Appetizers and drinks awaited us at the main lodge restaurant after we settled in. 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. At a whopping six-hour drive from Cancun, not many tourists make it to Xcalak, and thats too bad for them. Need a fishing charter? Walleye fishing should start picking up now that we are into March. Finally, heading south of Xcalak town, the water turns coloured and offers excellent opportunities to target rolling Tarpon, as well as Snook and Jacks as they feed on Sardines and glass minnows sheltering close to the mangroves. overflow: hidden; "It's all about the beaches": Sargassum algae, tourism, and coastal Brandon, I am careful when I write these reports because I am not an expert and dont want to pretend to be one. Casa Cangrejo Xcalak - Your best fly fishing trip ever To get to Xcalak, you can either rent a car at the airport, or the Costa de Cocos Resort in Xcalak can arrange for a complimentary shuttle to pick you up. He is an excellent teacher and my choice when I send These fish are those we hold most dear. It also happens to be one of the best places to DIY saltwater fly fish. While we all had our target fish we obviously would love to catch, I found it better to ask our guide what they thought would be the best option. 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. 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. He rents boats and can give you advice. Its early June, the official start of hurricane season, and the only other guests of the resort are pairs of anglers from Argentina and Texas. I will never forget my first day of Bonefishing, watching a 3lb fish rip off hundreds of feet of line in seconds while bending my 7wt rod in half. Dr. Mike Larkin on Bonefish The Tom Roland Podcast. In 20 Minutes You Can Start Speaking Spanish. Your email address will not be published. Two units have generated flow nonstop, day and night. It usually lead to a more productive day of fishing when we were maximizing our guides knowledge of the area along with searching for fish we had a better chance of getting shots. 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. I'd like to hear about the permit on the 10 weight. The downside is the weather can be unpredictable this time of year. On windy days, the lagoons behind Xcalak provide shelter and productive fishing for baby tarpon and snook. In a protected area, this little fishermen's village highlights many activities and advantages : scuba diving, fly fishing and fishing, snorkelling, bird watching and wildlife trips on land and water. Get it together I told myself. Nathan Bolerjack. Bonefish are easy to find, yet hard to spot. The XTC Fly Fishing Experience. Map. Xcalak 101: Everything you need to know - Xcalak Mexico And stay open to opportunity, as you never know what you might come across while looking for something else. and permit with Captain Jose. Enjoy lightly fished streams and trophy lakes on one our exclusive ranch leases. While comfortable, the accommodations are rusticwhich for all of us was just fine. Deep sea, light tackle, fly fishing - you name it! 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. Anyway, long story short, we did visit. Fishing Report - Willamette Zone | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Xcalak is home to a quintessential view of the Caribbean, with translucent turquoise waters and mostly undeveloped beaches, backed by swaying palms. Welcome to Xcalak, Mexico. Fishing Report - Southwest Zone | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife I was fortunate enough to hit the ocean side on a good tide on the second day of the trip, along with a walk and wade lagoon on the last day. Both to the north and south of Xcalak, we have numerous rivers, creeks and cenotes that come together to form lagoon systems of differing sizes. A little variation in the flow but not much. TRAVEL There are several flights a day to Cancn, Mexico. Costa De Cocos is truly a fishermans lodge. Ruin explorers can easily visit the Chacchoben archaeological site, about a two-hour drive from the village. Fishing pressure has been very light, even with a lot of steelhead in the river. It grew into something that lets us connect travelers to the small businesses of Xcalak. The area surrounding Xcalak on the Chetumal bay side is a wild and relatively untouched place. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Duranglers Flies and Supplies Fly Shop The Chetumal Bay flats in Xcalak are vastly larger than Ascension Bay further north, offering the fly. Montana Angler guides fish the famous Livingston creeks in addition to several other spring creeks on some of our exclusive ranch leases. 