hurricane dean

[fmw]

Is the place where dean is making landfall right about the spot where the well known mexican fishing lodges are located (i.e., Ascension Bay, etc.)???

[widdoes]

The eye wall of Dean collapsed just before landfall, which is good news, and sustained winds were probably closer to Cat 3 than 5. The remnant of the eye hit south of Ascension Bay- near the cruise ship port, and the majority of the heavy weather appeared to be on the south side of the eye- closer to Belize (not great news for Ambergris). But, the storm surge was estimated at 11', plus 6-8 ft. waves as far north as Puerto Aventuras- north of Tulum. This could be catatrophic for Boca Paila and very bad for Pesca Maya. Time will tell, but say a prayer if you have fished there.
http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/tropic/real-time/marti/2007_04L/webManager/basicGifDisplay.html

-WJ

[Chuckster]

I went to Costa de Cocos in Xcalak this past May, and it looks like they took a direct hit... According to CNN, Dean came ashore in Chetumal Bay.

Bummer, great lodge with good people and incredible fishing. I hope they pulled through...

[Benzie Rover]

I will be back down in BP for the last week in November and am interested in any reports on how much damage was sustained from the storm surge... I am curious how the fish in the vast flats system down there react to a storm surge... I know that in the Bahamas for instance, (fishing around north end of Eluethra and harbor island), the flats system got a huge boost of bonefish numbers from fish fleeing the outer reefs and seeking refuge in the inner bay system between harbor island and eluethra when they had that last big storm in 2004... and numbers of fish on the 'dump flat' and north end of eluethra in 2005 were WAY up from usual compared normal years... (they were still as selective as ever, just tons more to cast at so better chances of actually finding one to take)

so... any thoughts on how the BP system will react to a storm?? will the fish all leave and head out because the inner bay is so shallow and can have salinity variations from heavy rain?? or will lots of the outer reef fish pile in there for refuge??? or was there really no effect at all on fish, just property damage etc.??

and ofcourse, any knowledge on how much of a hit the road to BP and south of it took would be very helpful...

so anyway, hoping for better fishing, but I guess we will have to wait until some one goes and reports back... I will certainly be doing so in November, but anything known now would be great.

fish on!

Matt

[widdoes]

Chuckster- I'm afraid that you may be right. Landfall was dead-on in the Bay of Campeche. The good news is that the bay is long and shallow- hopefully minimizing storm surge. But wind is a totally different story, and CdC appears to have gotten both barrels of wind.
Matt- Initial reports (and I mean INITIAL) from friends in the biz- BP and Casa Blanca suffered mostly beach erosion- some cosmetic damage but nothing too serious. The BP lagoon and upper Ascension Bay are pretty well sheltered and, without storm surge basically overrunning the peninsula, should be OK. I know that they had "good" fishing less than 1 month after Wilma, and that was a pretty major rain-maker. If you are worried that the fishing will be bad in November, let me know and I'd be happy to go in your place ;)
As for the road- my advice is to make sure you pee in Tulum :-%
If I hear anything different/else, I'll let you know.
-WJ

[gresmi]

Just returned from the area on 8/21/2007. Caught a 7:45 a.m. flight out of Cancun and had to get up at 2:30 a.m. to make, and happy to do so.

We stayed in Akumal (8 days) and Tulum (10 days) and wade fished all around Boca Paila/Ascension Bay several times, inside and out. Popped several bones, largest at 5-6 lbs. on the outside. Big 'cudas around every now and then to break you off and lose precious states-bought tackle. Saw some decent snook (8-10 lbs) and crevalle jacks going airborn hammering finger mullet in the mouths of inner bays, but couldn't get them to hit. This action could last for 10-20 minutes. Amazing. Mirrolure would have probably done the trick.

Got my first semi-large permit (10 lbs.) up on the wadeable flat on the inside (woohoo! Cudos out to Hank for help finding the flat. Finally found the right spot! However, it is ENDLESS!). Permit, as well as many other fish, caught on Hank Brown 1/4 oz. brown jig with shrimp lunker sauce. Permit was picture perfect. Just stepped up on the flat 5 mins. before. Sun at my back. 8 inches of water. Flipped jig 4-5 ft. in front of him, and whammo. 30-35 mins. and 6 runs later, had him by the tail to show my buddy. Just like on TV. :-)

Greg

[seatrout001]

Dean has hit the town of Mahaual dead on. Even before it hit Chetumal. Everything to the south of here has faired pretty well to the north of this town has faired less. Rotation of the winds where no favourable for the northern parts. Check out the news group http://www.xcalak.tv/phpBB2_Xcalak_TV_10-11-05/viewtopic.php?t=478&view=next pictures and lots of news from there.