The fly fishing peninsula? The lagoons east of Cancun? The Mayan Fishing Train? The king tarpon of Campeche? The fishing and alligator territory in Yucatan? The permit of Xcalak? The Tarpon Island?
All these questions are answered by taking a look at our list of the best fly fishing spots in Mexico. But, as my grandfather used to say, “let’s start from the beginning.” The first thing we need to know is where, what, and when to fish in the Mexican Caribbean.
The Yucatan Peninsula consists of the states of Quintana Roo (where Cancun is located), Yucatan (where Merida is located), and Campeche (where the city of the same name is located). In these states, there are great fishing spots. Here you can fish for permit, juvenile tarpon, tarpon, snook, and bonefish, and their fishing season is from March to November.
The large lagoons, flats, rivers, and mangroves of this region create perfect conditions for fly fishing. To these elements, we must add a new one: the Mayan Fishing Train. The new Mayan Train connects all fishing spots efficiently and safely, making the Yucatan Peninsula the best-connected fishing hub in the world. So, let’s start our tour of fishing spots, which will go from Quintana Roo, through Yucatan, and end in Campeche.
1st Stop: Xcalak
Quintana Roo.
Mayan Train Station: Chetumal / Airport
(3 hours from the station)
Xcalak is located in the region known as Costa Maya. It is a Protected Natural Area on the other side of the Bay of Chetumal, 149mi away and 100mi from Bacalar. It can be reached by ferry or road. Xcalak has a series of lagoons known by some as the flats of Xcalak, which create one of the most favorable places in the world for fly fishing for permit, juvenile tarpon, tarpon, and snook.
2nd Stop: Chetumal
Quintana Roo.
Mayan Train Station: Chetumal / Airport
The Bay of Chetumal is a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea in the southern Yucatan Peninsula, known as one of the best areas for permit fishing in the world. Chetumal opens the way for travelers to explore museums, a bay full of surprises, a manatee sanctuary, and a coral treasure.
3rd Stop: Ascension Bay
(Punta Allen)
Quintana Roo.
Mayan Train Station: Tulum / Airport
(2 hours from the station)
Many international anglers consider Ascension Bay the best fishing spot in the Yucatan Peninsula. Here you can aim for a Grand Slam, which consists of catching three of the following four species in one day: tarpon, snook, permit, and bonefish. Ascension Bay is located 34mi (2 hours) south of Tulum. It is a small fishing village where you can kayak, snorkel, dive, take boat rides, and practice sport fishing.
4th Stop: Cancun
Quintana Roo.
Mayan Train Station: Cancun / Airport
Few people know that Cancun has one of the best fly fishing areas in the country. The Cancun-Isla Blanca region is a small peninsula east of Cancun and north of Isla Mujeres. Most of it is a nature reserve surrounded by lagoons such as Cacmuchuch, Makax, Cocalitos, Los Patos, and Boca Iglesia, among others. It is an incredible oasis of Caribbean nature, away from the hustle and bustle of Cancun, perfect for fly fishing.
5th Stop: Holbox
Quintana Roo.
Mayan Train Station: Nuevo Xcán
(1 hr 15 min from the Mayan town of Chiquilá, and from there a 30-minute ferry to the island)
Holbox Island definitely has some of the largest tarpon in the entire peninsula. Off the northern coast, the giant migratory tarpon traverses the entire island during its season. Fishing in Holbox is considered one of the most spectacular in the world for trophy “silver kings” (giant tarpon). To the south, there are miles of lagoons filled with juvenile tarpon and snook.
6th Stop: Rio Lagartos and San Felipe
Yucatan
Mayan Train Station: Valladolid
(1 hour 34
minutes from the station)
Río Lagartos is a fishing village on the coast of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. Its geographical features and biodiversity make it an extraordinary place. For fishing, it has a very shallow lagoon system, with depths ranging from 1.6 to 10 ft and approximately 50mi in length, among mangroves and dunes. These features create a special, fun, and exclusive environment for fly fishing.
