Ahead of our spring launch, we had a chance to test the new gear in Xcalak, a quiet coastal town tucked deep in the jungle of southern Mexico. It’s not the kind of place most travelers end up visiting. Getting there starts in Tulum, an airport full of people headed for resorts, pool chairs, frozen cocktails, and no plans of waking up to a 6am alarm clock. Tempting, sure, but we had a different experience ahead. 

Each of us arrived with a black rod tube strapped to our backpacks. A silent signal to anyone who knows. Before we ever left the airport, those tubes prompted conversations with strangers. When you realize you have the same obsession, there’s an immediate bond that’s formed and a mutual respect that's earned. We swapped stories, destinations, and target species like old friends. Turns out, we were headed to the same place.

From Tulum, we loaded into a van for the three-hour drive south. We took the long way, stopping for gas station snacks that challenged our Spanish reading comprehension. Passing through small towns, and eventually turning onto a narrowing road where the pavement was fighting off the jungle surrounding it. 

Xcalak is a place that runs at its own pace. Mopeds and dirt bikes rule the streets. Pangas line the shoreline. Kids play soccer until sunset. Most days are spent on the water, and everyone you pass greets you like you belong there.

Our days started early, coffee before sunrise, quick breakfasts, hectic gear checks before long days on the water. We spent our time poling shallow flats, slipping through skinny canals, and bushwhacking our way to hidden water filled with fish… and even more mosquitoes.

Conditions weren’t perfect. They almost never are. Overcast skies made permit harder to spot, but bonefish were eating whatever we put in front of them. We wrapped up the trip without any personal records set, but it’s impossible to complain when you wet a line in paradise. 

This collection was built for days like these. Early mornings, hours under the sun, mosquitos that you shouldn't have to worry about slapping away, remote roads that lead to hidden gems, and a shared obsession that we’ll travel to other countries just to get our fill. 

We hope it inspires you to take the long way and chase something new.