Originally started as a diving and snorkeling lodge to cater to tourists wishing to explore the Mesoamerican barrier reef 400 yards from shore(more on that later), the owners of the Lodge quickly realized the immense potential of the fishery in front of and behind their lodge. with the best permit guides in the world in terms of expertise. I have not caught a permit (yet) and am a complete amateur in the saltwater environment so I was wondering if it may have been a big one or was in some coral that you needed to put the wood to it? We're on our way back to Costa de Cocos resort, idling down the outside edge of a long . Choose your accommodation, pack your gear, and head to what might be the last undiscovered fly fishing paradise in the Yucatan. Outdoorsman, writer and media producer Trey Reid shows us why he has been returning year after year for the excellent saltwater fishing near the Mexican-Beli. For me, it is tarpon. Again, I really enjoyed your report. white sand flats, throwing at cruising Bones and scouting the deep water for Permit. Inland, the ecosystem is a fragile mix of mangrove lagoons and thick jungle. This approximately 70-acre lake just north of Turner is open to public fishing along the southern half. For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 . With food and drinks included in the cost of the lodge, our gear was sorted rather quickly into our rooms. width: 100%; For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I found that with our guides at Costa de Cocos, we had very little issues with any of our guides. The second episode of the two-part sit-down with the owner of XFlats Lodge, Jesse Colton. [Story by Nick Roberts / Photos by Patrick Williams] THE SUN IS SETTING OVER THE SLEEPY FISHING VILLAGE OF XCALAK, MEXICO, casting the barrier reef in amber light and bringing out the vibrant green and blue hues of the oceanside flats. You wont be roughing it though this palapa hut comes with its own private bathroom. Experience the fishing, the culture, and the food . Julio raises his hand, signaling me to stop. Fly Fishing the Surf with 2 Handed Rods (8/1/2019) Essential Gear for Fly Fishing the Surf (7/16/2019) Casting in the Wind (Part 2) (7/9/2019) How to Choose a Combo (6/25/2019) Add 10 Feet to your Fly Cast (6/5/2019) They are spooky and quick to forget. For years, my work has been fishing and guiding in . What more could you ask for? This phrase is somewhat of a mantra for a few who joined us on our recent trip this past December to Costa De Cocos in Xcalak, Mexico. There were a few interesting flats around, some small bonefish, a decent number of cudas. Get away from it all on our extensive network of private access waters. The permit are swimming right to left, on a diagonal line, but suddenly, they start coming toward us. Maybe its a magical place where you can hook permit all day long, wade mudflats without another fly fisher in sight, or finally hook the Grand Slam youve been aching for. There they arethree or four tailing permit leisurely zigzagging across the flat, their sickle fins slicing through the waters rippled surface. For pricing on lodging packages visit each individual package for rates, inclusions and exclusions. We enjoyed another day eating lunch in town and drinking beers sitting by the sea. 2 people are looking at this charter. This is a video I made for some friends that were thinking of going on a trip with us. We came to fish, not be pampered with warm bathrobes and spa treatments. February 8, 2023. Looking into the water, something didnt seem right. It grew into something that lets us connect travelers to the small businesses of Xcalak. Were on our way back to Costa de Cocos resort, idling down the outside edge of a long expanse of turtle grass, when suddenly our guide, Julio Gomez, cuts the engine and plants his bamboo pushpole, bringing the panga, aptly named Permit Me, to a halt. of Jose, myself, and a nice permit. Home to jaguars, howler monkeys, and the deadly fer-de-lance pit viper, this land, along with the rest of the Yucatn Peninsula, was ruled by the Maya for centuries. overflow: unset; From the city of Chetumal, just 30 miles across the bay, the village is a 2 1 /2-hour car ride up the coast and back down the peninsula. And he can also keep up Fishing Charters & Tours in Xcalak. Rates and terms for some of our standard trips. Let us help you build the perfect lodging and fishing package. We also had the option to search for large jacks when they were out on the deeper flats blitzing bait, and a few of us capitalized on this opportunity. may have. After a quick scramble through mosquito hell, we would find ourselves in secret lagoons full of baby tarpon, snook, and bonefish pushing 6 to 8 pounds. josexcalak@hotmail.com WhatsApp Im not able to watch the video for some reason. Both the saltwater flats and inland lagoons make for excellent kayaking and SUP. The fishing routine was simple and timely. Fly Fishing for bonefish in Chetumal Bay. Off Xcalaks coast is the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. He covers the coast and inland waters. Home to fewer than 500 people and only about six miles from the Belize border, Xcalak remains free of tourist traps and condosby virtue of its remoteness. We had two slams in our group (tarpon, permit, and bonefish in a single day) and lots of action throughout. Facing the " Great Mayan Reef", the second largest reef in the world, Casa Caracola is located in a national park. Ever look for places to camp in some of these exotic locations? Destination Reports Xcalak Bonefish Round 2. Options include unique fishing lodges, exclusive ranch stays, riverside