Cancun Fly Fishing Isla Blanca Day Trip Report – October 28th:

Cancun Fly Fishing Isla Blanca Day Trip Report – October 28th: It’s a fact of life; there is a good chance that you will be in Cancun, Mexico sometime in your life. Whether that is a wedding, reunion, family beach trip, spring break or prepping for a week’s adventure at a Yucatan based fly fishing lodge; you will spend some time in Cancun! Margaritaville, Carlos and Charlies, Senor Frogs, endless Tequila shots, seaside all inclusive resorts and cheesy tourist t-shirts and gifts are the first things that come to many anglers mind when arriving in Cancun. Upon arrival, we quickly try to get to our hotel and insulate ourselves from the madness while dreaming of solitude, saltwater flats, bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook. From an aerial view, Cancun and its surrounding area looks to be a fly fishing paradise covered in ocean flats, interior lagoons and reef points. I questioned if there was a day trip option worth taking outside of the lengthy drive to southern Tulum area while spending time in the Cancun area or waiting/going to or from a lodge fly fishing week.

Orlando owns and operates a couple different Pangas for his fishing operations. His fly fishing panga is fulling stocked and comfortable for a day on the water and includes lunch, waters, beers and necessary safety equipment. As we loaded our gear and pushed off from the dock, the sun was just beginning to rise. We motored away from the city life and into familiar island habitat and mangrove jungle of the Yucatan. We made our way around a number of islands and landed in a small mangrove lagoon. At the end of the lagoon, Orlando and I both spoked a school of happy baby tarpon rolling. Orlando quietly poled the panga closer to the school. He adjusted the angle of the boat to give me the best shot possible at the fish. With seconds, a baby tarpon had engulfed my fly and was airborne in a wild and destructive manner only known to the Tarpon. The fish was quickly released and Orlando congratulated me on a job well done. I jumped back up on the bow of the panga while we continued to pole and hunt the lagoon for more baby tarpon.

We spent the rest of the morning searching the traditional baby tarpon habitat of mangroves, creeks, basins and lagoons. We found schools, singles, doubles and small groups in about every type of area tarpon like to live and feed. We jumped a bunch of fish and even brought a couple to the boat. After the eventful morning, Orlando suggested we go look for bonefish and permit. I had prepared myself for a day of Tarpon and Snook fishing and was surprised that we would even have an opportunity to see some bonefish and permit. I agreed in the change of fish pursuit and we headed out to a different island, surrounded by uniform white sand flats similar to those of Ascension and Espiritu Santo bay. As we poled onto the flat, a large school of bonefish swam by and quickly grabbed my fly. We continued around the flat and saw a huge push of water. “Permit,” Orlando whispered. We saw a couple black tails and acquired our target. I casted the fly in front of the lead fish it followed! However, in classic Permit fashion, the fish followed the fly all the way to the boat only to spook at the last moment.

We finished our day in another lagoon near Boca Iglesia, a Spanish settlement and the first Catholic Church in Latin America. You could even see some of the ruins and church steeple from the water. We continued along a mangrove bank finding snook peaking out and transitioning for feeding spot to feeding spot. Each spot we checked out had great shots of snook. Big schools, singles and even a couple above average snook were found, casted to and brought to the boat jumping and fighting with typical Snook gusto and vigor. As I release my last fish of the day, we decided to pack up to head back to the dock and journey back to Cancun.

As we motored back to the dock, I reflected back on our day. It truly was a wonderful experience on the water insulated and isolated from the madness of the city. The fishing was similar if not above par and easily comparable to most Yucatan style fisheries! When you factor in shots at the big three (Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit – plus some Snook), an enjoyable guide and a fishery that flies under the radar of the tourist mecca of Cancun; why not arrive a day earlier for your week fly fishing excursion or factor in a day or two on your next family vacation. Add in easy logistics with hotel pick up and drop off, a day on the water with Orlando is a great way to spend some down time in the greater Cancun area. For those interested in Cancun Fly Fishing Isla Blanca, please contact WorldCast Anglers. Be sure to stay updated on the WorldCast Anglers Hosted Destination Travel Offerings!