Prime Time Permit at The XFlats in Mexico

This was my second trip down to the lodge, and somehow I left even more impressed than the year before. As always, it was a week filled with good people, good vibes, and great fishing.

Throughout the week, my guests and I had shots at high numbers of Permit. As is usually the case with these psycho fish, most refused the fly, but we were able to bring a good handful to hand. We found that most of the fish averaged around 8-12 pounds, but there were definitely some lunkers in the mix. Like any Permit destination, success comes down to persistence, and making the most of every opportunity. All it takes is one fish to change your whole view of the trip! A few moments from the week stood out to me, and I have shared these below.

The lodge continues to impress. Set right on the beach just north of the small town of Xcalak, it offers comfortable accommodations, an inviting atmosphere, and one of the better dining programs you'll find at a fishing lodge. More than once, we found ourselves thinking about dinner long before we were back at the dock. Cuisine typically consists of fresh seafood and homemade Latin American meals.

During the trip, three members of our group were able to check a Grand Slam off their bucket list. In saltwater fly fishing, a Grand Slam consists of landing a Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit all in the same day. An accolade many anglers spend years, and even lifetimes chasing without success. Even more incredible, two of those slams happened on the same day, from the same boat, by a father and son. It was a pretty special moment to witness and one neither of them will forget it anytime soon.

While The XFlats is best known for its world-class Permit fishing, we also spent a day exploring hidden lagoons and mangrove creeks in search of resident tarpon. It ended up being one of my favorite days of the trip. After spending hours hunting clearly not hungry Permit, it was a welcome change of pace to target fish that were actively feeding. There are incredible numbers of Tarpon tucked away in these backwaters, and I'd highly recommend dedicating some of your time chasing after them.

One of the more unexpected highlights came off the water. Last year, we shared the lodge with two fantastic groups of anglers, and to our great surprise both groups returned during the same week this year. It's pretty rare to put nearly 20 people together at a remote lodge and have everyone genuinely enjoy each other's company. It made for another unforgettable week and reminded me that, as great as the fishing is, it's often the people you share it with that keep you coming back.