TACKLE

One Bonefish rod, a 9-foot rod for #7,8 or 9 weight line.  An 8-weight rod is perfect as many of the bones are in the 3-6 lb. class and there is a lot of wind to contend with.   On this rod you will want a good bonefish reel with enough capacity for the line and 200 yards of 20 lb backing.   You need only a floating line.  Be sure to bring a back up floating line for bonefish.  There is some coral on the Ocean side flats, and many flats have small mangrove roots and shoots that the bonefish run through and around and this can shred a fly line.
 
Bring one back up rod for bonefish in case of breakage.

Two -  9’ #10 Rods – since there are so many species of fish in the JDR, it helps to bring two 10 weight rods.  Then you can set one up specifically for permit, and have another set up for baby tarpon or Barracuda.    Have individual reels for both these rods.   You will want WF-10-F lines for both rods, but it is a good idea to bring one slow sinking line also.   Attach your lines to backing with loop-to-loop connections making it easy to change lines out on the flats.  Your 10 weight reels should have capacity for the line plus 150-200 yd. of 30 lb. backing.  Our favorite reels are the Tibor Riptide and the Abel Super 10, but there are several other good reels.  Just pick one with a strong, smooth drag.

One -  9 foot #11 or 12 line rod for big tarpon, especially in the months of May through July when larger tarpon are present.   Our favorite rods are the Loomis CrossCurrent GLX in 9 foot #11 and the Sage Xi2 in the 9 foot #11.   For a less expensive rod the Redington CPS or the Temple Fork TiCr-X are good choices.  

For reels, pick a good tarpon reel with enough capacity for a 12 line and 150-200 yards of 30 lb. backing.   A strong, smooth drag is necessary.  Our favorites are the Tibor Gulfstream or the Abel 4N or Super 11. Two of the best less expensive reels are the Ross Momentum #5 or TFO 425. 

For tarpon lines on your 11/12 line rod, you will want both a floating line and an intermediate or slow sink.  All should have loop-to-loop connections to your backing.    Less experienced casters will often do better with a floating line.  There are only a few deeper channels where the slow sink line will work better.  

6 – Bonefish leaders -12 foot 1X or 14 lb.   
2 - Spools of bonefish tippet, 1X and 01X Fluorocarbon. Most of the time the bonefish are not at all leader shy so it is an advantage to use heavier tippet.  Also, in the JDR it is always possible to see and hook really big bones in the 9-12 lb. class.  The heavier tippets will allow you to land many more fish and handle them more easily when releasing them.
6– Permit Leaders 9-12 foot, 16-20 lb. fluorocarbon tippets.
1 - Spool 02X  (20 lb.) Fluorocarbon tippet for permit
4-6 - Quick Change Tarpon leaders.   These should be tied with 20 lb. shock tippet and 60-70 lb. Fluorocarbon shock tippet.   Use 3 feet of shock tippet so that you can use each leader for several fish or re-tie on several different flies.  Note:  later in the spring and summer when tarpon over 50 lb. are present, 80 lb. Fluorocarbon shock tippet should be used to avoid losing fish to leader abrasion. 1 – 200 yd spool of extra 20 lb. fly line backing
1 – 200 yd. spool of extra 30 lb. fly line backing
1 – tarpon fly stretcher or Zip lock bags for your tarpon flies on
leaders

FLIES:

Bonefish Flies
Bring two to three dozen bonefish flies in various patterns for a week of fishing.   You need a mix of very light flies and medium weight flies (with bead chain eyes) to fish in water depths from six inches to two feet.  You’ll also need at least a half dozen flies with heavy lead eyes for fishing bones in muds where the water can be 3-4 feet deep. Some of the best patterns are the Tan and Pearl  Squimp, Borski Bonefish Slider, the Kwans, and of course the Crazy Charlie style flies. Pearl Gotcha patterns are also very good.    Sizes should be mostly #6’s with a few #4’s and a few smaller #8’s. The bonefish can be selective, so be sure to experiment with various patterns.  Most flies should be darker patterns – tan and brown but you also need some very light or white patterns for white sand flats. 

Permit flies

Tarpon flies

Keys style patterns in size 2/0 are very good on the flats for tarpon in the 15-50 lb. class. The best patterns are the Orange/Yellow/Grizzly, Brown Cockroach, Black Death and a White/Grizzly Cockroach Deceiver.   Some of the new Enrico Puglisi patterns have proven to be deadly too, especially the Black and Purple “Peanutbutter” in both 2/0 and 3/0.   Other good Enrico patterns are his White/Yellow, and the Backcountry brown as well as the brown and orange.   If you are tying your own, tie all these tarpon flies on the Gamakatsu SC-15 hooks, in either 2/0 or 3/0.  

Flies for Other Species

In the JDR there is terrific fishing for a variety of other flats fish like Mutton Snappers, Jack Crevalle, Barracuda and sharks.  Here are the flies you’ll need.    Muttons –tarpon flies and snook flies in size 2/0 and will work best.  Best colors seem to be Brown/Orange, Mullet (green/black gray back and white underside) and the Yellow/Orange/Grizzly tarpon fly. Jack Crevalle – larger tarpon flies are best, but any big crab pattern will work great too.   You often are fishing for other fish and don’t have time to switch, but if you can put on a brown or black/purple Enrico in 3/0.   Also, any popper will murder big Jacks.   The key is to cast close to these fast moving fish and strip the fly as fast as you can.   Cudas – the best patterns are tied with mylar flashabou tubing, with a green thread head to look like a needlefish.  These should be 2/0 and tied 8 inches long with a stinger hook.  Sharks – There are lots of sharks, and some very big ones on the flats in the JDR.  The best flies are poppers like the new Enrico Puglisi Flex Popper in 2/0 or 3/0.  The chartreuse is the best color but red/white is good too.   You’ll need to have these rigged to 40 lb. single strand wire or one of the new multi strand wire braided leaders.   These Silky and Caribbean reef sharks are lots of fun and can run right up to 100 lb.   The take is incredible.