Included / Not Included –
Included: Guided fishing, accommodations and meals at Tarpon Cay, non-alcoholic beverages, guest taxes, fishing licenses, ground transfers to and from Cancun airport.
Not Included: Airfare, gratuities, phone services, internet access, laundry service, alcoholic beverages, meals in Cancun, fly fishing gear and tackle.
Travel Logistics:
Arrival Information To get to Tarpon Cay Lodge you will need to make flight arrangements to Cancun International Airport (CUN), Mexico. Please schedule your flight to arrive Cancun no later than 3:45PM. This will ensure a timely pick-up and ample time to drive 3 hours to Tarpon Cay Lodge.
Getting to the Lodge: After clearing Customs and Immigration at Cancun International Airport, a Grand Slam Tour representative will greet you at the ground transportation area of the airport (just outside of Customs and Immigration).
Departure Information: On departure day, after an early breakfast you will take the 3 hour drive back to Cancun for your flight home. Please do not book your flight before 1:00PM.
Documentation Requirements:
You must have a valid US passport to enter Mexico. It is highly recommended that US citizens present a passport that is valid for at least six months after the last day of the trip. If your passport expires before then, please renew it prior to departing on your trip. If you hold citizenship in a country other than the United States, please check with your national consulate / passport center for citizenship documents required for travel to Mexico.
Currency:
The Mexican monetary system is based on the Peso. Tarpon Cay Lodge ONLY accepts cash (US$ or Pesos) as payment for all incidentals (phone calls, laundry, internet, alcoholic beverage charges, souvenirs etc.) US money is accepted at the lodge at the current exchange rate. Credit cards are NOT accepted. All Lodging, Goods and Service Taxes (GST) are included in your package price.
Travel Cash:
As a guideline we recommend that each guest travels with approximately $600 - $800 for staff & guide gratuities, alcohol, licenses, laundry service, etc.
Gratuities:
We recommend guide gratuities of $30 - $60 per day / per boat (to be given at the end of each day of fishing) and staff gratuities of $15 - $25 total per day (to be given at the end of your stay. Staff members include lodge host, cook, and housekeeper.
Fishing Licenses:
Fishing licenses are included and the lodge will issue your license when you arrive.
Climate:
Temperatures typically range from the low 70’s to the mid 90’s. Isolated afternoon thunder-showers are a possibility year-round. Wind can be factor while fishing and the sun is very strong. The weather in the tropics is often quite warm and humid. Wearing specific types of clothing will help maintain a level of comfort in these conditions. Also, the intensity of the sun in the tropics influences the style of clothing that is recommended.
Medical Facilities:
The closest medical facility is in Cancun, approximately 3 hours by car from the lodge. Guests have the responsibility to disclose any special medical, physical, or dietary needs to the lodge ahead of time. In emergency situations, a charter flight may be required to reach a medical facility. Guests may want to consider medical evacuation coverage. We recommend Global Rescue.
Power and Communications:
The lodge use 110V AC electrical (USA standard) – 24 hours a day. There is a phone at the lodge and a pay phone just outside. You may want to purchase a phone card while you are in Cancun to make necessary calls. Please check with you cellular phone company to determine coverage in Cancun and San Felipe.
Water:
Bottled water is available throughout Tarpon Cay Lodge. All drinking water and ice is bottled and made from purified water. We do not recommend drinking water from the faucets.
Clothing:
Quick dry pants and shorts, long sleeved quick dry shirts, casual cotton pants and t-shirts, shorts and shirts, sandals, bandana, “Buff” facial sun protector (www.planetbuff.com), hat with wide brim, sun gloves, light rain coat, and swimsuit are recommended. Wet wading with flats boots (Simms, Patagonia) is the norm. Supportive sturdy flats boots are best, as many flats have tough marl bottoms. Boat fishing footwear: Non- scuff - white soled deck shoes or sandals: Crocs work well and are comfortable.
Laundry:
Laundry is available upon request to guests during their stay. Please be prepared to pay for this service onsite.
Beverages/Alcohol:
Beer and alcohol are not included. Please be prepared to pay your tab at the end of your stay.
Tackle/Equipment List:
Rods: Single-handed rods should be at least 8 ½ to 9 feet in length. Many anglers prefer rods in the 7 to 9 weight class. 10 weights are optional, but useful if you have the opportunity to pursue larger Tarpon in deeper water. You should bring at least two rods. The extra rod(s) will not only serve as a spare in the event of breakage, but will also allow you to setup multiple rods with different flies. No messing with changing spools or flies, just grab the rod you want and make the cast!
Reels: High quality machined aluminum reels with a smooth disc drag. You will want to make sure that your reel’s drag system will operate well in the saltwater environment – salt, warm, and humid conditions. It is recommended that a high quality reel hold a minimum of 150 yards of 20 or 30 pound backing. Large Permit or baby Tarpon will often take you well into the backing.
