Not just a fishing and diving lodge, Costa de Cocos boasts a restaurant, brewery, and distillery. These were just a few spots that our guides had in their back pockets for the right situation. A six hour drive south of Cancun, Xcalak resists mega-tourism and retains its natural beauty. Shorelines action is heating up with a few speckled trout, redfish, and decent numbers of black drum, and sheepshead, all on live shrimp. During nine days of fly fishing and travel in the Yucatan Peninsula, the novel coronavirus went from being a faint American concern to a full-blown national emergency. Boats and Equipment All boats used by the lodge are 23-foot pangas that accommodate two fishermen and a guide. 923 Main Ave | DURANGO, CO 81301 It's just that I've heard so many different reports about what rods to use there and you, having done it yourself, may be able to give some insight on what you liked about having the 10 weight vs a lighter weight in that situation. and permit with Captain Jose. Costa De Cocos is truly a fishermans lodge. After a quick scramble through mosquito hell, we would find ourselves in secret lagoons full of baby tarpon, snook, and bonefish pushing 6 to 8 pounds. This special guide covers real estate, retirement and more in Mexico and is yours free when you sign up for our postcards below. Today, tourists come from around the world to visit the temples dotting the jungle, just as anglers from far and wide travel to the peninsulas flats in search of its bonefish (macabi) and permit (palometa). Here are our recommendations for rods, lines, flies, tippet, waders and more. and an obscure mountain lake; Of the Sea, brothers explore the elusive Banco Chinchorro off the coast of Xcalak; Jacks, giant trevally attacking from deep ocean water; Father Nature . Your email address will not be published. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. width:auto; Diosa Del Mar Mahahual 25 ft 4 persons . One of the other guests at the lodge claimed they caught a 10 pounder, and the blurry iPhone selfie seemed to support such a claimbut so did the blurry photos of bigfoot. Partly because of its far-flung location and partly because its protected from development (its a National Reef Marine Park), Xcalak isnt overrun by tourists. Report by Captain David Dillman, Galveston Bay Charter Fishing. The farthest most tourists go is Tulum, a lively resort town named after the nearby Mayan archeological site and lined with hostels, cafs, bars, and openair restaurants. A link to purchase your Montana license online is also provided, Frequently asked questions related to fly fishing in Montana and about our fishing trips and packages, Montana Angler is a family run business that prides itself on working with the best guides and lodging options in Montana, Read what our guests have to say about our trips and learn why we are rated #1 in Trip Advisor and have a 5 star average on our Orvis reviews. Your flight is NOT included in the package and must be purchased separately. Traveler ranking. As a lifelong trout angler and guide, flats fishing is a totally different experience and challenge, and I am hooked. If you book a fly fishing package with one of Xcalaks accommodations, they can hook you up with a guide, or you book an accommodation and a guide separately. The fresh (but slightly salty) water in the lagoons hosts an entirely different species of wildlife than the saltwater flats. Maybe its a magical place where you can hook permit all day long, wade mudflats without another fly fisher in sight, or finally hook the Grand Slam youve been aching for. of Jose, myself, and a nice permit. Bring your wading gear for hopping out of the boat onto the flats, or for wading out right from your hotel (if you didnt get enough fishing during your 8-hour tour, that is). Bay wells producing sheepshead and black drum on live shrimp. Quiet about Xcalak! 1 INSTITUTIONAL AMNESIA. [emailprotected], HOURS: For years, my work has been fishing and guiding in . Choose from Montana's largest selection of fishing and lodging packages. Victor's location in Xcalak means easy access to the flats of Chetumal Bay. clients down who are beginners. There they arethree or four tailing permit leisurely zigzagging across the flat, their sickle fins slicing through the waters rippled surface. }. Get picked up right from the dock in front of the beach and enjoy supper at the on-site restaurant. Home to fewer than 500 people and only about six miles from the Belize border, Xcalak remains free of tourist traps and condosby virtue of its remoteness. Bonefish and all that relates (maybe a bit about tarpon too). Nathan Bolerjack. Hi everyone. Need a fishing charter? Whether you are searching for the elusive permit specifically or are just looking for the best salt-water fly fishing experience in Xcalak, Mexico down in the Yucatan, The Xflats at Tierra Maya, established in 1982, is a privately-owned saltwater fly-fishing lodge that combines the luxury of a resort, yet still maintains the casualness of beach front living. Your guide knows where to find the fish he spots them, and you hook them. great time to plan a visit. Map. Your email address will not be published. Running south, we have a maze of grass flats, sandy shorelines and coral bommies, all of which are home to Bonefish, Permit and Triggers, along with the occasional Shark and Cuda. Myself and fellow Montana Angler guide Tony Nahorny traveled