.fullwidth-signup{ A pair of windmills power the resort, and like any good fishing lodge, it has its own restaurant and bar, which is where Patrick and I head after stashing our gear in our cabana, one of 16 spread along the waters edge. Welcome to Xcalak. Durango fly fishing guides on the San Juan River, Animas River, Dolores River, Florida River and Los Pinos River. I booked Nick for this April and he comes highly recommended, out of Mahahual. [Story by Nick Roberts / Photos by Patrick Williams]. you. Posted on July 30, 2020 January 11, 2021 by islander. My first two casts were off, but fortunately the fish were still in range. 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. background-color: #1a3c95; The fishing day starts with meeting your guide on our new 200 foot dock directly in front of the lodge. After about day 3, I finally figured out how to articulate permit: Some fish get into our heart. Welcome to Xcalak 101. Accommodations then were spare and dirty, fishing was so-so. BUS First you need to get to Mahahual. I will let those with more experience and confidence continue the debate from there. For years, my work has been fishing Montana Angler holds a federal permit to guide our guests on these legendary waters, Fish over 20 legendary Montana rivers across multiple valleys or get off the beaten path on our exclusive private access ranch leases. 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. Chetumal Bay is at the far southern tip of the Yucatan, near the border with Belize. One thing I did notice was that, depending on the day and tides, the tarpon spots could be limited. David Randall moved to Xcalak in the early '90s, after selling his catfish hatchery south of Kansas City. Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you a free special report - Why Millions of Americans Are Moving to Mexico. 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. Stay in a cabaa or a small casa, and spend the rest of your time on land in the palapa-topped lodge preparing for the next day and boasting about your triumphs. 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. Xcalak Bonefish (1.000) Xcalak on a Monday (1.000) Bones of Costa de Cocos (1.000) Tags: Bahia Blanca, bonefishing, Mexico, Xcalak. 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. Video: 9 more videos to help you discover Xcalak. Walleye fishing should start picking up now that we are into March. 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. Along with many miles of Caribbean shoreline, Xcalak sits conveniently close to the entrance of Chetumal Bay. Then we visited again. Ruin explorers can easily visit the Chacchoben archaeological site, about a two-hour drive from the village. Jose on many occasions and I am pleased to recommend him. For pricing on lodging packages visit each individual package for rates, inclusions and exclusions. If youre craving a lively afternoon, head to Mahahuals pedestrian-only malecn, and find a beachside bar for some people-watching. Click here to receive the sport of fly fishing's most authoritative magazine. Sign in to access your subscriptions and subscriber-only content. We fished for Permit, tarpon and Snook here also but I considered . 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. Fishing changes by the week in Montana. 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. Experience the wilds of Montana on a multi-day horse pack adventure. And he can also keep up 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. 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. Wet season runs from May to October and you can still expect sunny days, but . (And check out our highlight video from our trip last year below!). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Subscribe to the Magazine Today and Save 65%, IL Magazine: Discover the World's Best Retirement Haven for 2023 + 15 more, about subscribing to International Living Magazine. Our group boated everything from 3-pound babies to 15-pound juvies. Bring the basics and you are good to go. Cell coverage is non-existent in Xcalak, so make sure you have an offline map before making the drive. While comfortable, the accommodations are rusticwhich for all of us was just fine. The restaurant at Cocos is a popular place to cool off with one of their microbrews and trade stories with other fishers. This approximately 70-acre lake just north of Turner is open to public fishing along the southern half. There were times were we found bonefish tailing in schools of 10s and 20s in a foot of water and turtle grass. Leave early to arrive before nightfall. . Like us, theyre here to take advantage of Costa de Cocos great off-season rates. The average catch is 6 - 12 bonefish per day. /* Clear floats after the columns */ Although more populous than Xcalak, the crowds here are nothing compared to the Riviera Maya. Looking into the water, something didnt seem right. 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. 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. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site. https://www.thexflats.com/, Another local, Jos is an experienced Xcalak fly fishing guide, and he loves the local area. Fly Fishing in Xcalak, Chetumal Bay, Mexico. Xcalaks shore is made mostly of tiny coral fragments that arent exactly powdery-soft. I found that with our guides at Costa de Cocos, we had very little issues with any of our guides. Dolphin and Sailfish have been caught to the south in the 150 to 200 range, and the surf is finally fishable, though Jack Crevalle have been the most likely catch. Two suites complete with kitchens sleep 6 people each. Dr. Mike Larkin on Bonefish The Tom Roland Podcast. 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. When he is not plugging away in the basement of Duranglers, he can be found in the shop talking weird flies, throwing spey casts for few fish, eating pizza, drinking coffee, painting, and raising a family in Southwest Colorado. There they arethree or four tailing permit leisurely zigzagging across the flat, their sickle fins slicing through the waters rippled surface. Rain has improved fishing conditions. 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. During nine days of fly fishing and travel in the Yucatan Peninsula, the novel coronavirus went from being a faint American concern to a full-blown national emergency. We had two slams in our group (tarpon, permit, and bonefish in a single day) and lots of action throughout. Really like your blog. Michael Graham was in Xcalak in the Spring of 2009 on a self-described walk-about. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bonefish are easy to find, yet hard to spot. He covers the coast and inland waters. 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. I have had wonderful days fishing for bonefish What more could you ask for? Mixing bonefish, permit, and homemade bourbon on the Mexican Caribbean. Casa Cangrejo, One of the first accommodations to open in Xcalak, at Cocos your room is a palapa hut. The fish are happy, the cooler is full and our skiffs are loaded, the only thing we are waiting for is you! Not all locations fish well every month but there is always something peaking on any given week. I found that all of our guides were easy to communicate with as they all spoke English very well due to their many years spent on the water with us gringos. Here in Xcalak, Mexico, we have some of the most beautiful saltwater flats for fly fishing in the world. It grew into something that lets us connect travelers to the small businesses of Xcalak. Id love to make it down there. When I wrote my first article on bonefish fishing in Xcalak, Mexico, I mentioned that I was currently planning another trip back to pursue bonefish once again. 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. 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. Xcalak is a refreshingly undisturbed fishing village nestled along Mexicos southernmost Caribbean coastline. 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. Since our trip was in December, we had the youngsters of the species to target. For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 1, 2023 . Double occupancy (boat and room) -$4,495.00 USD. With a rental car and an early start, you can make a day trip to some of southern Mexicos intriguing, lesser-visited sights. 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. Spend your days fly fishing the saltwater flats, snorkeling the coral reefs (just steps from your door), or simply eating too much local food and napping in the dappled shade of a palm. You also need to purchase a Mexican fishing license, which you can buy weekly, monthly, or yearly. I have fished with Captain
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