Isla Blanca Report and Photos

Jim lands a nice Palometa at Isla Blanca...

Here is a nice report sent by Jim Christensen who recently fished Isla Blanca for 5 days...

Hello Keith,

As usual we found lots of fish species to keep us busy. I guess the reason I’ve been going to Isla Blanca so often is the fact that with four key fish species to hunt, one is bound to find something that wants to eat. Although it sometimes took some searching, each day we managed to find snook, tarpon, bonefish and/or permit. The snook and tarpon seemed to like both a very drab (brownish grey) seaducer or one with some root beer to burnt orange crystal chenille underbody. The bonefish and permit went for rag head crab patterns, some weighted some only lightly so depending on water depth. The wind, though not bad, kept us in the mangroves for a couple of days. The tarpon were around so no problem. On calmer days we chased bones and permit. As you know one of the neat things about the IB venue is that there are “options”.

A brief note on tarpon: Ed and I had a period of missing hook-ups on tarpon. Sometimes the hook points were rolled but other times, try as we might, we could not get the hook set. We were both using twisted leaders initially but switched to a standard, single strand, leader and had fewer problems. Could be that our rods were too soft. Anyway a leader change solved the problem (or was it just us).

Our guide took us to several spots that I had not fished before………always something new there. I’d not fished with Enrique on any prior trips. His 25 years of experience was evident …. As with the other guides I’ve used at IB Enrique really knows that area.

The accommodations at the Sea Adventures were fine. It appears that management has tightened things up a bit since last year. By-the-way, it seem that if one leaves a relatively modest tip at the Oysters restaurant they will invite you back on subsequent nights even without the one-time-only ticket.

Soooooo I guess we need to take a look at tides/moon phases for next year. I think Ed is also interested so will check with him.

Best Regards,
Jim

Jim and his Snook landed in a shallow lagoon...

Recent Trip Report: Isla Blanca

Here is a nice testimonial from long-time customer Ed B. from Sacramento, CA:

Keith,
Isla Blanca! Once again I find myself wishing I was still there. As you know I went twice this year. In June with "new to the salt" friend Bill and in July with Jim. After all, what's not to like about fishing Isla Blanca? It's a relatively close destination, the guides are great and the fishing is varied. If the fishing is off for one species, you can chase another. A few times it was too windy to effectively hunt Permit and Bones on the flats it the morning, so we chased Tarpon and Snook in the quieter back country. We still got in our shots on the flats later in the day when the wind calmed. Sometimes there is some unexpected by-catch as my friend Bill poses with a Pompano which grabbed his crab after a nice cast into a pod of feeding Permit and I landed that Cuberra Snapper blind casting to pockets for Tarpon. No vast numbers of fish were caught on either trip but each day had its points of excitement. This year seemed to be a bit persistent with thunder storms and did get caught in a few downpours. One morning, during a light rain, wondering what kind of fishing we would have, our guide got us into a group of baby Tarpon frantically feeding on baitfish. For at least 20 minutes Jim and I cast to this group boating two each and jumping many more. The last afternoon, Jim and I were on one of the close large flats and many small groups of Permit began to show... At one point I counted 8 spots of nervous water around us with in 100yds. At first the water was barely 2' deep and the fish seemed to spook when someone said "Permit!" You couldn't even start a cast at 80 feet. As we got a little deeper, with allot of finger biting, crouching low and even the guide getting down from his perch and polling from the boat bottom, their spookiness lessened and Jim was able to score on a nice 23"-5.5 lbs.

Once again, thanks for the service, Ed Bielawski

Think TARPON! for 2010...

Plan ahead for a Yucatan Tarpon trip in 2010! Spring through fall is primetime for Tarpon and other flats species at destinations Tarpon Cay Lodge, Isla del Sabalo, Campeche Tarpon Club, and Isla Blanca! Coming off of a successful season in 2009, we look forward to another Fish On! season in 2010. There are still prime weeks available during the upcoming season, so I encourage you to contact me if you have interest in booking a Yucatan fishing adventure.

Also, I recommend that you peruse the "Articles" webpage on our website for various magazine and online articles about these Yucatan destinations. These articles, written by Chico Fernandez, Dan Blanton, Ken Hanley, et. al., provide a unique perspective on the destinations and provide firsthand information.

Finally, please note that we have various hosted trips established for next season at each of these destination. Please check our "Hosted Trips" section for a listing of 2010 trips.

Well, thanks again for visiting our FishBlog and have a Happy Holiday Season! Good fishing to all!

End-of-the-Season Discount for Yucatan trips...

The fish of Tarpon Cay Lodge...

We are happy to offer an end-of-the-season 20% discount for trips to Tarpon Cay Lodge, Isla del Sabalo, and Isla Blanca. The discount period is for trips occurring between September 20, 2009 and the end of the year (2009). Please know that the months of September and October are considered prime for these destinations. The booking calendar has been somewhat light for the upcoming fall season, so there are still prime tide / moon phase weeks available.

A discount of 20% will be applied to full package trips to Tarpon Cay Lodge, Isla del Sabalo, and/or Isla Blanca that occur during the timeframe of Sept. 20, 2009 thru Dec. 31, 2009. Please visit our website for complete information about each destination.

