Fishing in Mexico with Roxtons

Isolated from the tourist meccas of the north and ringed by dense tropical jungles and Mayan temples, Casa Blanca is the true Mexico.

Wild, uninhabited and extraordinarily beautiful the vast flats are the bedrock of Casa Blanca's pristine and highly productive fishery. The isolation of the lodge and its enviable location seem incongruous in comparison to the standards of service. The Caribbean Sea is a mere cast away from your cabin whilst a full bar and freshly prepared meals complement the stunning settings of this Mayan paradise.

From the bright bristling lights of Cancun fly an hour south to a new world; Casa Blanca is a paradise for saltwater fishermen. Pelicans and frigates hover above the lodge, herons and ibis hunt the flats, bonefish and magical numbers of permit patrol the nervous waters whilst huge tarpon complete this classic saltwater trilogy. Descending onto the lodge's private airstrip you will be welcomed with chilled cocktails and cool hand towels, an indication of the impeccable service to come.

Fishing is mostly done from new 16ft Dolphin Skiffs although wading is often available. Ascension Bay is the focus of the fishing and the species you target is entirely dependent on your preferences. It is possible to fish for bonefish all day where you will find them in excellent numbers; you can fish for permit and have shot after shot or you can target large rolling tarpon in either the backwaters of the bay or the various channels in the bay itself.

Casa Blanca is one of the best saltwater fly fishing lodges in the world and offers eleven spacious, air-conditioned rooms, all with private bathrooms. Lying on the southern tip of Ascension Bay, atop a promontory of glimmering sands and under umbrellas of tropical palms, the lodge is only a three minute boat trip through mangrove studded flats from the airstrip.

The dining room is set up for family style dinners where you all eat together which is a great way to swap stories and find out more about the fishery from the lodge manager and manageress. The food is unashamedly geared towards fresh shellfish and fish caught that day. A special feature of the week is the Mexican night where you will be treated to an authentic Mexican dinner and dangerously authentic tequila.

Rod and Reel
The ideal rod for permit and bonefish is a 9ft 8 weight with a robust reel constructed from a non-corrosive metal such as aluminum with good smooth drag control. The reel should hold at least 150 yards of backing. You should ensure that you have a spare rod in case of breakage as well as a spare reel and spools in case of accidents. This tackle will also suite well to catching permit.

If you are going to be targeting tarpon these immensely powerful fish require a 9ft, 10 to 12 weight fly rod, outfitted with a good quality tarpon reel.

Lines
High visibility weight forward lines compensate for the ever-present trade winds and can be seen in the air or on the water in bright light. Take an extra fly line just in case the first suffers damage. For tarpon and permit fishing you should also have an intermediate line as well.

Nylon
Leaders should be 9 to 12ft, tapered clear nylon with tippet between 5 lbs. and 10 lbs. Ensure that you carry plenty with you. Most tackle stores stock excellent pre-tied bonefish leaders.

Flies
Casa Blanca stock flies which work well on the local permit, tarpon and bonefish. Below is a list of some of the flies we recommend.

Bonefish flies

• Pop's Bonefish Bitters
• Pop's Egghead Bitters
• To-Dy-For (small un weighted shrimp pattern)
• Gotcha, Horror, baited Breath
• Crazy Charlies - white, pink, brown
• Raghead Crab
• Various small shrimp and crab patterns

Permit Flies

• Del Brown's Permit Crab
• Raghead Crab
• McCrab
• Various other crab patterns

Tarpon Flies

Apte style tarpon flies
Cockroach, black & purple, orange & black, red & black

• Dark colours tend to be better in the early morning and brighter colors work best when it is bright

The list is endless and will depend to a large extent on the kind of flat you are fishing, its background color and depth.

Other Items

• Lightweight long sleeved shirts
• Lightweight long trousers/shorts
• Wide brimmed hat
• Wading shoes with socks
• Lightweight sweater or fleece
• Lightweight rain jacket

In addition to great fishing, guests at Casa Blanca can enjoy a host of non-fishing activities. The island the lodge sits on has two post classic Mayan ruin sites. Chac Mool and the more remote tupac, accessible only by canoe.

The island is also home to hundreds of species of birds. Birding tours as well as nature tours can be set up with the lodge manager. Bring your mask and fins for snorkelling the Palancar reef, the world’s 2nd largest barrier reef. Casa Blanca also has kayaks, canoes and bicycles for guests to use at no extra charge.

Season
November until end of August.

Time Difference from GMT
- 6 hours.

Electricity
All electricity at Casa Blanca is provided by the lodge's generators. It is 110V AC. The generators operate daily from approximately 3:30pm until 8:00am. This schedule will vary seasonally. The generators are operated all night.

Currency
The official currency is the Mexican Peso but US dollars are widely used and are preferred in the lodge.

Tips
In Mexico, it is custom to tip the staff and guides for the services they provide. We recommend $40 per boat per day for the fishing and $75-$100 per person per week for the ldoge staff

Visa Requirements for UK Citizens
None.

Medical Requirements
Although at present no inoculations are required for travel to Mexico please consult your doctor prior to your trip. It is essential that you carry any personal medicines that you might require.

Insects
Mosquitoes can be a pest during the latter part of the day and evening as well as around the lagoons. We recommend good strong repellent and long sleeve shirts and trousers.