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 skin colors change as a warning to other fish should be enough.

Knowledgeable local fishermen will take you right to where the fish are running. From Cancun charter boats set sail to the east of Isla Mujeres and Contoy to the deeper waters of the Yucatan Channel and to the Arrowsmith Bank. Others head north towards Cabo Catoche and into the Gulf of Mexico.

Puerto Morelos is another of the most popular spots in the Mexican Caribbean for sport fishing, 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.

Marinas in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and Punta Allen also offer fishing charters. Other good fishing grounds in the area lie further south along the Costa Maya and accessible from the fishing villages of Mahahual and Xcalak.

Bone fishing

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 spots.

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

Booking fishing trips with Thomas More Travel

If you enjoy the camaraderie of a fishing trip and are planning a day out on the high seas or want to go bone fishing, Thomas More Travel will help you organize boat charters.