The Risky and Remote Destinations To Fish for Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit

Article Highlights:

• Discover the best fishing spots for bonefish, tarpon, and permit—ranked by medical risk.
• Compare remote and reliable destinations based on emergency care access.
• Learn how to prepare for medical emergencies with expert tips and real-life rescues.

For saltwater fly anglers, chasing bonefish, tarpon and permit fish is more than a hobby, it’s an obsession. But while the pursuit of legendary catches is thrilling, many of the world’s best fisheries are far from medical help. In remote locations, a simple injury or sudden illness can turn into a life-threatening situation. That’s why Global Rescue is the essential partner for anglers, offering emergency evacuation, field rescue and 24/7 medical support, especially when you’re miles from the nearest clinic.

Below, are the top angling destinations for bonefish, tarpon and permit ranked by the strength of their emergency response systems — from most dangerous to most reliable — with highlights of the specific medical risks and limitations you’ll face in each location.

Great Fishing, Weak Emergency Medical Services

Several of the world’s most alluring destinations for bonefish and tarpon come with serious safety trade-offs. In Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina, a top-tier fishery, anglers face aging medical infrastructure and complex evacuation logistics made worse by diplomatic restrictions. Delays in a medical crisis are almost guaranteed. Just as precarious is Los Roques, Venezuela, where bonefish, tarpon and permit thrive, but the US State Department warns travelers to stay away entirely. The country’s healthcare system has collapsed, and emergency services are virtually nonexistent.

Nicaragua’s Rio San Juan region offers only tarpon and is flagged for its unstable political climate and weak medical capabilities. Hospitals are sparse and ill-equipped, especially outside urban areas. Brazil’s Amazon basin, another tarpon hotspot, suffers from near-total lack of emergency response infrastructure. Even if a hospital exists, reaching it often involves complex, time-consuming logistics. In Honduras, particularly the Bay Islands and Mosquitia, anglers may find all three gamefish, but they’ll also face crime risks and unreliable medical care. While Roatán has some clinical capacity, any serious condition requires evacuation, often under challenging conditions.

In the Seychelles, especially Alphonse, Farquhar and Cosmoledo, anglers enjoy pristine flats and Indo-Pacific permit, but there’s no tarpon and virtually no emergency medical care. Evacuations require international coordination that can take days, and any serious injury risks becoming fatal without immediate treatment.

Similar conditions exist in Mauritius, particularly on St. Brandon’s Atoll, where there’s no tarpon and no on-site medical support. Anglers are multiple days from Port Louis, where hospitals lack advanced trauma care, meaning even simple injuries can become severe. Christmas Island in Kiribati, famed for its bonefish, is one of the most medically isolated destinations of all. With only one flight a week and no surgical facilities on the island, any emergency demands long waits and complex evacuations, making it a high-risk choice for health and safety.

Tarpon and Bonefish Fishing in Regions With Better Medical Support

While not without challenges, several premier fishing destinations offer significantly better access to medical care than their more remote counterparts, making them safer choices for anglers targeting tarpon, permit and bonefish. Belize stands out as a leading location to catch permit, bonefish and tarpon all in one day in a region with improving emergency infrastructure. Competent private hospitals in Belize City and a growing network of coastal evacuations make it a solid option, though response times can lag in more remote areas. Similarly, Mexico’s Ascension Bay delivers world-class fishing with the chance to land all three species in a single day. Anglers, however, should be prepared — medical care is several hours away, and environmental hazards like heatstroke and dehydration can escalate quickly without rapid response.

Costa Rica offers excellent tarpon action supported by reliable emergency services in San José, though access from jungle rivers may require complicated overland and air evacuations. The ABC Islands, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, provide respectable opportunities for bonefish and permit, with modern hospitals and dependable emergency response on all three islands. And while Bocas del Toro in Panama lacks bonefish and suffers from limited local care, the country’s capital, Panama City, boasts top-tier hospitals. With proper planning, these regions provide anglers with thrilling fishing and a reasonable safety net if the unexpected happens.

Angling for Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit With Stronger Medical Support

For anglers who prioritize both exceptional fishing and strong medical safety, a handful of destinations stand out for combining thrilling waters with top-tier emergency care. The Florida Keys offer one of the rare opportunities to pursue bonefish, tarpon and permit while enjoying immediate access to world-class hospitals, EMS, and transportation infrastructure. It’s a dream destination for adventurers attempting to catch tarpon, permit and bonefish in a single day who don’t want to gamble on medical isolation. Puerto Rico delivers similarly impressive access, with San Juan’s high-quality hospitals within reach of most fishing zones, offering anglers peace of mind along with world-class tarpon and bonefish action.

Turks and Caicos features superb bonefishing and occasional permit or tarpon encounters, supported by a modern hospital in Providenciales capable of stabilizing serious injuries or illnesses. The Dominican Republic may not guarantee a Grand Slam (catching three species of fish in a single day), but its species variety and reliable private hospitals in Santo Domingo make it a safe and enjoyable destination. Campeche, Mexico, known as the baby tarpon capital, pairs consistent action with nearby hospitals and minimal travel risk. And in the Louisiana Marsh, anglers chasing giant redfish and tarpon benefit from excellent, widely available emergency care, easily accessible even from remote areas. These destinations strike the perfect balance between adventure and medical readiness.

Real-Life Rescue: Dolly Webster in Great Inagua

Angler Dolly Webster fell seriously ill during a bonefishing trip to Great Inagua in the Bahamas. With no local hospital and few treatment options, her partner contacted Global Rescue. A medically equipped jet was deployed, airlifting her to Miami for life-saving treatment. Without rapid coordination and expert support, her condition could have worsened quickly.

The Global Rescue Connection

Global Rescue’s medical team recommends packing for remoteness, even if your destination seems tame. Include:

• Wound care supplies (gauze, tape, disinfectants)
• OTC meds (pain relievers, antihistamines, antidiarrheals)
• Rehydration salts and anti-nausea medication
• EpiPen for allergic reactions
• Finger splints, bandages, iodine wipes

Vacuum-seal your kit or use a waterproof case. As Global Rescue Medical Operations Manager Jeffrey Weinstein says, “Even small injuries can become mission-stoppers if you’re unprepared.”

Anglers casting into remote waters may be in areas with limited emergency medical resources in addition to hidden risks like sun exposure, dehydration, hook injuries or serious conditions like cardiac events. The nonprofit organization, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT), mission is to conserve bonefish, tarpon and permit — the species, their habitats and the larger fisheries they comprise. “Given all of the travel we do as part of our regional conservation work, the Global Rescue membership gives us peace of mind as we organize and conduct research, often in remote locations,” said Dr. Aaron Adams, BTT’s director of science and conservation. With a Global Rescue membership, you’re never truly off-grid. From satellite phone check-ins to air evacuations and hospital coordination, Global Rescue is the safety net every serious angler needs. As Jim Klug of Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures says, “Never leave home without a Global Rescue membership.”