Fishing Report #12
April 14 – 21, 2024
Welcome to the Caribbean!
The Aluxes, in Mayan mythology, are small beings that take care of nature and the fields. It is said that the Maya used to make pacts with them to ensure the protection and prosperity of their crops and lands. They are described as small spiritual beings, similar to elves. Generally, they are imagined to be no taller than a small child, about 2 feet tall. Although they can be protective and beneficial to those who respect them, they can also behave mischievously or maliciously, especially if they are disturbed or disrespected. Modern Maya sometimes offers small offerings or build miniature altars to placate them or gain their favor, especially before beginning construction or to ensure good harvests.
These beings are not only associated with agriculture, but also influence other aspects of life, teaching the Maya the importance of harmony and deep respect for traditions. Through these interactions, the Maya understood that happiness comes not only from physical labor and planning, but also from a deep spirituality and connection to the mystical. This integration of the material and the spiritual opened up new ways of thinking and living, demonstrating that respect and cooperation with all aspects of the world, both visible and invisible, are essential for success and happiness.
Personally, I have witnessed how today the veneration and quest to be at peace with these mystical beings still persists in the culture of southern Mexico.
This week, the Aluxes welcomed Vinny, Steve, Michael, Robert, Harry, Rick, Jeff and Joe, all dear friends of this house who have honored us for another year with their visit.
Fishing
To the delight of the Aluxes, our anglers began Monday morning with joy and great anticipation, as their path to happiness differed from the traditional path our guests normally like to travel on their visit to ESB. This week, for most of the group, happiness was represented by the delicate silhouettes of the tarpon and snook that inhabit Espiritu Santo Bay. With an almost dreamlike day, with light easterly winds and a radiant sun, the catches of silver torpedoes, elusive snook and elusive bonefish were not long in coming. Some of them spent part of their day in search of the prized permit and got good shots at schools and a few lone giants that followed their feathered lures, but were denied victory.
Tuesday’s day brought more tarpon, snook and bonefish catches, but it was especially thankful for Mike, who landed his first Grand Slam. As if that wasn’t enough reason to celebrate, Joe landed his first ever permit! As we at ESB are deeply infected by the Mayan spirit and its traditions, we also have our own, and that night tequila shots and congratulations were part of the dinner, accompanied by the great atmosphere that Mike’s incomparable musical taste gave us that night and every night of the week.
Wednesday’s sunrise brought with it some clouds, but the gentle winds continued to blow from the east. Continuing his almost unquenchable thirst for achievement, Joe closed out his day with his first Super Grand Slam, while Vinny and Mike added some Permit pairs to the week’s score. Rich was measured against a beautiful snook who, despite his ferocity and demonstration that he hadn’t gotten to that size by being stupid, didn’t have much to do against his opponent’s experience. Jeff went toe-to-toe with a big tarpon, and everything pointed to his victory until his tippet gave up.
The winds, from light to moderate, added to the thick but scattered clouds that Thursday’s awakening brought, seemed to be a sign of the mischievous spirit of the Aluxes, who, just for fun or maybe out of boredom, wanted to make life a little more difficult for our guests. In spite of this, more tarpons, snooks, nice bonefish and a beautiful cubera were part of the catalog of species landed by the group.
Friday was a carbon copy of the previous day. The Aluxes continued with their antics and, particularly, until that day, they seemed to have Rob as the focus of their mischief. During the previous days, the little magical hands of these beings intervened to annoy the fights that Rob kept against the species that were tricked by his flies. But that day, perhaps because the little Aluxes understood that the group was making them the greatest offering possible by valuing the time shared among them over catches or personal achievements, they didn’t come between his battle with some big, beautiful snook that gave him the fights he so craved. Maybe they did have something to do with helping a huge barracuda cut his steel tippet as they dueled, but that’s just the way they are, restless, mischievous kids.
On the last day of fishing and with the group totally at peace with the earthly and spiritual world of these Mayan lands, our guests enjoyed an excellent day where the tarpon and snook catches satiated their expectations and everyone returned with a smile on their faces, or perhaps the smile was due to the fact that once again the fishing had served as the perfect excuse to get together and enjoy themselves with great friends.
Weather
Throughout the week, the winds maintained their easterly direction, varying in speed between 10 and 18 mph. Clouds were thick, but scattered on some days.
Tides were pronounced, which helped our guides develop the proposed fishing strategies for each day.
Flies
In the classic Caribbean sunshine, there was nothing new: Permit were attracted to Flexos, ESB Sp
awning Shrimp, Casa Blanca, ESB Yellow Eyes Raghead Crab, Tequila Twister, among others.
Tarpon and Snook
This week, these fish were tempted with an incredible variety of flies, all following the same pattern: streamers on 0/2 or 0/3 hooks, imitating baitfish in a wide range of colors.
Bonefish
These fish, the noblest in the bay, are always ready and willing to take any crab, shrimp or small fish imitation presented on #6 and #8 hooks.With Chiara and Dane in the faraway Chilean lands, working on every little detail for the new season of El Saltamontes, all of us here at ESB make sure that everything continues to work and to offer our guests always a little bit more of what they expect from their week with us.
See you next week with a new report and do not hesitate to contact our friends at The Fly Shop so they can tell you first-hand what life is like in Espiritu Santo Bay, the Sian Ka’an biosphere reserve (which means “Where the sky begins”, in the Mayan language).
Taak ulak k’iin and Ka xi’ik teech utsil
(See you later and good luck! in Mayan language)
Martin Ferreyra Gonzalez and the entire ESB Family
800-669-3474 | 530-222-3555 | travel@theflyshop.com | ESB Lodge
