If you draw a line straight, West to East, across the Yucatan Peninsula, about halfway down the map, you would connect Campeche on the West with Ascension Bay on the East. Cpt. Miguel Encalada now offers fishing packages which cover the loop from Campeche northward to Isla Arena and Holbox, around the northern tip of the peninsula to Ascension Bay at the southeast end of the Yucatan Loop.
The beautiful, Colonial city of Campeche is a great place to start. Only in the last decade has Campeche been discovered by tourists and fishermen. The charming city and friendly people provide an experience you will cherish. I alway insist on staying at the Campeche Plaza Motel in the historic district. From there I can walk around the corner to the best restaurant in Campeche, La Pigua, for a fabulous meal, or turn the opposite direction a few blocks to the Cathredral on the square. Built in the 1540’s the magnificent nine-story structure towers over the city. At the square, shops abound and vendors graciously offer their wares. In the square park, I often sit, relax, enjoy a simple meal and listen to local orchestras and bands perform.
The 80 mile long Los Petenes Biosphere reserve is only a short distance away. Capt. Encalda puts anglers into fabulous world of baby tarpon fishing in a matter of minutes in his modern Mako and Howes flats boats. They take fishermen into areas that the standard pangas cannot negotiate.
After a day of splendid flyfishing, I enjoy my evenings by strolling the linear parkway along the coast and visiting water side restaurants.
A flyfisherman’s paradise, one can literally fish the mangroves and lagoons all the way to Isla Arena with numerous jumps to be expected. Baby tarpon from 5 to 30 pounds are the targeted fish of Campeche Fly Fishing Tarpon Bay.
At the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula lies the Island of Holbox. Anglers desiring to hook up with a larger tarpon can do so during the annual migration. Giant tarpon begin to show up on the shallow flats in April, but the best fishing for these monsters occurs during June, July and August.
World class bonefish and permit flats abound at Ascension Bay on the southeastern coast of the Yucatan. Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge is located 90 miles south of Cancun in the 1.3 million acre Sian Ka’an (Mayan for “ where the sky is born”) Biosphere Reserve. Here is located some of the world’s finest fishing opportunities for bonefish, permit, snook and tarpon.
Capt. Miguel Encalada may be contacted at: campecheflyfishing@hotmail.com. Encalada will be pleased to guide you around the incredible Yucatan Loop.
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