south to our partners at Costa de Cocos Lodge in Xcalak, Mexico in late February for a week-long escape from the Montana winter. Posted on July 30, 2020 January 11, 2021 by islander. Things are calming back down, and some activity has returned to the beaches and offshore. Xcalak is an out off the way destination that may lack the big-name draw of places like Ascension, but for the price, it may be the best deal in saltwater trips out there. The sheer power of the fish is incredible. Required fields are marked *. A pair of windmills power the resort, and like any good fishing lodge, it has its own restaurant and bar, which is where Patrick and I head after stashing our gear in our cabana, one of 16 spread along the waters edge. a bit about my services and your options for exploring the Xcalak Work now, play later as they say. That was a great trip report k_e_v. Xcalak is one of the towns that has been maintained over time in its most natural state. Lodge packages include all meals and guided fishing so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a great fly fishing vacation, Enjoy great fishing and keep your costs in check with one of our hotel packages. To be sure, there can be some trepidation when headed out on a guided trip in a foreign country. He is an excellent teacher and my choice when I send This trip was with Bahia Blanca. These pickup trucks carry fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, and snacks. It was like a rustic cabin right on the . Welcome to Xcalak, Mexico. float: none; You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. TRAVEL There are several flights a day to Cancn, Mexico. Video: 9 more videos to help you discover Xcalak. Although more populous than Xcalak, the crowds here are nothing compared to the Riviera Maya. Bill Battles - Fly Fish America. For me, it is steelhead. The fish are happy, the cooler is full and our skiffs are loaded, the only thing we are waiting for is you! Facing the " Great Mayan Reef", the second largest reef in the world, Casa Caracola is located in a national park. From there, the best way to get to Xcalak is to rent a car and drive south on Highway 307. content: ""; Some of the most exciting underwater experiences include seeing manatees and diving with schools of yardstick-long tarpon. Fun Facts: All about the manatees of Xcalak. There were times were we found bonefish tailing in schools of 10s and 20s in a foot of water and turtle grass. We have miles and miles of wade-able flats with large numbers of bonefish and permit, and if you want to get on a kayak or SUP, you can access lagoons with lots of baby . .signup-column { overflow: unset; Fresh Xcalak Fishing Reports . position: relative; The average catch is 6 - 12 bonefish per day. Then we visited again. https://www.josexcalaktours.com/index.html. We see very little boat traffic and zero industry, aside from the few fishing guides that have the privilege of calling this place their office. We pick you up each day at the hotel and in the evenings you can enjoy fun western towns like Bozeman and Livingston, Browse our large network of vacation homes and cabins that are either on the water or centrally located to great fishing. Where the palm trees sway, and the tide ebbs and flows a place where nature is wild, and its environment is vast. Two suites complete with kitchens sleep 6 people each. And thanks to the protection enforced by the Xcalak National Reef Park, the waters around Xcalak are full of healthy, plentiful pescado just waiting for you to arrive. Xcalaks shore is made mostly of tiny coral fragments that arent exactly powdery-soft. The reef runs from Cozumel all the way to Honduras, and is quite close to the shore in Xcalak. Spend your days fly fishing the saltwater flats, snorkeling the coral reefs (just steps from your door), or simply eating too much local food and napping in the dappled shade of a palm. The fishing was simply outstanding - the best I've ever had in Mexico - and Costa de Cocos proved to be a little gem of a lodge. Other random by-catch I managed were snappers, small jacks, needlefish, perch, some reef fish, and one small saltwater crocodile. I looked back at Alberto, and the look on his face said it all. The added bonus of these lagoons is that they offer excellent shelter during windy days or inclement weather, allowing our anglers to have great fishing, whatever the conditions, just like you can see in the video. Choose your accommodation, pack your gear, and head to what might be the last undiscovered fly fishing paradise in the Yucatan. The fishing. We emerge from the jungle after a couple hours, and when I spot a stand of mangroves sprouting in a pool of water along the road, I know were almost there. Search, book & review the best deals online with us! Before you head off to Xcalak, here is some advice for making the most of your trip: .jason-signup { I landed the fish, a bit disappointed, but happy nevertheless at putting a good fish in the boat. Some days it was permit, some days it was tarpon, but the constant was of course bonefish. Join International Living Today and Get the 2023 Global Retirement IndexFREE with This Special Offer. Water temperatures are still cold. Some days were better than others for finding rolling tarpon, but when they were up, they were up! A resort, it is not. That image has changed with the arrival of sargassum algae in atypical amounts beginning about a