If you have any questions and/or are interested in a trip, please contact us ASAP. Thank you and Fish On!

HOT FLY: Modified Raghead Crab for Permit

A Raghead Crab, but with some nice modifications for shallow flats fishing...

Every season, it is always interesting to see what creative flies are developed for a fishery and become the "hot fly". At Isla Blanca, it is no mystery that the Raghead Crab (Umpqua Flies) is a staple for Permit. However, this season our clients saw an improved variation of this productive pattern. Isla Blanca guide, Luis Patron, made a few modifications to this pattern that proved to be a winner. Take a look at the photos and you will see that he modified the pattern with bead-chain weight (for super shallow flats), jointed tan legs (instead of straight white legs), black mono eyes, and an opaque white underside. The pattern accounted for many Permit this season...
(photos by Jim Christensen and Guy Deaner)

Opaque white underside...

This pattern looks good enough to eat at a crab feed!

Trip Photos: Isla Blanca (Cancun) July 2009

Jim with a primo Palotmeta at Isla Blanca...

Our latest group returned from Isla Blanca with excellent fishing reports of Permit, Snook, Bonefish, and some baby Tarpon. The hottest months are always the prime time frame for Permit at Isla Blanca - shallow water sight casting to Permit on the flats! Isla Blanca truly is a diverse environ from white sand or mud flats, to extensive backcountry lagoons and channels. Most impressive is the trophy Snook that Jim Christensen (Sacramento, CA) landed during this trip - way to go Jim! Have a look below at some of the other highlight catches during the trip.

All smiles for Guy and guide Luis about baby Tarpon at Isla Blanca...

Isla Blanca Bonefish

Jim Christensen's trophy Snook...

Another Permit for Jim...

Trip Photos: Isla Blanca (Cancun)

Permit on the grab at Isla Blanca...

All smiles from the crew fishing Isla Blanca last week...

Last week, our good customer Ed B. (Fair Oaks, CA) fished Isla Blanca. They were blessed with good fishing conditions and fishing success. The Permit were on the bite and some really nice Snook were landed. To add, this summer we are seeing good numbers of nice sized bonefish at Isla Blanca. The only species that was a little "off" this week was the baby Tarpon fishing. But this crew was more than happy with 3 other species that were on the grab. Way to go guys! Fish On!

Ed with a baby T taken in the backcountry lagoons at Isla Blanca...

Isla Blanca Bonefish...

Isla Blanca Snook

Permit head shot...

Trip Report: Isla Blanca & Tarpon Cay Lodge by Gary Kramer

Twilight cast upon Isla Blanca

Below is a recent report from renowned writer / photographer Gary Kramer who fished at Isla Blanca and Tarpon Cay Lodge earlier this month.

"I recently returned from 3 days at Isla Blanca and 3 days at Tarpon Cay. The weather got us at Isla Blanca - a tropical storm moved into the Yucatan and the skies were gray and it rained - at times it was relentless. Despite the weather we had good luck with the baby tarpon - in the 5 to 12 pound class. The best fishing was in the mangroves were we jumped at least a dozen fish between us per day. Our guide Luis was first class and did everything in his power to get us into fish. The third day it cleared and for the first two hours the conditions were perfect for permit - sunny skies and glass smooth water. We found two pods of fish - the first one was 5 or 6 permit and while I got a shot, the fish refused the fly. The next shot was better - it was at three fish and my buddy Alan Sands hooked and landed his first permit - about a 4 pounder but a permit none the less. Then the wind came up and we switched to baby tarpon in the mangroves and had our best day overall. The all inclusive Blue Bay Resort had good food and is close to the launch area. The equipment and boats were all first class.

Then it was on to Tarpon Cay in the small fishing village of San Felipe. The lodge was basic yet clean and the food good. Here the weather was much better - calm every morning with the wind coming up in the afternoon. We fished for the big boys (migratory tarpon) two mornings - saw a bunch of fish but they were moving fast. One of my buddies caught a 25 pounder and we had a big fish flash on a fly - at least a 75 pound tarpon. But the real action here during my stay was for baby tarpon - 5 to 15 pounds but more 10 to 12 pound fish than any anything. Lots of action - jumped a dozen fish one morning and almost as many in the afternoon. Classic stuff - sight casting to rolling tarpon - the chase, the blow up and the jumps!! Overall it was great trip! - Gary Kramer" (all photos by Gary Kramer - www.GaryKramer.net)

Jumping baby Tarpon on the flats...

Gary with a typical baby T at Tarpon Cay Lodge...

2009 Hosted Travel Offerings

(click on image to enlarge)

Angling On The Fly works with various fly shops throughout the nation to provide hosted destination trips. We always encourage our clients to support their local fly shop by joining hosted trips when offered. Above, I have listed hosted travel options offered by Kiene's Fly Shop in Sacramento, CA. Have a look and please contact us for information and bookings. Fish On!

Fly Fisherman Magazine: Isla Blanca and Tarpon Cay Lodge

Below is a very informative article in Fly Fisherman Magazine about Isla Blanca and Tarpon Cay Lodge. (Click on each page to enlarge)