We made it back to Mahahual and Xcalak for the first time in a couple of years. The conditions were less than ideal, with back-to-back high-pressure fronts. Nonetheless, it was great to catch up and fish with Nick and Evaristo....both of whom are excellent humans.
Coming Up Next: We leave for Cuba on April 19th. We'll be exploring Havana and fishing the Zapata Peninsula for a week.
Then heading to Andros the first week of May to chase bonefish on the fly with the legendary Benry Smith at the Red Bay Sunset Lodge.
Stay tuned.....
Saturday, May 5, 2018
When I am on the water, there is nothing greater than watching a tarpon roll, a permit flash, or a bonefish tail. Every interaction with these amazing creatures is a gift from the fish gods.
Wednesday, May 2nd was a day I will never forget. Although I received no less than 15 rejections from permit, it was one of the best days of fishing in my life. I got to spend my day watching unicorns in the wild and it was fantastic. Every mistake I made was a new opportunity to learn.
Then, on my second cast the next morning, I got an eat.
As you are no doubt aware, the permit code is a tough one to
crack but I am enjoying the ride.
Fortunately, the flats of Chetumal
Bay also have an abundance of healthy bones.
...and the neighboring lagoons and cenotes have healthy populations of juvenile tarpon.
The Entrance to an Amazing Place
Photo by Nick Denbow
Photo by Nick Denbow
I could go on and on about how much I love Mahahual and Xcalak, but here are some more photos.
Chetumal Bay Bonefish Flat
Costa de Cocos
Downtown Xcalak
It was so damned hard getting on the plane and saying goodbye to this amazing place - but I will be back soon.
Thank you Nick, Steve and Nacho for an amazing week.
Mexican mullet, a sergeant major and a damselfish cavorting among the rocks
I needed to get away. Away from the last throes of winter, away from the cabin fever and, most of all, away from the constant 'pinging' of my godforsaken iPhone.
I needed to swim in the ocean.
It was that time of year again. Time for our post-winter escape to the Mayan Riviera.
I got out again on my favorite DIY flats south of Tulum. 'Twas a good day with a lot of nice fish - many bones and a few jacks. Unfortunately, no permit.
You've got to love a place that affords walk and wade access to great bonefish flats. All you've got to do is endure Tulum's speed bumps, eco-chic tourists and a pretty lousy jungle road and you're there.
Mexican Bonefish vs. Merkin
Mexican Bonefish vs. Gotcha
The fishing was great and, although I did not get any shots at permit, I was determined to return for another chance.
Alas, I came back 48 hours later and was promptly escorted out of the water by a boatload of federales.
"Senor, necesitas regresar ahora mismo. No puedes pescar aqui sin una panga. Este lugar es muy peligroso. Hay gran crocodilios aqui."
"Damn," I thought. "The rules have changed and my DIY flats fishing option has gone down the tubes." I knew there were crocs here, but I always avoid the green water and make it a point to be back on land long before dusk.
Nonetheless, the man ain't having it here anymore. Whether it's due to a legitimate safety concern or a desire to make sure gringos hire local guides, these flats are off limits without a boat.
That's it for the fishing report, but - if you're interested - you can read on to find out about the rest of the trip and my attempts to help instill a love for the ocean in my son and nephew.
Sam (4) and Hans (8) tried snorkeling, attended Xcaret's "Shark and Stingray Encounter," explored a cenote' and checked out a baby sea turtle nursery. Here are some highlights:
If you've ever fished the area around Ascension Bay, Boca Paila Lagoon and the Sian Ka'an biosphere in the Yucatan region of Mexico, you understand what an incredible fishery exists there. It is nearly untouched and literally teeming with life. Hence, it is an outstanding location for film making.
Enter RA Beattie and Beattie Outdoor Productions. Anyone who has attended the Fly Fishing Film Tour in recent years is familiar with RA's work, which is consistently some of the best outdoor cinematography available anywhere.
In my book, there are two crucial components to a good fly fishing movie: 1) the eat, and 2) footage of tailing fish. Scenery is great and a good story and soundtrack will go a long way, but these two components are "must haves" for me. Beattie understands this and delivers up a remarkable smorgasbord of eats - from tarpon, snook, redfish, smallmouth bass and trout, plus a bunch of tailing bonefish and permit in Off the Grid.
Two years in the making, Off the Grid is a collection of 19 different films shot in 15 locations. The "bonus features" section alone is worth the price of admission. It includes a segment with over two minutes of footage of nothing but tailing bonefish. At the end of the segment, they pull one of the fattest bonefish I have ever seen out of Biscayne Bay. The DVD also includes the features "Bluewater" - a tale about the pursuit of Guatemalan billfish and "Midwest Tour" - a feature film documenting some of the midwest's finest fishing opportunities.
While that's all good, the real gem here is the Mexican mangrove lagoon segment. The '"cat and mouse" fly chases are incredible and the jack crevalle blitz beginning at 2:13 will blow your mind.
