Off to Playacar, Mexico in 2 weeks with my girlfriend. I know it's not ideal bonefishing time, and i'm taking a chance with the weather, but are there any species which are abundant this time of year? Tarpon? Permit? Jacks?
I've caught bonefish on previous trips to Mexico so don't mind not targetting them. In fact it would be quite nice to try and catch other species. I quite fancy trying to get hooked up to one of the Jacks patrolling the beaches. What would be the best times?
If the Permit fishing is good this time of year I may try and book a day down in Ascension Bay. Do you think this would be worthwhile or should I just lay by the pool and drink cocktails
Bones and Permit in Ascension bay will be the main quarry. Tarpon will be in the mangroves but will not be peak time for them. Give a report when you get back. Remember to have medium and light weigted shrimpy flies.
I had a great time w/ Pesca Maya. The guide fee I can't remember but for a 100 bucks they'll pick you up and take you home in the same day, well worth it as the drive is far. I like their 2 guide system, one guy pols the other guy guides you. Was by far one of my favorite bonefish trips. You won't catch big bones like in the keys, but you'll catch a lot of smaller, and medium ones. Plus the permit fishing is very good. I only had one day there so I bonefish for a couple of hours caught 6 before noon even had my wife fish for a hour, then after lunch went for permit and tarpon. I feel I could have caught a lot more bones, if we didn't go for other fish.
Didn't see another fisherman the entire day.
A nice Ascension Bay bone.
Flies fish are not to picky. Size 4 and 6, make sure you have some very light patterns, medium weight patterns, and some size 1 and 2 heavier flies for permit.
Think Gotchas versions add some rubber legs, some w/ rabbit strips, etc. The natural action of the fly (weight) of the fly was more important.
Long wading pants are a must. You will do a lot of wade fishing w/ the guides.
The long tropical pants are to help against carib (sp?) sea lice. The local guides can handle the biting little buggers on their bare legs. But I strongly suggest the pants if you go to Ascension bay. You'll thank me believe me. 2 other guys that rode down w/ my wife and I that fished an entire different area wore shorts and their legs got bit pretty good.
Thanks for the advice, i'll be sure to take some long pants with me.
My plans have changed a little now. Looks like i'm going to rent a car and drive down to the Boca bridge and go it alone for a day or two. Prob try and fish where the Boca enters the ocean early morning for Snook and then try and get myself on the flat inland during the day.
Would a fast actioned 9wt be a good allrounder for this?
And does anyone know where I can obtain a Mexican fishing license? May have to pick one up when there if there's not enough time to post to the UK. How long do they take?
Any Snook advice appreciated. New species for me!!
Hi guys, a recent report by Edsly42 reminded me that I forgot to post a report when I got back from my last trip. Still, it's only almost a year ago I'm very sorry I forgot as I got some great advice before I went and feel I should have given something back before now:redface:
Anyway, I managed to book a day trip with Pesca Maya and hey piucked me up from the hotel in Playacar very early in the morning. A couple more pick ups on the way down the Riviera and we were then into Tulum and down the Boca Paila road. This road seemed to be vastly improved from the previous trip I had down there. I think it was actually paved all the way down to the bridge.
Got to Pesca Maya lodge where I nice cooked breakfast was brought to us along with some drinks. Then onto setting up the rods and reels for the days fishing. The guide (cant remember his name but maybe someone will recognise him in the photos) looked through my flies and said they were just right and I wouldn't need to purchase anymore.
Headed out into the Bay where I fished for Bones in the morning and caught a few small ones, mostly on Gotcha type flies. Decided after lunch that i'd like to try for some Permit or Tarpon as I've caught bones before but not the other species. The guide then took me to some mangroves where we saw a couple of baby Tarpon tight into the edges. Struggled to get my fly close enough first cast to rouse interest and then got it in a little too close and stuck in the mangrove roots next cast! Remind me to spend more time practising my casting in tight quarters next time!
We then spotted a school of cruising Tarpon which were quite far away, I tried a long cast which again fell short, I quickly stripped the fly back to take another shot when the fly was nailed by a small cuda! While I was quickly playing this the school of Tarpon casually cruised past the boat at a distance of about 30ft!! Close enough even for me to have made a cast, if I hadn't had the struggling cuda trying to tear my fly apart.
It was then time to head back to the lodge for the long ride back to the hotel. Overall an excellent day and |I wouldn't hesitate to fish with Pesca Maya again. I'm actually going back to Mexico in August and will probably book another day trip or two.
I also hired a car and drove down to the Boca Bridge for a bit of DIY fishing. Didn't manage anything from the ocean side but did manage a few bones from the flat on the lagoon side. Got there a little bit late really and would try and get there earlier next time. No photo's here as I was fishing alone and too busy keeping my eyes open for crocs:hihi:
Didn't purchase a license. I'm not exactly sure in what circumstances they are needed. Is it for fishing oceanside from a boat or is it for fishing inland? Maybe someone who knows will jump in and clear it up for us. I'm going back in August so I would like to know if I was lucky to escape jail or being shot:chuckle:
Cheers
Daniel
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Fly Fishing Forum
163.8K posts
38.8K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to fly fishing and sporting enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about safety, licenses, tips, tricks, rivers, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!