I just wanted to share information on a recent trip to Perla Negra Lodge on Espiritu Santo Bay, MX.
The lodge owners are Brian Jill and Chris Owens from the TV series Fish Or Die. If you have watched the show, you’ll understand a bit about the lodge already.
ESB a full day’s travel (by shuttle van, 4x4 van and Panga) from Cancun. There are a handful of lodges on ESB as compared to Ascension where there are dozens. All of these lodges are more expensive than Perla and some offer local flights.
The Perla Lodge and bunk houses are a series of seasonal lobster shacks on the north side of the Bay, surrounded by jungle. It is very primitive; generator power only, and gravity supplied rain water. Sleeping is two to a shack with cots, bug nets and floor fans.
The main lodge has music and a bar. A local couple cooks authentic local cuisine for each meal. There is no shortage of alcohol.
ESB is a world class fishing destination. It’s some of the best permit fishing anywhere. Tarpon, snook and bones are also available year round. So are cubera snapper and big cudas. You have a real shot at a Super Slam.
The skiffs are Inman Panga 23’s with lean bars. They definitely help get you across the bay when it is blowing and the guides are remarkable on the platforms on these bigger vessels. They draft remarkably shallow, too!
Our guides were next level. These guys worked so hard to put us on the fish, it was near super human. They took enormous pride in our success.
Our group of 6 each caught at least one permit. Most of us got several. The largest in our group was about 25#. I ended up with three, and one break off. I Super Slammed on the trip and had the opportunity to share the skiff with Brian Jill, who also got a permit.
Night time dead sticking off the dock also produced a little surprise.
You can check out some videos on their YouTube channel Motiv Fishing. I highly recommend this trip if you don’t require pampering.
