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Subscriber-Written Fishing Trip Report
Paul Holden fishing trip to Costa de Cocos
in Mexico Yucatan
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| DATE AND PLACE OF FISHING TRIP
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| Report
ID: |
3692 |
How
Trip Was Conducted: |
Guided |
| Date
of Trip: |
February 23, 2007 to March 3, 2007 |
| Place
of Trip: |
Mexico Yucatan - Water: Chetumal Bay - Specific Area: Area Near Xcalak |
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| OUTFITTER, GUIDE AND BOOKING AGENT DETAILS
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| Outfitter
(or lodge): |
Costa de Cocos. Fax 01152-983 83 10110. E-mail: cdcdavidrandall@aol.com, Web: www.costadecocos.com |
| Personal
Guide (if any): |
Everisto, Chucho, Jose, Victor |
| Booking
Agent (if any): |
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Trip
Arrangements
(if self-guided): |
The rooms and guides were booked through Villa la Guacamaya, which is a small villa with 4 rooms to rent and a large shared kitchen. Bruce Landenberger, the owner, has a good relationship with several of the local guides and will book for a $30/day fee. Other small hotels/villas are available along the beach north of Xcalak. |
| Local
Fly Shop(s): |
N/A
N/A |
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| DESCRIPTION OF FISHING
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| Species
Sought/Availability: |
Bonefish - Availability: Abundant |
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Permit - Availability: Abundant |
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Tarpon - Availability: Scarce |
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Barracuda - Availability: Abundant |
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| Description
of Catch Made: |
Most days the fishing was for bonefish while looking for permit in adjacent deeper parts of the flat. We had windy conditions all but one or two partial days and the number of permit seen dropped off as the wind increased. We were a group of six, a couple of experienced salt water anglers, a couple with limited experience, and a couple rookies to salt water. For the week we all caught 35-60 bonefish apeice, two permit landed and two others on but lost, one grand slam with baby tarpon from a nearby lagoon. |
| Type
of Fishing: |
We waded most of the time but in some locations fished from the pangas. |
| Equipment
Used: |
7-10 wt rods with appropriate reels and salt water lines. |
| Flies
Used: |
Gotcha's and similar flies for bonefish, small tan crabs for permit, black death for the baby tarpon |
| Description
of Hatches: |
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| Water/Weather
Conditions: |
The weather was generally windy (20-30 knot winds) except for one afternoon when the wind died. This limited the fishing to less exposed shorelines near the mangroves. Scattered clouds in the mornings gave way to clear afternoons most days. The tides were high with the full moon and the wind keeping the water in the bay. |
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| SERVICE RATINGS (excellent, good, fair or poor)
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| Condition
of Equipment: |
Good |
Knowledge
of Water: |
Excellent |
| Quality
of Accommodation: |
Good |
General
Fishing Knowledge: |
Excellent |
| Quality
of Food: |
N/A |
Ability
to Communicate: |
Excellent |
| Overall
Service: |
Excellent |
Overall
Personality: |
Excellent |
| Name
of Airline: |
Delta Airlines |
Airline
Service (1 to 10): |
8 |
| Airline
Comments: |
Direct Flight from Salt Lake City to Cancun and Back. Delays on the return flight. |
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| SUMMARY REMARKS
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| Problems
on the Trip: |
The weather was generally windy (20-30 knot winds) except for one afternoon when the wind died. This limited the fishing to less exposed shorelines near the mangroves. Scattered clouds in the mornings gave way to clear afternoons most days. The tides were high with the full moon and the wind keeping the water in the bay. |
| Highlights
of the Trip: |
Xcalak and Chetumal Bay in this area are good places to fish due to the variety of species, especially the number of permit available and chance for tarpon and snook. January was a better time for the latter two species. The guides we use are independent so we are helping the local economy rather than a lodge owner. |
| Cost of the
Trip: |
Rooms and guide booking fee were about $400/person, Guides were $250 plus tip per day. Hence 6 days of fishing, rooms, cooking our own meals most days cost about $1600 per person. |
| Would You
Recommend This Trip to a Friend? |
Yes |
| Why? |
This is a great low cost trip with the chance for a grand slam, and at the least a number of bonefish and shots at permit. Long drive from Cancun but worth getting away. If you like the "lodge" experience, this is not for you. No bar and no one serving you. Restaurants are available in the area and are good but require more driving. Fishing near the villa and in the back lagoons is a plus, larger tarpon and snook possible. The guides are great, want to get better, and work for themselves. We used Everisto, Chucho, Jose, and Victor. All are good and know the area as they were raised here. |
| Are
There Non-Fishing Activities? |
Yes |
| If
So, What Are They? |
Snorkeling behind the reef out front of the villas, scuba diving, birdwatching, kayaking in the ocean or the back lagoons, boat trips for nonfishermen to Belize, day trips via boat to see birds, snorkel, etc. Shopping is nonexistent, as is the typical hubub of tourist areas in Mexico. Peace and quiet is what Xcalak is all about. |
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| SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
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Name: |
Paul Holden |
| Contact
Information: |
Tel. 435-753-7822 - 959 Grandview Dr. Providence, Utah 84332 - E-mail: pholden44@aol.com |
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| ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND/OR OUTFITTER/BOOKING AGENT REBUTTAL
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