Fishing Report #38
November 10 – 17, 2024
We wrapped up another great week here in the Jungle. Joining us for our final week was the usual closing crew of guests. It seems like an annual closing tradition with this gang. A nice sprinkling of Chicago, New Hampshire, Alaska, and Colorado all made their way to our special corner of the Yucatan last Sunday. It was a busy week for us enjoying spectacular weather to start and nervously watching TS Sarah build in the southwest Caribe. High expectations, anticipation, punctuated with highs and lows that build character to form the hardened anglers we have grown so fond of over the seasons.
FISHING:
The weather high of incredible weather from the previous week continued to carry us over into the first couple days. We watched the touch and go of severity as storm predictions changed daily. Tracks had lasered predictions through spaghetti models at one point directly at ESB. Final outcome, the system collided with a strong cold front and made landfall in Belize. The weather turned for us quickly starting Wednesday. This was from the cold front. Saturday morning was a slight window for us to opt at jumping on flying availability. Saturday afternoon front end of Sarah coming from the southeast brought very humid and torrential rains. Sunday clocked out winds in Mahahual around 50 mph with stronger gusts. An incredible amount of rain pummeled the entire southern Yucatan. I’ve spent the last few days running around in my wading boots at the lodge.
Permit were around beginning of the week and quickly slid back out of the system. We found some schools in river one, river three had a group of dinner plate size permit nervously zipping around. We saw a few fish around the western half of Ensenada. Guide Alex and longtime friend Mike Scott got it done quickly Monday morning and had a nice 15-20 pound fish landed by 10:30, maybe earlier. This was a PB for Mike and hats off to both. The fish ate a Squimp! Love it. Love it so much that these “classic” permit flies resurface and find their way into the lips of a big fish. Advancements in the tying world have gone lengths to create very realistic crab and shrimp imitations. I find myself on that train as well but always have my tried-and-true patterns close at hand.
Tarpon and snook continued to be available in good numbers. North side Tortuga, sunken boat, Isla Cha tip, river three, boca of 2 were hotspots on the northside. Southside Red lagoon and the small bay where the boats launch out of worked well for a handful of little tarpon. Flamingo was attempted but only bones. This is snook season and guests can easily see north of 40 fish in one day cruising around in small groups. Smaller the group will lend to larger fish for the norm. Ornery and frustrating these fish tend to be. On the contrary, we also see them light up all manner of baitfish flies and move great lengths to eat your fly. They either eat wholeheartedly or stay tight lipped and snub every fly in the box. We all know the snook game. I try a few flies on a group of fish and if it’s not happening time to move to find other fish. That is if conditions permit that available window.
Everyone got nice tugs from bonefish. They’re pretty much everywhere in the system and as long as we find protection we catch nice size singles and smaller fish grouped up in schools.
By Wednesday the lights went out and heavy cloud cover and rain made for tough fishing the rest of the week. Not much you can do about that except reminisce about your shots earlier in the week and console yourself with blended margs.
People have gotten pretty fired up with fishing pressure and the exclusiveness ESB has. I hate to admit this but a part of me relishes the tough weather windows we had in the last 5-6 weeks. An uncanny curveball thrown by mother nature keeps things healthy, protected, and under the cover of tough weather things stay rested. This fishery stays as one of the premier destinations to target 4 trophy adversaries in skinny water. The fishing industry has a bullseye on this little corner of the world. Translation of “Bay of the Holy Spirit” will continue to live up to its name and mother nature will lend her hand keeping her flock in check. Other worldly fishing days accented by suicidal weather conditions keep this all spinning on an uncomfortable yet impressive track.
TIDES/WEATHER:
The weather was beautiful starting the week with light southeast winds and decent sun. Starting midweek things became rainy, stormy, and a final punch by TS Sarah.
Tides grew significantly during the week due to storms. We had lows in the PM but I would say it was at only 50% compared to a proper fall.
FLIES:
Permit were landed on a #2 Tan Squimp.
Tarpon and Snook kept eating various colored Peanut Butters, EP’s, and gurglers. Most hook sizes hovered around 1/0 – 2/0.
Bonefish responded well to Shrimp, Charlies, Puffs, and gotchas. Consistent sizing ran #8 – #4.
It stopped raining finally here and we have now begun our annual breakdown at the lodge. Motors are headed in for maintenance, touch ups of boats and some modifications are being done. Paint, supplies, and project lists are growing. It’s a quick turnaround and we’re back in a few weeks ripping off the sticker for the upcoming season.
Another year in the books. I’d like to give a shoutout to my staff and guides for their unwavering enthusiasm and hard work. There’s not enough that could be said on their behalf except that I am eternally grateful. ESB managers kept this operation moving and functioning in classic ESB fashion. This is no small task and balancing out work crews, agencies, clients, buying lists, day to day issues, and mechanical problems. It’s mentally demanding as much as physical and their efforts on the front line are nothing short of incredible.
If one could dedicate a season, I would hold the torch for a couple of wonderful ESB guests that have sadly passed away this last year. Steve Urbin had joined us in February for his annual trip with a fun Michigan group. Steve was such a sweet guy that was one of the happiest – go lucky, Cuda catching dudes we’ve had the pleasure of having. His positivity was infectious as with his optimistic outlook. Always quick to lend a hand, share the bow, and go with the flow style was a unique make up in the DNA of the group.
Jerry Eaton was another fond and familiar face here at the lodge in late August/early September. Larger than life persona with a definitive side of class and dignity. Well-traveled and had a fond addiction for flats fishing. I enjoyed working through bottles of red wine over the years chortling over classic Paul Young and Bob Summers rods. We would chat about northern Ohio and the Au Sable River in Michigan. Different generations and different eras but the reserved love was always there.Spaces can be filled here but characters never die. These two individuals have been forever stamped into the grains of culture ESB they helped create and we carry the memories lovingly.
I’d also like to thank our partners in crime over at The Fly Shop. They have been tirelessly working alongside us since the beginning and this agency – lodge relationship is one to be cherished and the best in the business. Drop them a line if you have a chance and they’ll give you the lowdown on any fishing destination in your backyard or globally.
For those of you who are joining us in Chile this upcoming season we look forward to seeing you soon. We’ve managed to cram out a full season in the southern hemisphere and are excited to kick things off. The rest of you please hang tight until we start the engines back up in a few weeks for another season. From the bottom of my heart, I thank all our loyal friends/guests over the years for allowing Chiara and I to carry out a lifestyle and career in the great outdoors. Make sure you take the time to get outside when you can and embrace beauty mother nature so graciously shares with us. Remember to conserve, protect, and defend our natural world. A voice crying in the wilderness can never go unheard.
Go eat some turkey, flip 2024 away and we’ll see you all soon enough. Happiest of Holidays to all!
Saludos desde el Caribe Mexicano,
Dane, Chiara, Lucia, Negri, Canela
800-669-3474 | 530-222-3555 | travel@theflyshop.com | ESB Lodge
