Xpu Ha-Mexico-DIY

[fishfly]

Hi, I have posted in the past and gotten some great advice in the past. I am going to Xpu Ha next week, and was wondering if it is possilbe to do any DIY flyfishing in the area. Any information anyone can provide would be great. Thanks and Happy Holildays.--127-3-

[Henry]

I've been to the Barcelo Maya (right beside Xpu Ha) 6 times. Forget about fishing directly in front of the resort, security will kick you off in minutes. On the boundary line between Xpu Ha and Barcelo, there is a shallow quasi-flat compromised of mostly coral and sand patches where you'll encounter bones and permit...most times, you can get away with fishing there without much trouble...very snaggy!!!. Your best bet is to walk the beach south through the Copacabana Resort down towards the Royal Maeva Tulum (about 2km). Look for isolated pods of bones and snook with cruising Jacks and Permit anywhere along the way. You could run into ladyfish, cudas and snappers anytime if you do that!. If you have calm enough conditions, keep an eye out for upwhelling fresh-water springs that occur just off-shore...they seem to be magnets for what you're looking for. You'll know when you've located one...the waters surface appears to be boiling!. A #4 Chart/white clouser minnow works well for all species except the bigger cuda's.

Best regards and have fun down there. I'm sure the resort will be lovely after having been destroyed by last years hurricanes. If you dare...walk the Barcelo Beach to the area in front of their "Captain Morgans" restaraunt...that spot is usually loaded with big snook during low-light...just got to figure out how to fish them without getting nailed by security.

Later dude!

Henry

[kyhnau]

Thanks for sharing Henry...
I'll be in PDC/Tulum/Cozumel area in January with my girlfriend, a few fly rods, my flatboots and a great urge to catch some fish --123-3 --123-3 --123-3 :cool:

I just google-earthed 2 km south of Xpu Ha. The area actually looks like a great flat. Would that be the case?

http://www.kyhnau.dk/pdc_flat.JPG

Thanks
-Lars

[Benzie Rover]

Mayan Riv DIY...

the photo you posted is of Akumal actually... the north point of Akumal bay to be specific... lots of bones there amongst the boats and swimmers, but as with many areas, totally off limits to fishing... the large bones and permit seem to know right where these areas are along this coast...

I am slowing learning the DIY routine down there and it is quite limited, but there are some chances... first of all, if you want numbers of fish at all, you have to really hire a guide down south out of Boca Paila or better yet, further south around Punta Allen or better yet, make the long drive to Xclack...

but there are small nuggets of great fishing to be found all along the ocean coast as well... when the snook come in along the beach towards spring there can be some fun... and if it is calm you should be able to find pods of bonefish and permit here and there... the trick as Henry explained is finding a spot where a gringo can fish with out making some one upset.... the fishing ban is a local thing and not a federal law, but just the same, who is going to argue with local police that are paid to keep gringo's off resort beaches... (you will notice that local handliners and cast net throwers are not stopped for fishing as they either catching dinner, or netting pilchards and other baitfish for bait, (but do not ever assume that 'if a Mexican does it, so can I'... that mentality down there can lead to expensive trouble at best, jail at worst)

a lot of the bays like Soliman Bay and Akumal beach, are heavily signed 'Zonas Ecologias', and these are the areas where a gringo with a fly rod is, for whatever reason, totally not accepted... And seems that, at least in the Soliman BAy area, the the PETA type folks have been leading the charge on anti-fishing, even catch and release fly fishing.... so, you kinda have to figure out where you can get away with it and where you gotta tuck it and look like a beach walker/bird watcher with a big backpack of day supplies... (binos that you carry for the flats help convince the PETA types that you are really there to spot egrets and stuff ;))

Last spring I got into a very long 'discussion' with a ex-patriot, hippy who lived on Soliman bay that came to chastize my 3 year old son and I for catching crabs along the beach at night... we were just letting them go, but I was tempted to pop a few in a mesh bag and keep them to use on a spinning rod the next day for any stubborn permit that refused my first offering of a fly... but anyway, I did not keep any luckily when she walked up and instructed us how much 'damage' we were doing to her ecosystem... to which I started asknig her how much 'damage' was being caused to her ecosystem by the massive development being put in along the north end of the bay where Oscar y Lolas was (used to be) and if she had an equal concern for the mangrooves being filled as she does the crabs we were harassing... and she seemed confused by this, to which I launched into some basic marine biology and explained how the mangrooves behind the beach here were truly the 'nursery' of all her beloved animals, fish and even crabs and that her efforts really need to be turned towards those destroying habitat and not those fishing and recreating amongst her wildlife... well, she did not like that much, but as least she quieted down and left us to catch more crabs...

so anyway, that is along story to exemplify what you are dealing with down there...

Lots of fish, but difficult to find the right opportunity/spot and then you still need tolerable winds...but, it is possible...

from 11/25 - 12/1, I landed 3 bonefish, 1 permit (my first ever on a fly), and 1 large jack... for a week's worth of DIY walking and exploring... but none of that was from the ocean side... it was too windy while I was there, that was all south in the Biosphere... so, as you can see... very low numbers... but... there is just something pretty sweet about finding fish on your own and catching them on flies you tied... for me it is worth not catching too many, but it is a trade off... not to mention it is affordable, where as the other option (guide) is not really an option for me anyway...

I would be curious to trade emails with any others that have similiar, or different experiences/stories from down there...

Have a good one,

Matt

[kyhnau]

Matt,
Thanks for your informative post. The more descriptive stories, the better. So no worries about the length ;) Its all sounds rather difficult and I will keep my expectations low.

How far south did you go? I can see some "back-country" flats starting around 10-12 km south of Tulum. Anything interesting in this area?

I promise to let you know how I manage to get along with the local police force :-%

Thanks again
-Lars