Fishing Encampment Beach

Lat: 18° 9'35.64"N Long: 65°24'54.94"W

Species Available: Bonefish, jacks, small sharks or barracuda, and the occasional large permit. <<>>

Gear To Use: An 8-weight fly rod is perfect for this beach. Bonefish are the prime target so a ten foot, 12 pound leader will work just fine. A variety of lightly weighted shrimp patterns on #6 hooks are effective. You can blind cast to the deeper spots along the beach with Clouser Minnows of the same size or slightly larger. Spin fishing is difficult for bonefish here since they’re commonly found in the shallowest waters. Top water lures will often draw strikes from barracuda or jacks. Wading shoes are essential here as the bottom of the grass flats are loaded with small urchins.

Fishing Notes: A sizeable flat at the eastern end of Encampment Beach is the most consistent do-it-yourself bonefish spot on Vieques. From your parking spot at the power lines, walk east for half a mile or about ten minutes until the beach actually ends. At this point you’ll be at a large grass flat protected by a very shallow barrier reef. The flat itself is about the size of two football fields. This flat is best fished in the morning when the sun and wind will be at your back. I try and get down there about 8AM which is when the light is best. Start at the upwind or eastern end of the flat and walk slowly downwind. A resident school of bonefish live here and they’re easy to spot on the lower tides. Look for them to tail aggressively on the calmest mornings. If the wind is especially strong out of the northeast they may be tougher to find. These fish are on the small side for Vieques, around two pounds, but are eager to eat a well presented fly. The occasional four or five pound fish is also found here but usually cruising on it own or with a partner. Permit are a rare but very possible catch here. Look for them tailing around the deeper water and exposed coral heads of the barrier reef. Live crabs with a spinning rod are by far the best way to catch this species.