salinas — santa elena
Westernmost point of mainland Ecuador, with deep water close to shore. Marlin, yellowfin tuna and dorado.
Salinas sits at the tip of the Santa Elena peninsula, where deep water comes close to the coast. The town has a tradition of marlin fishing and an offshore fleet leaving from the marina. The targets are black, striped and blue marlin, plus sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado and wahoo. Fishing is trolling with artificial lures and live bait. Where the cold water of the Humboldt Current meets warmer waters, bait and predators concentrate. Manta, to the north, is the other major port on the coast.
best season
July to October is the window most cited by operators for marlin, with the Humboldt Current strong; November and December remain good. From December to May the sea is usually calmer.
Local rules: The Organic Law on Aquaculture and Fisheries (2020) gives the fisheries governing body (Vice Ministry of Aquaculture and Fisheries) the role of authorizing and regulating sport fishing: confirm with the operator that the boat is authorized and whether you need your own license. For dorado, Ministerial Agreement 070/2011 set a directed-fishing closure from July 1 to October 7 and a minimum size of 80 cm. Release the marlin. Confirm the local rules.
- getting there
- From Guayaquil International Airport, by road to the Santa Elena peninsula.
- facilities
- Yacht club and marina, offshore fishing boats chartered by the day, beachfront hotels and apartments.
- country
- Santa Elena, Ecuador
tip
Agree on releasing the marlin with the captain before leaving, and use a circle hook on live bait.
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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
- market Fishing World Guide — Fishing in EcuadorPorts, species and season (peak July to October)