The Mayan Riviera (also known as Riviera Maya), of the Eastern Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, has some of the best saltwater fishing in the world, both inshore and offshore. Although it is a top tourist destination in Mexico, with charter boats available out of several locations, Mayan Riviera fishing is available to anyone visiting the area.
Riviera Maya Fishing Offshore
Offshore fishing charter boats leave out of the marinas of many of the populated areas in the Yucatan. Nearby Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and even island locations near the riviera such as Cozumel and Isla Mujeres have boats that cater to offshore anglers.
Bluewater fishing is superb in the Caribbean off of Southeastern Mexico. Billfish (such as sailfish, blue marlin, and white marlin), yellowfin tuna, dolphin (mahi mahi, or dorado), and wahoo are the prime targets, and charter boat captains set clients up with some of the best deep sea fishing in the world for these species. As the Caribbean waters are very warm, boats do not need to spend hours heading offshore to find premium fishing grounds; sometimes offshore fish can be found less than 30 minutes from the dock.
Inshore Fishing the Mayan Riviera, Mexico
The Yucatan Peninsula is also home to some of the most fantastic inshore saltwater fishing and flats fly fishing in the world. Inshore guides are available throughout the region's coastal areas, where they take clients for whatever fish they choose.
Around near shore reefs, snapper, grouper, barracuda, jacks, mackerel, and sometimes, tarpon are top species. For spin fishermen, trolling or casting around the reef can be the best ways to catch fish. There is plenty of great near shore fishing in the Yucatan, as the second largest reef system in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef), the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef runs the coastline just off of the beautiful Caribbean beaches of Southeastern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Flats Fishing and Fly Fishing Riviera Maya
Much of the riviera's coastline has excellent backcountry angling and flats fishing in the shallow, inland waters and mangrove isles and creeks for bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook, and sometimes other fish, such as snapper, jacks, and sharks.
Most of the best flats fishing in the Yucatan is located just outside of the resort areas, to the south or north of the riviera. Ascension Bay, located at about the midpoint of the Yucatan's Caribbean coast, just south of Tulum is one of the best spots in the world to secure a saltwater fly fishing Grand Slam (consisting of at least one bonefish, one permit, and one tarpon in one day—add a snook for a Super Slam), and many fishing camps and lodges, such as Pesca May, located on the bay, will pick people up from there hotels in Cancun or in the riviera for fishing day trips.
The Mexican Yucatan's popular resort area known as the Mayan Riviera (named because of the area's ancient civilization and scattered Mayan ruins) is located on a section of the peninsula's Caribbean coast that has great access to some of the best inshore and offshore fishing in the world. Visitors who enjoy angling should be sure to capitalize on the area's excellent fishing.
Thomas Wyatt - Tom Wyatt grew up in Virginia. He has been interested in the outdoors (fishing, birding, camping, and other such activities) since he was ...
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