Ascension Bay Christmas

[Redphisher]

Went with the wife and her family to Playa Del Carmen for the Christmas Holidays. Nine days in the Rivera Maya does anyone right and there was no way I was not going fishing. Packed my 8-weight fly rod and a 2-piece spinning. Booked my trip with the Pesca Maya fishing lodge to fish the Ascension Bay area. I’ve read about that place and have seen it on TV for years and I was excited. The pick up was at 6am. The van showed up at 6:30. After about a two-hour drive an hour of which was on a dirt road that was barely passable at times we arrived. I meet my guide had a quick Mexican style breakfast of runny eggs over easy on a crispy tortilla with some homemade salsa and refried beans. Then we took about a 4-minute walk through the woods we came out at this opening on the bay with a little rickety boat ramp that had some Panga style boats roped up. We got on the water rode across the bay and within 15 minutes I had hooked up and lost my first ever bonefish. After that I figured it out and realized what I needed to do. Then it was on and my guides knew where to find the fish, they had great eyes. All in all I landed a total of 14 bonefish and one Jack in about 7 hours. I had a shot or two at some Permits but only had lookers and no takers. Not to mention I lost at least 10 fish with bad casts (I am not the greatest fly caster, especially in 10 to 15 mph winds). The bonefish were great fighters and I can still hear the sound of my fly line ripping through he water with each long run the fish made. The guide stayed on top of the platform and would say “10 o’clock 30 feet” I would make my cast and then he would say “wait, wait, wait, strip, strip” I would fell the slightest little bump, lift my rod and then fish on. It was killer. I put some pics on here. The first are the lodge and it’s general surroundings and of course I put a pic or two of the fish. The guide’s apprentice that was on the boat with us was very quick in his boat and release of my fish so I didn’t take as many fish pictures as I wanted. The fact that the school was moving and I wanted as many casts at them as I could, kept me from too many picture poses. I managed a fish or two from each school then we would need to move on. A great way to send a day during the Christmas Holidays, hope everyone else had a safe and Merry Christmas.
The Lodge...







Check out these flats, shin deep and crystal clear...

The guides...

Some fish...

[red_yakker]

Very Nice That sounds like my dream vacation.

[salty tiger]

Cool trip

[WaltDawg]

Feliz Navidad

[silverking]

Glad you had such a great trip. It's a wonderful spot. I did a feature on PM a couple years ago for Salt Water Sportsman and fished with Rogelio, one of the owners. Had a great time and caught lots of fish. Had shots but missed the snook. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Did you fish any of the blue holes?

I left just days before the big hurricane hit. The cabana I stayed in on the beach was wiped out. Fortunately, the kitchen and office and all the boats survived and they were back in operation within days. Great guides, good food, cold cervezas and hungry fish, all in a gorgeous locale. Besides the Keys, it's the best place I know of to catch a Super Slam--bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook. If any of the rest of you get a chance to go, by all means do it!

[Redphisher]

Thanks SK, I grew up knowing about that place and I couldn't wait to fish it. It's very cool in deed. I didn't see and Snook or Tarpon I did see about 8 permit mostly little ones but fun to cast at. But the bone fish.... are abundant to say the least. Seemed like every 15 minutes or so a school of 4 to 20 would come around. My guides name was Isa. Nice guy...

[Harmsway]

How do you say "panga" in mexican?

Dream vacation; cool!

[Harmsway]

How do you say "panga" in mexican?

Dream vacation; cool!