7th Stop: Celestun
Yucatan
Mayan Tain Station: Umán
(1 hr 10 min from the station)
In Celestún, you will fish in a place surrounded by sea, rivers, mangroves, cenotes, and springs, all within a jungle setting that makes up the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve. This is an unparalleled setting for fly fishing for spotted trout and snook. In Celestún, you can catch: snook, spotted trout, tarpon, juvenile tarpon, bonefish, mojarra, snapper, jacks, among many others.
8th Stop: Tarpon Island
(Isla Sábalo - Isla Arena)
Campeche
Mayan Train Station: Umán
(a 43 miles from Celestún)
Did you know that Isla Arena is called Tarpon Island? Can you imagine fishing among endless mangroves? How about getting in touch with the nature of the Celestún Biosphere? Well, all this is offered by fly fishing on Tarpon Island. Tarpon Island is a village of very friendly fishermen. Until recently, the village had no electricity. Everything is still very rustic, with cabins for overnight stays, and the nights are spectacular. It’s a paradise for anglers who want to disconnect, fish, chat, and fish again.
9th Stop: Campeche
Campeche
Mayan Train Station: San Francisco de Campeche
How about fishing in a city that was walled against pirates and is in the middle of the Mayan jungle? Come to one of the best spots for fly fishing for juvenile tarpon and giant tarpon in the world. You will fish in a spectacular place within the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve, surrounded by jungle, wetlands, mangroves, and sea.
With this list of fishing spots, the Yucatan Peninsula proves to be a paradise for fly fishing fly fishing devotees. From Xcalak to Campeche, and through Cancun, each spot offers a unique and unforgettable experience, all connected by the efficient Mayan Train. Get ready to enjoy the best fly fishing in Mexico. Pure summer vibes!
Camilo Vidal is from Mazatlan Sinaloa, although he was born by accident in Montpellier France, he is a fishing writer and expert in digital strategies in the areas of adventure tourism, fishing and sports.
Specialist in writing articles for blog, he focuses on the dissemination and impact of sport fishing in Mexico and the world, particularly in Latin America. He is a professional in technological strategies applied to adventure tourism, fishing and sports.
Since January 2021 he is Co-founder of Nomonday fishing in Mexico a Start Up company dedicated to the commercialization of sport fishing services in the world being the CEO.
Studies
He studied Economics at the Universidad Anahuac. Master in Public Policy at Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económica CIDE and has a Master in Public Administration at Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government. In all of them he specialized in technology issues.
Publications
Blog Article – “Sport fishing is banned in Colombia” – 2022
Articulo de Blog – “Las Lobinas más grandes capturadas en México” – 2022
Technology projects applied to sport fishing
Camilo, along with all Nomonday team, has developed a platform to market fishing services in Mexico and the world.
Among the fishing spots promoted and integrated in the platform are:
México:
- Lake Fishing: El Cuchillo, Zimapán, Picachos, El Salto, Baccarac, Huites, El Varejonal, Mahome, El Sabino, Aguamilpa, Lago de Chapala.
- Fly Fishing: Xcalak, Bahía de Chetumal, Campeche
International Fishing spots:
- Rio Tomo Colombia,
- Rio Machete, Rio Lamay y Lago Espejo en Villa La Angostura Argentina.
Expertise
- 2016-2021. Co-Founder of the Digital Marketing agency AwiwiChannel
- 2019-Actual. Co-Founder of Sulasula.mx agency dedicated to the promotion and commercialization of tourism experiences and short-term vacatonal rentals
- 2021-Actual. Co-Founder of Nomonday fishing in Mexico, platform for the promotion and commercialization of all-inclusive sport fishing services.
Personal life
He loves sport fishing, craft beer, goes to beisball games when he can, is a Barcelona fan. He has a big family. He likes to know and enjoy Mexico and the world fishing.
Jose Carlos Mendosa nació un 15 de Septiembre de 1983 en Culiacán Sinaloa México, es un escritor de temas de pesca y experto en estrategias de marketing digital y comercialización de turismo de aventura y pesca.
