My wife and I celebrated 30 yrs back in March of 22, but some life happened and we ended up booking our trip to Playa Mujeres Mexico thus week.
I booked Enrique of Cancunflyfishing.net for some baby tarpon and snook action in the mangroves of Isla Blanca.
Enrique picked me up from my hotel at 6am and we were on the water before daybreak. Here is on the way out-
The interior bay of Isla Blanca is very shallow and we had to take it slow. Once we could make some speed we had to slow again because net fishermen had put out a few 300 yrd net lines that were poorly marked. Especially in the low light of dawn. Enrique had seen this several times before and handled it like a pro.
We finally got under full speed again and I lost my hat. I have NEVER lost a hat on a power boat. It was a rookie maneuver and Enrique was probably wondering who this idiot was. The darn thing sunk like a rock too so no hat. The good news is I had a new XL buff and my Simms UV sweatshirt that I wear musky and bass fishing. Still not optimal in the tropic sun.
Our 1st stop had instant action. I missed the first strike, but hooked solid to a 7-8 lb baby tarpon and was good for 2 jumps and then it came unbuttoned on jump #3. I did not sufficiently "bow to the king". I was bummed since it was a good fish. I missed one that swiped at a near boat short retrieve, but it was cool to see the fish so close. It was something a dumb musky would do.
Despite a lot of fish rolling they were rather tight lipped. Finally, at the next spot I landed my first tarpon that also is my first fish of 2023-
At the next spot I caught an identical tarpon.
About when I thought we would have fast action they got even more tight lipped. We hit several holes and had a few hits, but no hookups. Enrique said this is fairly common, but also could have been needle fish. We saw lots of them. Some big mullets (10 lbs not 10" like west coast mullets) too.
After a couple hard hours we finally got a fish. About a 2 lb snook. My first snook! Not big, but it fought well.
The next decent spot found this little guy. Enrique the guide with the mighty snook
Yes, Enrique was sporting some kickass Crocs.
We slogged another hard couple hours with no fish. He went about 30 minutes over trying to get me another fish and we hit a spot that gave up a decent tarpon and my best snook!
I was so glad Enrique had a good final spot to try. The value of a guide!
We cruised back in and he had me back to my hotel by 3.
I noticed his boat as I was getting off the dock-
He used to guide for permit, but the sargasso (Sargassum) has been so bad in the Caribbean that it has changed a lot of the permit flats around Cancun. Sad news indeed.
Anyway, it was a great day and always feels good when u have to work for it. Really wish I didn't lose that 1st one, but I'll take 3 for 4 on tarpon and 3 for 3 on snook any day!
Let's go 2023!
I booked Enrique of Cancunflyfishing.net for some baby tarpon and snook action in the mangroves of Isla Blanca.
Enrique picked me up from my hotel at 6am and we were on the water before daybreak. Here is on the way out-
The interior bay of Isla Blanca is very shallow and we had to take it slow. Once we could make some speed we had to slow again because net fishermen had put out a few 300 yrd net lines that were poorly marked. Especially in the low light of dawn. Enrique had seen this several times before and handled it like a pro.
We finally got under full speed again and I lost my hat. I have NEVER lost a hat on a power boat. It was a rookie maneuver and Enrique was probably wondering who this idiot was. The darn thing sunk like a rock too so no hat. The good news is I had a new XL buff and my Simms UV sweatshirt that I wear musky and bass fishing. Still not optimal in the tropic sun.
Our 1st stop had instant action. I missed the first strike, but hooked solid to a 7-8 lb baby tarpon and was good for 2 jumps and then it came unbuttoned on jump #3. I did not sufficiently "bow to the king". I was bummed since it was a good fish. I missed one that swiped at a near boat short retrieve, but it was cool to see the fish so close. It was something a dumb musky would do.
Despite a lot of fish rolling they were rather tight lipped. Finally, at the next spot I landed my first tarpon that also is my first fish of 2023-
At the next spot I caught an identical tarpon.
About when I thought we would have fast action they got even more tight lipped. We hit several holes and had a few hits, but no hookups. Enrique said this is fairly common, but also could have been needle fish. We saw lots of them. Some big mullets (10 lbs not 10" like west coast mullets) too.
After a couple hard hours we finally got a fish. About a 2 lb snook. My first snook! Not big, but it fought well.
The next decent spot found this little guy. Enrique the guide with the mighty snook
Yes, Enrique was sporting some kickass Crocs.
We slogged another hard couple hours with no fish. He went about 30 minutes over trying to get me another fish and we hit a spot that gave up a decent tarpon and my best snook!
I was so glad Enrique had a good final spot to try. The value of a guide!
We cruised back in and he had me back to my hotel by 3.
I noticed his boat as I was getting off the dock-
He used to guide for permit, but the sargasso (Sargassum) has been so bad in the Caribbean that it has changed a lot of the permit flats around Cancun. Sad news indeed.
Anyway, it was a great day and always feels good when u have to work for it. Really wish I didn't lose that 1st one, but I'll take 3 for 4 on tarpon and 3 for 3 on snook any day!
Let's go 2023!
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