Amazing Fishing In The Salt Flats Of Tulum

Upon arriving on the Boca Paila Fishing Lodge without delay at 7:30 am, we observed the place was by now jumping.  Visitors were  polishing off breakfast and the guides had been getting the last of their equipment within the boats while being knowledgeably directed by  Chico, the general manager and the primary host of the property, this was not any typical tulum resort.  Obviously this was not the first occasion these guys had done  this, in fact Boca Paila has been around since the late 1960s.  To say these guys are pioneers of fishing in this locale is  an understatement, they have been the only game in town long ago and it was a 2 hour drive from Tulum, not 20 to 30 minutes as  it is now.

We arrived for the fishing and they had been equipped in favor of us.  Subsequent to momentary introductions with Chico, he informed us that our boat and  guide Alfonso were already waiting on the pier on behalf of us.  A quick assessment of our tackle and off we went.  Chico made certain we  also had a few of the very best flies and jigs on behalf of the region and season before we departed and handed those to our guide Alfonso  after he personally escorted us to the boat.

Once on the water, Alfonso didnt squander much time and we took off across the glass lagoon seeking our first fish of the  day.  There was a brief stop on a slice in the lagoon, where it meets the ocean, and Alfonso said we needed to stop in favor of  something there.  Without giving away all of the secrets of the area, the stop proved to become rather advantageous in the course of the day.

After the “stop” where the lagoon meets sea, we made our approach to the opening of many of what I imagine are Alfonsos preferred  spots inside this magical lagoon.  There awaited at the very least 30 miles of practically untouched and guarded wetlands and  interrelated unaffected waterways.

Alfonso killed the engine as we arrived at the opening spot and he began poling us along the black rooted mangrove shores as  he surveyed the water with his proficient ability to see.  Inside 10 minutes he saw the bone fish and we had been directed to “11 ‘o  clock about 30 feet out,” and then a swift call to “strip it, strip it, strip it!” We followed our guides command and  bingo, my Dad had our first fish on. Inside two minutes, an additional respectable sized bone fish was caught and released by me.  This  was gonna be excitement!

Further across the shore, Alfonso continued to scrutinize the waters from his 3 foot platform in favor of the next catch.  This time it  was Permit and I had one on the line.  If you have not caught a Permit fish on a fly rod or maybe light tackle, its difficult  to explain how much excitement it sincerely is.  It had been average size for the locale, about 10 pounds nevertheless it fought for 15 minutes  before relenting and after a quick photo {it was} released.  What a blast and what a beautiful fish!

a variety more Bone Fish and a mixed bag of Jack, Mud Snapper and Porgy and off we went into the next spot.  I thought to myself,  if all the spots are like that, one of my arms might not make it the day.  We had a few issues with the line on my rod and had  to return {to the} lodge for line which procured Alfonso no time to get back up and running. 

Subsequent to about an hour of poling along within the briny waters in the vicinity of our first prize pool we had caught a variety more of the  undesired Snappers, Jack and Porgy so we decided to maneuver down again.  I should point out that there is rarely a uninteresting instant  on the lagoon.  Even when you arent catching fish, theres an awful lot to see.  In the course of the day we probably saw 12 rays of  various species and witnessed several cases of Mullet boiling, bursting and leaping from the water to escape from the  striking Barracuda with countless birds of numerous species and colors.  We also saw a nesting pair of Sea Eagles  (Osprey).

We crossed the lagoon at elevated speed for afternoon fishing before gliding in, engine off and back into the poling for  Alfredo.  I should mention that Boca Paila Fishing Lodge has an extremely talented fisherman and guide in Alfons.  I didnt  catch sight of a tenth of what he spotted for us, however he was sitting up 3 feet higher than us, but he was amazing.

Just before lunch I got into my second Permit and this one was closer to 15 pounds and he wanted to run.  The Permit are  rather common within the Tulum, Boca Paila area of the lagoon so I shouldnt have been too surprised to see Alfonso making lunch  while I fought this fish.  What did amaze me was that when I said “I think he’s coming in, get the net”, Alfonso didnt  jump.  The fish gave me my reply when he took off on an additional long run and I caught a dry smile from Alfonso and went back  to my fish.  another 10 minutes and I did ultimately land that one, and yes, Alfonso had the net equipped this time.

Subsequent to lunch, which was great by the way, a ham sandwich, chips and a beer. Following being {in the} sun for 4-5 hours, it was one  of the best lunches I have had in a while and Alfonso showed us the Mexican way of adding various hot sauce to the  sandwiches{it was} excellent.  We moved closer to shore and once more began to stalk the next catch, it was hot and the fishing  seemed to slow a bit within the afternoon heat, but Alfonso was unyielding and when he caught me sitting on the bow he demanded  that I stand up. “You can’t catch fish sitting downstand up ready!  I was up and about straight away and was slightly  embarrassed but that ended instantly after I hooked into another Permit, this one was somewhat smaller, in all probability 8 pounds but  the battle lasted 10 minutes and the thrill was definitely not gone.

We stalked a number more small groups of Bone Fish and Permit pairs, landing a few more average sized Bone Fish before  moving on once again.  This time, as we arrived at the new spot, Alfonso informed us that this was a large channel and one  of the deeper areas of the lagoon.  Still only twelve to fifteen feet deep but we changed up the tackle and went to a large jig with  a heavy leader.  I am guessing about 20 to 25 pound test.

This is where things got very attention-grabbing.  We must have hit that channel as a school of baitfish had been passing through or  had just passed because it was a feeding frenzy!   The opening casts for both my father and I produced two large Snook in the  20 pound range, pretty good fights for both, but pound for pound I believe the Permit is tough to beat.   In any case, as things  got peculiar, and cast after cast produced larger and larger Snook, I started thinking about the mysterious “Super Slam”; Bone  Fish, Permit, Snook and Tarpon.  I would have been ecstatic to possess such a great day and fall short but then as if on queue  another whopping strike and from the water it came, the Tarpon ran beyond the boat at full speed then made a run back by means of  an additional spectacular leap.  While it was relatively small for Tarpon at about 10 pounds, it had been the icing on a perfect day  of fishing.

We stayed on the channel for 20 minutes roughly and I was so tired and wholly pleased that I handed my rod to  Alfonso and watched him catch a variety more Snook while my Dad did the same and brought in a couple more Bone Fish for  measure.

All in all, I have got to say that this was the very best day of fishing EVER.  Between the company, the Boca Paila Fishing Lodge, one of the most unique tulum resorts I’ve ever stayed at,  services and the brilliant number of fish we caught, this one will likely be tough to beat.  I want to once more personally express thanks  the staff at Boca Paila for this excellent experience we are going to both always remember!