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. Read about average temperatures and weather patterns month by month. Xcalak is a quiet fishing town on the southern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Traveling back in time to a distant tropical land where time loses all meaning. .signup-column { Not to mention the list of 'other' species, such as Barracuda, Snapper, Jacks, Snook and Cobia that are all a real possibility on every trip. These are the fish we seek when the deeper questions of life are on the table. His place is right in town where the fishing guides pick you up. Find out when to come, what equipment to bring, browse blog articles, and more. Our group boated everything from 3-pound babies to 15-pound juvies. A Beginners Guide to San Juan River Fly Fishing, Duranglers 2018 Xcalak, Mexico Trip Report, shoot me an e-mail and we can talk Mayan adventure, Tying Big Flies with Snowrunner, aka Nayat, 3 Lesser Known Fishing Spots Around Durango, CO, Winter and Springtime Fly Fishing and Tying Classes, Clinics, and Events, Duranglers is now an Orvis Endorsed Outfitter Fly Shop. I watch Blantons Board, so Ill keep an eye out for that. 0 Comments. On Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, far from the over-developed beaches of the Riviera Maya, you'll find a small, beachside fishing village called Xcalak. Shop White's Tackle Originally started as a diving and snorkeling lodge to cater to tourists wishing to explore the Mesoamerican barrier reef 400 yards from shore(more on that later), the owners of the Lodge quickly realized the immense potential of the fishery in front of and behind their lodge. Faro Xcalak's Tide Times, Tides for Fishing, High Tide and Low Tide Gulf Coast - Weekly Fishing Reports - TPWD - Texas Costa De Cocos finds it home in the small fishing village of Xcalak, situated within the southern realms of the Yucatan Peninsula, only a few miles north of the border of Belize. Jose Xcalak | Home Quintana Roo, Mxico - Xcalak is a village of 375 inhabitants in the municipality of Othn P. Blanco, Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Costa de Cocos, Only 2 kms from town, this accommodation is the closest thing to a resort youll find in Xcalak. is a great caster himself, casting equally well with both Things are calming back down, and some activity has returned to the beaches and offshore. 970-385-4081 We have been offering one week fly fishing . It's less developed (and less crowded) than it's popular northern neighbor Ascension Bay, near Tulum. The line went tight instantly and the drag began screaming. Posted on July 30, 2020 January 11, 2021 by islander. 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. 30 Jul. Acocote Eco Inn | Xcalak Mexico may have. Acocote Eco Inn, Located right in town, Casa Cangrejo is a straight up fly fishing lodge. Fishing changes by the week in Montana. Home to jaguars, howler monkeys, and the deadly fer-de-lance pit viper, this land, along with the rest of the Yucatn Peninsula, was ruled by the Maya for centuries. Fishing season here is year-round and the fish are abundant. The permit are still there, about 20 yards out. 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-row:after { March 2, 2023 Fishing Report. There's a lot of beauty and tranquility in our remote area of the Caribbean. There are new license requirements to fish for winter steelhead in 2023 on south coast rivers and anglers should check the new regulation book prior to fishing. It is an old borrow pit and features largemouth bass, panfish such as bluegill, and a few trout. It is located on the southernmost tip of the Mexican Riveria, on a peninsula about 1.5 hours boat ride north of San Pedro Belize. What's the #1 Thing Every Expat Says They Wish They'd Done Before Going to Latin America? 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. Your flight is NOT included in the package and must be purchased separately. Xcalak on the Fly Watch on. Perfect for the adventurous - Review of Acocote Eco Inn, Xcalak, Mexico Knowing a bit of Spanish from the client never hurt, but it was not a detriment if we didnt. But what the sand lacks in smoothness, the beach makes up for in seclusion. Hey Nate, certainly looks like a good time. Xcalak is located within a National Park, designed to protect the worlds second largest barrier reef. December through February, theses migrating snook show up and can be found lurking at likely ambush points. Xcalak, with a present population of around 350 people, was the largest city in Quintana Roo until it was . Michael Graham was in Xcalak in the Spring of 2009 on a self-described walk-about. Talk about hero to zero. For the majority of anglers traveling from the United States, the most direct route is to fly into the spring-break mecca of Cancn and drive the rest of the way, which takes about five hours. