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). Not all locations fish well every month but there is always something peaking on any given week. Xcalak on the Fly XTC local guides maintain a high degree of knowledge on fly fishing and casting artificial lures for all species of saltwater fish found in the area. 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. The town is set on a peninsula separating the Caribbean Sea from the Bay of Chetumal, and offers three unique areas for fly fishing: the saltwater flats, the mangrove lagoons, and the edge of the bay. And thats how we truly fell for this beach town in the south of Mexico. The Fish Xcalak on the Fly 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. and guiding in Xcalak and I can tell you that things have never The lodge will supply you with non alcoholic beverages and lunch to take on your fly fishing quest. Let me share my thoughts. xcalak-bonefishing-sabadeando.wmv. Bay wells producing sheepshead and black drum on live shrimp. Get it together I told myself. This way of thinking might sell them far to short, however, because bonefish are extremely fun. BEACH FRONT lote For Sale 9150 ft2 at Mahahual- Xcalak road P3413, Costa Maya, Quintana Roo. Xcalak is a refreshingly undisturbed fishing village nestled along Mexicos southernmost Caribbean coastline. Chetumal Bay is not a name a lot of traveling fly anglers have heard as Ascension Bay often gets more of the notoriety and publicity due to its proximity to Cancun. Join us on a 6 Night & 7 Day Guided fishing trip to beautiful Xcalak, Mexico. Xcalak is one of the towns that has been maintained over time in its most natural state. Fly Fishing Xcalak, Mexico Jan 2019 - YouTube In 2015, we almost didnt visit Xcalak. However, for what the rooms might have lacked in luxury luster, everything was more than made up for with food, drinks, service, and staff! It's a great read.way better then the movie of the same name, imo. Curious about this undiscovered fly fishing mecca? Xcalak. Acocote Eco Inn: Perfect for the adventurous - Read 144 reviews, view 87 photos, and find great deals for Acocote Eco Inn at Tripadvisor Bonefish and all that relates (maybe a bit about tarpon too). Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you a free special report - Why Millions of Americans Are Moving to Mexico. IF YOU GO - Xcalak, Mexico - American AnglerAmerican Angler A six hour drive south of Cancun, Xcalak resists mega-tourism and retains its natural beauty. The average catch is 6 - 12 bonefish per day. 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. Xcalak, Mexico - Driftwood Caravan Outdoors } You might have heard of Xcalak, but because of its remote location its a relatively unknown, uncrowded fly fishing destination. . Weather in the Northern Rockies can be fickle and it is always a good idea to come prepared regardless of the season. 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) float: none; 318 were here. This isnt to say Chetumal is any less of a fisheryit just gets less pressure. of Jose, myself, and a nice permit. 3. Hosted Trips, Classes, and Events - Tyer's Table with Captain Rob Permit: the holy grail of flats fly fishing species for many (maybe white whale is a better analogy). With XOTF at Casa Paraiso, youre sure to have a rewarding and relaxing time. clear: both; We discovered there were lots of people with questions about Xcalak. Brandon, I am careful when I write these reports because I am not an expert and dont want to pretend to be one. Bill Battles - Fly Fish America. Walk out from the private beach to fish for barracuda, permit, and bonefish. While an 8 or 9 weight could have handled these fish just fine, all our guides suggested a 10 weight in the event that the 30-pound bruisers of the juvenile bunch decided to show upwhich they did and quickly threw our flies. When to Visit Xcalak - Xcalak Mexico 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. 30 Jul. These fish sneak to our minds without warning, upturn our mental tables, tip the shelves of reason, smash the windows of logic, set fire to the couch of stability, and leave without an explanation. I was fortunate enough to hit the ocean side on a good tide on the second day of the trip, along with a walk and wade lagoon on the last day. It also happens to be one of the best places to DIY saltwater fly fish. Required fields are marked *. THE BEST Xcalak Fishing Charters & Tours - Tripadvisor We're on our way back to Costa de Cocos resort, idling down the outside edge of a long . Other times, our guides found hundreds (maybe thousands) of small bones mudding in on a deeper flat (also a good place to look for permit). 