Welcome to Yucatan

Location, Type of Fishing:

Easily regarded as the most complete and reliable fishing operation on the Mexican Riviera, Casa Blanca Fishing Lodge combines luxury lodging with world-class fishing packages for those yearning to explore the flats of the Yucatán Caribbean. All by itself at the south end of Ascension Bay, Casa Blanca sits on a beautiful white-sand beach with adjacent bonefish and permit flat, distinguishing it from the lodges in the north of the bay. Arguably the best in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, Casa Blanca’s central location at the middle of this enormous reserve offers unprecedented access to the bonefish and tarpon waters of Santa Rosa Lagoon and all of the best permit flats that lie in the south of the bay.  A little over 100 miles south of Cancun as the crow flies, access to the flats of Ascension Bay has never been easier, with regular air service to the lodge twice weekly. A fantastic grand slam and super slam destination, anglers from around the world know Casa Blanca as one of the best places in the Caribbean to fish for all four inshore slam species, plus a few more. If you’ve ever had the itch to go flats fishing in Mexico, this is the place you were thinking of.

 

 

• Season: October–June
• Species: Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook and Barracuda
• Rods: 6-11 wt. Saltwater, Fast-action
• Rates: 7 night/ 6 days fishing $4,398.00

 

 

 

 

 

What Makes It Special:

Arguably one of the world’s top fishing lodges, Casa Blanca sits prominently on a private island at the south end of Ascension Bay. Known to be one of the finest permit fisheries in the Caribbean, some of the best flats of the bay are located just minutes away, around an area known as Tres Marias. Quick and easy access to these prime flats means you’ll spend less time getting to the good water and more time fishing it. Couple that with the enormous bonefish, tarpon and snook estuary of Santa Rosa Lagoon, lying right behind the lodge, and you’ve got a winning recipe for variety of fish, as well as excellent fishing opportunities. Forget the long drives and gut-busting runs, with its own private airstrip minutes from the lodge, getting to the south side of the bay is a breeze at Casa Blanca. It’s also worth noting that guests fish from 16’ Dolphin Super Skiffs, not the traditional pangas found almost everywhere else in Mexico and Central America. Smaller and considerably more-maneuverable, these versatile boats are equipped with lean bar capability for those wanting a little added stability on the casting deck. Casting decks in the front of the boats are level, and your feet and calves will thank you at the end of the day.

 

Fishing:

At about 280 square miles, Ascension Bay is quite large, to say the least. Packed with flats species year-round, anglers come to these waters for the great fly fishing and spin fishing opportunities that the bay presents year-round. There are abundant sandy flats sprinkled with turtle grass, a vibrant river and creek system, as well as a huge tidal estuary abounding with a seemingly endless series of mangroves and pools that is the Santa Rosa Lagoon. Depending on wind direction, weather and what fish you want to catch, runs from the lodge can be anywhere from five minutes to over an hour. Some of the best permit and bonefish flats are located close to the lodge, literally just minutes away. With its close proximity to the hard-bottomed bonefish flats of Santa Rosa, there are some excellent wading opportunities available from the lodge. Bonefish average 2-3 lb. in Ascension Bay and can be found in very skinny water. Permit on the other hand can grow quite large here, averaging 15-25 lbs. with some bigger fish regularly caught in the 30-40 lbs. range. More often found in slightly deeper water than bonefish, fishing for permit is mostly done from the poled skiff, but there are some occasions when you might wade. Baby tarpon and snook can be found in excellent numbers in the backcountry of the bay, and occasionally on the flats too. Casa Blanca also has access to the Tarpon Lagoon, a remote bay located in the back of Santa Rosa.

 

Lodge:

Casa Blanca Fishing Lodge is a luxury, beachfront lodge, overlooking a beautiful bonefish and permit flat with outstanding views of the Caribbean from every room. All of the rooms are air-conditioned  and have en-suite, private baths, featuring spacious floor plans, well-appointed amenities, clean tile floors and mahogany shutters for privacy. 10 seaside rooms can comfortably accommodate 22 guests. In the open-air palapa of the main lodge, you will find a comfortable lounging area and fully stocked bar attended by a friendly and accommodating bartender. The dining room lies adjacent, and is serviced by a professional staff of servers. There is free WiFi available in the main lodge. While the accommodations at Casa Blanca are splendid, it would be nothing more than a wonderful hotel if it weren’t for the incredible group of guides that make this fishing lodge truly special. With well over a century of combined experience among them, all speak English sufficiently and are considered to be some of the most patient and helpful instuctors you’ll find anywhere in Mexico. Each have over 20 years of experience guiding on the waters of Ascension Bay and Santa Rosa Lagoon, and any one of them would be well-suited to anglers of any skill-level from the very expert to the first-time beginner. A good guide makes all the difference, and you’ll find that Casa Blanca’s are some of the best.

