The Fly Shop

Fishing Report #8
March 16 – 23, 2025

Hello to all our loyal fishing report followers!

In week 8 of our 2025 season, we had the pleasure of sharing the waters with a wonderful, calm, and fun group of friends—several doctors from across the United States, hailing from Ohio, California, Utah, Pennsylvania, and Washington. A truly cosmopolitan crew! This particular group had the unique twist of having to enter overland. For reasons that are as mystifying as they are endearing, it reminded us of our beloved Mexican soil—a land of beauty, delicious food, breathtaking scenery, rich culture, and, yes, a fair share of red tape. Once the minor entry hiccup was resolved and everyone was comfortably settled at the lodge, it felt like home once again.

After unloading gear, assembling rods, tying leaders, and carefully selecting flies, the crew’s minds were already drifting to the promise of fishing within reach.

A Toast to the Night Before the Action

At dinner, following our homemade ceviche appetizer and a perfectly executed poblano chile relleno by our culinary team, the group discovered that tomorrow was Saint Patrick’s Day. Seizing the festive spirit, they organized a team fly fishing tournament using green flies, with points awarded by species. With rules hashed out over the table and contracts signed on the spot, strategies were quickly spun, and excitement charged the air.

Monday – Tournament Day
Monday dawned a bit rainy and overcast, with a brisk northerly wind, but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm. With low-hanging clouds as a backdrop, most anglers opted for blind casts into the mangroves and river systems.

The day was a slow burn—snooks, bonefish, jacks, and snapper were taken. In the “Green St. Patrick’s Tournament,” the team of Joe and Bill emerged victorious with 5 points. Congratulations to them! Meanwhile, Mike, riding in the truck back to the lodge, couldn’t help but mutter, “God damn, if I could have landed that snook!”

Luckily, margaritas awaited at the palapa bar, along with an appetizing platter of chicken wings and green beers to honor the day.

Tuesday – Adrenaline on the Line
Tuesday greeted us with excellent conditions—clear skies and a gentle northerly breeze ignited the team’s adrenaline as they hit the water with full force. Early on, bonefish, snapper, and a barracuda snagged by Dave set the stage, with several promising permit strikes. Yet, the real story belonged to Mike and Harry.

Between María Elena and Nido de Águila, the guide spotted a lively school of jacks—well-sized and energetic. With Mike on cast, a single, long, and precise shot combined with a subtle twitch sent the entire school into a frenzy over his peanut butter fly. Accelerating his strips as the fish surged, Mike landed a magnificent 17-pound specimen after a fierce 20-minute battle. Bravo, Mike!

Then it was Harry’s turn. As they drifted downwind past Nido de Águila, the guide spotted a sizable stingray just 100 feet away—and behind it, a solitary permit. We all know: solitary means big. As the guide called, “Get ready, Harry! That stingray’s got prize written all over it,” the tension was palpable. Once in casting range, hearts pounded as the guide commanded, “At 9, twenty feet: Cast!” Harry obliged with precision. He let his white spawning shrimp pattern sink and, with a series of short strips, provoked a violent take. A perfect hookset, a long run into the backing, and a thrilling 20-minute fight later, Mike’s phone nearly took a dive when he reached to snap a quick photo—but he heroically jumped into the water to recover it before it hit the bottom. A magnificent permit was landed, captured, and released. Laughter, high fives, and cheers filled the boat—a story for the ages!

Wednesday – Mixed Conditions, Unyielding Spirit
Wednesday started with a delightful southeast breeze and clear skies, though winds gradually picked up and clouds began to gather. Still, nothing could dampen the spirit of our anglers. While bonefish, barracuda, and jacks intermittently appeared, the focus remained on chasing permits, with every team enjoying promising action—though luck favored some more than others.

Dave nearly landed a huge permit right beside the boat with a superb hookset—but an overly aggressive first strip snapped his fly knot. A tough lesson learned: when the fish is too close, let it run a bit, as the line won’t stretch. Better luck next time, Dave! Meanwhile, Chris and Leo enjoyed a fantastic day near the “Crazy River” system, with Leo hooking a permit on a blackberry crab pattern and Chris battling a spirited tarpon.

Harry and Mike, besides reeling in a stunning barracuda, each caught a permit on a shrimp pattern while in the Rio Cinco area. Well done, gentlemen!

