Ambergris Caye Belize in 4 Days!

So, It's been a month since I've gone fishing and I feel like I went through a divorce with my kayak. The withdrawals have been horrible and I can't sleep worth a sh**. Ive been spending ridiculous amounts of money on rods, new line and tons of tackle. All to prepare or another adventure to Central America.
 Stop fishing to save a buck, was my thought. You may have or will go through this in some point in your life. Let me assure you this is not the case. Once you have the" itch" or the "madness" you can't stop. I've known this but like a crackhead I couldn't stop. After many hours of research about where I go THIS time and who I know down there that can hook me up with what buddy to take me where, so on and so forth...  I have gotten down to the remaining days.
Last week I ordered a 4 1/2"x 96" x 115" locking rod tube. Unbelievably great deal for 40 bucks on eBay. After reading briefly about United's restrictions of 115 linear inch max, I start to have concerns about whether there is a charge or not. Last year, mind you, it cost me 25 bucks to bring my rods. However, those rods where two piece. This year, after updating all my salt gear to one piece, I now have an issue. A rather expensive issue.
Woke up this morning and drove down to SJC united desk to solve my curiosity. The lady said "no worries anything under 115 linear inches is good to go.  May I update your telephone number in the system?" I said sure and walked back to my rig in the parking garage. No more than half way I get a call from the nice lady. She informs me that she was sorry but there is a fee for anything over 63 linear inches and that I should be aware it's going to be $200 each way for the rod tube. Holy crap! I'm not rich and I work hard for a vacation of this magnitude and if it wasn't for the 7 other good friends of mine picking one of the most expensive places on the island I wouldn't have an issue.
I am bringing two spinning rods. One is a new Lamiglas 8'6" X11 MH Fast and an old Berkley 9' IM 7 M slow. I am going to leave two of my one piece rods home and to Hell with it I'm going to bring one Shimano Trevala S. it's the only bait rod and I will need a bait rod. Right?? Oh yeah definitely. Total length is 74" of the tube. I'm hittin up the same lady because I know she felt bad,  she did mention she was working on Friday morning annnnd I told her I would tip her out for hooking me up. Did I mention she got quite after that lol oh well. It's better than walking in with a solid 96" bazooka of a tube. Take a moment to pray to the fishing gods for me.
This trip will consist of lots of 192 proof rum, lots of Cohibas, good smoke, lots of lobster and conch ceviche, diving, cave tubing, zip lining, Mayan Ruins and the super grand slam (tarpon, bone, permit and snook). To many other fish to list as this is getting to long I'd imagine.
Thanks for reading and wish me luck on epic adventure. Hope to see some of you back out OTW  when I get back and for you divers out there I picked up a new mask. Tried it in the pool and can't wait to hit the tropics to really test it out.
Belize Today

Definitely jealous...missing the Tacklebox right about now.  Good luck!

That lady was not entirely correct on the rod tube.  See this link which says rod tubes can be up to 115".

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/baggage/sports.aspx

Now, if it is over your baggage allowance, 2 pieces, you'll get charged for the 3rd piece at a rate of $150.

http://www.united.com/cms/en-US/travel/pages/baggageexcess.aspx

I suggest you print these out and bring them with you when you check in.  They never seem to know at the desk.  And I've beem screwed before by United.

-Allen

Sounds like an awesome trip!

So the absolute maximum size of checked baggage is 115 linear inches. But anything over 62 linear inches will be charged extra fee of between $100 and $200 depending on your destination.

From http://www.united.com/cms/en-US/travel/pages/baggageexcess.aspx:

Oversized baggage

    Customers who travel with checked baggage exceeding 62 linear inches (158 cm) (total length + width + height) will be charged at the rate of $100 per piece for travel within the U.S., and between the U.S. and Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Customers traveling to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Asia, Australia, Micronesia, Europe, the Middle East or Africa with oversize baggage will be charged at the rate of $200 per piece.
    These charges are in addition to any charge assessed for additional or overweight baggage.
    Baggage measuring more than 115 inches (292 cm) (total outside dimensions; length + width + height) will not be accepted as checked baggage.

