Fishing in Cancun

This abundance of fish species is due to the deep water channel just off the Yucatan coast, which narrows into a gulf stream as it passes by on its journey Northward. This, therefore creates a ‘funneling’ effect that causes an upwelling, with the baitfish and their predators close behind! 

Offshore Big Game Fishing Cancun

Most charter boats will begin trolling shortly after leaving the marina area, before heading off to visit the best spots, depending on the season, for Dorado, sailfish, Wahoo or Marlin.
Bottom fishing can also be very productive, often becoming the fishing technique of choice in the winter.

The best offshore fishing often takes place around 15 to 35 miles off coast. Meaning that longer charter trips are highly recommended, especially for those who have their sights set on the likes of the Billfish! Most deep sea fishing charters in the Riviera Maya troll with live bait such as Bonito or Blue Runners. Although dead Ballyhoos, cut bait and artificial lures with skirts and teasers are also very popular.

Can you go deep sea fishing Cancun?

Inshore, Isla Mujeres and the Isla Blanca pride themselves with some of the best fishing in the world, mostly for Bonefish, Tarpon, Permit, and Snook.The Isla Blanca Lagoon is a twelve mile stretch of grassy, mud and sand flats that create the perfect condition for light tackle and fly fishing, whilst closer to home, the Nichupté Lagoon has great conditions for big Permit and is a hotspot for Cancun flats fishing.

Anglers who want to try some surf fishing should invest in shrimp and squid for the best bite from the local Snappers and Permit. Isla Mujeres, Isla Blanca and the Nichupté Lagoon are the best spots to attract all kinds of inshore predators with artificials like Poppers, stickbait, jigs and spinners. The mud and sand flats of Cancun are also ideal places for fly fishing. Fans can target Tarpon, Jack Crevalle, Permit and Bonefish in these stunning crystal clear waters.

Is there good fishing in Cancun?

Yes, Cancun is a great fishing destination with outstanding inshore and offshore conditions. Thousands of anglers head to Cancun because it's one of the best places for billfish, tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi. Whilst Bonefish, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Permit and Snook are the top species when inshore fishing.

The Cancun fishing seasons depend on many factors (winds, currents, moon phases, seasons...) but no worries: fishing these Mexican Caribbean waters is a year round sport. Baby Tarpon and Snook can be found year round in the Cancun and the Isla Blanca area. The best time to target bigger Tarpon the summer months in Cancun and Isla Blanca.

If you're looking for Cancun Bonefish, the summer months are the most productive. Snook fishing in Cancun is great from February to August, being November, December & January the peak season for Cancun Snook fishing.

Isla Blanca is the hot spot for Permit fishing. You will hook them between May and August.

What months are best for fishing in Cancun?

You can fish in Cancun all year round. But if you’re looking for specific species or a particular fishing technique, you might want to check the Cancun Fishing Calendar to come in the right season.

For most tourists, the most popular time to visit Cancun is from December through April. The weather is generally clear and warm, but not too hot and little rain. But if you take a close look on the Cancun Fishing Calendar, you’ll notice that most species are active between April and October.

Some species thought, including Snook, Cubera Snapper or Amberjack for example, will be found here between October and February.

Spring

With smaller crowds and nice weather, spring in Cancun and Playa del Carmen brings a lot of exciting species, both inshore and offshore. In the flats north of Cancun, the inlets and the lagoons Bonefish, bigger Tarpon and Permit start to show up. Also snapper fishing is great fishing over the reefs.

Spring is the best time for billfish fishing in Cancun and the whole Yucatan area. Sailfish peak from February into July, while White Marlin, Blue Marlin and Mahi Mahi peak from late-March to early August. So, spring is definitely the best time to go offshore and marlin fishing in Cancun.

The weather in Cancun in spring is humid and you may expects little rain and overall mild temperatures, averaging in the 80s.

Summer

Tarpon up to 40 lbs are plentiful and full of action in the summer months in Cancun. Also Bonefish, Permit and Barracuda are very active in the shallows and the flats during the Summer months.

Offshore, in the deep blue waters off Cancun, the pelagic fish are still around. White Marlin, Sailfish and Blue Marlin fishing is good until the end of August. The Summer is also great for Mahi-Mahi until early September.

July and August are the hottest months of the year for Cancun. The average temperature during summer in Cancun is around 28°C / 83°F. As the season develops, the likelyhood of rainfall increases, being September the wettest month of the year. The hurricane season in Cancun is between June and November. Although Cancun hasn’t been hit by a hurrican since 2005, they most likely occur during the months of September and October.

Fall

September and October are the wettest months of the year. November is the beginning (All Saints Day) of the tourist season and the weather is dry again.

