Best Times & Seasons to Fish Cozumel (Complete Guide)

Cozumel is one of the best fishing destinations that most vacationers don’t even consider. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish these rich waters will deliver you the best results.

The best time to fish Cozumel is from March to November. The offseason is wintertime with January typically being the slowest fishing month.

So let’s break down some of these species and when the best time to target them is.

Fish SpeciesBest Times & Peak Fishing Seasons in Cozumel
BonefishFishing is best May through August
Mahi MahiMay through July is the peak, but good fishing can still be found into September
BillfishSailfish fishing is best March through July; Marlin fishing best May through July
GrouperBest fishing is September through December
SnapperFishing is best October through December
King Mackerel2 peak seasons in Cozumel: Feb to April as well as September & October
PermitFishing peak is March through August

When fishing Cozumel, you should make sure you target the spring and summer for the best yields. Fishing the island from March through August will give you the best fishing results. 

Fishing in Cozumel should be on your to-do list. You need to enjoy the benefits of fishing the waters of Cozumel, and the island can be the best place for you to carry out your fishing activities. And this is best done during the right season.

man holding a fish
(Image courtesy of Fish Playa – 37’ Aventura (Playa del Carmen) & Fishing Booker)

Best Times to Fish Cozumel

Fishing Cozumel should be done at the appropriate time of the season to get the best out of your trip. You have to know the best time of the year and day to fish the waters around Cozumel. Fishing during the appropriate time guarantees the best yield and most memorable fishing experience.

When fishing the waters of Cozumel, you have to know what time of the year the fishing season is as this is the time when the fish are in abundance, and it is also when they are active and ready to take a bite. You will enjoy your fishing operations during this time and record huge fishing success.

The best seasons to fish the waters of Cozumel are spring and summer, and these two seasons help you get the best of your fishing operations on the island. You should prepare your fishing gear and get ready to explore your fishing skills from March to August.

You also need to know the best time of the day to carry out your fishing operation in Cozumel. Fishing the island’s waters during the appropriate time is your sure bet to success, and you will experience the best fishing result and easiest fishing operations.

When going fishing in Cozumel, you should target the early hours of the morning. This is the time of the day when most fish species are active. You can also fish the waters of Cozumel during the late evenings and have great results.

Recommended Fishing Charters near Cozumel

These Cozumel-area charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing ChartersType of Fishing Offered
Balihoo BoatInshore, Nearshore, & Offshore
Tulúm Sport Fishing – WahooReef, Nearshore, & Offshore
Knotty Hooker Charters – Reel HookerReef, Nearshore, & Offshore
Wasabi Loco SportfishingReef & Offshore
The Rusty HookReef, Nearshore, & Inshore
La Reina Sport Fishing Riviera MayaWreck, Nearshore, & Inshore

Cozumel Species Breakdown: Best Time

Fishing in Cozumel can be a lot of fun. Several fish species wander at every depth of its waters. You can visit the island’s waters and make your fishing debut there, catching your desired fish species.

Let’s talk about the fish species you will find in Cozumel.

Toadfish

Fishing toadfish is best done during the spring and summer. This is the time of the year where you can catch as many toadfish as you want. This does not mean you can’t make any success at other times of the year, and it means you can make your most successful catch from March through August.

When fishing Toadfish, you have to put their nocturnal nature into considerations, and you should fish them during the dark hours. So, when catching toadfish, you should target the hours between dusk and dawn.

Toadfish are bottom-living fish, so you might want to check the reefs for the best catch. This weird but wonderful fish love to stay at the sandy bottom of the water. One of the places you should visit to make a good catch is the Paradise Reef.

Blue Marlin

Fishing blue marlins are best done during the spring and summer seasons. You should target the ending of spring and fish into the end of summer to make good catches. You should fish the waters of Cozumel anytime from May to August to enjoy your blue marlin fishing.

The best time to catch blue marlins in Cozumel is during dawn and dusk. The early morning hours and late hours of the evening provide more success when fishing the blue marlins. You can enjoy your catch, which is obviously not without a struggle.

You can visit several places in Cozumel to catch your blue marlins. One of the places is Montecristo, where you can find lots of them, and you can also catch several other fish species at this fishing location.

Bonito

Fishing bonitos should start from mid-spring and run till the end of summer. You can also extend the bonito fishing into the beginning of autumn to make more catches. Visit the waters of Cozumel anytime from April to September to make a good catch of the Bonitos.

Fishing bonitos in Cozumel is quite easy as you can catch them during the early hours of the morning and the late hours of the evening. You should set out as early as 6 am and fish till about 10 am. You should also set out at 4 pm and fish till dusk for the best result.

You can visit numerous places for effective and productive bonito fishing in Cozumel. You should visit the Playa Caletitas to make a good catch of the fish species. Fishing at this location will ensure you get the best of your fishing trip.

Mahi Mahi

Fishing Mahi Mahi should be done anytime from mid-spring to mid-summer, and this time is the best time for you to make the best catch. You should target April through July to enjoy your mahi-mahi fishing in Cozumel.

You should fish Mahi Mahi in the morning and late evening, and you should target the fishing hours from 5 am to 8 am and 4 pm till dusk in the evening. You will make one of the best catches when you fish Mahi Mahi during this time.

The Rio De Plata lagoon is one of the places you should visit when fishing Mahi Mahi in Cozumel. You will be able to make the best catch when fishing during this period, and you will also have other fish species at your disposal at the lagoon.

