Chutzpah
Cancun, Riviera Maya (MX)
Cancun is in the northeastern Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Not only is it renowned for its all-inclusive five star resorts, stunning white sand beaches and extr...
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Cancun is in the northeastern Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. Not only is it renowned for its all-inclusive five star resorts, stunning white sand beaches and extravagant nightlife, it also offers a great fishing destination with outstanding inshore and offshore conditions.
That’s why thousands of tourists head to Mexico to go fishing in Cancun: for offshore fishing it is 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.
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!
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.
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.
The Amberjack species are a game fish that are found both in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Jigging and live bait fishing are the best techniques to target these magnificent fighters. Greater Amberjack can weigh up to 170 lb (80 kg).
The great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), often referred to as barracuda, is a long predator that can be found in tropical and subtropical waters where they like to patroll mangroves, reefs and drop-offs. Record barracuda can grow to 1,5m and weigh over 45kg (100lb+).
Famous for its runs, - which is why they're also called the torpedo of the flats - bonefish (Albula vulpes) are the fly fishing favorite. They inhabit inshore tropical waters in Florida, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Riviera Maya in Mexico, Belize, Venezuela and the Seychelles, for example. Bonefish can weigh up to 19 lb (8.6 kg) and measure up to 105 cm (41 in) long.
Mahi Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) are also commonly referred to as dorado, dolphin or dolphinfish. They are recognizable by their bluntly shaped heads, long dorsal fin and their bright colouring, dark blue and green on their dorsal side and yellow on their sides and underside.
The Crevalle Jack or Jack Crevalle (Caranx hippos) is a very popular sport fish that belongs to the Carangidae fish species. Horse mackerel, amberjack and giant trevally also belong to this family. Jack Crevalle can grow to a length of 120 cm and a weight of 30 kg.
The king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) or kingfish is a common fish species of the western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. King Mackerel can grow to up to 40kg (90lb) and have razor sharp teeth.
The northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a popular fish often caught reef fishing in the Atlantic waters of Florida, Gulf of Mexico and also the Caribbean. This sought-after game fish can reach 1 m and weight up to 50lb.
The snook (Centropomus undecimalis) is a great sportfish widespread throughout in western atlantic coastal waters. They are found in creeks, mangroves and shallow waters from North Carolina to Brazil. Snook can grow over 50 inch (1,4m) and weigh over 20kg (50lb)!
The tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) is a silver coloured predator who loves hunting for fish and crustaceans in lagoons, rivers, ports, estuaries and other shallow waters. They inhabit the coastal waters in the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Argentina. Tarpon can grow up to 2,5m and weigh over 150 kg (350 lb).
Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri), also known as Ono (meaning “delicious” in Hawaiian), are found in many subtropical and tropical waters. They’re identifiable by their blue-green upper body which shifts into silver towards their belly. They also have blue vertical striping along their sides. These predators are torpedo-shaped and have long and largemouths with teeth.
Yellowfin tuna grow fast, up to 400 pounds (180kg) in about a 7-year lifespan, and they range in length from 59 inches to 88 inches long. They’re known for their torpedo shape, with a pointed nose and a sickle-shaped tail, and have dark blue backs with yellow sides (thus their name) with a silver underside.
The Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) is probably the most wanted fish in the sport fishing world. The magnificent fighter usually feeds during day time on fish, octopuses and squids. Blue Marlin is mainly caught trolling with artificial lures or with dead bait (bonito, mackerel...).
The White Marlin (Kajikia albida) is a very nice predator which can be caught off shore in warmer waters. This powerful fighter usually feeds during day time on fish, octopuses and squids. They can be caught trolling with artificial lures or with dead bait (bonito, mackerel...).
Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) belong to the tuna family just like Bluefin Tuna, Albacore or Yellowfin Tuna. They can grow up to 200kg (450lb) and over 2 meters long. These pelagic fish are found in temperate and tropical waters (off shore) and are targetted mainly trolling.
Sailfish (Istiophorus) are one the most wanted fish in the sport fishing world. Often described as the fastest fish in the sea, sailfish can weigh up to 90 kg (200 pounds) and grow up to 3 m (9.7 ft) in length.
Grouper is common name for all the bass-looking-fish from the Epinephelinae Family. This family also includes sea bass by the way. Grouper are colorful predators who like to live in rocky areas, reefs, wrecks where they can hide.
The common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) is a type of snapper, common in the Meditarranea Sea, but is also present in the eastern Atlantic coastal areas from Cape Verde to Scandinavia. The biggest pandora can grow up to 50cm (20 inch).
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
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.
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.
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.