ixtapa-zihuatanejo — costa grande of guerrero
Fishing bay on Guerrero's Costa Grande, with blue water close to shore. Sailfish almost all year, marlin in late winter, roosterfish on the beaches.
Zihuatanejo is a fishing bay on Guerrero's Costa Grande, with Ixtapa, its tourist neighbor, about 5 km away. Deep water comes close, and much of the fishing happens a few miles offshore, such as at the White Rocks, rocks about 5 miles from the bay. Sailfish are the target almost all year, caught on trolling with dead cocinero and live bait. Blue and black marlin peak from February to May, and yellowfin tuna show up in winter and spring; mahi-mahi and wahoo complete the offshore catch. Near shore, roosterfish, crevalle jacks, sierra, groupers and snappers give light fishing with poppers, plugs and live bait. Super pangas and cabin boats leave from the Zihuatanejo pier and the Ixtapa marina.
best season
Sailfish almost all year, weaker in March and April. Blue and black marlin from February to May, yellowfin tuna in winter and spring; roosterfish from May to August and from October to December.
Local rules: Conapesca sport and recreational fishing permit for anyone fishing from a boat; fishing from the beach or pier needs no permit. Under NOM-017, sailfish, marlin, mahi-mahi and roosterfish are reserved for sport fishing within the 50-mile zone; the limit is 1 billfish and a limit of 2 for mahi-mahi and roosterfish per angler per day, within 10 fish. Don't fish within 250 m of beaches with bathers, such as those in Zihuatanejo Bay. Check local rules.
- getting there
- Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport, south of the city, with domestic and international flights. By road, Federal Highway 200 follows the coast to Acapulco and Lázaro Cárdenas.
- facilities
- Super pangas and cabin boats at the Zihuatanejo pier and the Ixtapa marina, hotels in both towns. Full-day trips usually include licenses for everyone on board.
- country
- Guerrero, Mexico
tip
Leave early: close to shore the sea is usually choppy and farther out it is calmer. For roosterfish, cast poppers along the beach 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 Mexico
Anyone fishing from a boat needs an individual recreational-sport fishing permit (permiso de pesca deportivo-recreativa), issued by Conapesca and obtained online through the e5cinco system, with fees paid per day, week, month, year or excursion. 2025 values reported by Conapesca: 1 day, MXN 204; 1 week, MXN 510; 1 month, MXN 766; 1 year, MXN 1,021; excursion, MXN 1,453 (adjusted every year). Fishing from land does not require a permit; spearfishing requires an individual permit (NOM-017-PESC-1994, amended in 2013).
- Marlin, sailfish, swordfish, sábalo/chiro, roosterfish and mahi-mahi (dorado de mar) are reserved for sport fishing within 50 nautical miles of the coastal baseline.
- Sea catch limit: up to 10 fish per angler per day, with a maximum of 5 of the same species. Billfish (marlins, sailfish and swordfish), sharks and giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas): 1 per day. Sábalo, mahi-mahi, roosterfish and baya: 2 per day. In freshwater, 5 per day. Fish caught beyond the limit are released alive back to the sea.
- Fishing within 250 m of beaches with bathers and of commercial fishing boats or nets is prohibited. Sport-caught fish may not be sold, and billfish may not be filleted on board.
- In natural protected areas, sport fishing is only allowed under the terms of the decree and each area's management program (Conanp); many have closed zones and stretches for catch and release only.
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 DOF — Modificación a la NOM-017-PESC-1994 (pesca deportivo-recreativa), publicada em 25/11/2013Species reserved within the 50-mile zone, limits (item 4.9.1), 250 m distance from beaches with bathers (item 4.10)
- official Conapesca — Permiso de pesca 2025 en México: guía fácil de requisitos y documentosSport and recreational permit through the e5cinco system; 2025 prices
- market Asociación de Hoteles de Zihuatanejo — Sport FishingSailfish much of the year, marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi 5 to 10 miles out, roosterfish, groupers, snappers and sierra near shore; license included on full-day trips; no license needed to fish from the beach
- press Salt Water Sportsman — From A to Zihuatanejo (Tom Richardson)Article updated in 2007: seasons for sailfish, marlin, yellowfin tuna and roosterfish; White Rocks about 5 miles out; trolling with dead cocinero