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Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula offers the traveling angler a tropical sportfishing paradise. Many anglers make a yearly pilgrimage to the Yucatan. They come for the warm Caribbean ambiance, the friendly people and, of course, the extraordinary and diverse angling opportunities. Without a doubt, one of the best ways to experience this fantastic area is by visiting comfortable Pesca Maya Lodge, which is strategically located at the north end of Ascension Bay.
Pesca Maya Fishing Lodge opened its doors in January 1996 and quickly became one of the Yucatan's most popular fishing destinations... and with good reason. The lodge is located 90 miles south of Cancun in the 1.3 million acre Sian Ka'an (Mayan for "where the sky is born") Biosphere Reserve. Situated on a long, narrow barrier island just north of Punta Allen, this lodge is virtually surrounded by water. To the east, lies the blue Caribbean and just a few hundred yards off shore, the Palancar Barrier Reef stretches from southern Belize to north of Cancun. To the west lies a vast laguna system... an area of shallow flats cut by pale azure channels and dotted with small mangrove cayes. Ten miles to the north of Pesca Maya is the famed "boca" which cuts through the barrier island and provides the only access to the inner lagunas. Four miles to the south lies legendary Ascension Bay. Both the interior lagunas and the more oceanic Ascension Bay boast some of the Caribbean's most productive fishing areas.
Beginning saltwater anglers find Pesca Maya one of the best places in the world to take their first bonefish on a fly, while many seasoned anglers agree that this is one of the world's best locations to take a permit on a fly. In addition, because of good seasonal migrations of snook and tarpon, there have been more Grand Slams and Super Grand Slams (tarpon, bonefish, permit and snook all in the same day) caught here than anywhere else in the world. There are hundreds of square miles where it is not uncommon to see bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook and barracuda... all in the same day!
Pesca Maya has recruited both the best of the old Pez Maya Lodge guides and the best Punta Allen guides. All are professional native guides with years of experience. These guides know Ascension Bay and Boca Paila Lagoon intimately and they will put you on fish. Some guides speak English well while others speak "international fishing" which is enough to convey the position of spotted fish and then help direct your cast.
Pesca Maya uses both a head guide and a young apprentice. Both guides spot fish well. This approach helps when wading as each angler has a guide with him or her to help spot fish. When in the boat, one guide poles while the other assists the angler on deck. Both guides are constantly probing the flats searching for fish so anglers have two experienced pairs of eyes behind them. The apprentice guide can also reposition the boat so you don't have to walk all the way back to the boat after wading a long flat.
At Pesca Maya, eight charming thatched-roof cottages come complete with private bathrooms and hot and cold running water. These A/C cottages face a beautiful white sand beach with turquoise waters beyond. They provide a classic ocean vista and are a great place to savor an evening libation before enjoying a delicious meal featuring fresh local seafood and other regional favorites.
Pesca Maya is a rare combination of extraordinary angling, comfortable accommodations, personalized service and good food... all at a price that's very reasonable. If you are a serious angler contemplating the Yucatan this year, Pesca Maya warrants your close attention!
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