Tarpon Cay Lodge - 2024

 As always, I like to fly into Cancan a day early, and stay at the Marriott Courtyard.  This gives us a chance to unwind and prepare for the transfer to Rio Lagartos/Tarpon Cay Lodge, around noon the next day.

We settled into our clean and comfortable rooms at Yuuma Ha hotel/restaurant, and set up our rods.  The friendly staff was ready to make our week a great one, and the chef was busy cooking up a great dinner for us.

The food at Yuuma Ha was terrific...

...and the desserts were amazing!

Our host, Marco Ruz, met us and suggested that we make the best of our first fishing day, Sunday, since a hurricane was brewing in the Gulf.  No one had heard of a hurricane originating in the gulf, but this one was growing and headed east toward the Yucatan!

Fortunately, the tarpon didn't hear the weather report and were anxious to eat our flies and give us the high-flying thrill we enjoy!

As we headed out on the first day, we didn't realize this was going to be the ONLY good fishing day we would see for the week?

Ken with a nice TCL Tarpon!

"Mr. Lee" even got in on the action

We caught a number of snook, toward the end of the week!

A number of flies worked very well (most developed at Tarpon Cay Lodge!)

The first day, with clear water and tarpon feeding on shrimp, my LT Shrimp was very effective!

After the hurrcane passed, with the water very stained, my Yucatan Sunrise (Foxxy Griz Minnow) was especially successful.

My "Gang", ready to head out for the afternoon's action.

My partner, Ron, with a nice TCL tarpon!

Narrow creeks, with thick mangroves, make for some interesting casting, let alone fish-catching.

The bird life around Rio Lagartos is hard to imagine, and people come from all over the world to experience the variety of birds here!

***

Only 2 days after our arrival at Tarpon Cay, we were forced to evacuate, due to hurricane Milton.  Fortunately for us, although a Catagory 5, the hurricane was relatively small, and Rio Lagartos was spared much damage.  However, to be safe,we evacuated about 1 1/2 hours away to the city of Villadolid, a beautiful city with much to see and experience.  This "detour" in our fishing plans was as pleasant as it could be.

Plaza and cathedral in Villadolid

As usual, Marco Ruz, our outfitter, took good care of us, moving us into a very nice hotel, and treating us to dinner in an old (1500's) colonial home, now restaurant.

Inside the old cathedral


***

Everyone in my group took the hurricane in stride, and enjoyed shopping the many stores and shops in Valladolid.  We all agreed that although not the best week of fishing, it was a great experience!

Many thanks to Marco Ruz, our guides, 

and the staff at Yuuma Ha!