Shots at permit are what brought my fishing buddy Patrick and me to Xcalaka small pit stop on the Yucatn Peninsula at the southern end of Costa Maya, perfectly situated on one of the last undeveloped stretches along the Mexican Caribbean. Ilana and David Randall founded Costa de Cocos over 25 years ago on an idyllic 350-foot stretch of oceanfront property a half mile north of town. Talk about hero to zero. Destination Reports Xcalak Bonefish Round 2. Barracuda patrol is also in order in Chetumal: while one angler is on the bow with the bonefish rod, the second is on deck with a 10 weight and wire rig tied to a needlefish fly. Speaking of accommodations, here are the most popular accommodations for fly fishers in Xcalak: Home of the Fxcalak (fish-ka-lak, get it?) The lodge will supply you with non alcoholic beverages and lunch to take on your fly fishing quest. } The first time I went to Xcalak, what stood out the most was the places authenticity. Bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, and barracuda await your fly. You can buy food from the local grocery trucks that ply the beach road. /* Clear floats after the columns */ To get to Xcalak, you can either rent a car at the airport, or the Costa de Cocos Resort in Xcalak can arrange for a complimentary shuttle to pick you up. Many avid anglers, however, enjoy bringing their own gear. This proved to be a pretty exciting way to mix up the day when cuda were on the flats. 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 thats how we truly fell for this beach town in the south of Mexico. great time to plan a visit. BEACH FRONT lote For Sale 9150 ft2 at Mahahual- Xcalak road P3413, Costa Maya, Quintana Roo. On the boats at 8am and back at the dock 4-430pm. And he can also keep up After suffering several hurricanes, Xcalak maintains a small population dedicated to fishing and tourism, maintaining its . Julio and I stealthily close in on the fish, their black spikes silhouetted in the fading light. } Local skipper Victor has lived in the area for 35 years and has been guiding fishermen in the area . Water has cleared up. xcalak-bonefishing-sabadeando.wmv. The jungle starts to encroach on civilization and lines the road like a solid green wall. 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. News: Will dredging the Zaragoza Canal hurt Xcalak? If you just have a day or two to spare, day trips are a great way to experience Montana's legendary fisheries. The Chetumal Bay flats in Xcalak are vastly larger than Ascension Bay further north, offering the fly. 1 INSTITUTIONAL AMNESIA. Quiet about Xcalak! Acocote Eco Inn, Located right in town, Casa Cangrejo is a straight up fly fishing lodge. } Xcalak is cash-only, and theres no ATM; youd be wise to load up on pesos before arriving. Since our trip was in December, we had the youngsters of the species to target. Spring creeks offer the ultimate challenge in the fly fishing world. and an obscure mountain lake; Of the Sea, brothers explore the elusive Banco Chinchorro off the coast of Xcalak; Jacks, giant trevally attacking from deep ocean water; Father Nature . It depicts a good summary. The long ride south to Xcalak along scenic Highway 307 offers a fascinating look at the countryside and the villages dotting the eastern edge of the Yucatn Peninsula. Last updated 3/1/23. So I will simply say that there is a broad range of acceptable tactics but with the permit I caught, in the weather I caught it and with cast I made I was happy to have the 10wt. Double occupancy (boat and room) -$4,495.00 USD. 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. Hey Bjorn, Off the beaten track, Xcalak is an alternative to the throngs of people and high rise hotels found further north. Not only is Jose a great flats guide, he Both Victor and Nick are great guys to fish with. [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. Some days were better than others for finding rolling tarpon, but when they were up, they were up! For me, it is steelhead. I will let those with more experience and confidence continue the debate from there. Accommodations then were spare and dirty, fishing was so-so. Theres more to Xcalak than fly fishing, heres our Ultimate List of Things to do in Xcalak, https://www.josexcalaktours.com/index.html. Required fields are marked *. International Fly-Fishing Film Festival 2023 Gage Charlesworth Ogden City Corp gagec@ogdencity.com-801-629-8992. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We offer both full and half day options. Join International Living Today and Get the 2023 Global Retirement IndexFREE with This Special Offer. 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 . Plan for your Montana fishing trip. Your email address will not be published. 