fajardo — puerto del rey and east coast
East coast of Puerto Rico, with large marinas and quick access to Culebra, Vieques and deep water, for marlin, mahi-mahi, wahoo and tuna.
Fajardo, on the eastern tip of Puerto Rico, is one of the island's main boating bases, with large marinas such as Puerto del Rey. From there boats cross the Sonda de Vieques toward Culebra and Vieques, or run north and east to the edge of the shelf, where deep water begins. Trolling targets blue marlin, white marlin, mahi-mahi, wahoo (peto) and yellowfin tuna; little tunny and carite (cavala) show up closer to the shelf, and barracuda (picúa) hang around the reefs. Charter boats carry the gear. Federal U.S. waters begin 9 miles offshore, under their own rules.
best season
In Puerto Rico blue marlin usually peaks from August to October. Mahi-mahi and wahoo do well in winter, December to March.
Local rules: To fish for marlin and tuna, the boat needs the NOAA federal highly migratory species (HMS) permit, and selling billfish is prohibited. Minimum sizes: blue marlin 99 inches and white marlin 66, from lower jaw to fork; yellowfin tuna 27 inches, up to 3 per person per day. Mahi-mahi: up to 10 per angler or 30 per boat per day; wahoo: 5 or 10. The Canal Luis Peña Natural Reserve, in Culebra, is closed to fishing. Charter clients do not need a DRNA license. Confirm local rules.
- getting there
- About an hour's drive from San Juan and Luis Muñoz Marín Airport, via PR-66 and PR-3. Puerto del Rey is on PR-3, south of Fajardo's center.
- facilities
- Large marinas with fuel, repair shops and chartered fishing boats; hotels and restaurants in Fajardo and Las Croabas.
- country
- Fajardo, Puerto Rico
tip
On the east side, the trade wind kicks up waves in the afternoon: leave early, look for sargassum and birds working, and take your baits to the shelf edge.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
what you can catch here
before you fish in Puerto Rico
The Puerto Rico Fishing Regulation (Regulation 7949, 2010, from the DRNA) requires a recreational fishing license, for sea or inland water, for anyone aged 13 or older. The text sets fees for foreign visitors of US$7 per day, US$10 for 7 days and US$50 per year, but left the license start date to a public notice from the DRNA: confirm with the DRNA whether it is already required. Charter boat customers do not need a license while fishing with the boat owner or their employee; for species that require a permit, the owner buys a 1-day one for each customer.
- Tarpon and bonefish: catch and release only; it is prohibited to fish for and transport these fish (Regulation 7949, art. 18.10).
- Minimum size for billfish in recreational fishing: blue marlin 99 inches (251 cm), white marlin 66 inches (168 cm), sailfish 63 inches (160 cm), measured from the lower jaw to the fork (art. 18.8).
- In recreational fishing only rod and baitcasting or spinning reel, or line and hook (with few exceptions), are allowed; selling fish is prohibited; and the mahi-mahi limit is 10 per angler or 30 per boat per day (art. 18).
- Beyond 9 miles from the coast begin US federal waters, with their own federal rules.
The rules and closed seasons in the rest of the app are Brazilian. Outside Brazil, the regulations of the country and province apply: confirm with the official agency.
sources and references
Access, facilities and season information changes: check with the lodge, a local guide or the city hall before you travel.
- official CFMC e DRNA — Guía de bolsillo de especies marinas (no ornamentales) reglamentadas para Puerto Rico (2ª edição, 2020)Marlin: sale prohibited, federal HMS permit and minimum sizes; yellowfin tuna 27 in. and 3 per person per day; mahi-mahi 10 per person or 30 per boat; wahoo 5 or 10
- official DRNA — Reglamento de Pesca de Puerto Rico 2010 (Reglamento 7949)Art. 8.10 (fishing prohibited in the Canal Luis Peña Natural Reserve, Culebra); art. 8.37 (sale of billfish prohibited); art. 16.2 (charter clients exempt from license)
- official NOAA Fisheries — Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Permits (atualizada em 28 de janeiro de 2026)Any boat that fishes for or may retain highly migratory species needs a permit; tournaments departing from Puerto Rico fall under the rules; sale of billfish prohibited
- official Caribbean Fishery Management Council — RegulationsFederal waters off Puerto Rico begin at 9 nautical miles