vacation rentals, and affordable hotel packages. Getting ThereThe town of Xcalak, Mexico sits at the end of the road. Because of the diversity of waterscapes, Xcalak is an excellent place for fly-fishers to attempt the Grand-Slam, catching a bonefish, a tarpon, and a permit all in the same day. Welcome to Permit Paradise! Running south, we have a maze of grass . Before you head off to Xcalak, here is some advice for making the most of your trip: .jason-signup { Hop in a panga, explain to your guide what you want to catch, and off you go. After about 10 minutes of nothing, I looked to my right and a big school of Permit were heading our way. Can't find the video you're looking for? } a bit about my services and your options for exploring the Xcalak Bring your wading gear for hopping out of the boat onto the flats, or for wading out right from your hotel (if you didnt get enough fishing during your 8-hour tour, that is). For over 20 years, underwater visual census survey data has been collected periodically at 36 spawning aggregation sites, and grey literature is available since the 1940's, yet managers and conservation practitioners report that abundance tendencies for 48% of grouper and snapper spawning species across the 36 sites are 'Unknown', despite . Nathan Bolerjack. We fished for Permit, tarpon and Snook here also but I considered . A six hour drive south of Cancun, Xcalak resists mega-tourism and retains its natural beauty. @Glenn, I dont know why the video isnt playing for you it played for me straight off. 20-40 lb leader is perfect and when they're in the mood to bite they will eat a variety of bait fish patterns in sardines and mullet intimations and og tarpon flies like tarpon toad, black death, gummy minnows and ep minnows, in black and . float: left; The most popular fish in Xcalak are permit and bonefish, but theres a lot more than that for you to hook. Since our trip was in December, we had the youngsters of the species to target. Great report Kev,and IMHO you did everything right re your rod choice mate.As this was your first experience of this kind you didn't take knives to a gun fight. Its cheaper to stay at one of the non fishing lodges down there and book guides on your own and DIY. It is an old borrow pit and features largemouth bass, panfish such as bluegill, and a few trout. /* Create three equal columns that floats next to each other */ Mexico Fly Fishing Trip Report: Costa de Cocos Lodge, Xcalak, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Five Classic Rivers to Flyfish on Your First Trip to Argentine Patagonia, 5 Trips for Fishing the Mother's Day Caddis Hatch on the Yellowstone River, May Fly Fishing: Montana's Mother's Day Caddis Hatch, A Guide to Spring Fishing on the Gallatin River, Chile fishing trip report: Magic Waters Patagonia Lodge March 2022, Argentina Fishing Trip Report: February 2022 at El Encuentro Lodge and the Brook Trout Basecamp, Belize April Trip Report To Turneffe Flats Lodge - 2021, Ascension Bay Mexico Flats Fishing Report: Grand Slam Lodge, Patagonia Chile Fishing Report: Magic Waters Lodge February 2020, Jurassic Lake Lodge Argentina Fall 2019 Trip Report, Alaska September Fly Fishing Trip Report; The Bristol Bay Region at Intricate Bay Lodge, Steelhead Scouting Mission to Southeast Alaska, Jurassic Lake Lodge Argentina Fishing Trip Report. I've heard anything from only an 8 weight to 8-10 weights needed for permit down there. American Angler magazine covers fly-fishing tactics, tackle, destinations, news, and fisheries conservation for a national readership of more than 40,000 fly fishers of all levels. The farthest most tourists go is Tulum, a lively resort town named after the nearby Mayan archeological site and lined with hostels, cafs, bars, and openair restaurants. The scenic, 250-mile drive from Cancn to Xcalak takes about five hours. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hotel Tierra Maya also offers fly-fishing packages for 6-7 nights (US$3,496-4,237 s, US$2,243-2,760 d), though they don't include all the perkslike airport transportation, open bar . This ancient Maya city boasts three excavated stone plazas and a towering pyramid. It was like a rustic cabin right on the . Strangely enough, comfort should loose to joy, almost always. The jungle starts to encroach on civilization and lines the road like a solid green wall. Im not far behind. Even if the wind is howling out of the east, there are plenty of sheltered places to fish in Chetumal Bay, which is as large as Espiritu Santo and Ascension Bays combined. The reef is a physical barrier that breaks up big ocean surge and turns it to gentle waves. Its a Because of the sparse population and lack of development, there are isolated miles of shoreline between accommodations, allowing you to walk the beach without interruption. Did I mention tarpon are my favorite fish to cast at with a fly rod? Everyone was excited; my first permit, and it seemed like a good one. I watch Blantons Board, so Ill keep an eye out for that. Finally, heading south of Xcalak town, the water turns coloured and offers excellent opportunities to target rolling Tarpon, as well as Snook and Jacks as they feed on Sardines and glass minnows sheltering close to the mangroves. CAR Most visitors to Xcalak arrive at the Cancun International Airport (CUN). Big, small, funny, and fast. There are three seasons in Xcalak - dry, wet, and hurricane. Double occupancy (boat and room) -$4,495.00 USD. been more beautiful or better here than they are now. The tarpon opportunities were not an all day, everyday kind of thing, but when they were there, it could be a few hours of almost constant targets!
