la paz — sea of cortez
Capital of Baja California Sur, on the Sea of Cortez. Roosterfish on the beaches, dorado in open water and snapper on the rocks.
La Paz sits in a protected bay on the Sea of Cortez, with islands, reefs and beaches a short boat ride away. Roosterfish is the trophy, caught from a panga on live bait along the beaches. Dorado, yellowfin tuna and, in summer, sailfish show up in open water, while snapper and jurel (Seriola) live on rocks and reefs. To the south, the Bahía de los Muertos and Isla Cerralvo (Jacques Cousteau) area is a classic panga route. Facing the city, the Espíritu Santo Archipelago is a marine national park with fishing-closed zones.
best season
From spring to autumn. May to October is the season for roosterfish and dorado; in winter, northern winds leave the sea rough and reduce trips.
Local rules: Conapesca sport-recreational fishing permit for those fishing from a boat, and NOM-017-PESC-1994 quotas (1 billfish and 2 between dorado and roosterfish per day, within 10 fish). In the Espíritu Santo Archipelago Marine National Park (2007 decree), core zones are closed to fauna use; under the management plan, sport fishing is only allowed in the indicated subzones, with a permit and following NOM-017. Check with Conanp before fishing around the islands. Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- La Paz International Airport, with domestic flights. From Los Cabos, by road, about 2 to 3 hours.
- facilities
- Marinas, pangas and rental boats with captain, hotels on the waterfront (malecón) and inns in the villages south of the bay.
- country
- Baja California Sur, Mexico
tip
For roosterfish, look for bait schools near the surf and retrieve the bait fast: it tends to follow before striking.
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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 — Decreto que declara Parque Nacional a zona marina del Archipiélago de Espíritu Santo (10/05/2007)Core zones with no fauna use; buffer zone with subzones
- technical Pronatura Noroeste / Conanp — Compendio del Programa de Manejo del Parque Nacional Zona Marina del Archipiélago de Espíritu SantoSubzones where sport fishing is or is not allowed; presented by the park's management
- official DOF — Modificación a la NOM-017-PESC-1994 (pesca deportivo-recreativa), publicada em 25/11/2013Species reserved within the 50-mile zone, bag limits (item 4.9) and permits