mazatlán — sinaloa
Traditional billfishing port on the Mexican Pacific, at the entrance to the Gulf of California. Sailfish, marlin and dorado.
Mazatlán sits on the Sinaloa coast, at the mouth of the Gulf of California, and has a long tradition in sport fishing. The shelf is narrow and blue water comes within a few miles of the harbor, where sailfish, blue, black and striped marlin are fished by trolling and live bait. Dorado and yellowfin tuna complete the fishing; near shore, snapper and jacks give light-tackle action. Outside the warm season, striped marlin sustains the billfishing. The fleet leaves from the harbor, near the lighthouse (El Faro), and from Marina Mazatlán, on offshore fishing boats and pangas.
best season
From June to November, with warm water, is the season for sailfish, blue marlin and dorado. Striped marlin shows up more in winter and spring.
Local rules: Conapesca sport-recreational fishing permit required for each angler on board. Under NOM-017-PESC-1994 (amended 2013), marlin, sailfish, swordfish, dorado, roosterfish and tarpon (sábalo) are reserved for sport fishing within 50 miles; bag limit of 1 billfish and 2 between dorado and roosterfish per angler per day, within 10 fish; excess fish go back alive to the sea, and billfish may not be filleted on board. Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- Mazatlán International Airport, with domestic and international flights. By road, the Durango–Mazatlán highway connects the city to the interior.
- facilities
- Sport fishing fleets, marinas, beach hotels of all levels and a fish cleaning service at the harbor.
- country
- Sinaloa, Mexico
tip
In summer, leave early and look for current lines and sargassum: dorado hides under them.
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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, bag limits (item 4.9) and permits
- official Conapesca — Permiso de pesca 2025 en México: guía fácil de requisitos y documentosSport and recreational permit through the e5cinco system; 2025 prices