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FISHING CALENDAR · MEXICO – CARIBBEAN (CANCÚN, COZUMEL, ISLA MUJERES, YUCATÁN)
Mexico – Caribbean (Cancún, Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Yucatán) Fishing Calendar
Sailfish draw boats to Isla Mujeres, Cancún and Cozumel in winter and spring, and the Sian Ka'an flats (Ascension Bay) hold bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook. Mexican law reserves marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon, roosterfish and dorado for sport fishing within 50 nautical miles of the coast.
Government fish & wildlife updates
- CONAPESCA — National fisheries commission: veda notices
- Diario Oficial de la Federación — Official rules and veda agreements
Month by month
| Fish | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flats & inshore | |||||||||||||
| Bonefish (macabí) | Ascension Bay lodge prime season November through late spring (magazine — no official source found). Catch and release only in the Banco Chinchorro / Punta Herrero refuge zones.[11][8] | ||||||||||||
| Permit (palometa) | Same lodge prime season, Ascension Bay (magazine — no official source found).[11] | ||||||||||||
| Tarpon (sábalo) | Holbox / Isla Blanca tarpon: no official best months found. Sport-only within 50 nm; 2 per angler per day.[1][2][11][12] | ||||||||||||
| Snook (robalo) | Ascension Bay: best snook December–February (fly-fishing outfitter). No official best months.[11][17] | ||||||||||||
| Reef | |||||||||||||
| Groupers (mero), incl. red grouper | Grouper veda Feb 1–Mar 31 in federal waters off Campeche, Tabasco, Yucatán and Quintana Roo (CONAPESCA, reported in news).[3][4] | ||||||||||||
| Caribbean spiny lobster (langosta) | 4-month veda from Mar 1 (Isla Mujeres). Check CONAPESCA each year.[5] | ||||||||||||
| Offshore | |||||||||||||
| Sailfish (pez vela) | Isla Mujeres: boats arrive in January and stay through May (magazines). Cozumel (UNAM study): starts late Feb, most fish in April, falls off by June. Sport-only within 50 nm; 1 billfish per angler per day.[9][10][6][1][2][13] | ||||||||||||
| White marlin (marlín blanco) | Late-spring white marlin off Isla Mujeres (magazine — no official source found).[9] | ||||||||||||
| Blue marlin (marlín azul) | Best May–July off Cancún and Cozumel (charter guides). The hardest of the Isla Mujeres slam to find.[9][13][14][15] | ||||||||||||
| Yellowfin tuna | Caught all year off Cozumel, best August–November (charter guide).[15] | ||||||||||||
| Mahi-mahi (dorado) | Caught April–September, best May–July (Cancún and Cozumel charter guides). Sport-only within 50 nm; 2 per day.[7][1][2][14][15][16] | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo (peto) | Cozumel charters say fall into winter; the months they agree on are October–November.[10][16][15] | ||||||||||||
Never keep: No species must always be released, but sport fishing in the Banco Chinchorro and Punta Herrero refuge zones is catch and release only (DOF 2013).[8]
Bait & rig for each fish
Bonefish (macabí)
Bait: Live or fresh shrimp and small crabs.
Lures: Small skimmer jigs and bonefish flies (Gotcha, Crazy Charlie).
Rig: No harvest-targeting rig is recommended. Keep dehooker and cutters ready for incidental release.
Leader: Clear 10–20 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a practical flats starting range, adjusted for fish size and coral/rock.
Permit (palometa)
Bait: Live small blue crabs and pass crabs; shrimp.
Lures: Crab flies, small bucktail jigs and crab imitations.
Rig: No harvest-targeting rig is recommended. Keep dehooker and cutters ready for incidental release.
Leader: Use an abrasion-resistant leader that can be cut quickly if dehooking is unsafe.
Tarpon (sábalo)
Bait: Live crabs, mullet, pinfish, threadfin herring and large shrimp.
Lures: Swimbaits, soft-plastic jerkbaits, plugs and flies; small jigs for baby tarpon.
Rig: A documented tarpon option is a live-line/live-bait rig using main line, leader, a circle hook and live bait without added weight. Component strength and size must match the fish and local rules.
Leader: A strong monofilament leader helps resist contact with the gill plate and tail.
Snook (robalo)
Bait: Live pilchards (whitebait), pinfish, finger mullet and large live shrimp.
Lures: Soft-plastic swimbaits and jerkbaits, bucktail jigs, topwater walking baits and suspending twitchbaits.
Rig: Free-line, popping-cork, Carolina/fish-finder and light jig rigs are common; choose the least hardware needed to reach the zone.
Leader: 10–30 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a common flats/inshore start; move to 40–80 lb around abrasive mouths, structure or large tarpon/snook.
Groupers (mero), incl. red grouper
Bait: Squid, cut fish, live pinfish and sardines.
Lures: Heavy jigs.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Caribbean spiny lobster (langosta)
Bait: Not caught on hook and line — divers use a tickle stick and net; traps where licensed.
Lures: Not caught on hook and line — divers use a tickle stick and net; traps where licensed.
Rig: Use only the collection device allowed by current local rules.
Leader: Not caught on hook and line — divers use a tickle stick and net; traps where licensed.
Sailfish (pez vela)
Bait: Live goggle-eyes, pilchards, threadfin herring and ballyhoo.
Lures: Small trolling lures and rigged ballyhoo.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
White marlin (marlín blanco)
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and small squid.
Lures: Small skirted trolling lures.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Blue marlin (marlín azul)
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo, mackerel and live tunas.
Lures: Large skirted trolling lures.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Yellowfin tuna
Bait: Live baits (blue runners, bonito) and chunks.
Lures: Spreader bars, skirted lures, poppers and stick baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Mahi-mahi (dorado)
Bait: Ballyhoo, flying fish, squid and cut bait to keep a school near the boat.
Lures: Skirted trolling lures, small feathers and bucktail jigs.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 30–60 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common mahi start; increase for abrasion or mixed wahoo water.
Wahoo (peto)
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and live baits on wire.
Lures: High-speed trolling lures and lipped diving plugs on wire.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Use heavy abrasion/bite leader; many wahoo anglers add short wire or cable because of the teeth.
Local fishing reports — what’s biting now
- FishingBooker – Cancún fishing reports — Charter reports out of Cancún
- Aardvark McLeod – Fish Tails blog — Fly-fishing travel notes incl. Ascension Bay
Sources
- DOF – NOM-017-PESC-1994 sport-fishing rules and bag limits
- Ley General de Pesca y Acuacultura Sustentables, Art. 68 (50 nm sport-only species)
- Quadratín (citing CONAPESCA/DOF) – Grouper veda Feb 1–Mar 31
- BM Editores – CONAPESCA veda calendar, Feb 2026
- Por Esto – Lobster veda begins Mar 1 in Isla Mujeres
- UNAM thesis – Sailfish sport fishery off Cozumel (1992)
- UNAM thesis – Reproduction of Cozumel billfish & dorado (1992)
- DOF 2013 – Fishing refuge zones, Banco Chinchorro & Punta Herrero
- Marlin Magazine – The Sailfish of Isla Mujeres
- Sport Fishing Magazine – A Winter Sailfish Hotspot in Mexico (2023)
- Salt Water Sportsman – Ascension Bay super slam
- Salt Water Sportsman – Mexican Caribbean / Isla Holbox fishing feature
- Marlin Magazine – Isla Mujeres Offers Great Sailfish Numbers
- FishingBooker – Cancun Fishing Seasons: The Complete Guide
- Cozumel Fishing Guide 2026 (Cozumel Cruise Excursions)
- Cozumel Anglers – Cozumel fishing seasons, month by month
- Aardvark McLeod – Fly fishing seasons of Ascension Bay
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every month on this calendar comes from the sources above. Empty boxes mean no official source gives those months. Rules change — check the agency page before you keep a fish.
On the bay, in the mangroves or on the ocean, the everyday struggles get left at the dock — for those few hours it’s just you, the water and peace.