Fly Fishing in Tulum, Mexico - Complete Guide to Fly Fishing for Bonefish, Permit, Snook, and Tarpon
For the traveling, fly fishing angler, Tulum provides access to some the best saltwater fly fishing in the Caribbean with Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, and Snook all present in great numbers.
Tulum marks the entrance to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and Ascension Bay. Since 1987, Tulum and Ascension Bay have been designated catch and release for all the Super Slam species. The fly fishing in Tulum just keeps getting better every year!
The great thing about our fishery is that you can typically find fish no matter what the weather is doing. Our guides are great at putting you on fish in virtually any situation. The lagoons and the Boca (the mouth of a river) located just South of Tulum allows for protection from the wind. The fish tend to feed well in this area as well, due to the increased tidal flows in the system and an abundance of food. This is an incredible fishery that is often overlooked by most guides in the area and receives very light fishing pressure.
Whether you are new to saltwater fly fishing angler or an old hand, Fly Fishing Tulum offers outstanding fly fishing opportunities. You can stalk and sight cast to bonefish in skinny, gin-clear water, head into the mangrove lagoons for tarpon and snook, or hunt for permit on the inside flats and the deeper flats on the ocean side. We will make sure that you have lots of opportunities at sight casting to schools of bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, jacks, and all critters that swim.
Fly Fishing Tulum has the same great fly fishing guides that brought you Fisherman Lodge in Punta Allen, Mexico. Ascension Bay's top rated fly fishing lodge. Our fly fishing guides are the most experienced and friendliest in the area. They speak great English, are patient teachers, and love to lead clients to the best fishing Ascension Bay, Boca Paila, and Tulum, Mexico have to offer.
Our highly experienced guides will pole classic 23-foot Mexican style Panga boats, scanning for all these different species. Once they are located – if the water is shallow enough - you will often slip out of the boat with the guide to stalk the fish on foot. This allows anglers to get much closer to the fish without spooking everything, and normally results in numerous shots to the same fish.
Fly Fishing Tulum for Bonefish
Bonefish are the primary species targeted by Tulum based fly anglers. A true year round fishery; the bonefishing is always great in Tulum, Boca Paila, and Ascension Bay. Tulum and Ascension Bay have the most bonefish per water acre of anywhere in the world. Bonefish feed on the flats in very shallow water. Bonefish scour the flats in search of small shrimp, crabs, clams, and other types of crustaceans. A bonefish’s mouth is located near the bottom of his head and captures its prey by blowing water into the sand and sucking in its prey which is then crushed by a boney plate in its throat called “crushers”.
A fair and forgiving fish, bonefish will eat a well-placed fly most every time. Accuracy is far more important than distance, when casting to bonefish. If you can cast 30 feet quickly and accurately, you will have no problems hooking the bonefish of Tulum and Ascension Bay. Bonefish are an incredibly strong, fast fish and a three pound bonefish can get a hundred yards into your backing in the blink of an eye!
Wading is the most popular way to fly fish and target bonefish. Bonefish will slowly feed across a flat in as little as 8 inches of water. Tipping down to dig out their prey, they will stick their tails above the water line letting you know where they are. These are called “tailing,” bonefish. Bonefish are always moving and you need to take this into account when casting. Lead the bonefish so that the fly lands 6 to 8 inches in front of the fish. Too close or on the bonefish’s head and he will spook and leave the flat. Stalking bonefish with a fly rod is a heart stopping visual show and really gets the heart pumping.
Depending on the weather, you can fly fish for bonefish on the inside flats of Tulum and Boca Paila or on the seagrass beds on the Ocean side flats. Both locations are visually stunning, very productive, and provide great sport for fly fishermen looking for sight casting opportunities.
Fly fishing for bonefish is best done with a 7 or 8 weight, fast action fly rod. Matched with a solid fly reel capable of holding 300 yards of 30 pound backing. The best fly lines will be tropical weight forward lines matched to the fly rod. Leaders need to be 10 feet and tapered to a tippet of 8 or 10 pound test.
Some of our favorite fly patterns include Veverka’s Tan Spawning Shrimp in size #6 or #8 and Beck’s Sili Legs in #6 all colors. The biggest mistake we see anglers make is bringing flies that are too heavy. You want bead chain or very light lead eyes. Nothing scares bonefish more than an overweight fly crashing onto the water.
Fly Fishing Tulum for Permit
Tulum and Ascension Bay are considered to have the finest fly fishing for Permit in the world. If you are an accomplished fly angler and want to mark the Permit off your bucket list, Tulum and Ascension Bay are the place to accomplish the feat.
Permit tend to congregate on the deeper edges of flats where they search for crabs, shrimp, and baby lobster. Permit are nervous by nature and demand time and patience if you want to be successful. You need to be able to cast quickly and accurately to 70 feet with a maximum of three false casts. Practice your double haul and saltwater quick cast before your visit.
Most Permit fishing in Tulum is done from the boat. The two guides will search for cruising Permit. When the Permit is spotted, the angler and one of the guides will slide over the side of the boat and stalk the Permit on foot. This has proven to be a very successful strategy and accounted for hundreds of Permit for our guides and anglers.
Fly fishing for Permit is best done with a 9 or 10 weight, fast action fly rod. Matched with a solid fly reel capable of holding 300 yards of 40 pound backing. The best fly lines will be tropical weight forward lines matched to the fly rod. Leaders need to be 12 feet and tapered to a tippet of 12 or 15 pound test.
