Upon arriving on the Boca Paila Fishing Lodge promptly at 7:30 am, we noticed the place was already hopping. Visitors had been finishing up breakfast and the guides were getting the last of their gear in the boats while being knowledgeably directed by Chico, the general manager and the principle host of the property. Obviously, this was not the first occasion these guys had done this, in actual fact Boca Paila has been in business since the late 1960s. To say these guys are pioneers of fishing in this area is a real understatement http://www.mexicoholiday.com/tulum-hotels, they were the only players in town back then and it had been a 2 hour drive from Tulum, not 20 to 30 minutes as it is now.
We arrived for the fishing and they were equipped for us. Subsequent to brief introductions with Chico, he informed us that our boat and guide Alfonso were by now waiting on the pier for us. A quick review of our tackle and we were off. Chico made certain we also had a number of the very best flies and jigs for the area and time of year before we departed and handed those to our guide Alfonso after he personally escorted us to the boat.
Once on the water, Alfonso didnt fritter away much time and we took off across the glass lagoon seeking our opening fish of the day. There was a momentary stop on a cut in the lagoon http://www.mexicoholiday.com/tulum-hotels, where it meets the sea, and Alfonso said we needed to stop for something there. Without giving away all of the secrets and techniques of the region, the stop proved to be relatively advantageous during the day.
Following the stop, where the lagoon meets the sea, we made our way to the first of many of what I imagine are Alfonsos preferred spots inside this magical lagoon. There awaited http://www.mexicoholiday.com/, at the very least, 30 miles of nearly unaffected and guarded wetlands and interrelated unaffected waterways.
Alfonso killed the engine as we arrived at the first spot and he commenced poling us along the black rooted mangrove shores as he surveyed the water with his practiced ability to see. Within 10 minutes, he saw bone fish and we had been directed to “11 ‘o clock about 30 feet out,” and then the rapid call to “strip it, strip it, strip it!” We followed our guides order and bingo, my Dad had our opening fish on. Inside two minutes, another good sized bone fish was caught and released by me. This was gonna be exciting!
Further along the shore, Alfonso continued to survey the waters from his 3 foot platform for the next catch. This time http://www.mexicoholiday.com/,it was Permit and I had one on the line. If you have never caught a Permit fish with a fly rod or even just light tackle, its hard to explain the amount of excitement it genuinely is. It had been average size for the area, about 10 pounds but it fought for 15 minutes before relenting and subsequent to a quick photo released. What a charge and what a ravishing fish!
A few more Bone Fish and a mixed bag of Jack, Mud Snapper and Porgy and off we went to the next spot. I thought to myself, if all of the spots are like that, one of my arms might not make it the day. We had various issues using the line on my rod and had to return to the lodge for line which took Alfonso no time to get back up and running.
After about an hour of poling down inside the brackish waters near our first prize pool we had caught a few more of the undesired Snappers, Jack and Porgy so we decided to maneuver down again. I ought to remark that there is seldom a dull moment on the lagoon. Even when you arent catching fish, theres quite a lot to catch sight of. Throughout the day we probably saw 12 rays of varied species and witnessed several instances of Mullet boiling, bursting and leaping out of the water to flee from the striking Barracuda along many birds of countless species and colors. We also saw a nesting couple of Sea Eagles (Osprey).
We crossed the lagoon at high speed for afternoon fishing before gliding in, engine off and back into the poling for Alfredo. I should point out that Boca Paila Fishing Lodge has a particularly gifted fisherman and guide in Alfons. I didnt see a tenth of what he spotted for us, however he was sitting up 3 feet higher than us, but he was amazing.
Just prior to lunch I got into my second Permit and this one was closer to fifteen pounds and he wanted to run. The Permit are relatively common in the Tulum, Boca Paila locale of the lagoon so I shouldnt have been too startled to see Alfonso making lunch while I fought this fish. What did surprise me was that when I said “I think he’s coming in, grab the net”, Alfonso didnt move. The fish gave me my answer when he took off on an additional long run and I caught a dry smile from Alfonso and went back to my fish. An additional 10 minutes and I would at long last land that one, and yes, Alfonso had the net ready this occasion.
After lunch, which was fantastic by the way, a ham sandwich, chips and a beer. Subsequent to being in the sun for 4 to 5 hours, it had been one of the best lunches I have had in a while and Alfonso showed us the Mexican method of adding various hot sauce to the sandwiches… excellent. We moved closer to shore and once more started to stalk the next catch, it was hot and the fishing seemed to slow somewhat in the afternoon heat, but Alfonso was persistent and when he caught me sitting on the bow he demanded that I stand up. “You can’t catch fish sitting down…stand up!” I was up directly and was somewhat embarrassed but that ended quickly after I hooked into another Permit, this one was a bit smaller, probably 8 pounds but the struggle lasted 10 minutes and the thrill was without doubt not gone.
We stalked a few more small groups of Bone Fish and Permit pairs, landing a few more run of the mill sized Bone Fish before moving on once again. This occasion, as we came across the new spot, Alfonso informed us that this was a sizable channel and one of the deeper parts 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 fantastically attention grabbing. We must have hit that channel as a school of baitfish were passing through or had just passed because it was a feeding frenzy! The first 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. Anyway, as the fishing progressed, and cast after cast produced larger and larger Snook, I started thinking about the elusive Super Slam, Bone Fish, Permit, Snook and Tarpon. I would have been thrilled to possess such a great day and fall short but then as if on queue, an additional big strike, and from the water it sprung, the Tarpon ran past the boat at full speed then made a run back with another spectacular jump. While it was a comparatively undersized Tarpon at about 10 pounds, it was the icing on an ideal day of fishing.
We stayed at the channel another 20 minutes or so and I was so tired and completely satisfied that I handed my rod to Alfonso and watched him catch a number more Snook while my Dad did similarly and brought in a few more Bone Fish for good measure.
All in all, I must say that this was the best day of fishing EVER. Between the company, the Boca Paila Fishing Lodge services and the amazing number of fish we caught, this one is going to be tough to beat. I want to once more personally thank the team at Boca Paila for this excellent experience we will both never forget!