decade ago ().Researchers from within the natural sciences assume that these specific algae reproduce quickly in the Atlantic Ocean due to an input of nutrients in the water, changes in currents, and warming ocean temperatures, viewing sargassum arrivals to be the new normal. Watch on. 2022 by Fly Fish Costa Maya. At XOTF, our goal is to provide you with the most personalized and all-inclusive fly fishing experience.Our packages and trips were designed by fishing-obsessed father and son duo Jim and Chase Looney with anglers in mind. Let me share my thoughts. margin: 1.5rem 0; Again, I really enjoyed your report. Harboring fewer than 400 souls at the far southern tip of Mexico's Caribbean coast, the small fishing village of Xcalak was arguably one of the best places to ride out a pandemic. is a great caster himself, casting equally well with both Traveling a few hours further south youll discover Xcalak has bigger flats and more diverse sea life. 2023 pricing for 7 nights / 6 days. Let us answer all of your questions and help you choose exceptional lodges in Chile, Argentina, Alaska and the Bahamas. We're on our way back to Costa de Cocos resort, idling down the outside edge of a long . My love of snook was something I was clowned on throughout the trip, but when these Mexican migrators showed up on the flats and in the mangroves, no one was laughing. For over 20 years, underwater visual census survey data has been collected periodically at 36 spawning aggregation sites, and grey literature is available since the 1940's, yet managers and conservation practitioners report that abundance tendencies for 48% of grouper and snapper spawning species across the 36 sites are 'Unknown', despite . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Duranglers Flies and Supplies Fly Shop You must log in or register to reply here. May 9, 2022 May 9, . Far too often we are working to build insulation of comfort around our existence to protect us from the uncomfortable realities of the modern worldbut sometimes the casualty to our padded lives becomes our joy. Theyre partnered with Hotel Tierra Maya. foraging in the turtle grass, perfect cover for crabs and shrimps. The town is home to just 400 local fishers and a scattering of resident expats. Mexico width:max-content; may have. There are three seasons in Xcalak - dry, wet, and hurricane. Within these numerous environments, we have a smorgasbord of options to fit every angler's needs. Looking into the water, something didnt seem right. I found this video fresh off the internets. Walk out from the private beach to fish for barracuda, permit, and bonefish. Its a quaint statement that can be applied to many situations in life. As a fishing village, the vast majority of Xcalak's 400 people have earned a living from the sea for generations and that tradition continues. Speaking of accommodations, here are the most popular accommodations for fly fishers in Xcalak: Home of the Fxcalak (fish-ka-lak, get it?) Experience the wilds of Montana on a multi-day horse pack adventure. Overall conditions on Lake Taneycomo couldn't get any more stable than we've experienced the last couple of weeks. Traveler favorites. JavaScript is disabled. What would it take to help others find Xcalak? Spend your days fly fishing the saltwater flats, snorkeling the coral reefs (just steps from your door), or simply eating too much local food and napping in the dappled shade of a palm. Get in, amigo, Julio tells me as he hands off the pole to his brother. 970-385-4081 Inland, the ecosystem is a fragile mix of mangrove lagoons and thick jungle. With XOTF at Casa Paraiso, youre sure to have a rewarding and relaxing time. The second-longest reef in the world, it stretches nearly 700 miles, from Isla Mujeres in Mexico to the Bay Islands in Honduras. Re: DIY Fly Fishing. Talk your guide about what you want to try for snook, tarpon, barracuda, or jacks. Xcalak on the Fly is the Yucatan Peninsula's newest fly fishing lodge based out of Casa Paraiso. February 8, 2023. And stay open to opportunity, as you never know what you might come across while looking for something else. Did I mention all you can drink too? And, being set in the jungle, the Caribbean breeze doesnt disturb the calm lagoon waters, making them perfect for exploring by kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP). This isnt to say Chetumal is any less of a fisheryit just gets less pressure. Filters 1. Faro Xcalak, Othon P. Blanco's tide times and tide charts, high tide and low tide times, fishing times, tide tables, weather forecasts surf reports and solunar charts for today. Fishing Charters & Tours in Xcalak. While none of our group boated a snook this trip as it was a little early in the season, we still had a few shots. } THE SUN IS SETTING OVER THE SLEEPY FISHING VILLAGE OF XCALAK, MEXICO, casting the barrier reef in amber light and bringing out the vibrant green and blue hues of the oceanside flats. BUS First you need to get to Mahahual. Xcalak Seven through ten weights were in order for the grand slam of species we would be chasing the upcoming week. I will let those with more experience and confidence continue the debate from there. The front side of Xcalak, or 'out front' as we like to say, is an expansive coastline fishery that offers a little bit of everything, regardless of the conditions. They are spooky and quick to forget.

Donna Taylor Dermot Desmond, Articles X