Does Puerto Vallarta Have Good Fishing? (A Complete Guide)
Puerto Vallarta is one of the most popular fishing locations in Mexico and the Pacific Ocean for that matter. Many anglers want to know how Puerto Vallarta compares to other major fishing destinations.
Puerto Vallarta is a world-class fishery offering great fishing for amberjack, mahi-mahi, grouper, jack crevalle, black marlin, blue marlin, striped marlin, roosterfish, sailfish, sierra mackerel, snapper, albacore tuna as well as wahoo.
Puerto Vallarta has a lot to offer to fishermen of any skill level. The fishing here is truly special if you enjoy nearshore and offshore fishing.
Puerto Vallarta Species Fishing Breakdown
Mahi-mahi
Puerto Vallarta fishing adventures can put you on the bite of mahi-mahi. Mahi-mahi is active in the area year-round. Fishing for mahi-mahi is excellent in the region between January and February and between September and December.
Mahi fishing in Puerto Vallarta is also good between March and April, in June and August. The worst months to catch mahi-mahi in the region are May and July. El Morro is a good place to target mahi mahi in Puerto Vallarta.
Sailfish
Sailfish fishing in Puerto Vallarta is good throughout the year. The best season to target sailfish in the area starts in the late summer and finishes in the early winter. Fishing for sailfish is good in February and between May and July.
March and April are the worst time of the year to fish for sailfish in the region. Visit El Morro if you would like to catch sailfish during Puerto Vallarta fishing adventures.
Blue marlin
Puerto Vallarta offers good marlin fishing as well. A high season to fish for blue marlin in Puerto Vallarta is between January and February and between September and December. Blue marlin fishing is also good between July and August.
The worst times of the year to target blue marlin in the area are March – April. La Corbetena is a good fishing spot to target blue marlin in the region.
Jack crevalle
Jack crevalle is also one of the top targeted species in Puerto Vallarta. The season to fish for jack crevalle in the region starts in the early winter and ends in the early summer. The best months to target jack crevalle in the area are February – April.
The worst months for jack crevalle fishing in Puerto Vallarta are November and December. Jack crevalle can be found in the waters near Playa de Oro.
Roosterfish
Roosterfish fishing in Puerto Vallarta is good at any time of the year. There is no bad time to target roosterfish in the region. Playa de Oro is the ideal place to visit if you want to catch roosterfish during your Puerto Vallarta fishing trips.
Striped marlin
A season to fish for striped marlin in Puerto Vallarta starts in the early summer and ends in the early winter. A peak Puerto Vallarta striped marlin fishing season starts in September and ends in November. October is the best time of the year to catch striped marlin in the area.
The worst time of the year to fish for striped marlin in the region is between February and May. Anglers often catch striped marlin near La Corbetena.
Black marlin
Black marlin is also one of the main targets in Puerto Vallarta. A Puerto Vallarta black marlin fishing season starts in July and ends in January. Fishing for black marlin is the most productive in the region during the fall months.
On the other hand, black marline is inactive in the local waters in March – April. La Corbetena is a good place to visit if you would like to target black marlin during your Puerto Vallarta fishing adventures.
Amberjack
Oftentimes, fishermen catch amberjack during their Puerto Vallarta fishing adventures. An amberjack fishing season in the region begins in the early spring and ends in the early summer.
When targeting amberjack in the waters of Puerto Vallarta, anglers achieve the best results between April and May. The worst time of the year to fish for amberjack in the region is between August and November.
Tuna
Tuna fishing is good in Puerto Vallarta throughout the year. A peak season to target tuna in the region is between May and September.
The worst time of the year to fish for tuna in the region is between January and March. La Corbetena as well as El Morro are the best fishing spots where anglers can target tuna in Puerto Vallarta.
Wahoo
A wahoo fishing season in Puerto Vallarta is good between the late summer and the early spring. The best times of the year to target wahoo in the area are between October and November and between January and February.
Wahoo fishing is very productive at these times of the year. The worst times of the year to fish wahoo in the region are April – July. Wahoo is inactive during these months.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Puerto Vallarta
These Puerto Vallarta-based 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 Charters | Type of Fishing Offered |
| High Tides Fishing | Inshore, Offshore, Billfish |
| Super Panga Tres Estrellas | Inshore, Offshore, Billfish |
| Calypso Charters | Inshore, Offshore, Billfish |
| Fishing Are Us – Lucky 1 | Inshore, Offshore, Billfish |
| Nuevo Vallarta Fishing – Sea Ray | Inshore, Offshore, Billfish |
| Shark’s Sport Fishing | Inshore, Offshore, Billfish |
| Nuevo Vallarta Fishing – Flipper IV | Inshore, Offshore, Billfish |
| Burton lll Sport Fishing | Inshore, Offshore, Billfish |
| Lucina III Fishing Charters & Tours | Inshore, Offshore, Billfish |
Best Species to Fish for in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is home to many fish species. The best species to fish for in the region include amberjack, mahi-mahi, grouper, jack crevalle, black marlin, blue marlin, striped marlin, roosterfish, sailfish, sierra mackerel, snapper, albacore tuna as well as wahoo.
Does Puerto Vallarta Offer Good Fishing?
Inshore
There are many places on the Central America’s Pacific coast that provide anglers with incredible inshore fishing opportunities. When fishing in inshore waters, fishermen usually choose to target such species as mackerel, jacks and roosterfish. Inshore fishing trips are short, so they last between a couple of hours and half day.
