Yucatan Tarpon, Permit, etc.

This list is applicable to a compilation of lodges/fisheries that I book in the Yucatan - Isla Blanca (near Cancun), Tarpon Cay Lodge (San Felipe), Campeche, and Isla del Sabalo (Isla Arena).  All fisheries have an abundance of baby Tarpon, and possibilities for Snook as well.  In addition, Isla Blanca has both Permit and Bonefish that roam the flats and lagoons during the summer months.  All of the fishing at these destinations is boat fishing (no wade fishing).  Here is a listing of my tackle and flies for pursuing these species at each destination.


Keith's Yucatan Tackle

Flats Fishing Setups (baby Tarpon, Snook, Bonefish, and Permit)
  •  Rods:
    • Windy Conditions: Sage TCX/Xi3 990-4
    • Calm Conditions: Sage TCX/Xi3 890-4
  • Reels: Sage 6080 / Ross F1 #4
  • Fly Lines: RIO Tarpon Taper / RIO Tropical Clouser
  • Leader:
    • RIO Saltwater Leader (10' @ 20 pound Test)
    • Marco's Leader System: Mason Hard Mono or RIO Alloy-Hard Mono (4' 30# + 3' 25# + 2' 20# + 18" 16# + shock)
  • Shock Tippet: Jinkai Mono (50#)
Backcountry Fishing Setup (baby Tarpon and Snook)
  • Rods: Sage Largemouth BASS (w/ 330 grain fly line)
  • Reels: Sage 6080
  • Fly Lines: Sage Largemouth BASS (330 grain)
  • Leader:
    • RIO Striped Bass Leader (7' @ 20 pound Test)
    • Marco's Leader System: Mason Hard Mono or RIO Alloy-Hard Mono (3' 30# + 2' 25# + 18" 20# + shock)
  • Shock Tippet: Jinkai Mono (50#)
Keith's Migratory Tarpon Tackle
  • Rods: Sage ONE 1090-4 / Redington Predator 1090-4
  • Reels: Sage 6010 or 4210 / Hatch 9 PLUS
  • Fly Lines: RIO Tropical Outbound Short Floater (WF-F) and I-Tip (WF-F/I)
  • Leader:
    • Quigley Twisted Leader (4' 20# w/ Shorb Loop) + shock
    • RIO Tarpon Leader (20#)
  • Shock Tippet: Jinkai Mono or RIO FlouroFlex (80#)

Recommended Flies

Baby Tarpon / Snook (Isla Blanca, Tarpon Cay Lodge, Campeche, and Isla del Sabalo)
    • Subsurface Streamers
      • Merriman’s Tarpon Toad II (chartreuse, purple/black) – size small
      • San Felipe Special (aka “TCL Special”) – size 1/0
      • SeaDucers (red/white, red/yellow, or “cockroach”) – size 1/0
      • Puglisi Tarpon Streamer (Everglades SP, brown/tan, orange/yellow) – size 2/0
      • Puglisi Everglades SP and/or Back Country (brown/orange or rust/orange) – size 2/0
      • Puglisi Campeche Tarpon (white/red, yellow/orange, purple/orange, olive) – size 1/0
      • Haskin’s Foxxy Griz Minnow (flesh, olive) – size 1/0
    • Topwater Flies
      • Puglisi Floating Minnow (Everglades SP, red/yellow) – size 1 to 2/0
      • Mini Gurgler (prawn pattern, tan/flesh, white) – size 1/0
      • Haskin’s Deep Cover Shrimp (burnt orange)
      • Haskin’s, Lee SS Shrimp (light orange) - size 1
      Migratory Tarpon (Tarpon Cay Lodge)
      • Subsurface Flies
        • SeaHabit (sardina color) – size 3/0
        • Whistler (red/white) – size 3/0
        • Thalken’s Cruiser (anchovy / sardina) – size 2/0
        • Haskin’s Flatliner (chartreuse/white) - size 2/0 to 4/0
        • Haskin’s Big Mack (bronze mullet, chartreuse/white) – size 2/0 to 4/0
      • Topwater Flies
        • Saltwater / Bluewater Gurgler (chartreuse/white, red/white) – size 3/0
        • Crease flies (black/silver, olive/silver) – 3/0
      Permit and Bonefish (Isla Blanca only)
      • Rag Head Crab (tan - size 4 to 6)
      • Cathy's Fleeing Crab (tan - size 4 to 6)
      • Miheve's Flats Fly (tan - size 4 to 6)
      • Gotcha (pearl - size 6 to 8)
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