2023 pricing for 7 nights / 6 days. Hey Nate, certainly looks like a good time. Diosa Del Mar Mahahual 25 ft 4 persons . We have miles and miles of wade-able flats with large numbers of bonefish and permit, and if you want to get on a kayak or SUP, you can access lagoons with lots of baby . Bonefish - Bonefish live on both hard and soft bottom flats so fly fishing will be wading and boat casting. I recently returned from Southern Mexico after my first salt water trip. Xcalak 101: Everything you need to know - Xcalak Mexico The fish are happy, the cooler is full and our skiffs are loaded, the only thing we are waiting for is you! More from their website : "Tucked along the world-famous Chetumal Bay, the Xflats at Tierra Maya's 7 beachfront suites are elegantly . Fly Fishing for bonefish in Chetumal Bay. I looked back at Alberto, and the look on his face said it all. The restaurant at Cocos is a popular place to cool off with one of their microbrews and trade stories with other fishers. Come wade the warm, tropical flats of Xcalak in search of Permit, Jacks, Bonefish and juvenile Tarpon from the quaint fly fishing village of Xcalak, Mexico. https://www.josexcalaktours.com/index.html. My name is Jose, I live in Xcalak, and I am here to help you. white sand flats, throwing at cruising Bones and scouting the deep water for Permit. Choose from over 20 fabled blue ribbon rivers that we target. Maximize your time on the water and make great memories on one of our deluxe overnight river camping trips. The third cast was spot on and the entire school was over my fly. Youre sitting at your computer, dreaming of fly fishing, and wondering what your next destination will be. } Options include diverse lodging packages, camping trips, wilderness horse pack expeditions, day trips and world wide travel. All of our guides are Xcalak natives who have spent their entire lives on and in these waters and still love to fish in their free time. And stay open to opportunity, as you never know what you might come across while looking for something else. Go far enough, and it's not that you forget about the worriesit's that the worries forget about you. We strive to stifle our joy on a daily basis in order to achieve something we perceive as greater in the long run. Home - Casa Caracola Again, I really enjoyed your report. This ancient Maya city boasts three excavated stone plazas and a towering pyramid. /* Create three equal columns that floats next to each other */ Its early June, the official start of hurricane season, and the only other guests of the resort are pairs of anglers from Argentina and Texas. Faro Xcalak's Tide Times, Tides for Fishing, High Tide and Low Tide Chetumal Bay is at the far southern tip of the Yucatan, near the border with Belize. Learn about getting to Xcalak. 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. WordPress. Outdoor Activities. Back then there wasnt really a trustworthy tourist website and we just couldnt figure out if the trip was worth the effort. Daily Xcalak Fishing Reports (January 2023) - FishingBooker Xcalak Front Side Flats. CAR Most visitors to Xcalak arrive at the Cancun International Airport (CUN). We will help you hand pick the perfect lodge, design a great fishing program and help coordinate all logistics from airport transfers to meeting, Explore the world's most amazing fisheries with our destination travel program. Hey Bjorn, If you delve into the history of Xcalak, you will be able to see its relevance in communications and supplies between large cities. Not just a fishing and diving lodge, Costa de Cocos boasts a restaurant, brewery, and distillery. display: block; Some fish get into our soul. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. I make a long, slow strip. To the north, we have the the Rio Huach lagoon system, boasting consisitent baby Tarpon and Snook fishing year round. overflow: unset; It grew into something that lets us connect travelers to the small businesses of Xcalak. It is an old borrow pit and features largemouth bass, panfish such as bluegill, and a few trout. 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). Maybe you are very serious about Hop in a panga, explain to your guide what you want to catch, and off you go. 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. Try Nick Denbow at Catchafish.net. That isnt to say they arent out there, the truth is often wilder than fiction. 