 

Dining:

Having taken great care to ensure than you’ll not only experience top-notch fishing in addition to the first-class accommodations at Casa Blanca, your stay wouldn’t be complete without an extraordinary, culinary journey through the week. Fear not, Chef Estaban’s kitchen does not fail to deliver the goods. Combining seasonal produce, fresh seafood, fusion cuisine as well as traditional Mayan dishes that are prepared and presented for your complete enjoyment, guests are continually delighted by his creations with dishes that are both appealing to behold and delicious to the taste. Having nothing on Chef Estaban, the best chefs from restaurants around the world would be hard-pressed to consistently create such a wonderful bill-of-fare as well as he does every week of the year from this remote kitchen at the edge of the backcountry. All meals are served family-style in the waterfront dining room with premium wines available. Liberating you to enjoy a variety of different tastes, relaxing in a warm and friendly atmosphere, all meals, including non-alcoholic drinks, are included in your fishing package. Served in three course meals on a revolving menu, dinners at the lodge will have you wishing you never had to leave.

 

A Typical Day

Hot coffee is ready at the main lodge starting at 5 am for the early-risers. You may wish to have it delivered to your room in the morning as a pleasant wake-up call. Breakfast is served in the dining room beginning at 6 am. The kitchen will be pleased to make any breakfast to order, including French Toast, scrambled eggs and omelets, in addition to the house special, Huevos Rancheros. Enjoy hot coffee, tea or fresh-squeezed juice and an assortment of tropical fruits as well as milk and cereal. Prepare your lunch at the lunch buffet with selections that change daily, but always include sandwich fixings, salads, fruit, cookies and chips. By 7 am, the guides are ready to go. Anglers will make their way to the pier where the skiffs are docked and waiting. Lunch is usually taken midday in the boat or on a shaded spot at one the beaches in the bay. Plan on returning to the lodge sometime in late afternoon around 3:30 pm. Indulge in a swim from the beach, relax and reflect in one of the many shaded spots where ocean breezes drift over you. Take a nap in a hammock or schedule a soothing massage. Happy hour starts not long after you return with ice-cold drinks and tasty appetizers. Dinner is served at 7 pm, giving you plenty of time for a hot shower and a fresh change of clothes from the in-house laundry service. After dinner, go bonefishing under the light of the pier, as some really great fishing can take place there each night after dark.

 

How to Get There:

Your trip to Casa Blanca Fishing Lodge begins with your arrival at the International Airport in Cancun (CUN). Absolutely safe, millions of travelers pass through the Cancun area every year without incident. After collecting your bags and clearing customs, guests of the lodge are met by a lodge representative and transferred in vans to the domestic terminal where they will board the quick charter flight to the lodge, approximately 45-55 minutes in the air to the south. It is important to note that the air service cannot fly after sundown, since the airstrip at the lodge does not have lights, so plan on getting yourself to Cancun with a little bit of extra time by arriving in the morning or early afternoon. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to get to Cancun a day ahead of your scheduled trip and spend an evening enjoying a great dinner at one of the many restaurants around the resort area of Cancun. The Casa Blanca lodge airstrip is approximately 3 minutes by boat from the main lodge.  Upon arrival, lodge staff welcomes guests with cold margaritas or limeade. Typical week packages run from Saturday to Saturday.

 

What’s Included:

Comfortable and clean accommodations, guided fishing in between travel days, ground transfers to/from the domestic terminal, private air charter to/from the lodge, parks pass, all meals, including non-alcoholic drinks and bottled water.

Not Included: International Air to/from Cancun, alcohol, and gratuity for the staff and guides.

 

Non-angling Activities:

The lodge offers ecotours, Mayan Ruin tours and birdwatching tours, as well as complimentary activities like kayaking, biking, snorkeling and hiking. Massage is also available. Guests staying in for the day or participating in non-angling activities may choose from a lunch of their choice served in the dining room, or a tailor-made picnic basket to be enjoyed out of doors.