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Subscribe to the Magazine Today and Save 65%, IL Magazine: Discover the World's Best Retirement Haven for 2023 + 15 more, about subscribing to International Living Magazine. These fish sneak to our minds without warning, upturn our mental tables, tip the shelves of reason, smash the windows of logic, set fire to the couch of stability, and leave without an explanation. This is a video I made for some friends that were thinking of going on a trip with us. The area we were in was very shallow, so Alberto began poling us in search of Plan B. Before you head off to Xcalak, here is some advice for making the most of your trip: .jason-signup { We had two slams in our group (tarpon, permit, and bonefish in a single day) and lots of action throughout. The long ride south to Xcalak along scenic Highway 307 offers a fascinating look at the countryside and the villages dotting the eastern edge of the Yucatn Peninsula. Our drive led us past the gringo tourists on rental bikes, past food carts unadvisable for visitors, and past the multi-million and mega gaudy resort entrances. Xcalak Fishing - Xcalak Fishing The scenic, 250-mile drive from Cancn to Xcalak takes about five hours. Video Tutorials. We have the safest, fastest, and driest boats in the . In part one, Jesse and Waypoints host Jim Klug discussed the southern Yucatan fisheries of Xcalak and Chetumal Bay, the challenges of owning a saltwater lodge, Jesse's personal obsession with permit, and how to build a career in the fly fishing industry. Running south, we have a maze of grass . Some days were better than others for finding rolling tarpon, but when they were up, they were up! Andy manages Duranglers Flies and Supplies online store and web content. Fly fishing for Pacific Rockfish is nothing new, but something that most anglers haven't sampled yet. Fly Fishing @ XTC The shifting baseline concept popularized by Pauly (), in which change is measured against previous reference points which may themselves not reflect the true early state, has been documented in fisheries worldwide (e.g. Quiet about Xcalak! Even after the opening of the Parque Nacional de Arrecifes (Xcalak Reefs Natonal Park) many of the inhabitants still feed their families from the sea but now often in the form of guiding fishermen or . This entry was posted on Monday, March 22nd, 2010 at 3:04 am and is filed . Our guides at Costa were no exception, often spotting permit 300 yards away or more. There's a boat ramp in the southwest corner of the lake. Xcalak Bonefish Round 2 - Islander Precision Reels Ever look for places to camp in some of these exotic locations? Like you, I spend most of my time trout fishing, but the wife and I head to Xcalak two weeks each spring for the bones. I am looking up from my desk at a picture And he can also keep up I found this video fresh off the internets. (3 spots remain.) The fresh (but slightly salty) water in the lagoons hosts an entirely different species of wildlife than the saltwater flats. After suffering several hurricanes, Xcalak maintains a small population dedicated to fishing and tourism, maintaining its . Pesca Y Paseos (Chetumal) - Updated 2022 Prices - FishingBooker 2023 pricing for 7 nights / 6 days. This technical match the hatch fishing produces big results. Uncategorized. Traveler favorites. With a rental car and an early start, you can make a day trip to some of southern Mexicos intriguing, lesser-visited sights. 5 Places to Live in Mexicoand 3 to Avoid. Ilana and David Randall founded Costa de Cocos over 25 years ago on an idyllic 350-foot stretch of oceanfront property a half mile north of town. While an 8 or 9 weight could have handled these fish just fine, all our guides suggested a 10 weight in the event that the 30-pound bruisers of the juvenile bunch decided to show upwhich they did and quickly threw our flies. Located just a few miles north of the border with Belize on the southern end of the Yucatan Peninsula, Xcalak is a tiny fishing village that shows little influence from the outside world. 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. Accommodations then were spare and dirty, fishing was so-so. In part because both destinations are on my radar and in part because it's nice seeing pics of such a warm destination (as I type this I think the wind chill may have crept into the low double digits). Here is where you'll acquire a wealth of knowledge about Xcalak, in just . [Story by Nick Roberts / Photos by Patrick Williams]. We fished for Permit, tarpon and Snook here also but I considered . XTC local guides maintain a high degree of knowledge on fly fishing and casting artificial lures for all species of saltwater fish found in the area. Maybe you are very serious about fly fishing maybe you are very excited about snorkeling or maybe you are just very ready for a vacation to explore the