Or, use the free kayaks and SUPs offered at most beachside hotels. Get in, amigo, Julio tells me as he hands off the pole to his brother. Needless to say, the diving and snorkeling here is world class. 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. This way of thinking might sell them far to short, however, because bonefish are extremely fun. This special guide covers real estate, retirement and more in Mexico and is yours free when you sign up for our postcards below. They are opportunistic eaters and as picky as permit. I personally felt it was incredible, but I am partial to anything coastal, and anything Mexican. Get picked up right from the dock in front of the beach and enjoy supper at the on-site restaurant. Not only is he an excellent Before you head off to Xcalak, here is some advice for making the most of your trip: .jason-signup { Night time temps were pretty cool, so having an AC was a non-issue and the showers were hot! Bonefish on the Brain. This technical match the hatch fishing produces big results. Off Xcalaks coast is the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. 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. Welcome to Permit Paradise! Outdoor Activities. 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. March 3, 2023. 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. For the majority of anglers traveling from the United States, the most direct route is to fly into the spring-break mecca of Cancn and drive the rest of the way, which takes about five hours. In our group, we had two that were lucky enough to connect and land a permit on the first day. In Xcalak, lush Mayan jungle meets turquoise Caribbean water. That image has changed with the arrival of sargassum algae in atypical amounts beginning about a decade ago ().Researchers from within the natural sciences assume that these specific algae reproduce quickly in the Atlantic Ocean due to an input of nutrients in the water, changes in currents, and warming ocean temperatures, viewing sargassum arrivals to be the new normal. I often found that the best communication came early at the dock when discussing the plan for the day. Quiet about Xcalak! Information related to travelling to Montana: which airports to fly into, major towns, etc. If you book a fly fishing package with one of Xcalaks accommodations, they can hook you up with a guide, or you book an accommodation and a guide separately. Feel free to send me an email with any questions you 2023 pricing for 7 nights / 6 days. } 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. With XOTF at Casa Paraiso, youre sure to have a rewarding and relaxing time. 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. 2022 by Fly Fish Costa Maya. Contact david@whitestackle.com to suggest our next tutorial. Really like your blog. It comes with the package. Bay wells producing sheepshead and black drum on live shrimp. The excellent fly fishing is found on the bonefish and permit flats of Chetumal Bay. Depending on traffic and how many stops you make, the trip will take about 6 to 7 hours. Although more populous than Xcalak, the crowds here are nothing compared to the Riviera Maya. International Fly-Fishing Film Festival 2023 Gage Charlesworth Ogden City Corp gagec@ogdencity.com-801-629-8992. If you liked the story above, check out these stories below. Local skipper Victor has lived in the area for 35 years and has been guiding fishermen in the area . 4.2 / 5 (2 reviews) Mahahual 26 ft 4 persons . 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. Costa De Cocos Lodge isnt totally out in the middle of absolutely nowhere, but it is out of the way. guide with great eyes, he is an enjoyable fishing companion Xcalak Bonefish (1.000) Xcalak on a Monday (1.000) Bones of Costa de Cocos (1.000) Tags: Bahia Blanca, bonefishing, Mexico, Xcalak. @Glenn, I dont know why the video isnt playing for you it played for me straight off. This proved to be a pretty exciting way to mix up the day when cuda were on the flats. These fish are tough, with extremely hard mouths, so getting them to eat sometimes was not the hard partsticking the hook was. Looking into the water, something didnt seem right. A six hour drive south of Cancun, Xcalak resists mega-tourism and retains its natural beauty. Very well done Kev, glad you had a great trip. } 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). Fly Fishing in Xcalak, Chetumal Bay, Mexico. I look for alternatives from time to time, but didnt on this post. Of the 30 plus eats I had with Marty on the second day, we managed to jump 4 and land 1. Options include unique fishing lodges, exclusive ranch stays, riverside vacation rentals, and affordable hotel packages. Will dredging the Zaragoza Canal hurt Xcalak. Powered by and nice guy. DIY Saltwater Fly Fishing - Etiquette on the Xcalak flats. On the boats at 8am and back at the dock 4-430pm. Julios younger brother and apprentice, Eduardo, spots the fish right away. We take care of all the gear and you just sit back and relax after arriving in camp. At Miguels suggestion, we stop for a late lunch at a taco stand, where the four of us eat our fill of pollo and carnitas for only eight dollars. As with Xcalak, nothing special on the fly front here. Leave early to arrive before nightfall. Faro Xcalak, Othon P. Blanco's tide times and tide charts, high tide and low tide times, fishing times, tide tables, weather forecasts surf reports and solunar charts for today. Xcalak The jungle starts to encroach on civilization and lines the road like a solid green wall. Talk your guide about what you want to try for snook, tarpon, barracuda, or jacks. There are three seasons in Xcalak - dry, wet, and hurricane. Hey Nate, certainly looks like a good time. 