Isla Blanca Flats - Mexico
2025 TRIP REPORT
April 2025
The wind had been howling across Cancún for weeks when Miguel texted:
“Come anyway. We’ll find water.”
At the end of April, while I was traveling across the Yucatán Peninsula and preparing for my five-week stretch of hosted weeks in Campeche, my good friend Miguel (Captain Miguel) invited me to spend a few days with him. The wind had been blowing hard for more than a month, leaving the water off-color in places, but his guide team knows the tides and where to find protected zones with clearer conditions.
Just about a 45- to 60-minute drive north of Cancun is an outstanding saltwater fishery at Isla Blanca. Traveling anglers can enjoy fishing for baby Tarpon and Permit, whether as a fun addition for a day or two during a family vacation or business trip in Cancun, or as a week-long standalone destination. There are endless miles of clear flats to fish for Permit, extensive lagoons, and mangrove-lined banks that have baby Tarpon (5-20lbs). There are small creeks, channels, and lagoons that you will venture into looking for feeding Tarpon. Most Tarpon fishing is sight-casting to cruising fish. At times, you will be casting within 15 minutes of the beach where the boats are waiting for you, or you may have a long boat ride, 1.5+ hours, north towards Holbox Island. There are other species available that you might hook into, like Snook, Sea Trout, Jacks, Bonefish, etc. But Tarpon and Permit are the main target species.
Captain Miguel Encalada is a longtime saltwater flats guide, lodge manager, and outfitter. At Isla Blanca, he leads a seasoned team of English-speaking fishing guides, Rafael, Ulysses, Danny, and Martin. The guides work hard to get anglers into quality tarpon and permit, operating 23-foot panga-style boats with quiet Yamaha 50HP four-stroke engines. The boats feature spacious casting platforms at the bow, and lean bars can be provided upon request for added stability. Two anglers per boat, with one angler casting at a time.
I was able to hook and land a few Tarpon, which are my favorite saltwater species. As Miguel says, I am a “Tarpon Junkie,” which I am proud to acknowledge! Since Miguel and I have known each other for a few years, we fished together for a couple of days. He is a “Permit Junkie,” especially since he was the former manager of a lodge in the famous Ascension Bay, Mexico, one of the best places in the world to fish for Permit.
In the three days that I fished with Miguel, Danny, Rafael, and Ulysses, I told them that I wanted to concentrate on Tarpon, which we did. But Miguel hadn’t fished much recently, so during my first day with Miguel and Danny, I told him to fish for Permit when the conditions were right for them. We saw a couple of permit on a few of the flats, but Miguel was not successful at getting hooked up. On my second day, I fished with Rafael and Ulysses. I landed a few baby Tarpon, and they really wanted me to get a Permit. We chased one around on a nice flat for about 15 minutes without me getting close enough for a good cast.
Brad Staples with a medium-sized Tarpon.
My third and last day, I fished with Miguel and Danny. We fished a few Tarpon spots without any action. Then they said that they were going to show me a location where the Permit might be swimming close to the surface, but they were feeding in deeper water than I am used to fishing for Permit. When we arrived at the location, a few Permits were finning on the surface; they were in about 10-15 feet of water. I cast out the crab that Miguel suggested that I use. I had a Permit follow the fly without eating it. Miguel then changed the fly, and I cast it out, and one of the Permit decided it looked good enough to eat. I was able to get the Permit landed, so Miguel, Danny, and I were pleased with how the afternoon turned out for us!
When fishing for multiple days, it's best to bring your own 8- and 9-weight rods with floating lines. The 8-weight is set up for Tarpon, the 9-weight is rigged for Permit. Most of the Permit are caught on crab patterns, and the Tarpon will eat Tarpon Toads and small streamer flies tied on size 1/0-2/0 quality hooks. We will provide more information about the recommended fishing equipment and flies in the confirmation packet you will receive after scheduling your fishing adventure.
