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The Top Fly Fishing Lodges in the Yucatan

September 16, 24

Many saltwater anglers recognize Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as one of the preeminent fly fishing destinations. The region offers anglers a wealth of fishing diversity, and is home to some of the world's elite fishing guides. When you're ready to start planning your trip, we've compiled the following information on the Yucatan's fishing seasons, target species, various regions, and lodge recommendations to assist you in the finding the best match for your wants and needs.

Fly Fishing Seasons of the Yucatan: When to Go

This is easily one of the most common questions we receive at Yellow Dog, and understandably so. Destination angling is not cheap, and if you are going to invest in a week of fishing, you want the most out of it. The reality is, there is no "perfect time" to go, as factors such as weather, moon phases, and fish habits play a role year-round. The easiest and best answer is: Weigh the pros and cons of each season, but ultimately, go when you can.

Spring
By March, many anglers are chomping at the bit to escape winter weather and Mexico is beginning to take shape for peak fishing season. Generally favorable conditions mean consistent sunny days and low storm activity, making this a favorite time of year to travel to the Yucatan for many. Wind can sometimes be heavier during the Spring, with winds dying down as Summer approaches.

Dates for "prime season" in the early Spring to mid-Summer are always in high demand, so if you want to travel during this time, chances are high you need to book well in advance (6-12 months or more). Keep in mind, some lodges feature high and low season rates, so it is possible the cost of a trip is higher during this time.

Summer
Summer does not get the credit it deserves in the Yucatan! Yes, it is hot, but so is the fishing. Some of the best permit fishing of the year happens between July and August, and large, migratory tarpon can be found in all of the Three Bays.

Additionally, the Summer season tends to have the most consistently favorable wind conditions. Storms can play a factor this time of year, but its not uncommon for the day to start or end with rain, with blue-bird conditions on either side. Availability is easier to come by during the mid-to-late Summer, and some lodges offer discounts during this time.

Fall
Like the Summer season, Fall doesn't always get the attention it deserves in the Yucatan, despite having similar conditions to late Spring. Most all lodges have availability, and while storms are a possibility, the fishing remains strong.

The big upside to planning a trip during the Fall is that pressure is incredibly low after months of fewer boats and anglers on the water, which generally means more cooperative fish. Another plus is the annual push of big snook onto the flats which begins in the Fall, making it the ideal time to shoot for a Super Grand Slam!

Winter
Winter fishing in the Yucatan can be excellent. Given its proximity to the equator, temperatures typically remain consistent, and days on the bow are warm and comfortable. Cold fronts are possible throughout the winter which does impact the fishing, but these fronts are often short-lived. In terms of fishing, this is the time of the year to target big snook and bonefish!

Target Species

One of the most attractive characteristics of fly fishing in the Yucatan is the diversity -- bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, jacks, barracuda, triggerfish, and more can all be found. In some areas, you can target all of the "Big 3" on the same flat or in close proximity to each other, making this a perfect destination for anglers of all skill sets.

Bonefish: The Yucatan is well-known for large numbers of bonefish in the one to three pound range, though larger fish are possible. Fishing scenarios for bonefish includes everything from cruising singles and doubles along mangroves shorelines, small to large schools cruising white sand flats, and tailing fish over sand flats or turtle grass. If you are an experienced angler, you can rack up some serious numbers of bonefish in the Yucatan, while if you are a beginner, this is a great place to work on your presentation, learn how to feed saltwater fish, practice your strip set, and work on fighting fish.

Tarpon: The Yucatan ranks near the top as one of the world's best tarpon fisheries. The northern Yucatan coast boasts incredible numbers of juvenile tarpon, and it isn't uncommon to hook up with dozens of fish in a half or full day of fishing. Along the Yucatan's Caribbean coast, juvenile tarpon fishing remains excellent, and large, adult tarpon are common throughout all of Ascension, Espiritu Santo, and Chetumal Bay during the warmer months, with some large, resident fish available year-round.