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. Plan for your Montana fishing trip. This fly fishing service can book your tour and accommodations, and has access to a network of Xcalak guides. 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. What more could you ask for? Search, book & review the best deals online with us! It grew into something that lets us connect travelers to the small businesses of Xcalak. 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. Great report Kev,and IMHO you did everything right re your rod choice mate.As this was your first experience of this kind you didn't take knives to a gun fight. The boat ride to the vast fishing area in Chetumal . We emerge from the jungle after a couple hours, and when I spot a stand of mangroves sprouting in a pool of water along the road, I know were almost there. Some fish get into our soul. The tarpon opportunities were not an all day, everyday kind of thing, but when they were there, it could be a few hours of almost constant targets! Buy it online or buy it when you arrive, just be sure to buy it before you start fishing. float: none; 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. It's less developed (and less crowded) than it's popular northern neighbor Ascension Bay, near Tulum. 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). Many had a mix of experience guiding out of Xcalak along with guiding at Ascension Bay. You wont be roughing it though this palapa hut comes with its own private bathroom. The third cast was spot on and the entire school was over my fly. 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. Choose from Montana's most comprehensive selection of fly fishing trips. Experience the fishing, the culture, and the food . And again. Experience the wilds of Montana on a multi-day horse pack adventure. 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. Costa De Cocos is truly a fishermans lodge. float: none; Like us, theyre here to take advantage of Costa de Cocos great off-season rates. Last updated 3/1/23. The permit are swimming right to left, on a diagonal line, but suddenly, they start coming toward us. At a whopping six-hour drive from Cancun, not many tourists make it to Xcalak, and thats too bad for them. Overall conditions on Lake Taneycomo couldn't get any more stable than we've experienced the last couple of weeks. 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. is a great caster himself, casting equally well with both Beyond Tulum, the communities become more rural and become fewer and farther between. Traveler ranking. News: Will dredging the Zaragoza Canal hurt Xcalak? 923 Main Ave | DURANGO, CO 81301 The area we were in was very shallow, so Alberto began poling us in search of Plan B. Our packages and trips were designed by fishing-obsessed father and son duo Jim and Chase Looney with anglers in mind. The closest town to Xcalak is Mahahual, home to a cruise ship port, restaurants, shops, hotels, and a Mayan-themed water park. Your flight is NOT included in the package and must be purchased separately. He is an excellent teacher and my choice when I send So, head to the ADO bus terminal in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar or Chetumal . Top Fishing Charters in Xcalak. Jacks are close relatives of Permit, and they sometimes swim in schools together. font-size: medium; Fly fishing for Pacific Rockfish is nothing new, but something that most anglers haven't sampled yet. reefs, islands, lagoons and bays of the beautiful Xcalak National Re: DIY Fly Fishing. 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. After stretching our legs, refueling on appetizers, chips, homemade salsa (a personal favorite), and downing a few beverages; it was time to rig up. Video: 9 more videos to help you discover Xcalak. Copyright 2020 American Angler. Xcalak (I have no idea how to pronounce that) is waaaay down there in Mexico past Cancun, past Ascencion Bay, almost to Belize. Had a great trip to Xcalak, fishing out of Casa Paraiso. These fish are those we hold most dear. We flew into Cancun on a Friday the 6th of December, overnighted at the Cancun Airport Marriott, and then were picked up the following morning for a 5-hour drive south into the Mayan jungle. Bonefish are easy to find, yet hard to spot. Go far enough, and its not that you forget about the worriesits that the worries forget about you. Each is constructed with a forward casting deck . These are the fish we seek when the deeper questions of life are on the table. May 9, 2022 May 9, . If youre craving a lively afternoon, head to Mahahuals pedestrian-only malecn, and find a beachside bar for some people-watching. As in most places where one can find tarpon, there often are a few in the mix. Off the beaten track, Xcalak is an alternative to the throngs of people and high rise hotels found further north. 