The nice thing about their operation is that if you do not want to bring your fly-fishing equipment with you on your Cancun vacation, they can supply you with everything that you need to be successful on the water—fly rods, reels, lines, tippets, and flies. You just need to show up with proper sun protective clothing and quality sunglasses. The cost of the day trip also includes lunch, bottled water, and soft drinks.
Transportation from the Hotel Zone in Cancun is included. If you are staying south of Cancun, at Playa del Carmen or Tulum, there will be an additional transportation cost.
When you book a mult-day fishing trip, the package includes lodging and dining at the beachfront Punta Blanca Hotel, located on the Isla Blanca Peninsula. Early each morning, either Miguel or another driver will pick you up and transport you to the beach where the boats are located, about a 15-minute drive. You will fish for approximately 8 hours before returning to the hotel.
During my visit, the meals at the hotel restaurant were delicious! Your meals and drinks will be charged to your room, and you will pay for them at checkout. Please add a 15-20% tip for the servers. Captain Miguel recommends leaving a $20.00 tip per day for the staff, which covers housekeeping services. They only have single rooms available, which work well for a couple sharing the king-sized bed. When there are no couples fishing together, everyone will have their own room. The rooms have plenty of space, a large hot-water shower, a mini refrigerator, a coffee maker, a cooktop, and air conditioning. For more about the hotel, visit our main Isla Blanca page.
Weather Call: I advise against scheduling trips to Mexico, the Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, and similar destinations from mid-December to mid-February due to potential northern cold fronts. If you’re already in Cancún, you can choose your fishing day based on the current weather.
Brad Staples with a Permit and Guide Danny.
Who You’ll Fish With:
Captain Miguel Encalada—longtime saltwater flats guide, lodge manager, and outfitter—leads a seasoned, English-speaking team: Rafael, Ulysses, Danny, and Martin. They run 23-foot panga-style boats with quiet Yamaha 50 HP four-strokes, bow casting platforms, and optional lean bars. Two anglers per boat, one casting at a time.
Species: Primary targets are tarpon and permit. You may also encounter snook, sea trout, jacks, and bonefish.
Gear & What’s Included: If you don’t want to haul rods through the airport, they can outfit you with fly rods, reels, lines, tippet, and flies. Just bring sun protection and quality polarized sunglasses. Lunch is included on the boat, plus bottled water and soft drinks.
Transport: Ground transfers are included from Cancún’s Hotel Zone to the hotel in Costa Mujeres. Stays in Playa del Carmen or Tulum add an extra transfer cost.
For Multi-Day Trips: You'll stay at Punta Blanca Beach House on the Isla Blanca Peninsula, Fin Chasers' home base. Mornings start with a short 15-minute drive to the boats; you’ll fish about eight hours and return to relax by the beach.
• Rooms: Single rooms with king beds (Each angler gets their own room.)
• Amenities: A/C, Large hot-water shower, mini-fridge, coffee maker, and cooktop.
• Dining: Charge meals and drinks to your room; settle at checkout, and please tip servers 15–20%.
• Housekeeping: Miguel recommends $20/day for staff.
• Meals: Lunch is included on the boat. When I visited in late April 2025, the food at the on-site restaurant was very good. (Breakfasts and dinners are not included in the package.)
For more about the Beach House, visit our Isla Blanca page.
Tackle Notes: For multiple days, bring an 8-weight (tarpon) and 9-weight (permit) with tropical floating lines.
• Permit: Mostly crab patterns
• Tarpon: Tarpon Toads and small streamers on quality 1/0–2/0 hooks
We include an equipment/flies list in your confirmation.
Bottom Line
We’re confidently recommending Fin Chasers for both one-day add-ons and multi-day focused trips. The team knows how to read Isla Blanca’s tides and wind, and they work hard to get you shots—whether you’re a tarpon junkie like me or chasing your first permit.
Visit our main page for Isla Blanca Fly Fishing.
Questions? We're happy to help.
Brad Staples
1-800-205-3474 ext. 3
Cell (503) 250-0558
Email: brad@fishingwithlarry.com
Guy Schoenborn
1-800-205-3474 ext. 1
Email: guy@fishingwithlarry.com
Information Packet
