La Reina
9
31,30 ft
Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya (MX)
From
$ 350
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
Fishing in Playa del Carmen
You’ve heard of the beaches, the gorgeous water, the luxurious resorts, but did you know that there is amazing ...
Read more..You’ve heard of the beaches, the gorgeous water, the luxurious resorts, but did you know that there is amazing sport fishing in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya? The Yucatán Peninsula is a unique geographic zone which has access to both the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, creating the perfect conditions for non-stop deep water sport fishing AND out-of-this-world flats fishing.
Along the Riviera Maya, from Isla Mujeres down to Cozumel, fishing opportunities abound. The Yucatán Channel between the Yucatán Peninsula and Cuba is 120 miles wide and 2800 ft deep, and it is a major highway for pelagic fish species migrating to and from the Gulf of Mexico throughout the year.
Another channel, this one between the island of Cozumel and Playa del Carmen, is also a major thoroughfare for game fish species. The entire coast lies along the edge of a large underwater valley, which provides easy, quick access to offshore fishing.
SEE AVAILABILITY FROM FISHING CHARTER
Most popular fishing boats charters in Playa del Carmen
Wasabi 38 Luhrs Express
8
38,00 ft
Puerto Aventuras, Riviera Maya (MX)
From
$ 750
Deposit non-refundable
Wasabi 45 Viking Express
8
46,00 ft
Puerto Aventuras, Riviera Maya (MX)
From
$ 895
Deposit non-refundable
Reviews from the users
9 boats for charter near by Playa del Carmen
Tips & Tricks, bait and more
The migratory route from the Caribbean to the Gulf, where many fish species mate and spawn before returning to the Atlantic, runs right through the Yucatán Channel, and right where the channel narrows to a funnel at Cabo Catoche Playa del Carmen fishing is always good.
In February anglers flock to Isla Mujeres, Cancún, and Cozumel for white marlin, until late spring. From the months of March through July, Sailfish and marlin are abundant off of Playa del Carmen as they migrate in spring and summer. This is one of the rare places in the world where you can catch a Grand Slam of billfish all in the same day!
But, billfish are only one of the area’s many draws; truth is that anywhere along the coast fish are certain to be biting, unless a cold thermal has driven them south to warmer water. October is prime time for swordfish in the Yucatán Channel, and off of Chinchorro and the offshore banks farther south in Quintana Roo. Then in December and January migrating Atlantic Sailfish gather in the Yucatán Channel off of Isla Mujeres, chasing schools of baitfish heading into the area— and the bite increases as spring approaches!
Playa del Carmen fishing is not known for its flats or shore fishing, but you can definitely toss a line out from the beach, as long as you stay south of the hotels, and 250-feet away from swimmers.
The waters south of Playa del Carmen towards the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, all the way to Asención Bay are a haven for fly fishermen and inshore fishing. This area boasts of several world famous fly fishing resorts, perfect for that special vacation you’ve always dreamed of— days full of chasing bonefish, permit, tarpon, yellowtail, trout, barracuda, and jack crevalle. Some resorts cater to specific areas and specific fish such as tarpon and permit— so if fly fishing on the Yucatán Peninsula is your dream, there are many places to make that happen. As in other parts of Mexico, bring your own fly fishing gear, although there are shops and gear available in some of the larger resorts.
Top sport fishing species in Playa del Carmen
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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+).
MORE INFO >Barracuda
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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.
MORE INFO >Wahoo
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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.
MORE INFO >Jack Crevalle
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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.
MORE INFO >Dorado
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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...).
MORE INFO >Blue Marlin
FISHING SEASON IN Playa del Carmen
January: Yellowtail (Amberjack), Grouper, King Mackerel, Snook, Tarpon, Tuna, Wahoo, Snapper
Playa del Carmen fishing in 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: Deep sea fishing Playa del Carmen in September will produce fish including Sailfish, Tuna, Yellowtail, Wahoo, Barracuda and King Mackerel. Inshore there's 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 (deep sea fishing)
December: Fishing Playa del Carmen in December will produce species such as Snook, Grouper, Snapper, Barracuda, Yellowtail, Wahoo, King Mackerel, Tuna
TOP FISHING TECHNIQUES IN Playa del Carmen
TOURISM & OTHER ACTIVITIES
Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya are a Caribbean beach paradise, and one of the best places to enjoy the beach and water sports! Take advantage of the crystal clear turquoise waters and go paddle boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, and plenty of other fun adventures!
Visit an Underground River— Rio Secreto (or Secret River) is an underground river and collection of caves with turquoise-blue water winding through rock formations within the caves, which include stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors can swim in the river, climb through the caves, learn about local Mayan culture, and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Bonus: it’s a great rainy day activity.
Golfing is a popular in Playa del Carmen, it boasts three premiere golf courses, and many tourists come down from Cancún to golf here. The most popular courses are Golf Club Playacar, Grand Coral Golf Riviera Maya and El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Club— the former is considered a gem of a PGA course.
Explore Mexican and Mayan Culture in Tulum— it would be a shame to travel to this part of the world and not see some of the best preserved Mayan ruins, and the natural beauty of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. Just south of Tulum, the reserve contains more than 1.2 million acres of estuaries, reefs, cenotes and wetlands. Within the park, you can take tours of the local wildlife, take part in a diving or snorkeling tour or simply just walk around the beautiful and expansive park. Also on the south side of Tulum are the Pre-Colombian Mayan ruins, which feature temple and castle ruins and beautiful scenery.
Fishing and Snorkeling in Puerto Aventuras.
LEGISLATION / REGULATIONS
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 through 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. The Playa del Carmen fishing charters sometimes include the lincense in the price of the trip.
How much does it cost to rent a boat to fish in Playa del Carmen?
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 Playa del Carmen fishing trip with a smaller boat is $275. A half day trip with a 40ft charter costs around $650, while an 8 hour private trip will cost you $1050.
What does the price include?
The price usually includes the captain, fishing tackle, fuel, bait & lures and licenses. On every listing we indicate whether drinks and food are included.
Make sure you know if bait 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.
