Received this report from Nick Luke, who resides in the UK and fished with Nick Denbow of Western Caribbean Fly Fishing School in Mahahual, Mexico from Aug 18 – Sep. 8th. I have fished with Nick on many occasions and consider him one of the best guides and fisherman I have ever had the pleasure to walk a flat with. Headquartered in Mahahual, Mexico he has a truly unique fishery where a competent fishermen has a legit shot at the grand slam while wading the shore. I just can’t think of many places where a person can get out of the car, walk the beach and cast to bonefish, permit, tarpon, jacks, triggerfish, boxfish and barracuda. Nick has places where you can do that! Following is the report posted by Nick Luke: This was the third year running fishing with Nick in and around Mahahual, Mexico. We used to split the trip between Nick and Ascension Bay but based on last years results we did all three weeks this year with Nick. As always I was with my kids, my son now a better fisher than I, my daughter sadly more interested in boys than fishing. We again chose the condos at 40 Canons in the village that has all the modern conveniences, maid and waiter service and the ability to walk to a variety of good restaurants. As we learned on our second trip sometimes you catch more Bonefish right in front of the hotel in the boating dredge than in the remote places. Nick took us to wade fish water up and down the coast driving the beach road. Best luck came from Pulticub and Punta Gorila to the north. A new spot for us, we found Alma Plena hotel to the south which was also a good place to base the fishing from, we had a sneak look and the accommodation looked great, charming Italian owners, with a wonderful decking to refresh from. Bonefish in the garden. Best day fishing was to the north, son and I both cast at the hallowed grand slam jumping several big Tarpon in the surf. The biggest Tarpon I hooked was on the Bonefish leader so that was short-lived but ten brilliant seconds. With all those different fish species you never really new what to gear up for, felt the need for a caddy with a bag full of different clubs. Good fun casting at tailing Triggerfish also. Bonefish were scattered everywhere, usually over sand, not in the large schools as per last year but they were always there, The larger fish would occasionally pop up inside our wading line, between us and shore in very shallow water. These were singles and when the cast went to plan were hungry for the fly. Best fish was around 5 pounds. We chased Tarpon with Nick in the lagoons out of his boat on five occasions. My son out fished me, again. His best was boating five in a half day, largest was twenty pounds. I landed a few here and there but for the number of attacks my conversion rate remains poor. Nicks a patient guide but I could see his frustration with my inability to strip strike after the tenth time in a row I yanked the rod and snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Old habits die-hard. Already planning next years trip.
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