Ascension Bay Bonefish Club, Mexico
Mexico Photo Journal



Ascension Bay is one of the most productive saltwater flats in the world. It has become a fly fishing Mecca ever since Florida Keys guide, Capt. Jan Isley, first discovered this wonderful fishery in the mid eighties. It lies in the heart of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in the tiny, picturesque lobster fishing village of Punta Allen. The reserve contains well over one million acres stretching along the beautiful Caribbean coast of eastern Mexico. Sian Ka'an, "birth of the sky" in Mayan, is the home to over 300 species of birds, and many rare or endangered species of land and aquatic animals such as the manatee and jaguar.

Ascension Bay is the home of the big three, bonefish, permit and tarpon. Some of the largest permit ever taken cruise these endless flats. Sand and mangrove islands, vast shallow water flats, palm lined backwaters and lagoons make the bay a fascinating place to stalk these magnificent and elusive fish. Our Mayan guides have many years experience on the bay and many were trained by Jan Isley himself. They understand the tides and the movement of the fish and their sharp eyes are incredibly adept at seeing the "Gray Ghosts" when others won't.

Each boat has an assistant guide offering yet another set of eyes as well as someone to tend the boat and keep it close while your guide helps you have a fun and successful trip. A typical day of fishing begins at 7:30 and ends around 4:30 allowing for around 9 hours on the water each day and occassionally more if conditions allow. All boats are equipped with with VHF radios and safety equipment.

Like most trips offered through Emerald Water Anglers, the lodge is set up to accommodate a maximum of 6 anglers, keeping the atmosphere of your trip, small and intimate. This allows your hosts and staff to give personal attention to every detail of your stay. The hosts, Rick and Rosie Montgovery are gracious and cordial people who will become your friends almost at once. Rosie is from Germany and truly a marvelous cook. The daily menu consists of full breakfasts served each morning complete with fresh juice and coffee. Lunches are prepared to your liking and packed in ice chests along with cold drinks insuring nourishment during the full day on the flats.

Dinner is served around 7:30 after a leisurely cocktail hour and is comprised of various fresh caught fish from the local waters, meats and a variety of vegetables. Some examples of the dinners are Coq au Vin, Chicken Tajine and of course fresh Lobster. Meal restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice.

The Inn consists of 3 individual, double occupancy thatched roof cottages. Each cottage has two beds, private hot water bathrooms, tiled floors, rod racks and a shaded porch with chairs and a hammock overlooking a palm covered beach with with the second largest barrier reef in the world, and the topaz colored Caribbean beyond. The main lodge serves as the general meeting area for cold beverages as well as the dining room for the freshly prepared dinners served each night. Also in the main lodge is the beach front bar, Crazy Charlies, where stories of fish landed and lost can be traded over one of the best Pina Colada's in Mexico.

Clothing and equipment checklist -- Tropical

Pricing:

Contact us for current pricing and availability	7 nights/6 days fishing package Includes: Reception and transportation from Cancun, all meals, lodging, daily guided fishing, room and sales tax and Mexican fishing license. Price is per angler based on double occupancy.
	Shorter and longer stay packages are available

Species	Season	Location
Bonefish	January-May	Flats
Permit	January-May	Flats, Mangroves, Lagoons
Tarpon	April-May	Flats, Lagoons