Permit: Permit are the main draw for a lot of anglers traveling to this region, as the Caribbean side of the Yucatan has them in droves. Everything from "schoolie" sized permit in the 4-8 pound range to monster fish coming in at 35+ pounds are possible. Similar to bonefish, fishing scenarios can vary greatly, ranging from cruising schools of dozens of fish, to singles and doubles tailing over sandy flats -- and everything in between. Its common to target these fish at depths of three to six feet of water, buts its also possible to find fish in as little as a foot of water or in along the edges of a reef or dropoff. There are tons of different angling scenarios to encounter, which keeps the fishing fresh and exciting.

Snook: Snook are one of the most exciting species to target on fly: Aggressive, powerful, and an "honest" fish, snook are a top-tier sporting fish known for hitting flies hard and fighting harder. Snook can be found throughout all of the Yucatan, especially in areas with plentiful mangrove habitat. They tend to lay up within the root systems of the mangroves or cruise their edges in pursuit of prey, but can also be found cruising flats or shorelines, especially in stained or brackish water. When water temperatures drop, snook will seek out warmer water, making it possible to target them across the Yucatan's shallow flats.

Jacks, Barracuda, & More: You never know what you might encounter on the flats -- schools of aggressive, fast-swimming jacks, laid-up barracuda, tailing triggerfish, snappers, sharks, and more are all commonly encountered. There are truly no shortage of possibilities.

Tarpon Coast & The Three Bays

The Yucatan Peninsula is made up of over 76,300 square miles, and includes multiple Mexican states, as well as portions of Belize and Guatemala. For that reason, we're going to look a little closer at the various fishing regions of Mexico to provide travelers with a better idea of where is best for them.

Tarpon Coast

Within Mexico's Yucatan, the tarpon coast runs for hundreds of miles along the peninsula's northern coast, with notable towns including Campeche, Rio Lagartos, and Tabasco. If you are looking to target permit or bonefish, this is not the destination for you -- however, it does offer perhaps the healthiest juvenile tarpon fishery anywhere! To reach the Tarpon Coast, anglers typically fly into either Cancun, Merida, or Villahermosa, depending on the lodge you are visiting. From there, short transfers are arranged and coordinated by Yellow Dog to reach your final destination.

One of the most unique elements of fishing in this region is that most programs excel at providing anglers and companions with a far more customizable program. This flexibility allows visitors to fish as much or as little as they want, choose from a selection of lodging options, and incorporate various non-angling activities into their itinerary. While some of the lodges along the Three Bays do offer some non-angling activities, they are more geared toward committed anglers and fishing is the primary draw.

Tarpon Coast Lodge Options: Campeche Tarpon / Fly Fishing Tabasco / Isla del Sabalo / Tarpon Cay Lodge / Tarpon Town

The Three Bays

Travel to this region is fairly straightforward, requiring a flight into Cancun or Tulum. For most programs, anglers are shuttled south to their final destination such as Punta Allen, Chetumal, or Xcalak. Shuttle times will vary depending on your arrival airport and final destination, but can be as short as a 1-2 hour transfer via van and boat transfer from Tulum to Punta Allen, or up to five hours via van from Cancun to the southernmost town of Xcalak. For anyone looking for a great fly fishing option in the Cancun area, Fin Chasers offers anglers excellent permit and tarpon fishing opportunities and is one of the quickest and easiest to reach saltwater fly fishing destinations.

The northern-most of the "Three Bays," Ascension Bay offers the most lodging options for anglers, with numerous dedicated fly fishing lodges located along the shore. Ascension Bay is the second largest of the three, and while it may look small from a map, it is absolutely enormous in person. To put it in perspective, "A-Bay" alone has hundreds of square miles of fishable flats and healthy mangrove habitat. For first time anglers, they'll feel like they're stepping into a saltwater fly fishing oasis -- and for good reason: One of the most special components of both Ascension Bay and Espiritu Santo Bay to the south is that they are part of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, preventing the development or destruction of the natural habitat and making it a mecca of sorts for fly fishermen.

