Questions about fishing in Mexico.

[fishmaniac]

Hi guys n gals,

My wife and I will be going on a Mexican Riviera cruise on the 29th. We will have port stops at Mazatlan, PV and Cabo. I am hoping to get in some fishing time, most likely some surf fishin cuz I doubt I will be able to commit 4 or 5 hours for fishing. (dont' want to cheat the wife's "mexico" experience)

I have some questions..hopefully someone can help with definitive answers.

1. Do I need a license? I was told that if I fish off "land" (like a beach, pier, dock, etc) that I do NOT. However, they weren't 100% positive. Can NE1 here confirm this?

2. I hear alot of you guys going on Mexico fishing trips that "bring back filets". How do you keep fish "good" for up to 7 days?? I don't think I'll have access to a freezer on the ship.

3. This may sound like a really silly question, but will I be able to purchase bait at the previously mentioned port cities? I am really bad with lures so although that would be the easiest way, I wanna try some bait.

4. If someone here has recently been surf fishing in mexico, how was it?

Thanks!

[throwinIRON]

If fishing surf bring a couple bags of Gulp baits. They work great, Easy to travel with and dont need refrigeration or a live well. I dont know which of the product line would work best down in Mexico. But its worth a shot.

[petersmt]

I can help with a couple of the questions, our family has owned property on the Mexican Pacific for years....

You do not need a license to fish from land in Mexico.

Althought I have not fished in the cities you are visiting, frozen bait should be available either at a tackle shop or at the local fish market.

Also, if you can get out to the beach early in the morning at a good beach for fishing, I would bet you would be able to purchase live fin bait right at the beach from local net fisherman that work the beach. Don't be afraid to ask to purchase from these guys, even if your spanish is not good, hand motions and a fist full of Pesos go a long way. He will see your fishing rod and understand what you want.

As you would expect the local species will be highly mobile and you should see schools of bait and the fish and birds chasing them working up the beach. If you hit a school you should be in luck.

To increase your luck try renting a Kayak to cover more ground.

Good luck

[fishmaniac]

Brandon, I do have a couple bags of gulp. I'm going to bring them just in case I cant find any bait.

Pete, thanks for the answers broham! Just for S&G's, I'm going to bring my Ca fishing license and wear it. Good idea about trying to get live bait. If I'm gonna fish a dock/port area, might as well breaking out the sabiki, get 1 or 2 small baitfish and use them.

Hopefully, I can land something nice while in Mexico!!

[beacondawg]

Good luck on the trip and report back on how it was bro

[cappo5150]

I would also take some krocodiles and kastmasters too.
Good luck and take pics.

[throwinIRON]

Have fun