Thoughts of selling all my possessions, moving into a tent on the beach, and spending the rest of my miserable existence chasing that next white whale lineerblack tail. My love of snook was something I was clowned on throughout the trip, but when these Mexican migrators showed up on the flats and in the mangroves, no one was laughing. Enjoy lightly fished streams and trophy lakes on one our exclusive ranch leases. The town is home to just 400 local fishers and a scattering of resident expats. This ancient Maya city boasts three excavated stone plazas and a towering pyramid. Learn more about Mexico and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. Brandon, I am careful when I write these reports because I am not an expert and dont want to pretend to be one. That was a great trip report k_e_v. Will dredging the Zaragoza Canal hurt Xcalak. Find out when to come, what equipment to bring, browse blog articles, and more. I'm sorry to say no permit for . Traveling back in time to a distant tropical land where time loses all meaning. Let us help you build the perfect lodging and fishing package. Casa Cangrejo, One of the first accommodations to open in Xcalak, at Cocos your room is a palapa hut. Looking into the water, something didnt seem right. Learn more about Mexico and other countries in our daily postcard e-letter. They are opportunistic eaters and as picky as permit. If this was a sign of things to come, the foreshadowing was causing almost catatonic euphoria. After stretching our legs, refueling on appetizers, chips, homemade salsa (a personal favorite), and downing a few beverages; it was time to rig up. Id love to make it down there. The more I learned about these fish, the less I understand. Bring the basics and you are good to go. While beach destinations in Mexico, such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen, are well-known for their long, beautiful stretches of sand, theres another perfect spot along the Caribbean Sea that receives far less tourist attention: Xcalak. PHOTOGRAPHY BY RASMUS OVESEN & MARTIN EJLER OLSEN, Blue Ribbon, Fly-Fishing Fever in Heber Valley, Fish It Well Diaries, Chapter 5: Camille Egdorf, Discovering Resilience: Photos by Jess McGlothlin. It's a great read.way better then the movie of the same name, imo. This package includes transportation from Cancun International Airport, accommodation and all meals. Dr. Mike Larkin on Bonefish The Tom Roland Podcast. And again. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Duranglers Flies and Supplies Fly Shop Click here to receive the sport of fly fishing's most authoritative magazine. It would be my second trip chasing saltwater fish on the flats, while Tony is a fairly experienced saltwater angler and licensed Captain. Get away from it all on our extensive network of private access waters. The town sits next to the Caribbean on a small spit of land that separates the Ocean from Chetumal Bay. maybe you are just very ready for a vacation to explore the 970-385-4081 Deep sea, light tackle, fly fishing - you name it! We strive to stifle our joy on a daily basis in order to achieve something we perceive as greater in the long run. From there, the best way to get to Xcalak is to rent a car and drive south on Highway 307. There is a landing strip in Xcalak, but Patrick and I cant yet afford to charter our own plane, so we opted for Cancn, where Miguel and his brother Alberto, the amicable drivers of a shuttle arranged by Costa de Cocos, met us amid the throngs of vacationers outside the airport. Myself and fellow Montana Angler guide Tony Nahorny traveled south to our partners at Costa de Cocos Lodge in Xcalak, Mexico in late February for a week-long escape from the Montana winter. Strangely enough, comfort should loose to joy, almost always. Bay wells producing sheepshead and black drum on live shrimp. Xcalak is a quiet fishing town on the southern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. These fish are those we hold most dear. Bonefish - Bonefish live on both hard and soft bottom flats so fly fishing will be wading and boat casting. The reef is a physical barrier that breaks up big ocean surge and turns it to gentle waves. They are spooky and quick to forget. The dry season typically lasts from November to April, when day after day of sunshine makes the beach a great place to be. Join us on a 6 Night & 7 Day Guided fishing trip to beautiful Xcalak, Mexico. Both of us had traveled to Xcalak before, and we really enjoy the remote, off the grid feel as well as the excellent fishing for various species including Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit. For me, it is steelhead. Targeting the plentiful bonefish is always an option. Experience some of the lower 48's most remote fisheries. As to your Appalachian Trail adventure, have you read the book "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson chronicling his Appalachian adventure? Welcome to Xcalak, Mexico. These "ghosts of the flats" swim about 27 miles per hour . Information related to travelling to Montana: which airports to fly into, major towns, etc. Although more populous than Xcalak, the crowds here are nothing compared to the Riviera Maya. @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) { I will never forget my first day of Bonefishing, watching a 3lb fish rip off hundreds of feet of line in seconds while bending my 7wt rod in half. There's a boat ramp in the southwest corner of the lake. So, head to the ADO bus terminal in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar or Chetumal . For unknown reasons, Scheepstra broke away from his fishing partner and headed back toward the rental car. Did I mention all you can drink too? And, being set in the jungle, the Caribbean breeze doesnt disturb the calm lagoon waters, making them perfect for exploring by kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP). 