reefs, islands, lagoons and bays of the beautiful Xcalak National Park. Depending on the weather conditions, we could find ourselves poling white sandbanks in search of Permit, wading ankle-deep grass flats for tailing Bonefish, or casting to strings of Tarpon passing remote cayes. width: 100%; Where the palm trees sway, and the tide ebbs and flows a place where nature is wild, and its environment is vast. March 2, 2023 Fishing Report - Lilleys' Landing Dolphin and Sailfish have been caught to the south in the 150 to 200 range, and the surf is finally fishable, though Jack Crevalle have been the most likely catch. The small town of Bacalar is famous for its many-hued Bacalar Lagoon, also known as the lake of seven colors. A two-and-a-half-hour drive from the village of Xcalak, Bacalar is one of Mexicos enchanting, yet underrated, Pueblos Magicos, and exudes a laidback vibe that harkens to Tulum of 20 years ago. Discover the full adventure here, Learning is about looking at things differently, making your life a little better everyday., 9 more videos to help you discover Xcalak. The Fish Xcalak on the Fly International Fly-Fishing Film Festival 2023 Gage Charlesworth Ogden City Corp gagec@ogdencity.com-801-629-8992. Choose from over 20 fabled blue ribbon rivers that we target. The small fishing village of ~400 people sits on the second largest coral reef in the . Looking at the case now10 years removedis like trying to investigate a crime that was never actually a crime. Xcalak Front Side Flats. } If you are looking for world class fishing in a pristine and wild place, Xcalak is the town for you and Xcalak Fishing is your guide service! What more could you ask for? Our blog offers a vast collection of useful articles that include topics related to hatches, seasons, rivers, destination trip reports and more, Helpful checklists to make sure you include the proper clothing and gear for your Montana fishing trip, Information on rates for Montana and Yellowstone National Park fishing licenses. His fly fishing writings have been published on blogs such as the Daily Drake and Simms Wading Room. Chetumal Bay is at the far southern tip of the Yucatan, near the border with Belize. We enjoyed another day eating lunch in town and drinking beers sitting by the sea. Chetumal is no exception as it boasts resident baby and juvenile tarpon, along with large migrating adult tarpon in the summer months. There is a landing strip in Xcalak, but Patrick and I cant yet afford to charter our own plane, so we opted for Cancn, where Miguel and his brother Alberto, the amicable drivers of a shuttle arranged by Costa de Cocos, met us amid the throngs of vacationers outside the airport. Xcalak has been a favorite for over ten years. Because of the diversity of waterscapes, Xcalak is an excellent place for fly-fishers to attempt the Grand-Slam, catching a bonefish, a tarpon, and a permit all in the same day. JavaScript is disabled. Often overlooked in favour of Ascension Bay to the north, this is a huge fishing ground and home to plenty of bonefish and permit, and plenty else besides. Xcalak We loved it so much, that we are even planning to head back November 16-23, 2019, and we have a few spots still available. The fishing routine was simple and timely. Its uncommonly easy to find a stretch of the Caribbean all to yourself in Xcalak. Costa de Cocos lodge, kitchen, and service staff did an absolutely fantastic job of making us feel comfortable, well fed, and equally hydrated. The permit are swimming right to left, on a diagonal line, but suddenly, they start coming toward us. It isnt completely remote either, but the first-day warnings do come with points on crocodiles and jaguars and how to avoid them. Costa de Cocos - Home I may have framed my question a bit different than I wanted. A resort, it is not. Tarpon, aka "Sabilo" We recommend an 8-9 wt rod, typically we are chasing the tarpon early in the morning along the mangrove edges and in the lagoons. They are spooky and quick to forget. My name is Jose, I live in Xcalak, and I am here to help Daily Xcalak Fishing Reports (January 2023) - FishingBooker } You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site. }. Inland, the ecosystem is a fragile mix of mangrove lagoons and thick jungle. Jose on many occasions and I am pleased to recommend him. Experience some of the lower 48's most remote fisheries. I have fished with Captain So I will simply say that there is a broad range of acceptable tactics but with the permit I caught, in the weather I caught it and with cast I made I was happy to have the 10wt. Coral Garden Inn. Enter dates. Farmington, ill. -Stop by for a cold beer on your, Byron Bayeasternmost point of Australia. Boats and Equipment All boats used by the lodge are 23-foot pangas that accommodate two fishermen and a guide.