With its numerous interconnected bays with light bottom, bordered by waist-high mangrove shorelines, this area looks like a much larger version of the famous Marls of Abaco, Bahamas.
The miles and miles of protected shallows with a mixture of grass, limestone, mud and coral bottom, where an abundance of shrimp, crabs and baitfish thrive, are home to battalions of bonefish that consistently cruise, tail and mud on the flats, and will readily attack a stealthy angler’s well-placed offering.
Bonefish in Las Salinas average 3 to 4 pounds, but larger specimens of up to 6 pounds are encountered regularly. In addition to the bones, mangrove and cubera snapper are also plentiful, especially near the mangroves and in deeper holes, mutton snapper frequently move in from the ocean to forage on the flats — following rays, and sometimes tailing in skinny water, much like permit, another likely species.
Barracuda, several types of jacks, and sharks of considerable size (many exceed 100 pounds) also patrol the area and can be targeted throughout the day. And deeper in the backcountry, trophy snook share several shallow mangrove lagoons with equally impressive cubera.
The multitude of stocky land crabs often crossing the narrow road to Las Salinas, and the hundreds of colorful flamingoes wading to your right and left along the way, make the 14-mile drive from the hotel in Playa Larga to the dock another big attraction.
Once you get there, you’ll have a moment to assemble your rods and reels on the covered deck, before you meet your guide, step on the boat, and head out for your day of fishing.
Hatiguanico River
Tarpon up to 100 pounds and large snook are found on this spring fed coastal river.
Las Bocas
“Las Bocas” (the mouths) are home to a number of reef and pelagic species such as snapper, jacks, grouper, and shark.
La Salinas
Multitudes of Bonefish and plentiful snapper and permit are the highlights of this massive mangrove bordered flats.