Would an SUP be a good tool for fly fishing in the Yucatan? The answer, unequivocally would be “YES”!
The most obvious advantage of the SUP on the flats is a better viewing platform to sight schools of fish. Equally important, the SUP allows for access to key areas of the Yucatan that would otherwise be unavailable except by hired boat. In some cases even a boat would not allow the same access as an SUP.
At YucatanOnTheFly, we often utilize the SUP as a tool to fish remote locations that we couldn’t get to without them. The ability to approach shallow coves quietly on a SUP provides fishing opportunities that would otherwise not be an option. You will see a number of photos at YucatanOnTheFly where we use the SUP as a base camp for all critical gear for a day on the flats including cooler, chairs, back up rods and reels, camera equipment and a first aid kit.
The best part is, you can take an inflatable SUP on an airplane and easily fit it in virtually any sized rental car when you arrive at your destination. A 3-piece travel paddle like the Hala Grafik also fits neatly into checked baggage.
Newer inflatable SUP designs like the Badfisher and Hala Hoss are much more stable than their predecessors, allowing just about anyone to use them. With the addition of a Bison cooler, you have a place to sit and tie flies as well as storage for your cold beverage of choice.
In recent years the inflatable technology has evolved, allowing the boards to inflate quicker, be more stable and achieve a high level of paddling efficiency in rough conditions. Add in a push pole and you have the perfect DIY (Do-it-yourself) salt water flats fishing station. Visit DIYBonefishing.com for more information about bone fishing without hiring a guide.
Being able to travel anywhere in the world with an inflatable SUP designed for fishing makes for an incredible experience for the flats fisherman!