Thursday – The Big Day
Thursday dawned as if it were D-Day. An incredible sunrise over the Caribbean, clear skies, and a gentle eastern breeze set the perfect stage. As the day unfolded, early results began to meet high expectations. Harry and Mike enjoyed an exhilarating morning wading in River One, landing beautiful tailing bonefish on sight. Bill, despite scoring several jacks, grumbled because they were quicker than his permits. Dr. Leo had a stellar run with barracudas, and Mike experienced a near-miss when a violent strike on his gray/red sardine imitation almost left the water untouched before a swift barracuda strike. The speed and acrobatics were simply unbelievable.

But the day truly belonged to Dave and Jamie. Jamie started his day on the skiff’s platform. As he settled at the first stop in the “Casitas” area, the guide shouted, “Prepare, Jamie—I see a permit!” Jamie grabbed the appropriate rod, rigged with a spawning shrimp imitation, let out line, and set his reel’s drag. Just as he was zeroing in on his target, the guide’s precise order rang out: “40 feet at 9!” Following orders, Jamie positioned the fly perfectly, let it sink, and as soon as tension gripped the line—boom! A perfect take, impeccable hookset, and an epic fight ensued. Jamie landed and snapped a quick photo of his nice permit before carefully releasing it. First cast! Unbelievable! But the day wasn’t done—Dave also landed a splendid permit, then Jamie added another, and Dave even broke his fly on a separate take. What a phenomenal day!

Friday – Winds, Persistence, and Surprises
Friday began cloudy with an easterly breeze. Although the team was a bit tired by week’s end, their passion remained undiminished. Some anglers chose to target snook and tarpon amid the mangroves, while others risked it all on permits. Bonefish made abundant appearances, even if they weren’t the main target.

Several snooks surfaced—one particularly beautiful one in Harry’s hands. Tarpons also made a dramatic appearance: Joe hooked a gorgeous tarpon weighing over 20 pounds while casting for a permit with a crab imitation. The strike was explosive, though, due to his 16-pound tippet, the fish eventually broke free near the boat. A bittersweet moment. Joe’s day was further marred by losing three permits in a row. Better luck tomorrow, Joe! Later, Jamie landed a fierce tarpon that leaped several times before finally succumbing for a photo op.

In the afternoon, while Joe and Bill were fishing near “Nido de Águila,” the guide spotted a school of about five or six permits. Bill, feeling more confident than the day before, was given the call: “30 feet at 11!” After missing his first two casts, he switched to a white shrimp pattern. On the third cast, he nailed it—boom! The fly was perfectly positioned, the hookset on point, and the ensuing 20-minute battle ended with a stunning permit captured for the camera and then released with care. Relief and jubilation filled the boat.

Saturday – The Grand Finale
Saturday, the final day of the week, mirrored Thursday’s conditions. The crew was already showing signs of that post-fishing “blues” that can only be cured by planning the next fishing adventure.

The day delivered bountiful catches: bonefish by the ton, jacks, a few snooks, a couple of barracudas, and a tarpon to stretch the lines. Once again, everyone went all in for permits. Though every team had ample opportunities, some luck shone brighter than others. Dave landed a beautiful 17-pound permit near Los Pinos. The most consistent were Harry and Mike, each landing one. Mike’s permit came from a zone between Cenotes and Rio Cinco, where he fished over a stingray—a fine 14-pound specimen. After a careful photo and release, he handed the platform to Harry. Near Cenotes, the guide then spotted a small school of three or four permits in just 5 feet of water. With silent, precise maneuvers, he positioned them in casting range, and Harry delivered a strong cast against the wind with a strawberry crab pattern featuring silver eyes—just a couple of feet from the fish. The permit took the fly solidly, and what followed was a textbook hookset, tension, and an epic battle to land that 18-pound beauty, which was photographed and carefully released. Congratulations to the whole team!

That evening was simply spectacular. A dinner worthy of our renowned chefs set the stage for a memorable celebration—especially as it was Dr. Leo’s birthday. By unanimous decision, the group skipped the typical birthday cake in favor of an exquisite chocolate volcano dessert with coconut ice cream. Of course, I had my piece too! With toasts, heartfelt speeches, and plenty of laughter, we wrapped up another unforgettable week of fishing with friends.

Weather & Tides

Temperature: Ranged between 76 and 81°F.
Conditions: Monday was very cloudy and rainy, followed by mostly sunny days with strong southeast winds at around 20 mph early in the week. Midweek, northerly winds took over, fading almost entirely by the weekend.
Tides: High in the morning with a gradual rise throughout the day. From Thursday onward, tides dropped and then progressively climbed as the day went on.

Permit Flies