Ascension Bay Kayaking

[worldanglr]

Not sure if this should go into the kayak forum or the regional forum, hopefully this is the right spot...

I'm planning a trip with a few friends to Ascension Bay this late summer / fall and am looking for some infomation on kayaking in the Sian Ka'an biosphere. I was told by one source that kayaks are forbidden within the biosphere but haven't been able to verify that, does anyone have any reliable information on the subject? Also can you camp inside the biosphere?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[juanito_1]

You can rent kayaks at the biosphere visitor centre, not sure what the cost is though. The centre is located halfway between Boca Paila bridge & the park entrance, there's a small restaurant & a short boardwalk to the lagoon. Think they do birding/wildlife trips from there too. Rodman Hunter posted a reference to it here not too long ago, do a search.

[Benzie Rover]

I was in Boca Paila area back in April. I was able to escape for 2 days of DIY fishing during a week long family trip to Tulum area and learned a few things. Will be going back last week of Nov. with just wife and plan to explore and fish. Kayaks are allowed in the biosphere. I am not sure if they charge extra if you bring in your own vs. renting from the visitors center though. I am sure the entrance gate attendant will let you know if you ahve one strapped to your car.

Regarding camping, from what I saw it is a free for all... ofcourse I was there during the Easter holiday, which is a really big deal ofcourse and the whole beach just south of the Boca was lined with tents and campsites set up by mexican families on vacation... and I have a friend who has done some DIY fishing there and he also just slept in a tent on the beach with no issues... but his wife is native guatemalean so they had no troubles with the language barrior or speaking with the miltary as they walked by on patrol or most importantly when in that area, trying to decifer what is truly legally prohibited for everyone, what is prohited for gringos but not enforced for locals and what is okay for anyone... those seem to be the three catagories of enforcement... and I am not exactly sure where camping out in the Biosphere and kayaking on your own is with in that system... but camping on the beaches next to the road 'seemed' okay and lots of people do it. but again, not the sort of place to just go assuming you are in teh right and you know the rules... the 17 yr. olds with M-16s (military on drug runner patrol) walkign the beach probably have the last say on what goes and what does not...

other questions I am REALLY hoping to have answered if anyone knows:

1. Is a liscence required for sportfishing from shore/wading? Where can I get one? I understand that the BP guides sell them to their clients, but is it something I need for wading on my own?

2. Can you keep a (1) snook for dinner?

3. Is fishing the beaches up by Soliman Bay and Tanka Bay (where i stayed last time) TRULY prohibited??? I hear of ppl on here fishing the bay behind Oscar y Lolas, any information on that would be great. From what I could gather from the unofficial signs was that some anti-fishing folks that live on Soliman Bay have gotten it posted, but that there is not official enforcement behind it... does anyone know about this??? I found it strange that I could fish in the Biosphere, but it was supposedly not allowed along those beaches north of it??

Also, I would interested in takling with other DIY fisherman about their experiences in the Boca area and trading stories.... I am an experienced flyfisherman with decent flats knowledge/experience...

good luck and fish on,

Matt

[widdoes]

I only have the answer to 1 of your questions, which is : yes a special license is required for the biosphere, which includes the oceanside beaches. I have fished at BP lodge and they hand you a wrist band (daily as I recall). They are cheap- like $2/day from the check-in point on the road south from Tulum.
(OK- I just did a search and it seems that the license is $10/day or $23/week)

The only other partial asnwer I have is that, yes, the BP guides will keep a snook or 2 for dinner, but that may well fall into one of those "grey" areas you mentioned.--123-3
They keep cudas too :eek:

Good luck
-WJ

[gresmi]

$2.50/day to get into Sian Kaan. Fishing included. Park rangers love fish stories in Espanol.