Especialista en redacción de artículos para blog se centran en la difusión para la internacionalización de los lugares de pesca. Es profesional en estrategias digitales en las áreas de áreas de turismo de aventura, pesca y deportes.
Desde enero del 2021 es Co-fundador de Nomonday Fishing in Mexico, una empresa Start Up dedicada a la comercialización y servicios de pesca en el mundo siendo el director financiero y del área internacional.
Estudios
Estudio Comercio Internacional en la Universidad Casa Blanca, Maestría en Comercio Exterior en la Universidad de Occidente, durante la maestría contó con catedráticos que eran funcionarios de Bancomext.
Puntos de Pesca Implementados
José Carlos Mendoza Saiz junto con el equipo de Nomonday Fishing in Mexico ha desarrollado una plataforma para la comercialización internacional de puntos de pesca.
Entre los puntos de pesca promocionados e integrados en la plataforma se encuentran:
Nacionales promocionados internacionalmente:
- Pesca en Presa: El Cuchillo, Zimapán, Picachos, El Salto, Bacurato, Huites, El Varejonal, Mahome, El Sabino, Aguamilpa, Lago de Chapala.
- Pesca con mosca: Xcalak, Bahía de Chetumal, Campeche.
Puntos de pesca internacionales:
- Rio Tomo, Colombia
- Rio Machete y Rio Lamay, Villa la Angostura y Domos la Estancia, en Argentina
- Rio Mañihuales, Mañihuales, Chile
Experiencia
- 2016-2021. Co-fundador de la agencia de Marketing Digital AwiwiChannel
- 2019-Actual. Co-fundador de Sulasula.mx agencia para ventas de experiencias turísticas y rentas vacacionales de corto plazo
- 2021-Actual. Co-fundador de Nomonday fishing in Mexico. Plataforma para venta de servicios de pesca todo incluido.
Vida Personal
Le encanta pescar con sus hijos o con amigos, su dicho es “Es mejor un día de pesca malo que estar en casa”, va al cine cuando puede, es fan del Knicks de Nueva York. Fan del de la política de México. Le gusta conocer y disfrutar la pesca, sobre todo descubrir lugares nuevos poco conocidos
Fidel Vidal was born on March 3, 1981 in CDMX but actually all his life he has lived in Mazatlan Sinaloa, he is a fishing writer and expert in digital marketing strategies and marketing of adventure tourism and fishing.
Specialist in writing articles for blogs that focus on the diffusion of national and international places and fishing from an advertising approach.
Since January 2021 he is Co-Founder of Nomnday Fishing in Mexico, a Start Up company dedicated to the commercialization of sport fishing services in the world, where he also serves as Director of Marketing and Opening of fishing spots.
Studies
He has multiple studies and trainings in Digital Marketing, e-Commerce, advertising campaign strategies, data analysis among others.
Publications
Article for blog "El gran circuito de pesca de lobina en Sinaloa" - 2021.
Awards
Each of the captures he has had.
Fishing sites implemented
He has been responsible for the development of marketing strategies, image, promotion for the sale of sport fishing services in:
- Picachos Dam
- El Salto Dam
- Bacurato Dam
- Huites Dam
- El Varejonal Dam
- Mahome Dam
- El Sabino Dam
- Deep sea fishing in Cabo San Lucas
- Deep sea fishing in Mazatlan
- Fly fishing in Xcalak
Experience
- 2016-2021. Co-Founder of the Digital Marketing agency AwiwiChannel
- 2019-Present. Co-Founder of Sulasula.mx, an agency for sales of tourism experiences and short-term vacation rentals.
- 20221-Current. Co-Founder of Nomonday Fishing in Mexico, a platform for the promotion and sale of all-inclusive fishing services.
Personal Life
Sport fisherman, lover of having a good time, promoter of fishing in Mexico and firm believer in the catch & release model. He speaks 2 languages (Spanish and English) but makes himself understood by everyone.
His favorite fishing spots are: Picachos Dam, Aguamilpa Dam, and as a good "salty paw" the port of Mazatlan.