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 . Our guides at Costa were no exception, often spotting permit 300 yards away or more. CFF April 2022 Fishing Reports - Clackamas FlyFishers We loved it so much, that we are even planning to head back November 16-23, 2019, and we have a few spots still available. and permit with Captain Jose. 4.2 / 5 (2 reviews) Mahahual 26 ft 4 persons . While we all had our target fish we obviously would love to catch, I found it better to ask our guide what they thought would be the best option. } A Beginners Guide to San Juan River Fly Fishing, Duranglers 2018 Xcalak, Mexico Trip Report, shoot me an e-mail and we can talk Mayan adventure, Tying Big Flies with Snowrunner, aka Nayat, 3 Lesser Known Fishing Spots Around Durango, CO, Winter and Springtime Fly Fishing and Tying Classes, Clinics, and Events, Duranglers is now an Orvis Endorsed Outfitter Fly Shop. It is located on the southernmost tip of the Mexican Riveria, on a peninsula about 1.5 hours boat ride north of San Pedro Belize. Michael Graham was in Xcalak in the Spring of 2009 on a self-described walk-about. May 9, 2022 May 9, . Some guides have over 25+ years of experience guiding fly fishers in the area. I am looking up from my desk at a picture Its cheaper to stay at one of the non fishing lodges down there and book guides on your own and DIY. I often think of bonefish as the saviors of any saltwater fishing destination, due to their sheer numbers and availability as targets. You can buy food from the local grocery trucks that ply the beach road. [emailprotected], HOURS: foraging in the turtle grass, perfect cover for crabs and shrimps. The XTC Fly Fishing Experience. While the grand slam has the draw for fly fishing in Mexican saltwater, I think that one might be selling themselves short if you are not prepared and excited to catch other fish. You wont be roughing it though this palapa hut comes with its own private bathroom. This proved to be a pretty exciting way to mix up the day when cuda were on the flats. A lovely place to stay - Review of Reef House at Casa Paraiso Xcalak Other random by-catch I managed were snappers, small jacks, needlefish, perch, some reef fish, and one small saltwater crocodile. 1 While natural . Experience the fishing, the culture, and the food . The flats all along Xcalaks coast are fair game for fly fishing, with some of the best found at Chetumal Bay, only 30 minutes away by boat. 970-385-4081 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? Options include unique fishing lodges, exclusive ranch stays, riverside vacation rentals, and affordable hotel packages. Tarpon, aka "Sabilo" We recommend an 8-9 wt rod, typically we are chasing the tarpon early in the morning along the mangrove edges and in the lagoons. Here are our recommendations for rods, lines, flies, tippet, waders and more. They are opportunistic eaters and as picky as permit. Your journey begins by flying to Cancun, where you will be whisked away from the urban hustle and bustle to the much more relaxed pace in real Mexico. 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. Fly Fishing in Xcalak, Chetumal Bay, Mexico. Plan for overnights in Cancun on June 9 and June 18. The more I learned about these fish, the less I understand. Choose your accommodation, pack your gear, and head to what might be the last undiscovered fly fishing paradise in the Yucatan. Seven through ten weights were in order for the grand slam of species we would be chasing the upcoming week. The closest town to Xcalak is Mahahual, home to a cruise ship port, restaurants, shops, hotels, and a Mayan-themed water park. The jetties are still holding trout and redfish. Go now, he whispers excitedly. Both Victor and Nick are great guys to fish with. Uncategorized. I would reccomend it, even just for the entertainment value. Our blog offers a vast collection of useful articles that include topics related to hatches, seasons, rivers, destination trip reports and more, Helpful checklists to make sure you include the proper clothing and gear for your Montana fishing trip, Information on rates for Montana and Yellowstone National Park fishing licenses. We started answering emails, at first, and then made this website. Its a secluded region perfect for travelers looking to experience a genuine beach-life. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Here in Xcalak, Mexico, we have some of the most beautiful saltwater flats for fly fishing in the world. A typical fishing day has you departing the Lodge at 8:00 AM and returning around 4:00 PM. The added bonus of these lagoons is that they offer excellent shelter during windy days or inclement weather, allowing our anglers to have great fishing, whatever the conditions, just like you can see in the video. These lagoons are mangrove-lined and accessible on all tidal phases. Simply enter your email address below and well send you a free special report Mexico: The Perfect Close-to-Home Retirement Haven. Fishing pressure has been very light, even with a lot of steelhead in the river.