Tuna

When fishing anglers in the waters of Cozumel, you should target the spring and summer seasons for the best results. These are the seasons you will find tunas occur in their largest numbers. You should visit the island’s waters from April through July to make the best catch.

When fishing tunas, you should target the hours between dusk and dawn. Tunas do not have very good eyesight during the dark hours. So, you should utilize this when fishing them in the waters of Cozumel.

There are several places you will find tunas in the waters around Cozumel. One of the places you will make a good catch is the San Miguel de Cozumel. Visiting this place can be all you need to make our day and your fishing trip perfect.

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Puerto Vallarta, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Cancun, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Tulum, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Best Time of the Day to Fish Cozumel

Fishing Cozumel can be done at a different time of the day. But the best time to fish the island’s waters is during the early morning hours, and these hours hold the most fishing success on the island. You can also fish the waters during the evening hours and enjoy a successful fishing operation.

The tides are one of the factors that can increase your fishing success in Cozumel. And it can only do that if you consider it and plan your fishing well. When fishing on the island, you should target the beginning and ending hours of a high and low tide. Fishing at about two hours before and after these tides will provide you with an excellent result.

Fishing in Cozumel also requires you to consider the storm. The storm can increase the activity of fish and can also make them ready to take a bite. You should fish immediately after a storm to make a good catch of your fish species.

woman holding a fish
(Image courtesy of Balihoo Fishing Boat (Playa del Carmen) & Fishing Booker)

Fishing in Cozumel can also provide you with huge success during winter. You will find several fish species like wahoo, mackerels, kingfish, etc., in their abundance during the winter season. Winter can provide you with the fishing results you need in Cozumel.

The night is a good time to go fishing in Cozumel. You should not miss the fun of fishing during the dark hours of the night. You can make a good catch of different fish species during this time. You can also give yourself the best fishing experience by fishing during this time.

You can fish the beaches of Cozumel and make a wonderful catch. You can surf fish as much as you want and make your fishing trip in Cozumel a fantastic one. The island supports shore fishing and provides you with the best shore fishing experience.

Top 5 Fishing Spots in Cozumel

There are several places you can fish in Cozumel. You can visit these places and make a good catch of various fish species. You can also enjoy your fishing and create a memorable fishing experience at these locations.

  • Playa Caletitas: This is a common fishing spot for local anglers. You can also visit the place to make a good catch. You will find various fish species at this location and catch them easily.
  • San Miguel de Cozumel: If you want to make history while fishing in Cozumel, you should choose San Miguel de Cozumel as your fishing spot. You can fish different fish species at this location and make a great impact.
  • Rio de la Plata Lagoon: You should also visit this place when fishing Cozumel. It has one of the best fishing conditions and the best fish species to grace your activities.
  • Paso Balem: You do not want to miss out on the fun this place offers when fishing on the island. You should visit the Paso Balem and enjoy your fishing operations in Cozumel.
  • Montecristo: Montecristo, also known as Monte Cristo, is one of Cozumel’s most popular fishing spots. You will find many anglers visiting the lagoon to catch their preferred fish species. You can also visit Montecristo to make your catch.

Booking Charters in Cozumel

When fishing the waters of Cozumel, there are some things you should put in place. These things will make your fishing operations easier and make them more productive. And one of these things is booking a charter.

Booking a charter has a lot of benefits for anglers that want to fish the waters of Cozumel. Aside from the transportation benefits, charter services also provide you with the resources needed for fishing. They also have a good sense of fishing location, which you need for your fishing adventure.

There are several charter services in Cozumel, so you have a lot of choices to pick from. Book your charter and enjoy your fishing trip to Cozumel.

Best Seasons to Go

Fishing in Cozumel has to be done at the appropriate season to get the expected result. You have to choose the best season to book your charter, resulting in fishing during the best season. So, for you to know the best time to book your charter, you have to know the best time to fish the waters of Cozumel.

The best time to book your charters is during the fishing season. The fishing season in Cozumel runs from spring through summer. So, if you want to book your charter and aim for high fishing success in Cozumel, you should target anytime from March to August.

Booking your charters during the spring through summer also gives you additional benefits to your fishing success. Summer happens to be the busiest season in Cozumel, so this gives you the chance to experience several events that will make your fishing trip memorable. You can also attain high fishing prowess and increase your fishing skills with your visit to the island.

You can create a worthy fishing adventure by visiting Cozumel. You only have to be sure of your fishing skills, get your fishing gear, and visit the island. With all factors in place, you can enjoy your trip to Cozumel.

Morning Vs. Afternoon

Fishing in Cozumel should be done at the right time of the day. Fishing at the right time of the day is all you need to attain that great fishing height. You can make your fishing operation worthwhile in Cozumel by considering this factor.

The best time to fish is when the fish species are most active. And most fish species are usually active during the early morning hours. So, you should book your charter during the early hours of the morning and give yourself a memorable fishing experience.

As much as you can fish during the appropriate season and time of the day, you have a high chance of making a great catch. You also have to get the right fishing gear and make good use of your fishing skills. Cozumel is ready to give you a worthwhile fishing adventure with all these in place.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Playa del Carmen, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Belize, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Mexico, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Puerto Aventuras, please check out this helpful article.

2 Comments

  1. Jeff, great to hear from you. If you’re coming down in January, offshore fishing for billfish, wahoo, and mahi-mahi can be awesome. Deeper and medium-depth wrecks (under 100 feet) can be great for snapper and grouper. Bonefish, tarpon, and permit fishing on flats and backcountry is a good time too. If you don’t have your boat, hire a local guide or book a charter. You’ll have a great time. It’s a great time of year.

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