Lines: The fly line is an essential piece of equipment. It is what delivers your leader and fly to the fish. During your week on the Grand Slam Tour, you will be fishing a floating fly line most of the time. Floating lines are perfect for the variety of environs at each destination – shallow turtle grass flats, mangrove lined coast, shallow lagoons, and draining creek/river mouths. When conditions allow, you may have the opportunity to pursue larger Tarpon beyond the flats and in deeper water. This pursuit calls for sink tip or intermediate fly lines.
*Weight forward saltwater floating lines for fishing shallow flats and topwater flies Scientific Anglers Ultra 4 Tropical Bonefish/Tarpon taper; Scientific Anglers Mastery Series Bonefish/Tarpon)
*Sink tip or intermediate fly lines for pursuing Tarpon in deep water (RIO DeepSea™ Fly Line - 300 to 400 grains; Rio Tropical Outbound – intermediate; Scientific Anglers Mastery Series Bonefish/Tarpon - intermediate)
Leaders: The leader is the final connection between you and the fish. Leader systems with efficient tapers and strong knots deliver accurate presentation of the fly and solid hooking power. Here are a variety of leader systems that work well for each species:
Tarpon Leaders
Simple Mason Three Piece Leader + Shock: Here is the formula for building this simple, but effective leader system. The tapered butt section consists of 2 - 3 feet of Mason 30#, 2 – 3 feet of Mason 25#, 3 - 4 feet of Mason 20# and a 2 foot section of Mason 16# as your breaking tippet – all connections using a blood knot. Lastly, you use an Albright knot to connect a 2 – 3 foot section of shock/bite tippet (we prefer 50# Jinkai hard mono.)
Gutterres Twisted Leader System: This leader system utilizes a series of twisted/furled mono sections to form the tapered portion of the leader. This leader has exceptional turnover power and shock absorption with its twisted line configuration. Added to this is a 2 – 3 foot section of shock/bite tippet (we prefer 50# Jinkai hard mono) attached with a No-Name or Albright knot.
Rio Tarpon Leader (22# class tippet with 60# Shock): If you are not into building your own leaders, Rio sells pre-made leaders for Tarpon fishing. We recommend the leader with a 22# class tippet and 60# Shock/Bite.
Bonefish Leaders
Rio Bonefish Knotless Tapered Leader (10 foot length – 10# or 13.2# test): We prefer knotless leaders to minimize the potential for debris (turtle grass leaves, flotsam, etc.) in the water to catch on your leader as you retrieve your fly across the flat. 13.2# leaders are good for general conditions and 10# for more technical conditions (smaller flies, no-wind conditions, etc.)
Seaguar Grand Max Tippet (3X and 2X strength): We have found Seaguar Grand Max tippet to be the best performing tippet for saltwater applications. This will also allow you to lengthen your leader setup if conditions dictate (get down deeper or more technical conditions - no-wind, spooky fish, etc.)
Permit Leaders
Rio Permit or Bonefish Knotless Leader (10 foot length – 13.2# to 17.6# test): We prefer heavier/stiffer leader systems for casting Permit flies. Most Permit flies are heavily weighted, and utilizing a stiffer leader will improve turnover and accuracy of your presentation.
Tippet
Seaguar Grand Max Tippet (2X and 1X strength): This will also allow you to lengthen your leader setup if conditions dictate (get down deeper or more technical conditions - no-wind, spooky fish, etc.)
Knots-Knots-Knots!!!… Attaching the Fly
We recommend the Non-Slip Mono Loop Knot (aka… Kreh Loop Knot) for attaching your fly to the tippet / shock tippet. This loop style knot allows your fly move more naturally.
Flies:
Hook Size: Best Baby Tarpon Flies are tied on #1-1/0 hooks; Big migratory fish need size 2/0 hooks
Tarpon - Subsurface Flies
SeaDucers (red/white, red/yellow, “cockroach”, and red/black)
Tarpon Paradise – (all black, all white, and yellow/red)
Puglisi Tarpon Streamer Rat
Puglisi Tarpon Streamer (Everglades Special, brown/tan, yellow/orange)
Clouser Minnow (chartreuse/white)
Flatliner Fly (chartreuse, white)
Sea Habit (Sardina)
Foxy Minnow (Tan and Olive)
Tarpon - Topwater Flies
Crease flies (black/silver, olive/silver, brown/gold)
Puglisi Floating – (Everglades Special, chartreuse/white, brown/tan)
Haskins Neutralizers and Slideballs (prawn pattern, tan/flesh, yellow, white)
Wading Gear & Boots: At Tarpon Cay you will find that you will be fishing from the boat the majority of the time. Many choose to go barefoot or wear only socks, which offer protection from the sun. You will want to have wading boots to wade for bones and permit at times when you fish out of Isla Blanca. We recommend Patagonia or Chota boots. Quick dry shorts and especially quick dry pants are the everyday attire. You may also want to bring sandals such as Keens, Tevas, or Chacos when in the boat or around the lodge.
