Hatch
08-11-2013, 12:46 PM
I just returned from Tarpon Cay Lodge in San Felipe, Northern Yucatan. My group booked this trip through Keith Kineko of Angling on the Fly. We did a 5 night, 4 day package. The small, colorful town was quaint and nice. The hotel staff was terrific, and the food was truly a great: a mix of classic mexican fare and one night of traditional Mayan cuisine.
The fishing is done in small pangas customized for fly fishing with two anglers to a boat. The tides were such that we did double shifts, 6 till 11:30 A.M. then a lunch/siesta/beer break, and then back on the water from 4 till 7:30 P.M. One of the days we opted to have lunch and then go to one of the nearby island to search of bone fish. We found small barracuda, pufferfish, catfish, needles, snapper and jacks, but no bones. Still a fun trip.
The guides spoke English well and were as focused and talented as could be; a pleasure to fish with for a full day. As a group, we had only limited experience fishing for tarpon, but after four days of targeting them, we were well-versed in how tough they can be. Day one was a bit slow, but we all had multiple shots and every one jumped, hooked, and lost their share of fish with 5 out of 6 of us landing them.
Day two was flat calm so the decision was made to make the longer run to look for adult/migratory tarpon. We found them, but they seemed to stay out of range for the most part and our group had only had one grab. The fish was in the 40# class. After lunch, we went back to the baby tarpon, and even though the wind came up, we all had chances at fish.
Day three was calm again and we headed out, each to different locations. We all found nice schools of fish. My boat went to a large flat and we each caught fish at the first river mouth. As we were heading to the next mouth, we were treated to what this area is famous for: hundreds of tarpon in a large scattered school! There were so many that it made it very difficult to get a grab because you would cast to a specific rolling fish only to spook several of his mates. Frustrating at times, but "Champagne Problems," right? My fishing partner for the day, Robert, and I concluded after the morning spectacle that it was one of the greatest fishing experiences of our lives. Awesome does not come close to describe what we experienced!!! We went back to the lodge for Lunch/Beer/Siesta and more tarpon.
On the last day, calm again, one boat went long for adults, but found very few with no grabs. But they fished the off-shore cenotes for a few jacks, snapper and one African Pompano. The other 2 boats opted to fish all morning and into the afternoon with out a siesta break, finishing up around 3 P.M. My boat stayed close and once again found "Tarpon Nirvana." We were surrounded by rolling fish for two straight hours and came close to doubling up on several occasions, but I could not close the deal. Once again I was astonished at the amount of fish. An absolute treat!! This area is truly an amazing place: Crocodiles, Iguanas, Flamingos, Rosetta Spoonbills, Ospreys, Black Vultures, and more Frigates than I have ever seen. There were also grasshoppers bigger than my iPhone, Tarantulas, Sea Turtles, Spotted Eagle Rays in large schools and, oh yea, a ton of freek'n Tarpon. Did I mention that while we saw lots of local fishermen in search of octopus and barracuda, in the four days on the water, we saw not one other boat or angler doing what we were doing? We had the place to ourselves! Will I be back?--- Hell, Yes! Can't Wait!!
HATCH
The fishing is done in small pangas customized for fly fishing with two anglers to a boat. The tides were such that we did double shifts, 6 till 11:30 A.M. then a lunch/siesta/beer break, and then back on the water from 4 till 7:30 P.M. One of the days we opted to have lunch and then go to one of the nearby island to search of bone fish. We found small barracuda, pufferfish, catfish, needles, snapper and jacks, but no bones. Still a fun trip.
The guides spoke English well and were as focused and talented as could be; a pleasure to fish with for a full day. As a group, we had only limited experience fishing for tarpon, but after four days of targeting them, we were well-versed in how tough they can be. Day one was a bit slow, but we all had multiple shots and every one jumped, hooked, and lost their share of fish with 5 out of 6 of us landing them.
Day two was flat calm so the decision was made to make the longer run to look for adult/migratory tarpon. We found them, but they seemed to stay out of range for the most part and our group had only had one grab. The fish was in the 40# class. After lunch, we went back to the baby tarpon, and even though the wind came up, we all had chances at fish.
Day three was calm again and we headed out, each to different locations. We all found nice schools of fish. My boat went to a large flat and we each caught fish at the first river mouth. As we were heading to the next mouth, we were treated to what this area is famous for: hundreds of tarpon in a large scattered school! There were so many that it made it very difficult to get a grab because you would cast to a specific rolling fish only to spook several of his mates. Frustrating at times, but "Champagne Problems," right? My fishing partner for the day, Robert, and I concluded after the morning spectacle that it was one of the greatest fishing experiences of our lives. Awesome does not come close to describe what we experienced!!! We went back to the lodge for Lunch/Beer/Siesta and more tarpon.
On the last day, calm again, one boat went long for adults, but found very few with no grabs. But they fished the off-shore cenotes for a few jacks, snapper and one African Pompano. The other 2 boats opted to fish all morning and into the afternoon with out a siesta break, finishing up around 3 P.M. My boat stayed close and once again found "Tarpon Nirvana." We were surrounded by rolling fish for two straight hours and came close to doubling up on several occasions, but I could not close the deal. Once again I was astonished at the amount of fish. An absolute treat!! This area is truly an amazing place: Crocodiles, Iguanas, Flamingos, Rosetta Spoonbills, Ospreys, Black Vultures, and more Frigates than I have ever seen. There were also grasshoppers bigger than my iPhone, Tarantulas, Sea Turtles, Spotted Eagle Rays in large schools and, oh yea, a ton of freek'n Tarpon. Did I mention that while we saw lots of local fishermen in search of octopus and barracuda, in the four days on the water, we saw not one other boat or angler doing what we were doing? We had the place to ourselves! Will I be back?--- Hell, Yes! Can't Wait!!
HATCH