Espiritu Santu Bay Lodge

THE FISHING

Fall (October and November): This season may be the most pleasant time of the year to fish, and the sight fishing for snook on the flats can be unbelievable. The air temperatures are very comfortable as the autumn sun slides toward the southern horizon. Sometime in mid to late October, the weather will start to change and begin to cool.

Snook spawn during the new and full moon phases in the mouths of bays and passes during June, July and August. Their post spawning phase sends them hungry and feeding on the flats of ESB. It’s not uncommon to find them in small schools on the flats, sunning themselves in very shallow water. Fall is absolutely the best time of the year to sight fish for trophy snook on the flats of ESB, and the numbers and size will amaze you. This is your opportunity to hook them in open water, without giving them the advantage of shredding your line and leader in the barnacle encrusted mangrove roots they typically call home.

The lagoons, creeks and back bays are a joy to fish. There have been relatively few anglers on the waters and the fish are comfortable. The weather is the real key to this season. The fish are willing and the weather is good, and the fishing is great.

Winter (January and February): While snow and ice line the banks of your favorite river in Montana, you can fly south to the Yucatan and wet wade the flats in comfort. The occasional cold front crossing North America may still send a chill down from the north, but the water temperature on flats warms up quickly in the tropical sun, and the bite after the front can be off the charts. Snook warm themselves on the flats on sunny afternoons, and permit eat crabs and mantis shrimp like it’s their last supper.

Spring (March, April and May): One of the most predictable seasons at ESB, with long sunny days and a shift towards the typical south east wind pattern. The cold fronts have all but disappeared, and if they do pass through, they are typically short lived. The warm south-east trade winds are the norm with sunny, clear-sky days, perfect for sight fishing. All of the flats fishes are fat and sassy by now. The lagoons and creeks should be clear with excellent fishing for snook and tarpon. There could even

be some migratory tarpon moving into the bays and along the Oceanside between the shore and the reef. The permit are happy in the bays and are available in schools, singles and doubles.

This is salt water flats fishing, and there will be wind. But please remember, the wind is your friend. It’s much easier to present your fly to a fish in skinny water when the surface is lightly ruffled by the wind, than to land a fly in front of a bonefish or permit in slick glassy conditions. If this is your first time to the flats, you will significantly increase your success by taking a casting lesson from an instructor who has saltwater experience, and practicing your double haul before the trip. This is a game of accuracy, and you should be able to place your fly on a dinner plate at forty feet in the wind with minimum false casts. Spring is the most popular time for saltwater flats destinations, and making your ESB Lodge reservations well in advance is strongly suggested.

Summer (June, August and September): Summer months can offer some of the best fishing of the year, with lots of daylight, consistent water temperatures, and generally mild south east winds. The bonefish and permit are feasting on the flats with far fewer anglers on the water. Permit in this region are in their post spawning phase during August and September, and anglers often post their highest success rates for this notoriously finicky gamefish during these months.

There can be strong winds, rain and clouds associated with localized tropical storm cells, but it usually lasts only a short time, quickly returning to light winds and sunshine. Hurricane season officially begins June first and continues through November. With modern forecasting methods, we will never be surprised by a hurricane. They begin to be tracked off the coast of Africa, monitored twenty four hours a day as they move to the west. We will always know well in advance if a hurricane threatens, and will take appropriate actions as needed. Trip insurance is always advised, especially during the summer season. That said, our saltwater specialist, Eric Ersch, who lived there a couple of years while managing Paradise Lodge with his wife Lana, chooses this as his favorite season to fish ESB based on the terrific fishing opportunities.

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT

ESB has a fleet of Hells Bay skiffs that are amazingly comfortable to fish out of and powered by 40-50-hp 2 and 4-stroke Yamaha outboards; they will top out at approximately 35 knots. Each skiff has two bucket seats for guests, a lean bar, and plenty of forward storage for gear and dry bags.

GETTING THERE

Because the lodge runs on a Sunday-to-Sunday week, guests will need to come in to Cancun on the Saturday before their trip starts.

Arrival to Cancun (Saturday): On the day prior to your scheduled arrival date in the lodge, you should plan on traveling to Cancun (CUN) and overnighting at a hotel near the airport. We like the Marriott Airport Courtyard Cancun and recommend it.

Overnight at the Courtyard Airport Cancun Hotel on the night before you are scheduled to arrive at the lodge. The hotel is very close to the Cancun International Airport, provides free shuttles at half-hour intervals, has a great pool, bar, restaurant, and the rooms are modern and spacious.

Departure from Cancun to ESB Lodge: (Sunday) The entire group will be picked up from the Courtyard Airport Cancun Hotel at 8:15am on Sunday, for transfer to the FBO – Private Aviation Terminal to meet your charter flight to the lodge.

The flight from Cancun to the designated airstrip just down the coast from the lodge takes approximately 45 minutes. You should be on the ground no later than 10:30 am, met by the lodge staff and transferred by air-conditioned van to the lodge, an approximate 1 hour and 30 minute drive.

Slipstream is a full service travel company that can handle a variety of services relating to your trip. For assistance, please contact us directly at 1 866 644-7703.

RATES FOR 2026

$7,200 USD DBL   7 nights with 6 days of guided fishing
$10,450 USD SGL   7 nights with 6 days of guided fishing