Ascension Bay's Finest Fly Fishing Lodge

In 1954, the Zapata Family; D. Ivan, his wife and his son, Ivan, left the island of Cozumel to look for better opportunities. The family went by boat to Ascension Bay where they re-established their lives. They made a living by the sale of copra, or coconut pulp. They would harvest their product and send it by boat to Cozumel.

As time passed, D. Ivan constructed some small cabins the families would use as their tropical fishing ranch. There was a small kitchen that functioned as a restaurant serving the freshest seafood from the Caribbean Ocean. Javier Rojo Gomez, (Punta Allen) was still an unknown tropical paradise used only by a few.

Over time, D. Ivan and other families hacked out a narrow road from Tulum to Punta Allen using only machetes and shovels. An incredible achievement!

In 1968, at the age of 18, D. Ivan formed the cooperative fishery with 15 other families. The title was given to them by the Lic. Javier Rojo Gomez, the governor of the state. They officially dedicated their lives to working with reef fishing, lobster fishing, fly-fishing, and eco - tours. For years, D. Ivan and his family helped pioneer the tourist industry, particularly the fishing industry, along the Yucatan Peninsula.

The original “Fisherman Lodge” ranch was one the first of its kind and operated successfully for years. The ranch was destroyed in 1995 by Hurricane Roxana, the family was devastated financially. Proudly after years of working to re-open, the family Zapata would like to introduce their new Fisherman Lodge. They are excited to share this grand experience with you. The Zapata family acknowledges they are privileged to have the wonderful fishery of Ascension Bay in their backyard and they would like to share it with you. There are very few places in the world that offer the variety of species like Bonefish, Tarpon, Snook and the much sought-after Permit.

Capt. Ivan Zapata and Capt. Greg Rahe are your host at Ascension Bay's Fisherman Fly Fishing Lodge in wonderful Punta Allen, Mexico.

Capt. Ivan was born and raised in Punta Allen and has spent his working life as an advocate for substainable tourism. In fact, his family helped create the pueblo of Punta Allen, in the 1960's. He is active in the local community and has a genuine love of Ascension Bay and protecting her treasures.

Capt. Greg is a renowned fly fishing guide and fly casting instructor from the Florida Keys, who now calls Punta Allen and Mexico his home. Having guided and fished the world, he was amazed at the Ascension Bay fishery and now shares her secrets with guests from around the world. Capt. Greg is also the first and only non-Mexican to have the legal right to guide in the waters of Ascension Bay and the Sian Ka´an National Park. He is available on a case by case basis.

Greg and Ivan are both fond of telling people, "Arrive as guests, leave as family."