Here is a nice report from my friend Rhett Schober, highlighting a day that he and a client had while fishing from a SUP south of Tulum, Mexico. I love using an SUP (stand up paddleboard) and Rhett is one of the few guides I know who actually uses them with clients. Not only is he a good guide, great fisherman and fun person to spend a day with, he owns and operates Akumal Villas. So if you need a place to stay while visiting the Caribbean side of Mexico, visit his website and see his vast array of accomodations. “March 11th, 2015 trip at Boca Paila: It goes without saying that any day on the flats is better than a good day at the office. Today was one of them as Jon Connor and I paddled around the Boca Paila flats for an exciting day of Bonefishing. As one of my great Yucatan guiding friends, Nick Denbow, recently commented, the water has been cold recently. Thus, we didn’t see the larger numbers of Bones nor any Permit. However, there were enough to keep us happy. More interestingly, Jon is an avid fly tier and happily provided some very good mantis shrimp variations with which to trick those wily Bones. I particularly love guiding the flats here by way of SUP and with a single client, we can both get on and quickly move over the canals to another area and hit some new waters. Impressively, Jon was here for his 70th birthday and was as spry and nimble as I could ever hope to be at that age. So, we loaded the SUP and headed out up Permit Ally to see what the day would bring. Our first creatures of the day were a pair of nesting Osprey and from the sounds coming from the nest, it seemed that there were one or two little babies about. As we glided onto the first, and best, central flat we spooked several Bones and multiple large schools of Mullet. We anchored the boat and started a loop around the shallowest part of the flat. We had several shots at some singles and doubles but they were rather spooky and hard to see as the sun was still relatively low. Nonetheless, a few fish later, Jon put out a beautiful cast to a “Suicide Bone,” and we were on with the first fish of the day. Later we moved over to the largest flat at Boca Paila and hit an area where there have been some larger pods. That area is good on an incoming tide as there is a canal coming in there from the mouth by the bridge and the bones are eager to see what the tide has deposited on the flat. After hooking and landing another 3.5 pound bone it was time to take a break and talk about the morning. Boy, I wish I was the guy who invented those folding camping chairs and I would like to thank him. With a LMB, (late morning beverage) in hand we settled down to discuss the morning and talk about fly tying. As the day progressed we headed back to the central flat and did a few rounds. In one instance, Jon tied on another pink variegated Mantis Shrimp variation which seemed to be very popular. While casting to a six fish school, we watched as there was a mad dash to gobble up the fly and we were on again. I love it when there is competition! To finish the day, I paddled Jon out to a secret spot that many people know but wouldn’t necessarily fish. I will officially call it CROCODILE POINT as this is the area where there is often a pretty large Caiman hanging out. We ditched the SUP in the mangroves and proceed to walk up to the point. The view is spectacular especially when there are 4 large Bones tailing at the tip. Unfortunately, they were very spooky as this flat is extremely shallow and they didn’t cooperate. Anyway, it was a great last attempt to finish a wonderful day on the flats at Boca Paila with Jon Connor.” Great story Rhett. Thanks to you and Jon.
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