Overview
Your flats fly fishing trip begins by flying to Cancun, where you will be picked up and taken from the urban hustle to the much more relaxed and tropical pace of real Mexico. Bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, and barracuda are only hours away at this point, and are eagerly awaiting the presentation of your fly.
We drive together to the tropical beach town of Mahaual where we will check into our hotel, right on the beach, with the amazing option to fish right in front over the turtle grass if the 8 hour guided day is not enough for you. Waves break on the reef about 100 yards beyond the shore, making the fishing and beach experience very tranquil and visual in this area. Bonefish, Permit, Trigger fish, and Jacks can be found within a one minute walk from our lodging location
Depending on the current conditions our guides will pick us up, or we will leave at either 7 or 8a.m. in a large vehicle capable of transporting 6-7 people. We will have the rented vehicle that carries us from Cancún the entire stay if needed to suit different schedules. From there we take a short drive to where the guides and their boats are waiting for us in the sleepy fishing town at the end of the road in the town of Xcalak. The expansive flats of Chetumal Bay, our main fishing location are not far from here.. Along the way we sometimes stop “out front” before taking the canal into the bay to survey the rolling Tarpon for a possible shot at one of the most exciting gamefish in the world. The Chetumal bay flats are home to a very strong population of bonefish, excellent numbers of Permit, as well as resident juvenile tarpon, jack crevalle, triggers, snook, barracuda, and some small sharks. The local guides are masters of knowing the fishes habits and excellent at sighting the slightest movement on the saltwater flats. They have amazing eyes and will usually spot fish long before the angler, perfect for you to get your line in order and be ready for the shot. You will get the opportunity to fish from the boat as well as wade some beautiful hard-bottomed sandy flats. A lunch is provided and quickly consumed to return to the fishing. After the sun is high and visibility fades in the late afternoon for we will eventually head back to our beautiful hotel to clean up, have a hot or cold shower, and then meet up and head to dinner to discuss the day and ready ourselves for the next.
Xcalak and Chetumal Bay are rated as some the best fishing destinations in the world. As any experienced angler knows, it’s not just about the fishing, it’s the location too. There’s a lot of beauty and tranquility in this remote tropical paradise of the Caribbean right on the border of Belize.
The reef protected beaches of Mahaual and Xcalak, along with Chetumal bay offer some of the finest sight casting to bonefish, permit, and tarpon in a tropical paradise. These areas are much less used and fishing pressure is much lighter compared to its more know fishing destinations to the north and south. We will have chances to feel the reel burning runs of saltwater species each day we are out there. Fishing is done from the 23 foot skiffs and wading from the skiffs is encouraged as well to allow us to get closer to the fish we are pursuing. Fishing from the specialized flats boats allows us to be above the fish to sight them better for a longer shot, stepping off the boat and wading allows us to creep up closer to them to get a more accurate shot.
Your Host
Your Host will be David D’Beaupre, the owner of the STM Fly Shop in Bishop, California. David has lived and guided in the southern Mayan Coast of Mexico throughout the last 20 years, at one time he lived in the area for 2 consecutive years. He will pick you up and drop you off from the airport in Cancun, take you to the best restaurant experiences during the trip, and be with you throughout the day with different guides to help with whatever you need to help you catch these unforgettable saltwater fish. Not only does he know the language, culture, and his way around like a local, he is absolutely ecstatic about sight fishing to the exotic and reel destroying fish of the Caribbean salt flats. You will have the best possible experience the area has to offer.
The Lodging
Our lodging will be an amazing hotel right on the beach boasting its own beachfront with fishing opportunities right out the front door. Located a few steps from Mahahual Beach, the lodging has accommodations such as two restaurants on the property, free private parking, and a bar with local drinks in the evening, and coffee and breakfast in the morning. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and a concierge service, and free WiFi throughout the property. The hotel has a garden and provides a sun terrace as well as a fully equipped gym.
The hotels features complement the location and are worthy of the tropical experience. Complete with a private bathroom equipped with free toiletries, very cool air conditioning, and built with local jungle wood.
Additional Information
