Fishing in Mexico

The Pacific Coast of Mexico is home to world-famous fishing destinations such as Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Puerto Vallarta. The Baja California peninsula alone offers a tremendous variety of fishing opportunities— the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) is a breeding and spawning ground for Mahi Mahi (Dorado) and other pelagic fish species. The areas along the inner shoreline offer rock-oriented fishing - targeting amberjack or yellowtail and roosterfish etc - , whereas the tip of the peninsula at Cabo San Lucas is a jumping off point for deep sea fishing.

Baja California Sur has such a variety of fishing opportunities that you can spend an entire lifetime just getting to know all the bays, lagoons, and islands on both coasts of this long, narrow peninsula.

Along the east coast of Mexico there is no shortage of fishing on the Yucatán Peninsula either. No matter where you visit on the Riviera Maya— Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, Cancun, and Cozumel – the catch is always good. Anywhere along the east coast the fish are certain to be biting, unless cold thermal currents have driven them south to warmer water.

Mexico is a huge country and also has hundreds of lagoons and bays for the inshore fisherman. Fly fishing is very popular, and experienced guides can help you catch the trophy fish of your dreams, and there is an abundance of luxury fishing lodges on every coast. If you plan on fishing on your own with a hired guide, then we recommend bringing your own fly fishing gear, as it may be difficult to find what you need or are accustomed to using. However, if you are planning on staying at a fishing resort, then chances are you won’t need to bring much gear, but definitely check with the resort before boarding your flight!

Does Mexico have good fishing?

Yes, Mexico is known for its excellent fishing opportunities, both in its Pacific and Caribbean coasts, as well as in its many rivers and lakes. The country is home to a wide range of fish species, including marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado, roosterfish, snapper, and many others. Some popular fishing destinations in Mexico include Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and the Baja California Peninsula. Additionally, Mexico hosts several fishing tournaments throughout the year, which attract anglers from all over the world.

Each coast has a different variety of fish and different fishing seasons, which means that the fishing is always hot in Mexico!

What month is best to fish in Mexico?

The best month to fish in Mexico depends on the specific location and type of fish you are targeting. Generally, the peak fishing season in Mexico is from May to September, when warm waters bring in a wide variety of fish species. This is a great time to target marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado, and other big game fish. During the winter months, from December to February, the waters around Baja California are known for excellent fishing for yellowtail, grouper, and snapper. Some fishing destinations in Mexico, such as Los Cabos, offer year-round fishing opportunities, with different species being more abundant at different times of the year. Below, you can find which species bite each month, per region.

Baja California & West Coast

January:  Sierra, Yellowtail (Amberjack), Dorado (Mahi Mahi), Pargo

February:  Striped Marlin, Dorado, Sierra, Pargo, Yellowtail

March:  Striped Marlin, Dorado, Roosterfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Sierra, Pargo, Yellowtail

April:  Striped Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Sierra, Pargo, Yellowtail

May:  Striped Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Pargo, Yellowtail

June:  Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Yellowtail

July:  Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Sailfish

August:  Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish

September:  Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish

October: Striped Marlin, Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Sierra

November: Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Sierra

December:  Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Sierra, Yellowtail

Yucatán Peninsula & Riviera Maya

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

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

Nauture & Ecotourism

Discover Mexico's jungles, oceans, deserts, mangroves and forests. The diversity of climates, ecosystems, animal and plant life of this country is enormous!

Archaelogical Areas

Mexico preserves the architecture and the old testimony of great cultures. Travel back in time and explore the magic of the impressive pyramids and temples of the archaeological zones throughout the country.

Adventure & Sport

If you don't like the beaches - besides fishing - you can go climbing, diving, surfing, rafting, whale watching ...

Gastronomy

Enjoy the gastronomic delights of Mexico, enjoy the flavors and aromas characteristic of each region.

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.

According to CONAPESCA, Mexico’s National Aquaculture and Fishing Commission, “Sport fishermen in marine waters will be able to use as many rods and reels as they wish. In inland waters only one rod can be used by fishermen at a time. In both cases, established bag limits should be strictly observed.

A fishing license allows anglers to capture fin fish only. It does not allow the capture of any crustaceans or mollusks, with the exception of squid, and their capture by anyone is strictly prohibited.

To capture bottom fish, up to four hooks on a vertical line may be used.

The use of electric reels is restricted to disabled fishermen only, after written authorization for the Ministry before use.”

You can purchase a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly fishing license. Fishing licenses are available for purchase via 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.

Can tourists fish in Mexico?

Of course, tourists can fish in Mexico, as long as you obtain a fishing license before doing so. The license can be obtained from the National Aquaculture and Fishing Commission (Conapesca) or from local authorized vendors, such as hotels, marinas, and fishing tour operators.

If you are fishing with a licensed fishing charter in Mexico, the charter should have a valid fishing license that covers all the people on the charter. This means that you would not need to obtain an individual fishing license as long as you are fishing under the charter's license. Before you book, check if the charter includes the license in the price or not.

Can I fish on the beach in Mexico?

Sure, if you have a license, fishing on the beach in Mexico is allowed. It's important to check with local authorities to confirm whether it's permitted in the specific location you plan to fish. Some beaches may have restrictions on fishing, especially in protected areas or areas where fishing could be hazardous to swimmers or other beachgoers.