergis Caye in Belize for next December. Since I live in Alaska and will go Steelhead fishing in about three weeks, halibut fishing in two months, and the lakes are beginning to show signs of the advancing spring, I GUESS I can pass on hauling my fly fishing gear along just to flog the Castaway Cay shoreline ...

Thanks

If you were really considering bringing your fly fishing stuff, I really do not think there is a place to do it, unless you trek all the way down to far end of the teen beach....that is about the only part of the beach that is not crowded. The family beach would be impossible...you would most likely catch a few bathing suits instead of fish!!! My guys really liked this excursion...we only booked the day before...we were lucky they had 2 spots open..

 

[power_alaska]

Mmouse37 - Not really worried about lugging anything. Have 6pc 5wt w/reels and flies, the whole set-up takes up less room than my wife's jewelry and makeup!!! Was really only wondering if anyone had tried it. As far as the crowd and a "trek". Not a problem, there was plenty of room at the end of the adult beach - as I remember. And that's not a very long trek and there would be no grizzly bears to have to contend with. Problem with the family beach is that a "fly-fisherman" would probably draw attention and a small group of watchers. Personally, I am not worried about that but your implication of a "safety" issue is dead-on. So I would avoid that anyways. Although, if you ever have a chance to experience "combat fishing" in Alaska, you will think CC is deserted. Just imagine shoulder to shoulder fisherman with #3 treble hooks and lead weights flailing at 10 million salmon!!! Fishing frenzies in the populated areas of Alaska can be dangerous!!!

If other bottom fishing excursions are as successful as yours, it is worth considering. Guess it will depend how much fishing I get done this summer. Thanks ...

 

[hubby_of_newtodisney]

Mmouse37 - Not really worried about lugging anything. Have 6pc 5wt w/reels and flies, the whole set-up takes up less room than my wife's jewelry and makeup!!! Was really only wondering if anyone had tried it. As far as the crowd and a "trek". Not a problem, there was plenty of room at the end of the adult beach - as I remember. And that's not a very long trek and there would be no grizzly bears to have to contend with. Problem with the family beach is that a "fly-fisherman" would probably draw attention and a small group of watchers. Personally, I am not worried about that but your implication of a "safety" issue is dead-on. So I would avoid that anyways. Although, if you ever have a chance to experience "combat fishing" in Alaska, you will think CC is deserted. Just imagine shoulder to shoulder fisherman with #3 treble hooks and lead weights flailing at 10 million salmon!!! Fishing frenzies in the populated areas of Alaska can be dangerous!!!

If other bottom fishing excursions are as successful as yours, it is worth considering. Guess it will depend how much fishing I get done this summer. Thanks ...

It sounds like you are living the life of my dreams. I too wondered about fly fishing while on the Cruise. Your best best is for an excursion while in Key West. Bottom fishing was cool, although the pics above showed an much more successful excursion. I actually hooked a 5-6 foot lemon shark twice, when I failed to land a large (2-3lb) trigger fish fast enough. The best part was skimming the 1/2 of the trigger fish behind the boat. Watching the lemon shark swim through the swells, chasing its quarry....WOW
I am an avid fly fisherman (TU MEMBER) who usually chases some wild browns / rainbows in streams around our nations capital. There aren't a whole lot of wild trout streams around, but the ones that are here harbor some pretty, pretty, pretty good fish!

 

[jjgarv]

Power,
I got to believe youcould fly fish on the flats of the adult beach. I have personally seen bonefish while snorkling there among other fish. MY bet is you would do well there. 4 for 4 on CC so I do not agree with the Statement of DCL having a poor record, and to that point....even in the cases where CC could not be docked at, I would not say it was DCL's fault rather the weather.

Hubby,
My parents live in Ashburn (Belmont)! We just moved to PA from Potomac Station in Leesburg last summer, and I miss the Drunken Ribeye at Sweetwater more than anything...other that Dominion Lager!

 

[jgalecpa]

I did the Fishing trip and had a ball.

Would agree that fly fishing very well might work for bonefish, etc in the flats.

This would be one of those "Ask forgiveness, not permission" scenarios. Just go to it, away from others (of course, or they'll be no fish) and have at it.

As to the "poor record at CC" the urban legend was put to rest some time ago by the fine work of Dis-er "Lloyd Dobler", who documented trip by trip the CC docking rate and found it well over 90%.

The problem is if 10 people get on line and complain "I Didn't dock", and "Me Neither" that oten people were talking about the same cruise trip.

Unfortunately, if you don't dock on your only trip(s) it is 100% for you.

Have a ball and Tight lines.

Jim