The lagoon at Yepton Estate Cottages is one of the few places in Antigua were one has the absolutely unique opportunity to fish for baby tarpon only few meters from the accommodation.

Just sit on your porch, have a drink and enjoy this sanctuary watching and listening to the exotic birds, while keeping an eye on the water surface in front and the left side of the jetty at Gabi's resort.

Once you see cruising fins or hear a noise like a sand spill over the water surface caused by hunted small fish, grasp your fly rod and try your luck.

My wife and I spent several days at Yeptons in March 2011. Everybody was happy because here we had a comfortable holiday accommodation and fly fishing camp at the same time.

The tarpons between 3 and 5 kg liked particularly the white "gurgler" -fly fished on 8 wt. floating line, 12 lbs tippet ending with a shock tippet (25 lbs) of about 30 cm.  Particularly productive was the fishing at night when tarpons a quite active.

Precondition is however the ability to cast in the twilight without seeing the line. The recoil will be powerful strikes and exciting "shadow" fights relying on ones senses. Don't be scared when after a jump the hooked tarpon bangs on the water surface like a bowling ball. 

Finally one last remark: I have checked almost all of the other lagoons on the south-west side of the island including the lagoons just south of Jolly Harbor, the Darkwood lagoon and also McKinnons. There was nothing.

Also the flats close to Carlisle bay were unproductive for bonefish, jacks, permit or whatever fish. This might be the reason why the former guide on the island Phil quit his job.

It seems that the most on-shore water is fished empty - except some kind of perch-like small fish - and there are some chances to catch baby tarpon only in lagoons in areas of restricted accessibility, like the two lagoons behind the Galley bay resort.

Therefore there is absolutely no alternative to Yepton Estate Cottages. 

Georgi Chivarov                                                                   March 2011