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Recommended Tackle
The primary sport fish that live on the flats -- bonefish, permit and tarpon -- around The Inn are built for speed and endurance. Make sure your reels have at least 200 yards of backing. If you've never caught a bonefish before -- and they're plentiful around here -- imagine hooking a world-class sprinter by the back of the shorts. Placencia is rightfully called "the permit capital of the world," and permit and tarpon can test your tackle (and your nerves!) to their limits.
Another absolute must: polarized sunglasses in either a copper or amber tint. Your guide will be able to spot fish, but it helps him -- and your chances of success -- if you can see them, too.
Recommended tackle:
Bonefish
Rods: 7-9 weight.
Leaders: 6- to 10-pound test, 9 to 12 feet in length.
Flies: Crazy Charlies, Gotchas and Clouser Minnows in tan, pink, white and green. Sizes 4 through 8. Small crab patterns are highly effective as well.
Permit
Rods: 8-10 weight.
Leaders: 12- to 20-pound test, 9 to 12 feet in length.
Flies: Merkin, Raghead and Turneffe-style patterns sizes 1/0 to 6 in tans, browns and greens.
Tarpon
Rods: 10-12 weight.
Leaders: Shock tippets of 60 to 100 pounds, with 16- to 20-pound class tippet.
Flies: Standard Keys-style flies, like the Cockroach and Apte-type patterns, and Tarpon Bunnies, sizes 2/0 to 4/0. Surf Candies, Clousers, Lefty's Deceivers and Whistlers can be effective as well. Try darker colored flies in low light and brighter colors during mid-day.
For toothy critters like barracuda, sharks and assorted reef fish, don't forget some wire leader.
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