Enjoy early fall to target the last Tarpon, Permit and Bonefish in the flats. Snook, Jack Crevalle and Sea trout will take their place is the shallows.

Trolling you might catch wahoo, king mackerel and barracuda.

Winter

Fishing season in Cancun is a year round sport. Baby Tarpon and Snook can be found year round in the Cancun and the Isla Blanca area. Snook fishing in Cancun is great from February to August, with November through January being the peak season.

Fishing over the reefs with cut bait for example, you’ll find Snapper, Cubera Snapper, Amberjack…

Towards the end of December the first Sailfish start to show up.
Barracuda, Snapper, Jacks, Sea Trout and Ladyfish can be caught just about all year round.

Barracuda, Snapper, Jack, Sea Trout and Ladyfish are present all year round.

January: Yellowtail (Amberjack), Grouper, King Mackerel, Snook, Tarpon, Tuna, Wahoo, Snapper

February: Tuna, King Mackerel, Wahoo, Yellowtail, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Snook, Jack Crevalle

March: Tuna, King Mackerel, Wahoo, Yellowtail, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Snook, Jack Crevalle

April: Marlin, Permit, Snook, Tarpon, Wahoo, Dorado (Mahi Mahi), Great Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Jack Crevalle

May: Blue & White Marlin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Dorado, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Jack Crevalle

June: Marlin, Sailfish, Permit, Snook, Tarpon, Trout, Wahoo, Dorado, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Jack Crevalle.

July: White & Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Wahoo, Dorado, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Jack Crevalle.

August: Sailfish, Tuna, Mackerel, Wahoo, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Jack Crevalle.

September: Sailfish, Tuna, Yellowtail, Wahoo, Barracuda, King Mackerel, Grouper, Permit, Tarpon, Snook, Jack Crevalle.

October:  Tuna, King Mackerel, Wahoo, Yellowtail, Barracuda, Snapper, Grouper, Tarpon, Jack Crevalle

November: Snook, Grouper, Snapper, Barracuda, Yellowtail, Wahoo, King Mackerel, Tuna

Can you fish from the beach in Cancun?

Yes, you can fish from the beach and from the bridges in Hotel zone of Cancun. There's jack crevalle, barracuda and other interesting predators you can target with a spin fishing rod and lure.

A lot of the fishing activity also depends on the moon phases, water temperatures, currents, etc. And to make it even more complicated, the fishing seasons are changing slightly due to global warming.

No matter when you travel to Cancun, there’s something going on here. From offshore Billfish fishing to inshore flyfishing in the flats… every angler will find its perfect fishing trip in Cancun.

The range of options for tourists of all ages that Cancun offers, go beyond your imagination. There's more than fishing in Cancun. Ranging from diving & its underwater museum, exploring the ruins of Cozumel or the El Rey Ruins in Cancun, its trendy nightlife to golf, shopping, the premier spa destinations and much much more. Draw up an action-packed itinerary for your vacation in this intriguing city.

Book your hotel in the Zona Hotelera, this is a narrow strip between the Nichupté lagoon and the Caribbean Sea. Your kids will love visiting the Acuario Interactivo where they can swim with the fish. Don't miss great beaches like Playa del Carmen, Playa Tortugas and Playa Delfines with plenty of restaurants.

Mexico has strict sport fishing regulations. Whether you need a license depend if you fish from the shore or on a boat.

Do you need a fishing license to fish in Cancun?

If you are fishing from the shore, you will not need a fishing license. However, Mexico has strict fishing regulations for fishing from boats. Essentially, every person aboard a boat that has fishing equipment on board is required to have a license. Also children need a license.

You can purchase a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly fishing license via CONAPESCA.

You can find more information on their website, Conapesca

If you plan on using a fishing charter, most charter boats include fishing licenses in the cost of the charter, but to be sure it is best to ask when booking your trip.

Depending on the charter fishing boat and on the duration of your fishing tour, you’ll pay more or less for the tour. The price for a private 4 hour Cancun fishing trip with a smaller boat is $350. A half day trip with a 40ft charter costs around $800, while an 8 hour private trip will cost you $1000.

What does the price include?

The price usually includes the captain, fishing tackle and fuel. On every listing we indicate whether drinks and food are included.

Make sure you know if bait, fishing licenses and the local tax (16%) is included in the price or not as this can make quite a difference in the final price.

Some fishing charters also offer (free) pick-up and transportation from and to the hotel. If the hotel is far away from the port, there can be an extra charge for the transportation.

Once you’ve made a booking, the captain will contact you to arrange the meeting point and the departure time. Also, we recommend you contact the captain a couple of days before the tour to confirm the weather forecast.