Fishing Program

The Fish

It is the diversity in species that inhabit Ascension Bay in such prolific numbers that is the main attraction for so many intrepid flats anglers. Boasting of perhaps the best permit fishery found anywhere, Ascension Bay is also a viable resource for all the species that make up the “Grand Slam” or the “Super Slam” – permit, bonefish, tarpon and snook. There are also frequent encounters with less traditional species such as barracuda, jacks, sharks, and much more. Unlike some destinations that are niched into one species, there is always something happening on the Bay no matter the conditions.

The Guides

While Ascension Bay undoubtedly is an incredible fishery with loads opportunity, it takes the right guides coupled with a unique approach to realize its tremendous potential. By cultivating a group of guides that are hands down the best in the region, The Palometa Club has designed a fishing program unlike any of the competition on Ascension or Espiritu Santo Bays. Whether you have fished the saltwater all your life or even visited one of the other lodges in the area – be prepared to witness an entirely different and vastly more productive style of flats fishing.

The Club’s guides all speak English and are on the water over 300 days a year either guiding gringo fly anglers or fishing the commercial lobster season. Unlike other lodges in the area that employ seasonal guides from other regions in Mexico, The Palometa Club hires the best and local independent contractors from Punta Allen that are, by definition, professional fly fishing guides. They pridefully run their own boats, are serious fly tiers, epic casters, calm instructors, and collectively have decades of experience hosting North American anglers on Ascension Bay.

A 1:1 Guide Angler Ratio

The Club uses one guide for each angler (2 anglers and 2 guides per boat). This is not to be confused with one proper guide and one “apprentice guide” that serves as a boat driver. Each angler gets their own experienced guide dedicated to ensuring no fishing time or opportunities are wasted and all anglers are guaranteed one on one instruction. Having two guides provides multiple sets of eyes scanning for the next target. One guide will wade with the angler while the other guide will remain on the poling platform, managing the boat, keeping an eye on the school, and choreographing your approach for the best presentation. There are also scenarios where both anglers and both guides bail out of the boat to chase larger schools, thus getting everyone in the action at once.

Fishing Hours

We are not set on the traditional “8:00 – 4:00” rigid fishing schedule you may be accustomed to at other lodges. While boats push away from the beach at 7:30-8:00AM, guides are not under the gun to pull you off happy fish to meet a schedule. While they do generally try and spool it up at a reasonable hour (especially if you have a long run back to the house), the only constraint in play is to be on the beach before sunset in accordance with the laws of the Sian Ka’an.

When to Visit

For the 2016 season, the Palometa Club is open January 1-June 17 and July 22 – September 9.  They are closed September 9 – January 5.  For the 2017 season the Club will be open January 6-June 16 and July 21 – September 8, 2017.

There really is no “best” time to visit the Club as every week of the season offers pros and cons to consider. For the most part, guests should expect good fishing weather anytime we are open and operating, with all standard species available and plentiful year round. The southern Yucatan enjoys warm and humid temperatures and comfortable fishing conditions; however there are certainly idiosyncrasies to consider with each of the seasons when planning your trip.