Trip report: Isla Holbox tarpon

We have just back from a hosted trip to Isla Holbox, Mexico in pursuit of the ultimate fly rod species the Silver King. Isla Holbox is a small island of the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and has a reputation for its migratory tarpon fishing. Our group of 8 stayed at Isla Holbox Lodge which is a nicely run and comfortable beach front lodge. Fishing at the lodge starts early to ensure that you make the most of the calm early mornings chasing offshore migratory fish prior to the afternoon south easterly winds forcing the boats inshore to search for baby tarpon.



Our first two mornings went perfectly to script with the guides getting us into large schools of rolling tarpon. Finding the fish was easy but getting close enough to get a decent shot proved more difficult in the glass calm conditions on day 1. One lucky angler from Japan did get a good shot and found himself hooked into a fish around the 130 lb mark. I was lucky enough to be in the boat with Andy Congram on the second morning and watch as he hooked into a tarpon estimated at 140 lb. Watching a tarpon get 10 feet into the air is a great way to start the day. Andy put maximum pressure on this fish and boated it in approximately 30 minutes. Back at the lodge that evening we were over the moon with the prospect of another 4 days chasing big fish outside but the weather had other plans. The wind blew for the rest of the week and we did not get the chance to head back outside after the big tarpon but I saw enough on those first two mornings to draw me back again.



The remainder of the week was spent chasing tarpon in the mangroves and on the flats. Several of the group had some great sight fishing in 4-5 feet of water to tarpon in the 30-50lb class. Mark Nicoll managed to boat a 40lb fish in difficult conditions and Trev Bennett jumped a fish in the 30lb range. The baby fishing in tight to the mangroves was a bit hit and miss. Those boats finding schools of fish had some fun but those who missed out on tarpon spent time chasing snook and jacks.



For more information on fishing Isla Holbox please email us.