Ascension Bay Fly List

Build the Ultimate Fly Box for Ascension Bay

If you're headed to Ascension Bay, this fly list is designed to help you assemble a complete, confidence-inspiring selection of flies for one of Mexico's most famous saltwater fly fishing destinations. Built from years of guide recommendations and angler experience, this collection covers the Grand Slam species you'll encounter throughout the fishery: Permit, Tarpon, and Bonefish. We also include flies for Barracuda and Snook, both of which offer exciting bonus opportunities during the course of a week.

While every angler approaches packing differently, our recommendation is to treat this list as a foundation for building a complete kit rather than selecting only a few individual patterns. Ascension Bay offers incredible diversity, from expansive permit flats to mangrove-lined lagoons and channels filled with tarpon and snook. Having the right fly in the right size, weight, and color can make all the difference during a week on the water.

Permit Flies

Permit are the species that made Ascension Bay famous. We recommend carrying a variety of crab and shrimp patterns in multiple sizes and weights. Productive colors often include tan, olive, brown, cream, and mottled crab patterns that closely imitate the bay's natural forage.

Because permit in Ascension Bay are encountered on both white sand and turtle grass flats, it's wise to carry flies with varying sink rates and profiles. Anglers should also bring larger spawning shrimp patterns and several crab designs with rubber legs for added movement. A dozen Crab and Shrimp Patterns would be a minimum for a week-long trip, and anglers who choose to exclusively target Permit should have a much larger selection. 

Tarpon Flies

Ascension Bay offers excellent opportunities for juvenile tarpon throughout its lagoons, mangrove shorelines, and backcountry channels. With Large Migratory Tarpon arriving in May, the summer can be an exceptional time for Tarpon in Ascension Bay. These fish can be aggressive but often prefer flies that closely resemble local baitfish.

We recommend carrying at least 10 tarpon flies in a variety of colors and profiles. Productive patterns include Tarpon Toads, Cockroaches, EP baitfish flies, and other sparse baitfish streamers. White, chartreuse, black, purple, olive, and tan are all proven colors.

Tarpon in Ascension Bay frequently hunt in stained water conditions, so both natural and high-visibility patterns deserve a place in your fly box.

Bonefish Flies

Bonefish provide consistent action throughout Ascension Bay and are often the perfect target between permit opportunities. A selection of at least 12 to 18 bonefish flies is recommended.

Gotchas, Crazy Charlies, spawning shrimp, and lightly weighted flats flies in tan, pink, cream, and olive should cover most situations. Ascension Bay bonefish are generally willing feeders, but changing tides, wind conditions, and bottom composition can influence daily fly preferences.

Carrying multiple sizes and weights will help anglers adapt quickly to different flats and water depths.

Barracuda Flies

Barracuda are one of the most thrilling and visual species found throughout Ascension Bay. Large fish often patrol the edges of permit flats and can appear without warning.

Fast-moving needlefish patterns, long-profile baitfish flies, and tube flies are highly effective. White, chartreuse, blue, and silver are proven colors. We recommend carrying a few dedicated barracuda flies rigged with wire leaders and ready to fish at a moment's notice.

Snook

Snook are frequently encountered along mangrove shorelines and lagoon edges throughout the Ascension Bay system. While they will often eat tarpon flies, anglers targeting snook specifically should carry several sparse baitfish patterns tied on strong hooks.

White, olive, tan, and chartreuse baitfish flies in sizes 1/0 to 3/0 are excellent choices. Snook fishing can be particularly productive around moving water, falling tides, and areas where bait is concentrated.

Having  6 dedicated snook patterns is typically plenty for a week of fishing.

The Two-of-Each Rule

One of the most common mistakes traveling anglers make is bringing only a single example of their favorite fly. Fish are lost, flies are damaged, and successful patterns often become the only thing you want to fish for an entire afternoon.

Our recommendation is simple:

Bring at least two of every pattern you expect to fish.

The best-prepared anglers usually order most, if not all, of the flies on this list, then double up on the patterns they have the most confidence in.

Our Advice

Have fun building your fly box. Ascension Bay is one of the world's truly legendary saltwater fly fishing destinations, and the right assortment of flies will allow you to focus on spotting fish, making quality presentations, and enjoying the experience.

Build a great box, carry backups of your favorites, and you'll be exceptionally well-equipped for an unforgettable week chasing permit, tarpon, bonefish, barracuda, and snook in the spectacular waters of Ascension Bay.