Looking for charter share Puerto aventuras in May

**greenthumb** · 16-03-2008, 14:19

Hi, Off to mexico for 1st half of may and looking to go on an offshore charter or two. Anyone else out there at the same time want to share a boat? Or any suggestions on a non-touristy charter company?
Thinking of some spinning down Boca Paila way as well if anyone has any advice . I dont fly fish either which may restrict me.
Will be staying in Akumal and PDC and I hear the beach fishing is limited. Does anyone now of any little pockets of fishable beach in those areas?
One other thing I am looking to buy a sturdy travel spinning rod. Something with plenty of backbone. Any suggestions? Budget is around £100.

Thanks

**PanamaJack** · 17-03-2008, 20:27

I really can't recall other posts to the forum regarding that part of the Yucatan, and our Club members who've fished Boca Paila have done so through a lodge/fishing package.

You should find that most of the independent guides - and here I'm assuming Flats fishing for Bonefish, Permit and juvenile Tarpon plus Jacks and Barracuda - would have light spin gear thrown in as part of the package. I guess, dependent on how busy they might be, you may be able to haggle down to 250$US. But the more normal rate would be in the 300 to 350$ range. In that most of their clients are Americans they as well would be used to being tipped. And there's a fishing licence to consider - from memory I think that's 10$s a day or 45$ a week.

If no one replies to your post with specific suggestions you may wish to consider posting to the Yucatan forum on http://www.tripadvisor.com. I've just tried a search with Boca Paila, fishing and that came up with 4 pages of matches. (There're some recommendations there in terms of guides/offshore boats BUT remember some of those that respond aren't necessarily tourists, THEY have a vested interest in you selecting THEIR recommendation.) If the focus is on fly fishing though what you can target on a fly you can equally catch on light spin gear. And let me assure you it's much easier to catch a Permit on a live Crab than a fly! Virtually all of it will be 'sight' casting, spotting moving fish and casting just in front of them so good polarising sun glasses and a peaked cap are a must.

If you're looking for a spin rod for just generally fishing there then something like the Shimano Exage would be OK. In terms of lures try poppers worked fast for the Jacks or tube lures for Barracuda.

I notice that you're relatively new to the forum. You may wish to look at some of the 'stickies' at the front of the Caribbean and Central & South American forums for some background reading on techniques.

**millser** · 21-03-2008, 17:04

Hi Greenthumb I will be in Cancun about 40 minutes away the second week in May from the 12th otherwise I would have gone for a boat share with you.
I have heard some good reports about Capt Ricks charters

**greenthumb** · 22-03-2008, 16:47

Hi, again Im in PDC till the 14th so I could do 1 on the 13th if ur interested. I think im gonna give the flats a miss and go on 2 offshore charters instead. Im more at home on a boat and heavier gear and I want to catch something thats gonna make my arms ache. Im quite used to hauling up big Rays,tope and congers etc. I dont think the flats are gonna yield anything that big in a day. Maybe Ascension would get me a big Permit but alas I haven't the budget or time for a 3 day trip.

I have heard Capt. Ricks' name mentioned before. Imight send him a mail. My only worry is that all the best skippers will be chartered out at Isla holbox as I believe May is tournament time.

If I were to take a Spinning rod for some offshore stuff what sort of weight would anyone reccomend?
I have been ogling over the Snowbee range of rods, especially the Inshore and offshore tarpon rods. Does any one have any experience with these?
Thanks, Darren

**marktheshark** · 11-04-2008, 00:56

Ullo matey
I think Akumal bay is a reserve with fishing off limits. I'd check that, maybe on TripAdvisor, before wetting a line there.
Which is a shame, because when I snorkelled down the cenote (underwater channel - but this one isn't underwater since the roof collapsed millennia ago) into the bay there was the biggest barracuda I've ever seen ... about 70lb, thick as a log, more than 5ft long. It was surrounded by a school of silver jacks that were endlessly circling it like a shroud; presumably the pay-off from the cuda's protection outweighed the fact that it might fancy a snack every now and then. It was an absolutely awesome sight.
Sometimes the best fish are captured only in the mind ...

**jrb** · 11-04-2008, 09:50

Absolutely right Marktheshark, Akumal bay is FULL of fish of all kinds, Eagle rays, Huge barracuda, permit, lots of turtles and all less than 50 metres from the beach, and because of that....... lots of people snorkelling. If you have a car head towards Punta Allen, the road is really good now, the drive is spectacular with miles of beach with nobody on them. As you enter the Biosphere fish the beaches there. I don’t know about the spinning, I fly fish and white/chartreuse minnows catch everything that swims.
Go on down to Punta Allen its a tiny Lobster fishing village with sand roads, you can have lunch at the beachside restaurant. I read an article where four Americans returning from bone fishing at Punta Allen encountered a large male Jaguar on that road, and while it was staring them out, the female joined him, as the two of them slinked into the jungle on the left and they were saying how lucky they had been to have seen this, two Anteaters and there young came onto the road Obviously being hunted by the Jaguars and disturbed by the car. You can see quite a few interesting thing on that road, Sea Eagles, Ospreys, Spoonbills.
Every time I go on that road I hope to see a Jaguar, no luck yet!

**jrb** · 11-04-2008, 12:56

Hi greenthumb,

I spend a lot of the winter in Puerto Aventuras I have my own boat there.
Capt. Ricks is a large outfit probably 10-15 boats of different sizes and prices. You can walk around the marina in the morning or anytime really and just (most days) get a charter. If you want something less commercial the Mexican who looks after my boat when I am not there, also about four other boats, has a panga boat, he is a dive master and is one of the best captains in the marina. His name is Ruben his telephone number is Cel:044 984 1 38 8803 Casa: 9842062852
email: nnonar@hotmail.com
I can personally recommend him, his English is good and he is good company and gives you a very fair days fishing. Remember if you are trolling for sails, Mahi Mahi etc you are using fuel! so after a while a lot of the captains will say "lets do some bottom fishing", (doesn’t use much fuel)

I will be at P.A. until the 1st May you would have been welcome to have had a day with me, but if you want any more info. don’t hesitate to ask.

John.

**greenthumb** · 13-04-2008, 20:30

hi, Thanks for the info chaps. Ive booked a solo charter with Ricks' trolling only on one of the smaller boats. As for Akumal I had since been told about the restrictions. Do they still apply if I fish from a Kayak? Or does the restricted area stretch too far offshore?
I will be staying in PDC for the rest of the trip(10 days). I will definitely have a go up there, maybe to the quiet spot north of Coco beach or venture south of PlayaCar. I see on google that these spots seem undeveloped, so probably free of hotel security.
I would love a go at night for something big. Does anyone know whether sharks are hookable frfom the shore along there at night? Or anything big and scary that will pull my rod hard. (invitation for a wisecrack).
Cheers