Ascension Bay Lodge Options: Ascension Bay Lodge / Grand Slam Lodge / Casa Blanca Lodge / Kay Fly Fishing Lodge / Pesca Maya Lodge / The Palometa Club

The smallest of the three, Espiritu Santo Bay (ESB) has far fewer anglers due to its size and regulations imposed by the Sian Ka'an Biosphere to limit fishing pressure. The bay’s six-mile-wide mouth opens to the Caribbean and is a highway into the bay and back lagoons for multiple species. A protected area with good numbers of fish and diverse species to target, few saltwater fisheries come close to Espiritu Santo Bay! Due to limitations on fishing pressure and only a couple of operational lodges, demand is high and anglers should plan on booking well in advance, but anglers are rewarded with access to a fishery that has received far less attention than Ascension Bay. Given the remote location of the lodges in ESB, all lodges are accessed via charter planes that connect anglers to and from the Cancun International Airport.

Espiritu Santo Bay Lodge Options: Espiritu Santo Bay Lodge / Playa Blanca Lodge

Finally, Chetumal Bay is the southernmost of the three -- and by far the largest at approximately 1615 square miles. The bay encompasses the well-known and famed fisheries around Xcalak in Mexico and Ambergris Caye in Belize. Anglers wanting to fish Chetumal Bay have a couple of options. Those include the very small town of Xcalak located near the border of Belize on the Bay's eastern side, or the much larger city of Chetumal on the mainland. Travel to both areas takes about 5 hours from Cancun or 3 - 3.5 hours from Tulum.

Chetumal Bay Lodge Options: The Xflats / Costa de Cocos Lodge / Fly Fishing Chetumal

Top Yucatan Tarpon Lodges

There aren't any wrong choices when it comes to tarpon fishing in The Yucatan, but there are some elements to consider.

For sheer number of shots, the Tarpon Coast is going to be very difficult to beat. It isn't uncommon for anglers to jump or land dozens of juvenile tarpon in a single day, with fish ranging from 5 to 25 pounds. Typically with these programs, anglers start very early to target the tarpon when they are most active in the morning, and its not uncommon to be wrapping up by mid afternoon. The cities of Campeche, Rio Lagartos, and Tabasco are highly regarded for their histories, architecture, and culture, and visitors are encouraged to explore, dine, and take tours when not fishing.

Juvenile tarpon are still found in good numbers throughout the Three Bays, but what really separates these fisheries from the Tarpon Coast are the large, migratory tarpon that inhabit area waters typically starting around May/June through August/September. The arrival and departure of the fish largely depends on conditions, as well as ever-changing fish behaviors. But, if you are someone wanting to target a 100-plus pound tarpon, all of the Three Bays and their lodges are a great choice.

Special Mentions: Ascension Bay Lodge / Grand Slam Lodge / The Xflats, Campeche Tarpon / Fin Chasers / Tarpon Cay Lodge / Tarpon Town / Fly Fishing Tabasco / Isla del Sabalo / Fly Fishing Chetumal / Pesca Maya Lodge

Top Yucatan Permit Lodges

With the exception of Tarpon Coast, permit fishing can be excellent throughout all of the Yucatan. With that in mind, there are some lodges who cater to anglers who are more focused on permit, whether seeking your first your hundredth. These lodges feature some of the most experienced, highly-sought after guides in the world of permit fishing.

Gear and Equipment for Fly Fishing the Yucatan

We have compiled an extensive amount of information and content to help ensure anglers are prepared for a fly fishing trip to the Yucatan.

Check out our Yucatan Gear Guide to learn more about the specific rods, reels, lines, flies, and more that are recommended for fly fishing the Yucatan. Additionally, anglers can purchase a Saltwater Fly Assortment hand-picked by our team or shop for all recommended gear from a number of equipment lists specific to each fishery:

Fly Fishing the Yucatan YouTube Series

Finally, if you are someone who prefers a video format, enjoy our Youtube Series focusing on gear and travel advice for fly fishing the Yucatan:

We are always available to help and are happy to dig in further to answer any questions you have regarding fly fishing the Yucatan. Please Contact Yellow Dog to learn more and plan your next great fishing adventure!

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Written By

Aaron Wood

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