The grand slam Mecca

Cancún is renowned for the vast variety of fish found in its waters, as well as for the sweet- and salt-water fishing spots found along its coastline.  This makes it an excellent destination for deep-sea fishing buffs.

A prime example is Punta Pájaros, where you can fish for salt- as well as sweet-water fish.  The area features hidden lagoons, surrounded by mangroves, for fly fishing.  This is the place to reel in bonefish, permit or tarpon.

On the other hand, the open sea is perfect for catch and release fishing for billfish, like blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish.

 

 

There are places like Puerto Aventuras, one of the few marinas where “catch and release” is practiced one hundred percent.  With catch and release, the fish is considered caught when the leader touches either the fisherman’s hand or the tip of the fishing rod.  It is customary to try to hold the fish upright in order to take a photo.

The most common bait used in this region is dead escribano or balihoo, as well as plastic or double-hooked lures. Most fishermen do not approve of fishing with live bait.  This region is also renowned for grand slam fishing, which involves catching three different species in a single day.

 

 

Other fishing spots near the coast are Isla Mujeres and “La Grieta” and “La Correntada”, in Cancún.  Puerto Aventuras and Cozumel hold their major fishing tournaments in April and August.

Puerto Morelos has coral reefs with a great variety of marine vegetation and multicolored fish, tempting fishermen with species like marlin, dorado, tuna, sailfish and barracuda.

The best months for fishing in this region are between February and July. Trolling, it is possible to can catch fish including blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish, however, since it is always closed season on these species, they must be returned to the water immediately after the hook is removed.  Other fish, like dorado, white sawfish, yellow-finned tuna, blue-finned tuna, and swordfish are not protected, which means that you do not have to practice “catch and release” with these species, although in the case of dorado, there is a limit of three per person.    

 

 

 

 

Text: Jania Argüelles ± Photo: Archivo Amura