manta — manabí
Ecuador's largest fishing port and home to the tuna fleet. Trolling trips after marlin, yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi.
Manta, in the middle of the Manabí coast, is Ecuador's largest fishing port and the base of the country's tuna fleet. The same water that supports industrial fishing serves offshore fishing: chartered boats go after black marlin and striped marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna (albacora), mahi-mahi (dorado) and wahoo (guajú). Fishing is trolling, with artificial lures and live bait, in blue water beyond the shelf and around bait balls and birds. The open sea gets rough, especially from July to October. Salinas, further south, is the country's other major offshore fishing port; Puerto López, south of Manta, is the gateway to Machalilla National Park.
best season
Fishing all year. July to October is the most cited window for marlin off Ecuador's coast; mahi-mahi have a closed season for targeted fishing from July 1 to October 7.
Local rules: The Organic Law of Aquaculture and Fisheries (2020) places sport fishing under authorization from the governing body (Viceministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries) and leaves the requirements to the regulation: confirm with the operator whether the boat is authorized for sport fishing and whether you need your own license. Mahi-mahi: targeted fishing closed from July 1 to October 7, and minimum size of 80 cm (Ministerial Agreement 070/2011). Manta rays (Manta birostris and two Mobula species) may not be retained: those hooked by accident go straight back to the sea (Agreement 093/2010). Release the marlin. Check local rules.
- getting there
- Eloy Alfaro International Airport, inside the city, receives flights from Quito. By road, Manta connects to Portoviejo and Guayaquil, where the coast's international flights depart.
- facilities
- Fishing and commercial port, offshore charter boats by the day, hotels and seafood restaurants on the waterfront.
- country
- Manabí, Ecuador
tip
Agree on marlin release with the captain before leaving, and use a circle hook on live bait. Bring seasickness medicine: the open sea is rough.
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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 Ecuador
The Organic Law for the Development of Aquaculture and Fishing (2020) gives the fisheries governing body, the Vice Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries, the role of authorizing and regulating sport fishing (art. 124); spearfishing requires prior authorization and registration. License requirements are set in the law's regulation: before fishing on the mainland, confirm with your boat operator and the Vice Ministry what is required of the angler. In the Galápagos there is no sport fishing license for tourists: the only way to fish is the experiential fishing tour, with a local fisher authorized by the DPNG.
- Galápagos: tourists only fish on the experiential fishing tour, with an artisanal Galápagos fisher authorized by the DPNG, an accredited guide and a maximum of 10 passengers per boat. Billfish and swordfish only in demonstration catch and release; quota of 50 pounds of fish per trip, no sale (DPNG Res. 0000009/2021).
- Mahi-mahi (dorado): Ministerial Agreement 070/2011 set a closed season for targeted fishing from July 1 to October 7 and a minimum size of 80 cm total length. Confirm whether the rule is still the same.
- In protected areas, sport fishing follows the management plan and zoning of each area, under the environmental authority (Organic Law of Aquaculture and Fishing, art. 127).
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 Registro Oficial (Suplemento 187, 21/04/2020) — Ley Orgánica para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura y PescaCopy of the Registro Oficial on FAOLEX (FAO); sport fishing in arts. 124 to 128
- official Subsecretaría de Recursos Pesqueros — Acuerdo Ministerial 070, de 19/05/2011 (dorado)Copy on FAOLEX (FAO); closed season July 1 to October 7 and minimum size of 80 cm
- official Subsecretaría de Recursos Pesqueros — Acuerdo 093, de 26/08/2010 (mantarrayas)Copy on FAOLEX (FAO). Covers Manta birostris, Mobula japanica and M. munkiana: incidental catch goes back to the sea, and retaining, eating or selling them is forbidden. In the copy, the text of art. 1 is truncated
- market Fishing World Guide — Fishing in EcuadorManta as the country's largest fishing port and offshore hub (black marlin, striped marlin, yellowfin tuna, sailfish); peak July to October on the coast