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. One thing I did notice was that, depending on the day and tides, the tarpon spots could be limited. . Read about average temperatures and weather patterns month by month. 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. } After 5 minutes or so the fish was getting closer to the boat. .signup-column { color: white; You can buy food from the local grocery trucks that ply the beach road. The most popular fish in Xcalak are permit and bonefish, but theres a lot more than that for you to hook. After about day 3, I finally figured out how to articulate permit: Some fish get into our heart. December through February, theses migrating snook show up and can be found lurking at likely ambush points. Acocote Eco Inn: Perfect for the adventurous - Read 144 reviews, view 87 photos, and find great deals for Acocote Eco Inn at Tripadvisor Originally started as a diving and snorkeling lodge to cater to tourists wishing to explore the Mesoamerican barrier reef 400 yards from shore(more on that later), the owners of the Lodge quickly realized the immense potential of the fishery in front of and behind their lodge. 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. Fishing Charters & Tours in Xcalak. 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. Your email address will not be published. I make a long, slow strip. Coral Garden Inn. Water temperatures are still cold. Uncategorized. Go far enough, and it's not that you forget about the worriesit's that the worries forget about you. Its cheaper to stay at one of the non fishing lodges down there and book guides on your own and DIY. 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. Palometaalla, he whispers, pointing into the glare. Fishing changes by the week in Montana. With clear underwater visibility, warm temperatures, and the presence of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the coast of Xcalak offers fantastic scuba diving and snorkeling. This approximately 70-acre lake just north of Turner is open to public fishing along the southern half. Theres more to Xcalak than fly fishing, heres our Ultimate List of Things to do in Xcalak, https://www.josexcalaktours.com/index.html. They do not, however, command nearly the same respect in the angling world as a Permit. The upside is the permit fishing is consistently good through June and July (Julio notes that May is typically the best month), and June is also when big migratory tarpon begin to show up along the reef. There were a few interesting flats around, some small bonefish, a decent number of cudas. Xcalak is home to a quintessential view of the Caribbean, with translucent turquoise waters and mostly undeveloped beaches, backed by swaying palms. Would love to see more pictures! Two suites complete with kitchens sleep 6 people each. Julio and I stealthily close in on the fish, their black spikes silhouetted in the fading light. More than once, it was remarked that the food was beyond our expectations. While beach destinations in Mexico, such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen, are well-known for their long, beautiful stretches of sand, theres another perfect spot along the Caribbean Sea that receives far less tourist attention: Xcalak. Freshly caught lobster, coconut breaded fish topped with mango salsa, huevos rancheros in the mornings, tropical drinks waiting for us at the dock upon return from fishing, octopus ceviche, and even pizza (the restaurant is known for it)we were well fed. Many avid anglers, however, enjoy bringing their own gear. Casa Cangrejo, One of the first accommodations to open in Xcalak, at Cocos your room is a palapa hut. Let us help you build the perfect lodging and fishing package. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Facing the " Great Mayan Reef", the second largest reef in the world, Casa Caracola is located in a national park. Costa de Cocos, Only 2 kms from town, this accommodation is the closest thing to a resort youll find in Xcalak. Maybe you are very serious about fly fishing maybe you are very excited about snorkeling or maybe you are just very ready for a vacation to explore the reefs, islands, lagoons and bays of the beautiful Xcalak National Park. I toss the Rag Head Crab into the air, load my 9-weight, and aim a couple feet in front of the lead fish. 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 My love of snook was something I was clowned on throughout the trip, but when these Mexican migrators showed up on the flats and in the mangroves, no one was laughing. These lagoons are mangrove-lined and accessible on all tidal phases. width: 100%; 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? Choose from over 20 fabled blue ribbon rivers that we target. The dry season typically lasts from November to April, when day after day of sunshine makes the beach a great place to be.