Sport fishing charter

Charters at Marina Vallarta are mostly private: you hire the boat, anything from a 28-foot panga to a 44-foot sportfishing yacht, for four to twelve hours, and the captain supplies the tackle. The bigger fish are outside the bay, around Punta Mita, El Morro, Corbetena and the offshore banks, so a serious marlin or tuna day means a long run out; inside the bay the catch is smaller. A Mexican fishing licence is required.

What bites depends on the month. Winter brings sailfish, striped marlin, dorado and wahoo; summer is roosterfish and yellowfin tuna; autumn is the season for blue and black marlin and the biggest yellowfin. Some crews will clean and pack your catch.