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Tulum offers four types of sport fishing: fly fishing for bonefish (available 365 days a year on the white sand flats of Bocapaila and Ascension Bay), deep sea fishing (blue/white marlin and dorado from May to August), bottom fishing (cubera snapper and barracuda) and spearfishing on breath-hold. Ascension Bay, within the Sian Ka'an Reserve, has a worldwide reputation as one of the best bonefish flats on the planet. A fishing charter costs $250-400 USD for a half day (4 hours) or $450-700 USD for a full day (8 hours).
What Types of Fishing Can I Practice in Tulum?#
Tulum's location -- between the second largest barrier reef in the world (Mesoamerican Reef, 1,000 km) and the brackish lagoons of Sian Ka'an -- offers four sport fishing modalities with distinct species and techniques:
1. Fly Fishing
The star modality of the area. The flats (white sand shallows submerged in 30-60 cm of crystal-clear water) of Bocapaila and Ascension Bay offer world-class fly fishing conditions. The primary species is the bonefish (Albula vulpes), a silver fish of 3-5 pounds that inhabits schools on the flats and delivers explosive fights on light line. Unlike the Bahamas or Belize, bonefish in this area is available 365 days a year.
Other fly fishing species: permit (Trachinotus falcatus) at 10-30 pounds, tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) at 40-150 pounds (season March-September), and snook (Centropomus undecimalis) at 5-20 pounds in channels and lagoons.
The fly fishing "Grand Slam" of the Caribbean -- catching bonefish, permit and tarpon in a single day -- is possible in Ascension Bay, one of the few places in the world where all three species coexist in proximity.
2. Deep Sea Fishing
Off the coast of Tulum, the continental shelf drops rapidly to depths of 200-1,000 meters just 5-10 km from shore. This proximity to deep water allows access to pelagic species without extensive navigation:
- Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus): Season December-August. Top speed 110 km/h. Catches of 30-60 kg.
- Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans): Season May-August. Specimens of 100-300 kg.
- White marlin (Kajikia albida): Season May-August. Specimens of 30-80 kg.
- Dorado or mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus): Season May-July. Specimens of 5-15 kg. Acrobatic jumps and spectacular coloration (green-gold-blue).
- Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri): Season November-March. Explosive speed, 2-15 kg.
3. Bottom Fishing
On the reef off Tulum (depth 10-40 meters), bottom fishing with natural bait produces:
- Cubera snapper (Lutjanus cyanopterus): Up to 50 kg. Powerful vertical fight.
- Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda): 3-15 kg. Explosive strikes.
- Jack crevalle (Caranx hippos): 5-20 kg. Sustained resistance.
- Grouper (Epinephelus spp.): 5-30 kg. Bottom fight.
4. Spearfishing on Breath-Hold
Fishing with rubber-powered speargun, practiced on breath-hold (no tank) at depths of 5-20 meters on the reef. Requires a sport fishing license and compliance with closed seasons. Target species: snapper, jack, wahoo. Tulum operators offer guided tours with equipment ($100-200 USD, 3-4 hours).
Season Calendar: What to Fish Each Month?#
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonefish | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Permit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tarpon | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - | - |
| Snook | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sailfish | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | Yes |
| Blue marlin | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | - |
| Dorado | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | - | - |
| Wahoo | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes |
| Snapper | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Barracuda | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Best overall month: May-June (maximum diversity: bonefish + permit + tarpon + marlin + dorado + sailfish simultaneously).
Spiny lobster season: July-February. Available as a culinary complement to your fishing day.
The Best Fishing Spots Near Tulum#
Bocapaila#
Bocapaila is located 25 km south of Tulum, within the Sian Ka'an Reserve. Its white sand flats and crystal-clear water offer 3-5 pound bonefish in schools of 10-50 individuals. The Bocapaila lagoon connects to the sea through a channel where bonefish, tarpon and snook converge. Access via dirt road from the Tulum hotel zone (45-60 minutes).
Ascension Bay#
Ascension Bay is a protected bay of 740 km2 within Sian Ka'an, recognized worldwide as one of the top 5 fly fishing destinations for bonefish on the planet. Its flats extend over hundreds of km2 of water 30-90 cm deep over white sand. Access from Punta Allen (60 km south of Tulum, 2.5-3 hours on dirt road) or by boat. Fishing lodges like Pesca Maya and Palometa Club operate from this area with 3-7 night packages ($2,045-$5,200 USD per person).
Reef Off Tulum#
The Mesoamerican Reef runs parallel to Tulum's coast 300-800 meters away. The coral barrier creates habitats for snapper, barracuda, jacks and grouper. Bottom fishing with natural bait (sardine, squid, shrimp) produces consistent catches. Charters depart directly from the hotel zone beach.
Punta Allen#
Punta Allen is a fishing village of 500 inhabitants on the southern tip of the Sian Ka'an sand barrier. Local fishermen offer fly fishing and trolling charters with generational knowledge of the flats, channels and currents. The Vigia Chico fishing cooperative regulates access to ensure resource sustainability.
How Much Does a Fishing Charter Cost?#
| Charter Type | Duration | Price (USD) | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly fishing half day | 4 hours | $250-400 | Guide, fly equipment, flats boat |
| Fly fishing full day | 8 hours | $450-700 | Guide, equipment, boat, lunch |
| Deep sea half day | 4 hours | $300-500 | Captain, trolling equipment, bait |
| Deep sea full day | 8 hours | $500-800 | Captain, equipment, bait, lunch |
| Bottom fishing | 4 hours | $200-350 | Captain, equipment, bait |
| Guided spearfishing | 3-4 hours | $100-200 | Guide, freediving equipment, speargun |
| Fly fishing lodge (7 nights) | 6 fishing days | $3,575-5,200 | Accommodation, meals, guide, boat |
All charters operate under CONAPESCA (National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission) regulation. A sport fishing license is required ($280 MXN/day or $680 MXN/week). Catch and release policy is mandatory for bonefish, permit, tarpon and sailfish.
What Else Can I Do on the Water in Tulum?#
Fishing is one of several water activities in the area. The best beaches in Tulum offer swimming in turquoise waters and reef snorkeling. Cenote and reef diving allows exploration of the most extensive underwater cave system in the world. The seafood and fresh ceviche in Tulum is the perfect culinary complement to a fishing day, with restaurants that prepare your catch of the day.