Well I’m back in the UK and with a real bang back to reality, landing to +1 degree and snow at Birmingham airport after a fantastic and highly memorable trip to Ascension Bay in Mexico.
After weeks of anticipation the departure date finally arrived for the trip to the ‘Grand Slam’ capital of the world and myself and 5 intrepid anglers were winging our way to our home for the next 7 days in Punta Allen. After a stop during our mini bus transfer for some much needed food and the obligatory ice cold Cerveza, we eventually arrived at our lodge to be greeted by our lead guide for the week Manuel. We were shown to our spacious air conditioned rooms; we dumped the kit and fell asleep before our heads had touched the pillows.
As usual the group woke up early in anticipation of our first days angling and were up and tackled long before the 7am breakfast; all itching to get started. 8 am and the 3 well equipped flats boats headed out. The weather was recovering from a large low pressure system that had been hanging around for the previous week or so, but the outlook was that it would steadily get better as the week progress which was music to our ears. Right enough each day it did get better and with it so did the fishing! The majority of the party started of cashing the numerous tailing bones that could be found in the shallow flats, with great results. As the week continued and everyone’s confidence grew the target species grew in numbers and Snook, Tarpon and Permit soon became the order of the day. During a night of margarita fuelled banter a species challenge was laid down to the group, rules were simple catch as many different fish as you can! The eventual winner boated 17 species for the week, impressive in any location but even more so when they are all taken by the fly!
Every day shots were taken at elusive Permit on the extensive flats surrounding Punta Alan with the catch figures getting larger and larger until the last day ended in the perfect conclusion for one angler. For most salty anglers the ‘Grand Slam’ is the ultimate prize but even more coveted than this is the very rare ‘Super Slam’ which involves the capture of not only a Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon in a single day but with the edition of the hard fighting mangrove dwelling Snook. Even as we landed back in the UK some 48 hours after the monumental achievement had happened it still hadn't sunk in with the captor, I’m sure it will stay in his memory for many years to come!
The figures for the week just speak for themselves, 3 Permit boated with another 3 unfortunately lost, several Tarpon with as usual several more jumped and lost, plenty of hard fighting Snook and more Bones than you could shake a stick at not to mention Barracuda, Jacks and numerous local Snapper and mangrove species.
I would rate Ascension bay as by far and away one of the very best locations for saltwater fly fishing regardless of your experience level. The biggest endorsement I can give it is that all 6 members of the group are heading back to the same lodge at the same time next year and probably will for quite some years!
We have groups fishing Ascension Bay in March/April and May in 2009. If you are interested please email us.
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