Tim Render tells the tale of week’s fishing in Mexico [with Farlows’ Sean Clarke] [arranged though Fly Odyssey].
After a while every flats fisherman’s thoughts turn to permit. You’ve caught bonefish, you’ve caught tarpon, you’ve seen permit, maybe even cast to one. And catching that elusive first permit looms ever larger in your thoughts.
So it was for me. And a trip to Casa Blanca Lodge on Mexico’s Ascension Bay last March gave me the chance to try in one of the world’s best permit locations.
The first day showed the extent of the fishery in Ascension Bay. Large areas of flats, channels and mangroves, with lots of the deep sand flats so loved by permit. And we saw good numbers of fish, both singles and small schools. We had perhaps 10 decent shots at permit that first day – and yes, most were ignored by the fish. But three times we had that heart stopping moment as a fish darts for the fly and chases after it – only to shy away at the last moment. Disappointing, but confidence building – the fish were there and interested in our flys.
Day two brought more permit chasing. I had a good shot at a group of 6 or 8 fish, fly in front of them, several darted towards it – this was it. They chased the little crab pattern through three strips – the line just had to go tight – and then veered off .... Would I ever get a better chance.
Fortunately, yes. Ten minutes more polling along the flat and that school returned. First cast muffed. Second cast, just short. Third cast, 6 feet in front of the school. Again the reaction from the fish, and this time the line did go tight. Set the hook, clear the line, let the fish run .... I don’t think I’ve ever played a fish with so much care, keeping the pressure on, but not too much (did I get those knots right?), side strain to stop the fish trying to go round the boat. Soon it was there by the boat and then mine. OK, not huge - well actually pretty small – but my first permit.
Reward came that evening – with the lodge ritual for a first permit. The tequila stinger. A shot of tequila, but surmounted with a pickled scorpion (reassuringly (?) with stinger and venom removed) – you had to eat the scorpion and wash it down with the shot! Well, I couldn’t let the American lodge guests think a Limey was a wuss, could I? Treat the scorpion like an oyster – eyes closed, into the mouth, crush and swallow in one motion. Still the tequila was very good. And the bragging rights from my first permit were worth it ...
The rest of the week was more permit hunting –although unfortunately some cloudy and pretty windy weather made it harder to spot them. Still we had plenty more shots and some follows. But the rest of the fishing remained good – plenty of bonefish tailing in the mangroves. Jumping baby tarpon in the river mouths and wrestling snook out of snags.
All in all in good week’s fishing at a top rate lodge. Good food, air conditioned beach front accommodation, top end flats boats and excellent (English speaking) guides. Offering the full range of flats fishing for anglers of all experience, from novice to expert - you can spend your time catching lots of bonefish or obsess on permit or target an enjoyable mix of all the main flats species.
Just remember that the permit at Casa Blanca can come with a sting in their tail!
For more information about fly fishing in Mexico out of Casa Blanca, Playa Blanca or Punta Herrero please visit the Fly Odyssey website or email us.
