Anglers Alexandra Nicole and Alec Lucas head to Belize for season 2 of Coast 2 Coast. Their goal is to explore the different parts of the country, from shallow water flats to backwater lagoons, in search of the hardest thing to do in saltwater fly fishing: catch a grand slam (permit, bonefish, and tarpon). Along the way, they explore the country, diving headfirst into Belize’s culture and lifestyle, learning just what this angling destination has to offer. But before we kick off the series, we sat down with Alec Lucas to learn more about her.
Alec Lucas
Alec Lucas has been immersed in the outdoors from a young age. His family is passionate about the outdoors, and from as far back as he can remember, he was always fishing. Whether he had conventional gear or a fly rod didn’t matter. All he cared about was being in the outdoors and catching fish. That same enthusiasm has led him into a career of fishing.
Lucas currently guides at Los Locos Mag Bay in Mexico, where he fishes for striped marlin on the fly. When he’s not guiding, you can find him traveling around the world chasing fish and documenting his adventures through photos and video. “Fly fishing is one of the best lenses to view the world through,” says Alec. “I have met some of the best people around the world through it, which to me is everything.” While catching fish is great, Alec appreciates the small things and the relationships he cultivated through his travels.
Outside of fishing, his biggest passion is backcountry snowboarding. “It’s an incredibly humbling and adrenaline-packed sport that quite often heavily contrasts my guide life,” says Alec. “It’s tough on your body, and on your mind; I love the challenge of navigating the backcountry with my trusted friends. There’s just simply not much else that can equate to what it’s like to ride big mountain for me—it’s freedom!”
A Coast 2 Coast Q&A
Flylords: What inspired you to be part of Coast to Coast Season 2?
Alec Lucas: It’s hard to say no to an experience that revolves around DIY fly fishing with some of my good friends. Everyone involved in the project was someone I had known for a while, and for me, the trip was already a go from the get-go. Rocky Point Permit Camp was also unique, and I was eager to see it, as I had heard so much about it.
Flylords: What are you most excited for viewers to experience when they watch Coast 2 Coast Season 2?
Alec Lucas: I’m excited for people to get a glimpse into what a DIY adventure is all about—not just the fishing, but the camaraderie and fun along the way. I hope it inspires people to journey out and live in the present. It’s so easy to get caught up in everything else. Why not take a break and do what is important to you?
Flylords: What’s your favorite moment from Coast 2 Coast?
Alec Lucas: One of my favorite moments from Coast 2 Coast is one that didn’t even make it into the episodes. Zento Slinger, the photographer on the shoot, tried climbing a coconut tree to get a coconut. As he was climbing, he got attacked by fire ants and had literal ants in his pants. Don’t worry, we made sure to get the behind-the-scenes shots.
Flylords: What part of the trip challenged you the most?
Alec Lucas: I think time was the biggest challenge. When you set foot in a new fishery you have never explored, it’s always hard because you want to see it all. On a trip like this with a short window and a lot of footage to capture, figuring out what to do and what not to do is tough. There’s a lot to learn in a short amount of time, so you have to set goals of what you’re after.
Flylords: If you could sum up your Coast 2 Coast experience in one word, what would it be?
Alec Lucas: I’d have to say opportunity. When filming Coast 2 Coast, we never knew what was around the corner. It could be a group of 100 tailing bonefish or a permit cruising a flat edge. Belize was ripe with opportunity and diversity; we just had to be ready to capitalize on it when the moment materialized.
