Sport Fishing in Puerto Escondido
SOME YEARS AGO, IN PUERTO ESCONDIDO, THE SAILFISH weighed in at 200 kilos and the marlins were twice as big as they are now. Even the tuna and mahi-mahi were enormous. So it was in 1984 that some local residents - Lepo Aldrete, Pedrín, Nicolas Campa, and Rey Aguirre – decided to organize a fishing tournament. After all, many Mexican and international tourists who came to our beaches to surf also went fishing.
The first tournament took place on March 1, 1985, and first prize went to Captain Elpidio (known as Baltazar), Pascual, and Claudio Conti for a sailfish weighing around 150 kilos. While it always feels good to be a winner, the pleasure you get from actually catching a big fish is always much greater.
Nowadays there are fishing tournaments throughout the year, and they have become a tourist attraction. Recreational fishing allows us to enjoy the sunrise on the beach and the chance to see whales, dolphins, turtles and manta rays, and, of course, to get to fish for your dinner.
The first time I went fishing in Puerto we had the good luck to catch six beautiful mahi-mahis; the second time we got a sailfish weighing almost 40 kilos and a few skipjacks. On both trips the captains told us that those were good days for fishing because there was no full moon. When the moon is full the fish look for food at night, so they don’t take the bait during the day.
Here are some pointers for fishing in Puerto:
- The boat must have a certified captain and a sailor to accompany him.
- Use sun screen and bring a lot of liquids.
- Follow all the captain’s recommendations in order to have a pleasant experience.
- Be aware that you will not always catch a fish. It’s a question of luck and agility.
Special thanks to the captain of the Elizabeth, Miguel Noyola (954 540 8177) and to the captain of the Carey, Telésforo Cruz (954 130 7157), who were valuable sources of information, and to everyone who shared their photos for this article.