The go to flies includes Isley’s Raghead #2 in white, tan, and green, and Spawning Shrimp in #1 tan.
Fly Fishing Tulum for Tarpon
Tulum and Ascension Bay have an outstanding Tarpon fishery. The area is a nursery for baby and teenage Tarpon from 5 to 30 pounds. During the Summer the migratory to 100 pounds pass along the Oceanside flats making for knee shacking action.
Our fly fishing guides have spent many years honing their skills and exploring the mangrove back country of Tulum and Ascension Bay. They have discovered countless, “Green Rooms,” teeming with tarpon and learned how best to approach these unique areas.
We fish from the boat when targeting Tarpon. Accuracy is the key, as you will be casting into mangrove honey holes. If you are not casting well, you will get snagged on the branches of the mangroves and spook the fish. Work on making accurate casts at thirty feet. You should be able to put your fly into an 8 inch circle.
When a tarpon “eats” your fly, you need to strike hard by pulling back with the line hand three times. Once hooked, a Tarpon will go airborne trying to shake loose the fly. Point the rod tip at the Tarpon and give him slack.
Fly fishing for Tarpon in Tulum and Ascension Bay is very good year round, with May to December being the best months. June-August sees a push of migratory Tarpon to 100 pounds.
Fly fishing for Tarpon is best done with a 9 or 10 weight, fast action fly rod. Matched with a solid fly reel capable of holding 300 yards of 50 pound backing. The best fly lines will be tropical weight forward lines matched to the fly rod. Leaders need to be 8 feet and tapered to 20 pound test and ending with one foot of 60 pound shook tippet.
We like many different patterns with Tarpon Toads being a favorite in #1 or 1/0 in black/red, red/white, and chartreuse.
Fly Fishing Tulum for Snook
Tulum has some of the best fly fishing and sight casting for Snook in the world. Tulum and Ascension Bay are home to a year round Snook fishery that boasts Snook to 40 pounds. The Snook live and feed in the backcountry mangroves lagoons or “green rooms.” During the months of November to February find the Snook exhibiting spawning behaviors and schooling up shallow flats. This an excellent time for wading and sight casting to Snook.
Again, casting accuracy dictates success levels. If you can cast accurately at thirty-five feet, you will have ample chances to hook a monster Snook. Just remember to set the hook hard with your line hand and hang on! A hooked Snook will give you aerial acrobats and then try to head straight into the mangroves.
Fly fishing for Snook is best done with a 9 weight, fast action fly rod. Matched with a solid fly reel capable of holding 300 yards of 50 pound backing. The best fly lines will be tropical weight forward lines matched to the fly rod. Leaders need to be 8 feet and tapered to 20 pound test and ending with one foot of 60 pound shook tippet.
Many different patterns for the Snook with Tarpon Toads being a favorite in #1 or 1/0 in white, red/white, and chartreuse.
Tulum Fly Fishing Seasons
You will notice we do not have Winter listed. There is no Winter in the Yucatan! Tulum may see a few days of cold front with temperatures in the high 60’s and the rest of year between 75 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit. We have chosen to list the seasons as Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Spring – March 1 to June 30
Peak season, so book well in advance! Sunny days with light breezes are the norm. Peak fishing for all the Super Slam species. Schools of smaller Permit are cruising the flats and increase the hook up rates. Bay and teenage Tarpon fishing starts to heat up in the backcountry of Boca Paila and Santa Rosa Lagoons. Big schools of Bonefish of 3-5 pounds start to scour the flats with big appetites. Late May and June may see some showers; however, the fronts move quickly and only affect the fishing for a few hours. May and June see less pressure on the fish as the Tulum tourist seasons winds down for the year.
Summer – July 1 to October 31
Calm days with lots of sun and lots of fish. Most lodges have closed for the season and the waters are fished by very few anglers. Great time for a Super Slam and giant Permit. The migratory Tarpon make a big push into the Bay and along the Oceanside flats. Late afternoon showers help to cool of the water, but do not affect the fishing.
Fall – November 1 – February 28
Our favorite time to fish! Bluebird days with lots of sun and light winds. The daytime temperatures start to drop and cool off the water leading to red hot fishing for Bonefish, Snook, and Permit. Most lodges are still closed and there is little to no fishing pressure. A North wind can blow the water out of the backcountry forcing Giant Snook to show themselves for exciting sight casting opportunities.
Tulum Fly Fishing Day Trip Information and Cost
Tulum Fly Fishing Day trips are $675US prepaid and cover a full days fishing for one or two anglers maximum. All trips need to be prepaid in full 60 days prior to fishing dates. We will send you an invoice for a 50% deposit via PayPal that can be paid with any major credit card. There are no refunds for no shows or trips cancelled 60 days prior to trip.
Don't worry about fishing licenses or park entrance fees, they are all included in the price. We also provide a full lunch along with a cooler full of ice, bottled water, and soft drinks. If you desire something stronger than a cola, please bring it with you.
Don't worry about being a first timer to saltwater fly fishing. We all speak great English, have the patience of Job, and a love of teaching and sharing that will make your trip the highlight of your Yucatan vacation. We are positive that at some time in the future you will return for a longer stay with us.
Do bring sunglasses, sun block, a hat, a buff (or order one of our sporty Yucatan Angler buffs!), a long sleeve shirt and pants. Also, bring your favorite fly or spinning rods, flies and terminal tackle. We do have a limited number of flies and leaders for sale through your guides.