Sunday, November 12, 2006

Back From Casa Blanca...

It truly was a week to remember at Casa Blanca Lodge (www.casablancafishing.com/) . Managing owner/partner Bobby Settles, fishing and fleet coordinator Mark Hamilton as well as hotel operator Maria work together to create and maintain an operation with "Swiss watch" efficiency in the midst of a splendid Mayan wonderland. In a cascade of days that bought all kinds of weather-sunny, cloudy, windy, and calm-the flats fishing remained steady. My personal results were the hunting, catching, and releasing of 14 bonefish to 4 pounds and 4 permit to 27 pounds.

Casa Blanca Lodge and its sister lodge Playa Blanca lie in the midst of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere- Mayan for Birthplace of the Sky-on the Quintana Roo coast of the Yucatan peninsula. Both of these magnificent destinations offer a cornucopia of life replete with palms, rocky beaches, sugar sand beaches, pelicans, dolphins, frigate birds, iguanas, caimans, and of course, the Big Three of flats fishing.

On one star-studded night off Casa's pier, I jumped a 40-pound tarpon on one cast and hooked and released a 10-pound permit on the next cast! One memorable afternoon, I caught and released 2 bonefish right in the midst of their bonefish skiffs which are moored against the beach. Experiences like this are quite unusual for Caribbean fishing destinations and make magical memories. The rest of the time, my fishing was from a 16-foot Dolphin Super Skiff under the able guidance of guide Agustin.

There's a great deal more to be shared about my Casa Blanca Experience.

Jan

No comments: