Day Two... Pedrito and I head out at about 8:00 a.m. The basic gameplan is "Bonefish in the morning, Tarpon in the afternoon", and things start out with some pretty brisk action on Bones as we head west from the Tortuga, on the south side. Pedrito displays his spotting skills, and I manage to get the fly more or less where it's required often enough that by noon, we've boated a dozen or so Bonefish. Shortly after noon, Pedrito spots a Permit. I make the cast, and watch in amazement as the dark-colored, sickle-finned fish swims over and eats the fly (a shrimp pattern)! Then, I observe all of my line and a fair bit of my backing melt off the reel. After a while, I have recovered most of the backing, and am daring to dream of a photo op with the Permit, when the ten pound leader gives up the ghost, and it's "bye bye Palometto". Pedrito ties on a sixteen pound leader as we prospect for more Permit. As I am reeling in a bit later, a Grouper (which Pedrito estimates at twenty or so pounds) grabs my fly, and takes off for some nearby coral heads. I try to muscle him in a different direction --- "poof" goes the leader! Oh well... we look for Tarpon for a spell in the p.m., and I get two seriously good shots at a sixty pound (estimated by Pedrito) Tarpon with Mike and Hugh as witnesses. Both times, the fish swirls on my fly, and both time, I act like it's a rainbow trout hitting a hopper pattern; i.e. I lift my rod tip as I attempt to set the hook. Mike later advises that what you want to do is keep your rod tip low, and just keep stripping until you feel the take, then strip-strike hard. My knees are a bit wobbly after seeing this big fish up close and personal. The afternoon's adventures include watching a large Barracuda devour a Bonefish swimming helplessly at the end of my line, landing a couple of (smaller) Jack Crevalle (I forgot that they make a kind of croaking sound as you release them), and landing a baby Barracuda. We get some more Bones in the afternoon; for the day I hook twenty-two, and land eighteen, with the biggest at four or five pounds. The size of the Bones here is pretty comparable to those that I caught in the marls of Abaco, Bahamas. It's another fine day with clear skies and moderate winds, although the open water is a bit rough as we run over to "Boca Grande", where we find no Tarpon, the theory being that a weak cold front may have put them off a bit. Pedrito later points out a school of Sardines, which at first looks like a big piece of darker coloured bottom, but then the whole thing moves in unison... pretty cool. Reports from the rest of the group are similar to mine; good action on Bonefish, but slow for Tarpon. Lobster and snapper for supper tonight, with a bottle of Santiago Rum for desert. I check out the guestbook for the Tortuga... very interesting. I also learn that Avalons had been granted a permit to develop the fishery at Cayo Coco, but that they subsequently walked away from the deal, because: i) they would not have the same profit potential (i.e. the resorts there are not owned by Avalons), and ii) it's just too freakin' windy at Cayo Coco. Speaking of which, a serious breeze has developed this evening... one wonders what tomorrow will bring...