Mexican Yucatan Flyfishing Lodges
Just south of the Tropic of Cancer, at approximately 23.5 degrees north latitude, (named nearly 2000 years ago because the sun was in the direction of the Cancer constellation during the June equinox) is the northern tip of the Mexican Yucatan.
The peninsula itself is bordered on the west and north by the Gulf of Mexico and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. On its southern boundary are found Belize and Guatemala. Back in the 70's and 80's, it's man-made tourist attraction of Cancun added to the discovery of fabulous flats fishing to the south, putting it on the radar of fly fishers from all over the world, but especially the US, with the relatively short, easy trip to get there. The Mexican Yucatan covers 44,000 square miles with over 500 miles of coastline – along this vast shoreline are thousands of square miles of shallow bays and flats. It is home of the famous Chicxulub Crater located in the northeastern part of the peninsula marking the impact location of the 6 mile wide meteor that caused it a short 65 million years ago. It is held by some to have contributed, in part, to the demise of Earth's dinosaurs.
The land in the northern section of the peninsula, north and west of Cancun is riddled with caves, cenotes (sinkholes usually filled with water) and underground waterways in it's mostly limestone base. The northeast, north and northwest shorelines are almost completely filled with shallow, clear water bays and waterways lined with mangroves that are perfect nurseries for tarpon (lots of baby tarpon 2 – 20 pounds) and homes to snook, sheepshead, barracuda, snapper, some permit and a few bonefish. The deeper waters off shore a little ways provide food for migrating tarpon of sometimes giant size (over 150 pounds), especially during the summer months. The southern Yucatan in Mexico has four huge saltwater bays, Boca Paila, Ascension Bay, Espiritu Santo Bay and Chetumal Bay moving from north to south. Chetumal Bay in the extreme south, shares its waters with Mexico and Belize. These all have direct access to the Caribbean Sea, therefore giving ingress and egress to permit, bonefish, tarpon and several other ocean living fishes who like to feed in the shallow water flats.
The population centers around Cancun, Isla Cozumel, Riviera Maya (coastal area from Cancun to Tulum), Merida, Campeche and Chetumal. There are modern highways connecting all of these cities, except, of course, Cozumel, an island, which necessitates a ferry ride or a flight to get there. It is very easy to get around this part of Mexico. Rental cars are still very inexpensive and/or all of the lodges we work with have transfer services that are part of the fishing packages. The US dollar is widely accepted except in very rural small communities and even there, they usually do not have any problems with it.
It is the ancient land of the Mayan peoples with many ruins with the towering pyramids dotting the jungles and coastline. Some are still entwined in the jungle undergrowth and some ruins remain as tiny small structures still standing strong against the elements and vandalism. They stand as evidence of the strong thriving civilization of a thousand and more years ago and as a reminder to the Mayan peoples of today, of their heritage.
Proving that the Mexican peoples are forward-looking at protecting their natural history and wildlife, the Sian Ka'an Biosphere, a 1.3 million acre reserve, was established in 1986 and stands today as a success for preserving over 20 known archeological sites, over 100 known mammal species and over 300 known bird species in conjunction with over 2000 inhabitants. It's Mayan for "where the sky is born" or "gift of the sky".
The popularization of fly fishing in the Yucatan and especially in the state of Quintana Roo, can be traced primarily to Antonio Gonzalez, when he first founded Boca Paila Lodge in 1964. Tony was an adventurer as well as the mayor of Cozumel. Mike Michalak, The Fly Shop owner, recalls that it was with Tony at Boca Paila in 1978, that he caught his first bonefish. Tony loved two activities dearly,
flying and fishing. Unfortunately, one of these loves proved more dangerous than the other. He died with his plane's controls in his hands instead of a fly rod. It is the longest continually running fishing lodge in the Mexican Yucatan. In the 60's, 70's and early 80's, fly fishers from the US started exploring these south-of-the-border waters. They found huge schools of unsophisticated bonefish and miles of shoreline habitat perfect for baby tarpon and snook. Permit were also abundant, although still as persnikity as ever and rarely taking a fly. Other lodges started popping up, mostly around Ascension Bay. One was started on land (a private island named Punta Pajaros, on the south side of Ascension Bay) once owned by Gonzalez and was to become one of the more famous fishing lodges in the saltwater world; Casa Blanca and later Playa Blanca. Other lodges to follow were Pez Maya, Ascension Bay Bonefish Club, Pesca Maya, Palometa Club, Paradise Lodge and others spread out up and down the coast from Xcalak to Isla Holbox.
It is also home to tens of thousands of bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, snapper and barracuda. The fishing is holding up very well. Some say, in part, due to the rules set down by the Sian Ka'an Biosphere, severely restricting commercial and sport fishing within it's boundaries. Thousands of sportfishers visit the Mexican Yucatan every year, but there is still remote and secluded fishing to be found where you, your fishing partner and your guide are the only people in sight on a flats miles in length and the next fish you see might be a bonefish, tarpon, permit or a snook. You can't ask for much more than that.
Flights into Cancun are common from just about every major city in the world. Several non-stop flights are available from the US. Once you arrive and get through customs, you will make your way to your car rental, hotel or will be met by the lodge representative where you are going to stay. Pretty easy.
One of the oldest established fishing lodges in the Mexican Yucatan is Boca Paila Lodge. It was founded in 1964, by the Gonzales family and has built a rock-solid reputation as a great destination for bonefish and permit fishing...
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This new fishing lodge was opened on the island in June of 2006. Located on pristine white sand Discovery Beach, it overlooks the ever changing aqua waters of the atoll's lagoon.
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If one were to dream up the perfect location for a saltwater flats fishing lodge, it would be hard to find one better than on the private island of Punta Pajaros directly between Ascension Bay and Espiritu Santo Bay...
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In the Mexican Yucatan, near the small village of Punta Allen, you can find the first of its kind fishing lodge in Mexico and maybe all of Central America. Grand Slam Fly Fishing Lodge was built...
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At the very northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula is a small island that was kind of overlooked when tourists took over the Cancun/Cozumel area. Beautiful sand beaches line the northern, Gulf of Mexico...
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About a 3 hour drive south of Cancun, on the oceanside beach of the little fishing village of Punta Allen sits the Palometa Club. Its location is perfect for searching Ascension Bay...
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Paradise Lodge is aptly named. What was at first hailed as the lodge most consistently productive for tarpon and snook now includes outstanding bonefishing and permit fishing in the most scenic and remote flats...
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There are few areas of the world where there are as many square miles of shallow water flats as there are in the Mexican Yucatan. And right in the middle of it, Pesca Maya. It has been there for 25 years,...
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Playa Blanca is a beautiful full service resort located on a secluded white sand beach with several guest bungalows and a central lodge for meals, meetings and cocktail hours. Playa Blanca is located 10 miles south...
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