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 fishing novices can land a barracuda.
Seasoned local fishermen will take you right to where the fish are running. Charter boats set sail from Cancun to the east of Isla Mujeres and Contoy to the deeper waters of the Yucatan Channel, and to the Arrowsmith Bank, a fishing ground to the east of Cancun Island. Others head north towards Cabo Catoche and into the Gulf of Mexico.
Puerto Morelos is another popular spot for sport fishing, 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.
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. The thrill of spotting sailfish on the hunt and seeing their iridescent colors flash as a warning to other fish not to approach should be enough.
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 would like to go bone fishing, Thomas More Travel can help you organize boat charters. Check the website or ask at the travel desk in your resort.
