5 Helpful Tips When FISHING in Puerto Vallarta
Does Puerto Vallarta Have Good Fishing? Fishing in Puerto Vallarta is an incredible location for many sport fishing enthusiasts and those looking to simply enjoy a fishing charter for fun. It’s a big reason why many people visit here every year believe it or not! Thanks to Vallarta’s location on Mexico’s Pacific coast and calmer waters due to the bay, the abundance of fish species found in its warm waters is plentiful. Let’s dive into some specifics about what it’s like fishing in Puerto Vallarta, including the best times to fish, tips on making the most out of your fishing trip, what species you may see/catch, and what many of these fish are best used for if you’ve caught any of them. Best Months to Fish in Puerto Vallarta The best time for fishing in Puerto Vallarta is from November to June, which is considered the high season. During this period, the water is warmer and calmer, and there are more fish in the area. However, fishing can still be good throughout the year, with different species being available during different seasons. Various other species become more abundant in the off months from July-October, but this isnt a time when most tourists and fishing enthusiasts are in the area anyways, so the timing of Vallarta’s fishing season works out perfectly! But let’s talk about the most common species you’ll find here in the bay when fishing in Puerto Vallarta. Some of the most popular fish species that can be caught in the waters around Puerto Vallarta include marlin, yellowfin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi), roosterfish, and snapper, and even pacific bluefin tuna – although that’s rare. Below we’ll show you a chart that gives you a great visual of each fish and its corresponding months theyre plentiful, and then we can talk about each one in some detail. Sailfish These are the ultimate trophy fish! When fishing in Puerto Vallarta, it’s certainly possible to find one of these, but likely not within the bay. For this catch, you’ll need to head outside of the bay into deeper open ocean. Their habitat is mostly in open ocean, however they tend to stay closer to the surface. Sailfish are large, with the ability to grow up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) in length and weigh up to 220 pounds (100 kilograms). So if one of these guys bites onto your line, be prepared for a long battle to the finish line. They feed on large schools of fish such as sardines and mackerel, while also regularly feasting on squid. They’re also known to be solitary hunters and rarely travel in packs, so if you see more than one – consider yourself lucky! However the most interesting characteristic about sailfish has to be their insane speed. Clocking in at speeds of up to 68 miles per hour (110 kilometers per hour), this fish is faster than a cheetah running at full speed by a whole 6.2 mph (10 km/h). Marlin – Blue, Black, and Striped Whats even faster than a sailfish? A marlin. Unbelievably quick, these fish can swim at speeds ranging from 50 to 82 miles per hour (80 to 132 kilometers per hour). Thats staggering, which means catching them can be quite the challenge. Along with sailfish, black marlin fall under the umbrella of “trophy fish” for how difficult they are to catch. It takes skill, knowledge of the sea, and some serious determination to reel a marlin in. Fish like marlin take not only skill from the angler (fisherman), but also the captain to direct the boat properly during the fight, and the deckhands/others on board. This battle can take anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours of pulling and pulling until that fish is finally in the boat. A true adrenaline rush and what every angler strives to experience when fishing in Puerto Vallarta. Roosterfish: Recognizable by its distinctive comb-like dorsal fin, roosterfish is a thrilling challenge for sports fishermen. Catch and release is encouraged for these magnificent creatures, as they are not typically consumed. What makes these fish easy to catch compared to others on this list is their love for shallow habitats. Normally found near the surface around rocky areas, making it excellent hunting ground when fishing in Puerto Vallarta. Sport fisherman love the challenge of reeling in a roosterfish due to their tenacity and acrobatic displays. Wahoo Wahoo is the named after the sound most people make when they catch one of these fish. No I’m kidding thats a bad dad joke, but what is true is this magnificent fish is abundant during high season – making it a likely catch if you’re spending time on the water during those winter months. Not unlike the other fish mentioned above, this is another super fast fish, clocking in at speeds of 60 mph (97 kmh) at their top speeds. They’re known for their voracious hunting style when killing their prey such as smaller fish and squid, due to their large sharp teeth. Sizes range from 20 pounds to a whopping 100 pounds. This is a wonderful fish for sushi and sashimi because of their hard texture and mild flavor. Red Snapper A prized catch in the bay, red snapper is known for its sweet, mild-flavored flesh. Anglers often target them using bottom fishing techniques. One of the best parts of fishing in Puerto Vallarta is red snapper are one of the few fish that remain abundant all year round. With consistent month over month healthy levels of this species. roaming the warm waters of Banderas Bay. These fish can surprisingly live up to 50 years, and are found in warm waters at depths of 30-200 feet roaming reefs and rocky bottoms. The exciting part of a red snapper is their variation in size because they vary so much. Normally you’ll see an average snapper hovering anywhere between 2-30 pounds, with some caught on rare occasion as large as 30-40 pounds (13-18 kg’s). Red snapper is a