Upon arriving at the Boca Paila Fishing Lodge beyond the long row of beachfront Tulum Hotels without delay at 7:30 am, we observed the place was already swinging. Visitors were polishing off breakfast and the guides had been getting the last of their equipment within the boats while being knowledgeably directed by Chico, the general manager and the main host of the property. Obviously this was not the opening occasion these guys had done this, in fact Boca Paila has been present since the late 1960s. To say these guys are pioneers of fishing in this locale is a real understatement, they have been the only game in town long ago and it was a a couple of hour drive from Tulum, not 20 to 30 minutes as it is now.
We came on behalf of the fishing and they were equipped on behalf of us. After brief introductions with Chico, he informed us that our boat and guide Alfonso were by now waiting on the dock for us. A quick review of our tackle and off we went. Chico made sure we also had a few of the very best flies and jigs on behalf of the locale and season before we departed and handed those to our guide Alfonso subsequent to he personally escorted us to the boat.
Once on the water, Alfonso didnt squander much time and we took off across the glass lagoon seeking our first fish of the day. There was a brief stop at a slice inside the lagoon, where it meets the sea, and Alfonso said we needed to stop on behalf of something there. Without giving away many of the secrets of the region, the stop proved to become relatively beneficial in the course of the day.
After the “stop” where the lagoon meets sea, we made our way to the first of many of what I imagine are Alfonsos preferred spots inside this magical lagoon. There awaited at least 30 miles of practically untouched and protected wetlands and interconnected genuine waterways.
Alfonso killed the engine as we came across the opening spot and he began poling us across the black rooted mangrove shoreline as he surveyed the water with his practiced vision. Within 10 minutes he saw the bone fish and we were directed to “11 ‘o clock about 30 feet out,” and then the swift request to “strip it, strip it, strip it!” We followed our guides order and bingo, my Dad had our primary fish on. Inside two minutes, another respectable sized bone fish was caught and released by me. This was going to be fun!
Further over the shore, Alfonso continued to survey the waters from his 3 foot platform on behalf of the next catch. This time it was Permit and I had one on the line. If you have never caught a Permit fish with a fly rod or even light tackle, its difficult to explain the amount of excitement it sincerely is. It had been run of the mill size on behalf of the region, about 10 pounds nevertheless it fought for 15 minutes before relenting and after a quick photo it was released. What a charge and what an exquisite fish!
a variety more Bone Fish and a mixed bag of Jack, Mud Snapper and Porgy and off we went into the next spot. I thought to myself, if all the spots are like that, one of my arms may not make it the day. We had various issues using the line on my rod and had to return to the lodge for line which procured Alfonso no time to get back up and running.
Following about an hour of poling along inside the briny waters in the vicinity of our opening prize pool we had caught a variety more of the undesired Snappers, Jack and Porgy so we decided to move down again. I ought to point out that there is seldom a dull moment on the lagoon. Even when you arent catching fish, theres an awful lot to see. In the course of the day we in all probability saw 12 rays of various species and witnessed a number of instances of Mullet boiling, bursting and leaping out of the water to flee from a striking Barracuda with numerous birds of countless species and insignia. We also saw a nesting couple of Sea Eagles (Osprey).
We crossed the lagoon at high speed the afternoon fishing before gliding in, engine off and back to the poling for Alfredo. I should point out that Boca Paila Fishing Lodge has a particularly able fisherman and guide in Alfons. I didnt see a 10th of what he spotted for us, however he was sitting up 3 feet higher than us, but he was amazing.
Just prior to lunch I got into my second Permit and this one was closer to 15 pounds and he planned to run. The Permit are quite common within the Tulum, Boca Paila locale of the lagoon so I shouldnt have been overly startled to see Alfonso making lunch while I fought this fish. What did amaze me was that when I said “I think he’s coming in, grab the net”, Alfonso didnt stir. The fish gave me my answer when he took off on an additional long run and I caught a wry smile from Alfonso and went back to my fish. another 10 minutes and I would at long last land that one, and yes, Alfonso had the net ready this occasion.
Subsequent to lunch, which was fantastic by the way, a ham sandwich, chips and a beer. After being in the sun for 4-5 hours, it was one of the best lunches I have had in a while and Alfonso showed us the Mexican method of adding some hot sauce to the sandwiches… it was excellent. We moved closer to shore and once more began to stalk the next catch, it was hot and the fishing appeared to slow a bit in the afternoon heat, but Alfonso was relentless and when he caught me sitting on the bow he demanded that I stand up. “You can’t catch fish sitting down…stand up and get!” I was up and about directly and was slightly embarrassed but that ended quickly after I hooked into an additional Permit, this one was a bit smaller, probably 8 pounds but the battle lasted 10 minutes and the thrill was without doubt not gone.
We stalked a number more small groups of Bone Fish and Permit pairs, landing a couple more run of the mill sized Bone Fish before moving on once again. This time, as we came across the new spot, Alfonso informed us that this was a sizable channel and one of the deeper parts of the lagoon. Still only 12 to fifteen feet deep but we changed up the tackle and went to a large jig with a significant leader. I am guessing about 20 to 25 pound test.
This is where things got fantastically interesting. We must have hit that channel as a school of baitfish were passing through or had just passed since it was a feeding frenzy! The opening casts for both my father and I produced two large Snook inside the 20 pound sort, pretty respectable fights for both, but pound for pound I think the Permit is hard to beat. In any case, as things got peculiar, and cast after cast produced larger and larger Snook, I started thinking about the elusive“Super Slam”; Bone Fish, Permit, Snook and Tarpon. I would have been thrilled to have such a great day and fall short but then as if on queue an additional big strike and out of the water it came, the Tarpon ran beyond the boat at full speed then prepared a run back with another spectacular jump. While it had been relatively small a Tarpon at about 10 pounds, it was the icing on a perfect day of fishing.
We stayed on the channel an additional 20 minutes or so and I was so worn-out and completely pleased that I handed my rod to Alfonso and watched him catch a few more Snook while my Dad did likewise and brought in a few more Bone Fish for measure.
All in all, I must say that this was the very best day of fishing EVER. Between the company, the Boca Paila Fishing Lodge services and the amazing variety of fish we caught, this one is going to be tough to beat. I would like to once more personally express thanks the staff at Boca Paila for this glorious experience we will both always remember!
