That is good advice to carry on the way down and check on the way back. I thought for sure I would never see my rod again but it eventually dropped down the carousel in Atlanta unharmed.

I just booked my flight into SAP for next winter. From there I will be taking one of the national airlines onto Guanaja. Do you know if there are any rules for taking rods on any of the airlines that currently service Guanaja?

I don't - it's been nearly 4 years since we were there and the airlines are not the same. I hope you'll post a trip report!

Weird

When ex Prez Jimmy Carter was visiting Guanaja last year they let all kinds of rod holders on carryon

They would not allow any water or pop bought inside the secure area on the plane either, so dont bother buying a drink for the plane ride!

Roatan airport is an experience all of its own!! I noticed when we arrived in the baggage claim area the put all your luggage through a scanner before you can leave the airport. Funny part of that is no one is monitoring the scanner. Just throwing it through the machine.

However, flying back out they padded me down twice and went through my carry on three times before boarding. Even after you've gone through the security check they again went through every ones stuff before boarding. Really ridiculous!!

Also get to the airport early... So move pretty slow. ;-)

Yeah, no kidding! Horror story: 2/18/13 I almost got arrested at Roatan airport because I got upset when they told me I couldn't carry my rod on- but they went a step further to say that there was no one at the front counter to check it either and that I "can't bring it on the plane"! (by the way- time was running out as my family waited on the other side of security even though we arrived at airport 2 hrs ahead of time)! I decided to break the rod in front of everyone, rather than let them have a "freebee", which of course, did not go over well. Thus, the police were called. Let's just say that without three crying girls on the other side of security- I would be sitting in a Hondurean jail instead of typing this! Do Not Try to bring a rod! (or as my buddy who I just spoke with suggested- try to bribe them- as I'm sure the one gentleman did to get his rod on there).

Wow - that's quite a story! You can't carry it on and you can't check it? Crazy! I just read this to my husband and he can't believe how stupid that is - they should be doing everything they can to promote fishing - it's a relatively untapped resource on Roatán. We've had so many things that could be carried on heading south but not heading north that we just decided never to try carrying on valuable items like that anymore on the way home.

Sorry for the loss and trauma!

What other items are permitted southbound and prohibited northbound?

Tiny folding scissors, some containers of liquids or gels in small enough containers that they didn't believe were the right size, even though it had the weight on them, nail clippers, tweezers. It depends on who is checking the bags but pretty frequently they find something to hate.