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. [emailprotected], HOURS: 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. A few of us even opted to grab a lodge kayak and head out to the oceanside flats for a little afternoon casting practice. border: 0.2rem solid #ffb500; There are new license requirements to fish for winter steelhead in 2023 on south coast rivers and anglers should check the new regulation book prior to fishing. Need a fishing charter? I often found that the best communication came early at the dock when discussing the plan for the day. Fun Facts: All about the manatees of Xcalak. Chetumal Bay is at the far southern tip of the Yucatan, near the border with Belize. .fullwidth-signup{ We quickly spotted a school of Bonefish and Tony caught one, so it was my turn to fish. Given Xcalaks limited development, youd be right to guess that the tourist hotels take sustainability seriously. The boat ride to the vast fishing area in Chetumal . Let me share my thoughts. Lakes above and below us are all . Poor fisheries data, many fishers, and increasing tourism development: Interdisciplinary views on past and current small-scale fisheries exploitation on Holbox Island A link to purchase your Montana license online is also provided, Frequently asked questions related to fly fishing in Montana and about our fishing trips and packages, Montana Angler is a family run business that prides itself on working with the best guides and lodging options in Montana, Read what our guests have to say about our trips and learn why we are rated #1 in Trip Advisor and have a 5 star average on our Orvis reviews. 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. Depending on traffic and how many stops you make, the trip will take about 6 to 7 hours. Water temperatures are still cold. One thing I did notice was that, depending on the day and tides, the tarpon spots could be limited. 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. . Not only is he an excellent 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. If you have fished in the Bay of Ascension you can expect fewer but larger fish in Xcalak, the average being 3 to 4 pounds. With the scarcity of resources in mind, its not surprising that theres no air conditioninghere, youll have to count on the Caribbean breeze and ceiling fans to stay cool. hands. you. Chetumal is no exception as it boasts resident baby and juvenile tarpon, along with large migrating adult tarpon in the summer months. Michael Graham was in Xcalak in the Spring of 2009 on a self-described walk-about. Other random by-catch I managed were snappers, small jacks, needlefish, perch, some reef fish, and one small saltwater crocodile. Tierra Maya Lodge, At 9 kms north of town, this secluded accommodation is a fantastic destination for DIY fly fishing. Specifically, the joy found in our trip to the salt to fish the lesser known of the great Yucatan bays: Chetumal. Durango fly fishing guides on the San Juan River, Animas River, Dolores River, Florida River and Los Pinos River. 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 . Your guide knows where to find the fish he spots them, and you hook them. Bring your gear, your fly box, your sunscreen, your best double-haul cast and your sense of adventure for an amazing time at one of my favorite places to fly Read More Sign in to access your subscriptions and subscriber-only content. 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 . Costa de Cocos lodge, kitchen, and service staff did an absolutely fantastic job of making us feel comfortable, well fed, and equally hydrated. JavaScript is disabled. Xcalak, with a present population of around 350 people, was the largest city in Quintana Roo until it was . From there, the best way to get to Xcalak is to rent a car and drive south on Highway 307. More than 11222 fishing boats in 110 countries. Victor's location in Xcalak means easy access to the flats of Chetumal Bay. Beyond Tulum, the communities become more rural and become fewer and farther between. The fish are happy, the cooler is full and our skiffs are loaded, the only thing we are waiting for is you! The dry season typically lasts from November to April, when day after day of sunshine makes the beach a great place to be. I booked Nick for this April and he comes highly recommended, out of Mahahual. Shorelines action is heating up with a few speckled trout, redfish, and decent numbers of black drum, and sheepshead, all on live shrimp. Its cheaper to stay at one of the non fishing lodges down there and book guides on your own and DIY. Work now, play later as they say. Big, small, funny, and fast. Its a quaint statement that can be applied to many situations in life. The reef is a physical barrier that breaks up big ocean surge and turns it to gentle waves. Would love to see more pictures! The second-longest reef in the world, it stretches nearly 700 miles, from Isla Mujeres in Mexico to the Bay Islands in Honduras. reefs, islands, lagoons and bays of the beautiful Xcalak National Even after the opening of the Parque Nacional de Arrecifes (Xcalak Reefs Natonal Park) many of the inhabitants still feed their families from the sea but now often in the form of guiding fishermen or . Choose your accommodation, pack your gear, and head to what might be the last undiscovered fly fishing paradise in the Yucatan. Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity. They are opportunistic eaters and as picky as permit. fly fishing maybe you are very excited about snorkeling or 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. Montana Angler guides fish the famous Livingston creeks in addition to several other spring creeks on some of our exclusive ranch leases. 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. This package includes transportation from Cancun International Airport, accommodation and all meals. After stretching our legs, refueling on appetizers, chips, homemade salsa (a personal favorite), and downing a few beverages; it was time to rig up. 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. It's less developed (and less crowded) than it's popular northern neighbor Ascension Bay, near Tulum. In 2015, we almost didnt visit Xcalak. Would cut the cost quite a bit me thinksor are you one of those resort dudes? Experience some of the lower 48's most remote fisheries. 8,621.89 Sqft. Mexico His place is right in town where the fishing guides pick you up. Xcalak is located within a National Park, designed to protect the worlds second largest barrier reef. These fish are tough, with extremely hard mouths, so getting them to eat sometimes was not the hard partsticking the hook was. For unknown reasons, Scheepstra broke away from his fishing partner and headed back toward the rental car. There were times were we found bonefish tailing in schools of 10s and 20s in a foot of water and turtle grass. My name is Jose, I live in Xcalak, and I am here to help you. 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. 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. The more I learned about these fish, the less I understand. Coral Garden Inn. 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. He and his wife Illana own Costa de Cocos resort, which sits on . We pick you up each day at the hotel and in the evenings you can enjoy fun western towns like Bozeman and Livingston, Browse our large network of vacation homes and cabins that are either on the water or centrally located to great fishing. Palometaalla, he whispers, pointing into the glare. What's the #1 Thing Every Expat Says They Wish They'd Done Before Going to Latin America? Did I mention all you can drink too? 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). Top Fishing Charters in Xcalak. Learn about getting to Xcalak. The Parks daily entrance fee is payable to Park officials and it includes a wristband to show that youve paid to use the park. BUS First you need to get to Mahahual. That isnt to say they arent out there, the truth is often wilder than fiction. float: none; The cabanas fit 2 anglers, had ceiling fans, plenty of windows, and a fine and functional bathroom. If you liked the story above, check out these stories below. The fishing. Fly Fishing for bonefish in Chetumal Bay. Posted on July 30, 2020 January 11, 2021 by islander. But what the sand lacks in smoothness, the beach makes up for in seclusion. Jose on many occasions and I am pleased to recommend him. Be it status, financial security, or even something as fleeting as comfort. and guiding in Xcalak and I can tell you that things have never Getting ThereThe town of Xcalak, Mexico sits at the end of the road. Acocote Eco Inn: Perfect for the adventurous - Read 144 reviews, view 87 photos, and find great deals for Acocote Eco Inn at Tripadvisor The sheer power of the fish is incredible. Nathan Bolerjack. 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. Grand slams are not uncommon in Xcalak, so set your sights high! The rivers, streams and lakes of Yellowstone National Park hold a special place in the hearts of many anglers. I was also an unlucky one when I managed to hook and lose a permit pushing the 20-pound mark the next day, solidifying the fact that I would probably have said fever haunting me for the rest of my life. I'd like to hear about the permit on the 10 weight. Not just a fishing and diving lodge, Costa de Cocos boasts a restaurant, brewery, and distillery. 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. With XOTF at Casa Paraiso, youre sure to have a rewarding and relaxing time. Xcalak is a small fishing village on the southern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, in the State of Quintana Roo. Targeting the plentiful bonefish is always an option. Each is constructed with a forward casting deck .
xcalak fishing report