I will let those with more experience and confidence continue the debate from there. Fishing season here is year-round and the fish are abundant. 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. float: left; Some days were better than others for finding rolling tarpon, but when they were up, they were up! Since our trip was in December, we had the youngsters of the species to target. } In an area as remote as Xcalak, you can always appreciate the natural beauty, but you might be wondering, what else is there is to do? Maximize your time on the water and make great memories on one of our deluxe overnight river camping trips. overflow: hidden; 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. Electricity comes from solar panels, except for on cloudy days when a diesel generator kicks in, and the rooftops capture rainwater and channel it into underground cisterns to use for showers and cleaning. In Xcalak, fly fishing is a treat it isnt crowded and has healthy marine life and excellent guides. float: none; Far too often we are working to build insulation of comfort around our existence to protect us from the uncomfortable realities of the modern worldbut sometimes the casualty to our padded lives becomes our joy. Were pleasantly surprised to learn from the bartender, Jos, that Costa de Cocos not only brews and bottles it own beer but also distills its own bourbon and corn liquor, which could double as fuel for the pangas anchored out back. But maybe it's good for you. Bring the basics and you are good to go. To be sure, there can be some trepidation when headed out on a guided trip in a foreign country. Chetumal Bay is at the far southern tip of the Yucatan, near the border with Belize. 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. Julio and I stealthily close in on the fish, their black spikes silhouetted in the fading light. Spring creeks offer the ultimate challenge in the fly fishing world. On Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, far from the over-developed beaches of the Riviera Maya, you'll find a small, beachside fishing village called Xcalak. There's a boat ramp in the southwest corner of the lake. width: 100%; https://www.josexcalaktours.com/index.html. It also happens to be one of the best places to DIY saltwater fly fish. The shifting baseline concept popularized by Pauly (), in which change is measured against previous reference points which may themselves not reflect the true early state, has been documented in fisheries worldwide (e.g. } Not to mention the list of 'other' species, such as Barracuda, Snapper, Jacks, Snook and Cobia that are all a real possibility on every trip. Targeting the plentiful bonefish is always an option. From there, the best way to get to Xcalak is to rent a car and drive south on Highway 307. Durango fly fishing guides on the San Juan River, Animas River, Dolores River, Florida River and Los Pinos River. The jungle starts to encroach on civilization and lines the road like a solid green wall. The town of Xcalak, Mexico sits at the end of the road. clear: both; The fishing day starts with meeting your guide on our new 200 foot dock directly in front of the lodge. THE BEST Xcalak Fishing Charters & Tours. Lodge packages include all meals and guided fishing so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a great fly fishing vacation, Enjoy great fishing and keep your costs in check with one of our hotel packages. We enjoyed another day eating lunch in town and drinking beers sitting by the sea. Sign in to access your subscriptions and subscriber-only content. and permit with Captain Jose. [emailprotected], HOURS: Partly because of its far-flung location and partly because its protected from development (its a National Reef Marine Park), Xcalak isnt overrun by tourists. Not only is Jose a great flats guide, he
.fullwidth-signup{ } Located just a few miles north of the border with Belize on the southern end of the Yucatan Peninsula, Xcalak is a tiny fishing village that shows little influence from the outside world. On windy days, the lagoons behind Xcalak provide shelter and productive fishing for baby tarpon and snook. The place is far nicer and mainstream than led to believe in the pictures. My name is Jose, I live in Xcalak, and I am here to help
with the best permit guides in the world in terms of expertise. Fun Facts: All about the manatees of Xcalak. Some fish get into our head. Our guides at Costa were no exception, often spotting permit 300 yards away or more. 923 Main Ave | DURANGO, CO 81301 Quintana Roo, Mxico - Xcalak is a village of 375 inhabitants in the municipality of Othn P. Blanco, Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Site cast to trophy trout cruising the shallows of several productive lakes. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. We know you'll love fishing with . You can buy food from the local grocery trucks that ply the beach road. In 20 Minutes You Can Start Speaking Spanish. There were a few interesting flats around, some small bonefish, a decent number of cudas. March 3, 2023. LODGING Costa de Cocos Resort (www . This might be a deeper existential opener for a blog post designed to inform you about our recent trip to Mexico, but it might be a necessary one. This isnt to say Chetumal is any less of a fisheryit just gets less pressure. Accommodations then were spare and dirty, fishing was so-so. The cast is decent, and the 12-foot, 16-pound fluorocarbon leader unfurls in the path of the school, and the fly lands with a subtle plop. I'm sorry to say no permit for . Xcalak is a quiet fishing town on the southern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. For years, my work has been fishing and guiding in . Not all locations fish well every month but there is always something peaking on any given week. I have had wonderful days fishing for bonefish
Be it status, financial security, or even something as fleeting as comfort. The fish are happy, the cooler is full and our skiffs are loaded, the only thing we are waiting for is you! We zip up our wading boots and slide over the gunnel into the lukewarm water as quietly as possible. North Central Oregon/Mid-Columbia Waters: This week's report from Gorge Outfitters Supply (541-739-2222) in Rufus. A lovely place to stay: Reef House at Casa Paraiso Xcalak - See 315 traveller reviews, 292 photos, and cheap deals for Reef House at Casa Paraiso Xcalak at Tripadvisor. I watch Blantons Board, so Ill keep an eye out for that. Here are our recommendations for rods, lines, flies, tippet, waders and more. Getting ThereThe town of Xcalak, Mexico sits at the end of the road. Needless to say, the diving and snorkeling here is world class. Our drive led us past the gringo tourists on rental bikes, past food carts unadvisable for visitors, and past the multi-million and mega gaudy resort entrances. Julios younger brother and apprentice, Eduardo, spots the fish right away. Climb the steps for a sweeping view of the entire site. Accommodations are off-grid, which gives any vacation in Xcalak a touch of adventure. Traveler favorites. 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. A resort, it is not. Double occupancy (boat and room) -$4,495.00 USD. The lodge will supply you with non alcoholic beverages and lunch to take on your fly fishing quest. At XOTF, our goal is to provide you with the most personalized and all-inclusive fly fishing experience.Our packages and trips were designed by fishing-obsessed father and son duo Jim and Chase Looney with anglers in mind. Xcalak is a small fishing village on the southern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, in the State of Quintana Roo. The closest town to Xcalak is Mahahual, home to a cruise ship port, restaurants, shops, hotels, and a Mayan-themed water park. Plan for overnights in Cancun on June 9 and June 18. Im not able to watch the video for some reason. Most tarpon I saw were in tannic colored water, so dark colored tarpon flies and toads were in order. If you have spent any time on a saltwater flat with a guide, then you are always amazed by how far an experienced guide can spot fish. December through February, theses migrating snook show up and can be found lurking at likely ambush points. content: ""; Knowing a bit of Spanish from the client never hurt, but it was not a detriment if we didnt. Whether you are searching for the elusive permit specifically or are just looking for the best salt-water fly fishing experience in Xcalak, Mexico down in the Yucatan, The Xflats at Tierra Maya, established in 1982, is a privately-owned saltwater fly-fishing lodge that combines the luxury of a resort, yet still maintains the casualness of beach front living. Your email address will not be published. His fly fishing writings have been published on blogs such as the Daily Drake and Simms Wading Room. The town sits next to the Caribbean on a small spit of land that separates the Ocean from Chetumal Bay. March 2, 2023 Fishing Report. Now, within that image, somewhere nestled between the aquamarine blues and the distant sandy cays throw in a few thousand Bonefish, Permit galore, Tarpon of all sizes and just about any of the Caribbeans' other dream inshore game fish species. As a fishing village, the vast majority of Xcalak's 400 people have earned a living from the sea for generations and that tradition continues. Required fields are marked *. Specifically, the joy found in our trip to the salt to fish the lesser known of the great Yucatan bays: Chetumal. Casa Cangrejo, One of the first accommodations to open in Xcalak, at Cocos your room is a palapa hut. The town sits next to the Caribbean on a small spit of land that separates the Ocean from Chetumal Bay. Parsons et al., 2009; Senz-Arroyo et al., 2005).Research on the shifting baseline phenomena in marine science has tended to focus on the individual . Your email address will not be published. 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. These are the fish we seek when the deeper questions of life are on the table. 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. Like us, theyre here to take advantage of Costa de Cocos great off-season rates.