BLACK SANDS LODGE - COLOMBIA
The Travel: Guests fly into the lovely city of Medellin and overnight before taking a short domestic flight to Bahia Solano. After the fishing week, most people tend to overnight again in Medellin before returning home. Medellin connects to many cities in the US.
The Lodge: Black Sands is located on a private beach facing the bay, with the dense jungle behind it. This outfitter has an eye for quality, and that is evident when entering their well-appointed rooms, the beautiful common area as well as the dining room. That detail continues in the kitchen, with all meals thoughtfully prepared with fresh, local ingredients.
The Fishing: We usually organize either five or six day trips, giving us time to fish both offshore and inshore. This is a remarkable fishery, allowing anglers chances at Marlin, Sailfish, Yellow Fin Tuna, Wahoo, Dorado, Cubera Snapper, Jacks, and even Tarpon and Snook. All gear is provided.
Colombia as a country has seen an influx in tourism from all over the world these last 15 years or so. Thankfully it no longer carries the terrible stigma it did for so long referenced only by coffee and cartels.
With travel originating and ending in Medellin, we encourage guests to explore this city and the surroundings. Medellin is absolutely beautiful, with both modern and traditional barrios. Outside the city are historical colonial towns, orchid sanctuaries, and the region where Colombia’s famous coffee is grown. We encourage guests to add a little time to explore Colombia, and we can help in organizing some of these additional activities.
From Medellin, groups are able to use the nearby domestic airport for the forty minute flight to Bahia Solano. This is a remote area of Colombia, only accessible via airplane or boat. Until recently, only the locals knew about this amazing fishery, and it is still lightly touched. Just north, in Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica hordes of boats compete over their fisheries. Around Bahia Solano, you will feel like you are tapping into an undiscovered fishery.
Black Sands has two beautiful boats they use for anglers, both with all the latest electronics, outriggers, and rods, reels and tackle for every situation. Anglers need not bring any fishing gear…..it is all provided by Black Sands.
Throughout the season, the target fishery changes. Fly Anglers are best served being here in April, May and early June when the annual sardine migration occurs. Massive bait-balls appear within sight of the shoreline, and the Yellow Fin attack them. So do Sailfish, Cubera and Mullet Snapper, and Jacks. A fly or lure cast into these feeding frenzies illicits an immediate strike.
There are also Dorado throughout the year, although the big bulls arrive in the fall and are found throughout the winter. Some of these fish are massive, pushing eighty pounds. With the Dorado, Black and Blue Marlin also arrive. For inshore enthusiasts, there are a multitude of species living amongst the massive rock outcroppings near the coast.
