Trip of a Lifetime

Terry’s Double Super Grand Slam at Belize River Lodge

by Sara & Terry Eggleston

Granite Bay Flycasters

May, 2009

We were the winning bidders on a 2-for-1 trip offered by Belize River Lodge that was up for auction at the 2008 GBF dinner.  Terry and I flew into Belize on May 23, arriving about 3:00 pm their time. We were guests at Belize River Lodge.   Jetlagged we went to bed early, knowing that we were in for a long day Sunday fishing the flats and mangroves.  Let me say here that I go along for the ride.  Terry fishes, and here in Belize, it’s combat fishing.

Man, did he fish!  He super slammed.  He used a Sage rod with an Abel reel. He also used an Abel reel on a Loomis rod.  The first fish taken was a good-sized 14 pound snook that took a blue and white Lefty’s Deceiver.  Next, just around the corner in the mangroves, Terry cast to a large pocket, looking for more snook.  To his and Raul’s surprise, a tarpon grabbed the same fly. After a short battle, he was boated, photographed and released.  Next up, Raul said that he knew a spot where bonefish usually hang out.  Sure enough as we rounded the corner into the lagoon, the bonefish were there.  Picking up his 8 weight Sage rigged with a size 6 Bahama Mama, the first of many bonefish on this trip was landed. 

All of sudden it dawned on Raul and Terry that they had a grand slam at 10:15 in the morning.  Raul asked him what he wanted to do.  He could stay and continue what they were doing and maybe get a permit or they could go looking for a permit.  Terry decided to go for it.  They had seen them the day before, they just weren’t hungry.  They went to the flat where they had seen them and poled for over an hour with no luck.  So, they decided it was time for lunch.  Afterwards, Raul said that he knew of a place where sometimes the permit hung out and that is where they went. They arrived at the new flat and started poling.  A half-hour into the hunt, Raul spotted one lone permit, heading their way, moving fast.  He turned the boat so Terry could make the cast; the permit’s head went down and picked up the fly.  Permit on!  Gently Terry played him and after about 10 minutes the permit was in the boat.  A lot of yelling, congratulating, photographing and a couple of Belikin's (Belizean beer) were what came next. The Inshore super grand slam was accomplished by 2:15.  It was Terry’s first super slam ever.  The rest of the day was great with a few tarpons and a couple of bones. 

Well, I know you want to hear about super slam two.  I dived in the Blue Hole while Terry got his second super slam.   Once again, with a Sage rod and an Abel reel, or the Abel reel on the Loomis rod, Terry brought them in.  The young tarpon was 15 pounds.  The bonefish small at 3 pounds, but a lot of fight is in these little guys.  The snook was 6 pounds.  The big story with this super grand slam is the permit.  The big guy was 20+ pounds!   What a great way to end a vacation.  - Sara Eggleston