Saltwater Fly Fishing
In the lagoons of Bacalar Chico, with Costa de Cocos, Xcalak Mexico
Little known fishing flats
There's a surprise down in Xcalak for fly lovers. In the remote lagoons and mangrove lined canals of southern Quintana Roo there's trophy sized bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook lurking under those clear waters. Some of the most sought after game fish in the world can be found here in numbers, and adventurous anglers who have the time and means are coming to Costa de Cocos in Xcalak Mexico to catch'em, or try anyway. Fly fishing is a sport of skill, cunning and patience, hide and go seek on the water if you will, and the perfect fly cast a thing of beauty. Like golf, a good coach and lots of practice are required, but it's fun and an excellent excuse to get out on the water. There's a peacefulness on the lagoons that's different than the sea.
A little history The modern sport of saltwater fly fishing started in the early 1950's after World War II, when GI's had time to explore the saltwater shoals of the US east coast, and begin developing casting techniques to catch the fish they saw there. The new sport grew rapidly, spreading to Florida and the Everglades where enthusiasts ventured into previously unknown flats and shoals, refining their equipment and techniques, and in the process defining the unknown world of fly fishing.
Mexico fly fishing was a natural progression as adventurous anglers looked farther south for new areas similar to their favorite spots in Florida. The Yucatan was the next frontier, offering a warm welcome and miles of unexplored mangrove fringed lagoons and waterways. A new breed of local fishing guide was born. They quickly became experts at catching four highly prized game fish: bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook. Today guides are constantly looking for new hot spots in the shallow mangrove lagoons and canals of Bacalar Chico, just south of the town of Xcalak Mexico where Costa de Cocos lodge is located.
| Fish species | Fly | Size (bold denotes most used) | Colors | Estiamted quanitity of each for one week fishing |
| Bonefish | Bonefish Bitter | 6, 8 | Amber Chartreuse | 6-8 each color |
| Bonefish special | 6 | NA | 6-8 | |
| Chili Pepper | 4, 6 | NA | 12 each size some with lead eyes | |
| Crazy Charlie | 4, 6, 8 | miscellaneous | 3-6 each size/color | |
| Salt Shrimp (weedless) | 8 | Gold, Olive | 4-6, each color | |
| Clouser Minnow | 2, 4 | Green/White | 4-6 | |
| Mini-puff | 6 | Tan, Orange | 4-6 | |
| Turneffe Crab | 6, 8 | Olive, Tan | 3-6, each size/color | |
| Gotcha | 4, 6 | NA | 6-12, each size | |
| Permit | McCrab | 2, 4 | NA | 3-6 each size (also good for large bonefish) |
| Permit Crab Merkin (del Brown) | 2, 4 | Sand, Brown, Olive | 3-6 | |
| Turneffe Crab | 6, 8 | Olive,Tan | 3-6, each size (also good for large bonefish) | |
| Whitlock Floating Crab (weedless) | 2, 4 | Tan/Olive/Brown | 3-6 each size (good for Turtle grass) | |
| Tarpon | Big Eye Tarpon | 1/0, 3/0 | Furnace/Squirrel Orange/Blue Sand Devil Red/Grizzly |
2-3 each color |
| Whistler | 2/0, 3/0 | Red/White White/Grizzly Red/Grizzly |
3 of each color | |
| Snook | Baitfish Fly Whitlock | 1/0 | Chartreuse Pearl Emerald Pearl Yellow Pearl |
3 of each color |
| Bendback | 1/0 | White/Green Yellow White/Blue |
4-6 each color | |
| Deceiver | 1/0, 2/0 | White/Green White/Blue Red/Yellow |
3 of each color | |
| Seaducer | 2/0 | Red/White Yellow/Red White/Yellow/Grizzly |
3 each color | |
| Clouser MInnow | 1/0 | Green/White Red/White |
3-6 each color | |
| Tropical Punch (weightled eyes if possible) |
1/0 | NA | 3-6 | |
| Lime Punch (weightled eyes if possible) |
1/0 | NA | 3-6 | |
| Sabalo | 1/0 | NA | 3-6 | |
| Tarpon Glo | 3/0 | Green, Orange | 3-6 |
Bacalar Chico is where we went with Costa de Cocos Dive Resort and Fishing Lodge. These guys are the local experts and they have all the gear you need. Whether you're a newbie at the sport like we were, or an expert with all the latest tackle and flies in your kit, you need a good boat and guide. We were set up with a great guide and a fast boat for the seven mile cruise south to the Bacalar Chico cut. The cut is right on the Belize border and it leads back into a labyrinth of mangrove canals and wide lagoons. This is an amazing experience even if you don't want to fish. The local lore has it that the ancient Maya dug some of the canals to facilitate trade via their log canoes, and to confuse the Spanish conquistadores who occupied their lands. It's common to see migratory birds back here. Below the water there is a rich eco-systen which includes spawning grounds and the fish we're after.
Catch and release is the objective of saltwater fly fishing and the best anglers try to catch bonefish, permit and tarpon all in the same day. That's the coveted "Grand Slam". The only thing better is the "Super Slam" which is bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook, all in the same day. As a new comer you can forget about the slams for a while and just set you sights on having a good time and a laugh trying your hand at fly casting. Our crew consisted of Kay, Gary, Kay's mother Eileen and father Dick, Ilana Randall the co-owner of Costa de Cocos along with her husband Dave, and Rasta our excellent guide. We had already gotten some fly casting practice under our belts with Bart Smith, owner of Turtle Bay Bakery in Akumal, and Kay was getting the hang of it. Now we were ready for the real thing.
They call it fishing, not catching for a reason. Kay did manage to reel a bonefish in, much to the relief of Rasta who was very patient with the "newbies". We had a good laugh when she boated that 12 inch monster. Ilana was quite the expert at casting, as was Rasta, and all of us got plenty of time to fish and enjoy a day out on the flats. These inland mangrove waterways are one of the seldom seen treasures of the Quintana Roo coastline. We had lunch on the boat in a tranquil spot, plenty of beverages and everyone got their fair share of sun, fun and fishing.
Some gear to bring on a trip like this is your hat, sun screen with a high SPF, bug repellent (we didn't need it), polarized sunglasses, binoculars and lightweight long pants. And of course there's lots of specialty fishing gear.
"on the fly" advice and casting practice with Bart in Akumal (no, we weren't fishing off the beach!)
7 miles south of Xcalak we enter the mangrove that leads to the Bacalar Chico lagoons
This is a fly, one of an endless variety, all are handmade to hopefully look like a tasty fishy treat
The day is a combination of motoring and poling while the angler casts from the bow
Kay above and Ilana below, first the cast and then a reel in with the rod tip low
If you're lucky a fish hits and the action starts, this bonefish was Kay's first catch and release
