Set sail in search of your own big fish

March heralds the start of the sport fishing season in the Mexican Caribbean and avid fishermen are ready to set sail to the area’s fishing grounds. The fastest fish in the sea, sailfish and marlin move through area waters in pursuit of huge shoals of migrating sardines, anchovies and mackerel. Snapper, dorado, bonito and wahoo are plentiful year-round and even rookie fishermen can land a barracuda. Catch and release rules are observed and the thrill of spotting sailfish on the hunt and watching their iridescent colors change as a warning to other fish should be enough.

Knowledgeable local fishermen will take you right to where the fish are running, and Puerto Morelos is one of the area’s best spots. It is just a short boat ride away from the rich fishing grounds along the deep ocean trench between the Riviera Maya coast and the island of Cozumel known as the Cozumel Channel.

Other fishing grounds in the area lie to the east of Isla Mujeres and Contoy; along the sea mount known as Arrowsmith Bank; around Cabo Catoche and Holbox and further south along the Costa Maya and accessible from the fishing villages of Mahahual and Xcalak.

The still, shallow lagoons along the Quintana Roo coast offer a different challenge – they are rich in bonefish such as tarpon, permit and snook and attract fly fishermen from all over the world. There are fishing lodges in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, and Holbox and the Isla Blanca wetlands north of Cancun are also good for bonefishing.

Local marinas adhere to the catch and release policy to help conserve fish stocks. We urge you to liberate any game fish you catch.

If you enjoy fishing and are planning a day out on the high seas or want to go bone fishing, the Concierge will help you organize fishing trips and boat charters.