Nearshore
It’s a great idea to fish in the waters around the nearshore reefs. Such fishing spots are very productive and offer incredible fishing. Nearshore waters make it possible for anglers to target such species as amberjack, barracuda, groupers and snapper.
Nearshore fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta would be the perfect choice for beginners and families. It makes sense to consider booking a short trip if you would like to fish in nearshore waters.
Offshore
It would be better to book either a full-day trip or multi-day trip if you are planning to fish in offshore waters. Such trips are long because it takes anglers some time to get to the deep sea fishing spots. So, anglers must be prepared to spend more than 12 hours on water during their offshore trips in Puerto Vallarta.
It’s important to know that offshore fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta are more productive. Those anglers, who choose to go fishing in offshore waters, can catch such species as sailfish, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna and wahoo.
Puerto Vallarta Fishing vs. Rest of Mexico
Puerto Vallarta provides anglers with easy access to the Pacific Ocean. It’s the place where you can land a trophy and your wildest fishing dreams can come true. The destination impresses anglers and tourists with good weather conditions, comfortable beaches and great views of the nature.
Charters make it possible for anglers to reach the best offshore fishing spots in the region. A lot of charters are available for anglers in the area. There are charters of all different sizes and shapes. Anglers can consider booking both small sized boats and large yachts.
There is no bad time to fish Puerto Vallarta. Some species are active in the region year-round. Also, anglers can target seasonal fish species which are active during certain times of the year.
Best Season & Times to Fish Puerto Vallarta
The local waters of Puerto Vallarta impress anglers with their diversity of fish. Species which are active in cold and warm waters can be found in the area. That’s why anglers can experience fishing in the area year-round.
It all depends on fish species that you are going to target in the region. Such species as jack crevalle and red snapper are active in Puerto Vallarta throughout the year. That means that anglers can target these species at any time of the year. Many species are seasonal in the area. So, they can be caught at the certain times of the year only.
The vast majority of fish species get active in Puerto Vallarta between May and October. Such species as largemouth bass, marlin, sailfish, roosterfish and yellowfin tuna are active in the region during these months. Anglers can also visit Puerto Vallarta between the late fall and the early spring. It’s a great time of the year to target such species as mahi mahi and wahoo in the area.
Is Nightfishing Good in Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta offers great night fishing. Trips that last 8 hours, 10 hours and 12 hours are available for anglers who prefer to fish at night. Your choice depends a lot on how much time you are going to dedicate to fishing and your budget.
Anglers can get many benefits when fishing at night. Night fishing adventures give angling enthusiasts an opportunity to watch the sunset as well as sunrise in Puerto Vallarta. It’s also important to note that night fishing allows anglers to avoid summer heat. That means that night fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta are the perfect choice for anglers, who like comfort.
But most importantly, night fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta are very productive. Anglers can target dorado, marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna and other species during their fishing adventures in Puerto Vallarta. Fishermen have a good chance to land a trophy during their night trips.
Is Beach Fishing Good in Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta is well-known for its incredible beaches. Beaches in the region have gained a huge popularity among residents and visitors.
The vast majority of people choose to have a rest on beaches. However, anglers choose to visit beaches in Puerto Vallarta to experience fishing.
It’s possible to fish on beach in Puerto Vallarta. Keep in mind that beach fishing can be very productive. When fishing on beaches, anglers can target mackerel, jacks, needlefish, snappers and some other species.
It’s incredibly important for anglers to select the best times for beach fishing in the area. It would be better to go fishing when your targeted species are the most active.
It’s also important to note that anglers should go fishing when there are no swimmers on beach. It would be better to fish on a beach in early morning, late afternoon and at night.
A peak tourism season in Puerto Vallarta is not the best time to experience beach fishing. The busiest travel time of the year in Puerto Vallarta is between December and April.
Hot Fishing Spots in Puerto Vallarta
There are many great fishing spots in Puerto Vallarta and its surrounding areas. The most productive Puerto Vallarta fishing spots include: Playa de Oro, Playa Olas Altas, Los Arcos, Islas Marietas, El Morro, La Corbetena, El Banco and others.
Puerto Vallarta & Fishing Charters
– Is it a good idea?
Puerto Vallarta is a good destination for anglers, who would like to go fishing when on holidays. It is a popular tourism hub and fishing destination. So, you will be able to combine fishing with a holiday if you visit the town.
– Is it a good place for charters?
Anglers should book a charter to fish the waters of Puerto Vallarta in the best possible way. A charter allows anglers to get to the most productive deep sea fishing grounds in the area such as El Morro, El Banco, La Cortabena and others.
It’s worth noting that different types of fishing trips are available for anglers in the area. There are charters for all tastes and budgets.
Are you a beginner, who has just started taking the first steps in fishing? Or, maybe, you would like to book a family fishing trip? One way or another, inshore and nearshore trips in Puerto Vallarta are worth considering. Such fishing trips are short and last half-day only.
Experienced anglers give a preference to offshore fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta. Offshore fishing trips are longer. So, anglers must be prepared to spend at least 12 hours on the water. If you would like to go fishing in offshore waters, then book a full-day fishing trip in Puerto Vallarta. Avid anglers, who want to get the most out of their fishing adventures, can consider booking multi-day Puerto Vallarta fishing charters.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Puerto Vallarta, please check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Mexico, please check out this guide.