So your best bet is to spend the $400 in oversize baggage fees on a few nice 2 piece rods. But not too nice.

From http://www.united.com/cms/en-US/travel/pages/baggageexcess.aspx:

United is not liable for damage to Fishing equipment.

Krusty you are correct and polepole I appreciate the input and the research. Man you had me excited for a min there. The only way I see this going in my favor is if the lady on Friday floats me on through or I pay the 200 each way.

Krusty you are correct and polepole I appreciate the input and the research. Man you had me excited for a min there. The only way I see this going in my favor is if the lady on Friday floats me on through or I pay the 200 each way.

I'd encourage you to double check on that.  I followed up with Customer Service after the fact and they agreed with what I said, but their refund department had a different idea.     I tell you, we had 3 check in attendants trying to figure it out and they were all confused for a good 30 minutes.  At the end, we had to just check in at the high rate lest we miss our flight.  There was some complications as we had over 2 bags, which made it even worse, as multiple pieces of fishing equipment are supposed to count as a single piece.  But another guy traveling with was was not charged for oversized and he had 2 bags.  Go figure.

-Allen

Krusty you are correct and polepole I appreciate the input and the research. Man you had me excited for a min there. The only way I see this going in my favor is if the lady on Friday floats me on through or I pay the 200 each way.

I'd encourage you to double check on that.  I followed up with Customer Service after the fact and they agreed with what I said, but their refund department had a different idea.     I tell you, we had 3 check in attendants trying to figure it out and they were all confused for a good 30 minutes.  At the end, we had to just check in at the high rate lest we miss our flight.  There was some complications as we had over 2 bags, which made it even worse, as multiple pieces of fishing equipment are supposed to count as a single piece.  But another guy traveling with was was not charged for oversized and he had 2 bags.  Go figure.

-Allen

I will Allen and thanks again for the input. I am going to take my chances at 74 inches and hope they don't measure it. If they do ill be 400 less on the trip and that won't make me happy. But to have my Trevala will compensate for my lack there of.

This trip will consist of lots of 192 proof rum, lots of Cohibas, good smoke, lots of lobster and conch ceviche, diving, cave tubing, zip lining, Mayan Ruins and the super grand slam (tarpon, bone, permit and snook).

Dude...I'm so jealous!!   

Have fun and take pics to share with us!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

This trip will consist of lots of 192 proof rum, lots of Cohibas, good smoke, lots of lobster and conch ceviche, diving, cave tubing, zip lining, Mayan Ruins and the super grand slam (tarpon, bone, permit and snook).

Dude...I'm so jealous!!   

Have fun and take pics to share with us!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

You know it buddy! I will have Wifi at Coco Beach but I cant guarantee it will make much sense after 12pm  There will be three GoPro's workin this trip so if all goes well there will be video this time.

hey no one needs this kinda of teasery on a Monday morning !! 

Good luck, man. I know I won't be bothering to bring any surfboards with me next time I head for Central America. It ends up being cheaper and easier to buy a new one when I arrive and sell it at a loss before I leave.

Not to mention you don't have to worry about your gear getting thrown on the wrong plane...

have been to ambergris caye a bunch chasing fish with the long rod, super jealous at the moment, have a great trip, have a drink with the crew at cholos late night for me and share lots of pics, cameron

have been to ambergris caye a bunch chasing fish with the long rod, super jealous at the moment, have a great trip, have a drink with the crew at cholos late night for me and share lots of pics, cameron

You got it Cameron! I've got to make my rounds from last years trip but ill definitely look into Cholos. Im not sure if I mentioned it but I've got a couple buddies I've stayed in touch with that live in SP. looking for another hookup in the lagoon for snook and tarpon. Did you hike into to croc country at all? 

fish and dive pics to come