Mexico’s Chetumal Bay has the best saltwater fly fishing you’ve never heard of. Here’s why it’s a hidden gem

Tropical saltwater flats offer the thrill of the hunt

What sets Chetumal Bay apart is its combination of challenging fishing and unspoiled environment. Unlike more pressured destinations, these fish haven’t been buzzed over by boats and cast at by thousands of angers for the last 40 years. However, that doesn’t make the fish easy marks. The action is almost entirely sight fishing, and in the bay’s gin-clear waters, flats fish still demand a polished presentation.

In this huge waterbody, the vast system of flats, channels, and mangrove-lined lagoons provides endless opportunities for sight-fishing. One moment you’re scanning for tails for feeding permit; the next, you’re threading accurate casts under mangrove branches for snook. The diversity of environments and target species means every day brings new challenges and opportunities.

How diverse is the action? Typically, the two anglers in my boat would have at least six rods between us, rigged for various species we might encounter, and some of the diverse depths we might be fishing in (below). And yes, going from 12 inches to six feet qualifies as “diverse depths” in flats fishing. To be clear, carrying all these rods is optional, and something we did since we happened to be the kind of anglers who have loads of gear. If you only have one 8-weight, you’ll be fine—you’ll just need to change flies occasionally.

When fully loaded, our outfits often included two 8-weights for bonefish (one with a light shrimp fly, and the other with a heavier fly); a 9-weight with a crab fly for permit, a 9-weight with a minnow fly for snook, a 10-weight with a 60-pound tippet and a tarpon fly and, in case a barracuda should appear, a quick-casting 9-weight (and/or a stout spinning rod) rigged with a 40-pound wire leader and a big popper. Talk about keeping things interesting.