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. Depending on the weather conditions, we could find ourselves poling white sandbanks in search of Permit, wading ankle-deep grass flats for tailing Bonefish, or casting to strings of Tarpon passing remote cayes. Required fields are marked *. Chetumal Bay is at the far southern tip of the Yucatan, near the border with Belize. Read about average temperatures and weather patterns month by month. Options include all inclusive fishing lodges, convenient hotel packages and unique river front vacation cabins and homes. It depicts a good summary. 1 INSTITUTIONAL AMNESIA. You wont be roughing it though this palapa hut comes with its own private bathroom. Montana is home to some of the most productive wild trout rivers on the planet. These pickup trucks carry fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, and snacks. reefs, islands, lagoons and bays of the beautiful Xcalak National Most of our trips include rods, flies and we rent waders. width:max-content; Chetumal Bay is at the far southern tip of the Yucatan, near the border with Belize. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. One of the other guests at the lodge claimed they caught a 10 pounder, and the blurry iPhone selfie seemed to support such a claimbut so did the blurry photos of bigfoot. As a lifelong trout angler and guide, flats fishing is a totally different experience and challenge, and I am hooked. Powered by Contact david@whitestackle.com to suggest our next tutorial. We zip up our wading boots and slide over the gunnel into the lukewarm water as quietly as possible. Theyre partnered with Hotel Tierra Maya. Can't find the video you're looking for? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. May 2, 2016. I toss the Rag Head Crab into the air, load my 9-weight, and aim a couple feet in front of the lead fish. The switch was flipped from fishing to hunting oftentimes when 18-20 inch fish could be found cruising in groups of 2s and 4s along the sandy mangroves, searching for food in 4 inches of water. Today, tourists come from around the world to visit the temples dotting the jungle, just as anglers from far and wide travel to the peninsulas flats in search of its bonefish (macabi) and permit (palometa). We see very little boat traffic and zero industry, aside from the few fishing guides that have the privilege of calling this place their office. I landed the fish, a bit disappointed, but happy nevertheless at putting a good fish in the boat. Durango fly fishing guides on the San Juan River, Animas River, Dolores River, Florida River and Los Pinos River. BEACH FRONT lote For Sale 9150 ft2 at Mahahual- Xcalak road P3413, Costa Maya, Quintana Roo. 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. 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. josexcalak@hotmail.com WhatsApp This was a now or never, make or break moment. } It usually lead to a more productive day of fishing when we were maximizing our guides knowledge of the area along with searching for fish we had a better chance of getting shots. The town is remote, and so far south, its only six miles to the Belize/Mexico border. The resort also offers half- and full-day fishing trips (US$175-350), in case you want to fish while in Xcalak without making it a full-on fishing vacation. Rain has improved fishing conditions. I often think of bonefish as the saviors of any saltwater fishing destination, due to their sheer numbers and availability as targets. Watch on. . In the past we have fished all six days, but this year decided to take it easy a bit. Copyright 2020 American Angler. On windy days, the lagoons behind Xcalak provide shelter and productive fishing for baby tarpon and snook. Chetumal Bay is located near the small fishing village of Xcalak, Quintana Roo, Mexico, about 8 miles north of Ambergris Cay, about 150 miles south of Ascension Bay, and eight miles north of the Belize Border. with the best permit guides in the world in terms of expertise. Coral Garden Inn. DIY Saltwater Fly Fishing - Etiquette on the Xcalak flats. Freshly caught lobster, coconut breaded fish topped with mango salsa, huevos rancheros in the mornings, tropical drinks waiting for us at the dock upon return from fishing, octopus ceviche, and even pizza (the restaurant is known for it)we were well fed. width: 100%; The fish are happy, the cooler is full and our skiffs are loaded, the only thing we are waiting for is you! margin: 1.5rem 0; Victor's location in Xcalak means easy access to the flats of Chetumal Bay. Im not far behind. Whether it's the birdlife, stunning Caribbean vistas, or world-class fishing, we can promise you that we will show you a unique and memorable experience out on the water.