Mexican Pier Fishing

[kraziebone36]

I know that this site is more attuned to fishing in the Pac NW, but it is the place I always come for for my fishing advise, so I thought I would take my chances on a fishing topic completely unrelated to fishing in our oh so fun lakes, streams, and rivers.

I am going to Mexico to get married the first week in June. I would like to bring a pole and some gear with me and cast off of the pier and see what I get. I have been told that you can take your catch to some of the ocean side restraunts and they will prepare your fish for you. Problem is, I havent the foggiest what to use. For instance, what type pole should I bring, (that will still fit in a suit case :-) ), what line weight should I have on my reel, and what type of lures / bait should I use.

Anybody that has had any experience in these waters, your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[northfork]

Might be easier to just buy something cheap when you get there and give it to a kid when your ready to leave.
You won't want to eat anything you catch from the pier. The harbor waters are pretty polluted.
Now if you just want to catch some fish, any fish the cheapest bait is the peel and eat shrimp they sell in the markets.
Leave the shell on and catch Parrot fish (BIG TEETH/ BEAKS) don't put your fingers in the mouth, these things crush coral with thier mouth.
Lots of different fish to catch. The locals will freak out if you let them go.

[fishaholictaz]

Where are you going? I wouldn't go to Mexico without bass fishing for the monsters of the South!!

[SPARKY101]

Where are you going? I wouldn't go to Mexico without bass fishing for the monsters of the South!!

EL SALTO BABY:cheers::cheers: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Gisteppo]

Where you go has a ton of bearing on what you need and what you will catch (and if its edible for that matter).

Fishing bays like Banderas (flag) bay where Puerto Vallarta is can be a little polluted, but its worth taking the trip out to Punta Mita (rocky point) to see the whales and take a panga ride. Fish out there are cleaner than in the bay.

If you go to the carribean/gulf side, the fishing is much different as it is very shallow and reefy out there, so your species are different. The water is cleaner in some places than in others, so some of the fish is edible. The Cozumel area is densely populated with fish, but terribly reefy (great diving area).

A local mexican fishing rig on the pacific side is a one liter pop bottle with about 300 yds of fishing line wrapped around it, a hook sized to whatever the target species is, and a hunk of shrimp. Wing the bait out into the surf, immobilize the bottle somehow, and wait for it to do the job.

E

[kayak chris]

I've heard that one liter bottle backlash to frequently, your better off with a 2 liter.:joker:

[cavdad45]

Instead of worrying about what fishing gear to bring when you go to Mexico, just a hire a local guide or charter. Take a trip or two. Then spend the rest of the time focussing on your new bride doing stuff she wants to do.

Don't sweat the table quality of the fish in Mexico's saltwater, it's fine and tastes great. Have it prepared locally using local seasonings and cooking methods. Great stuff!

[Gringo Pescador]

Krazie,

Like others have said, it depends on where you are going. I go down quite a bit (heading down again this Friday for a week:cheers: ). I put together a cheaper reel spooled with 10# fireline crystal and one of those travel rods (cheap because I check them in my luggage and have had things "disappear" before) along with some hooks, weights, etc.. I take this with me every time I go. Depending on where I go, and my schedule I sometimes will throw a "more suitable for conditions" rod into a mailing tube, and a reel in my carry on and hand carry em down.

The locals that fish are usually pretty nice people and can at least let you in on what they are using and sell you some on the spot. Like Cav said, if you can afford it, hire a guide or charter. I do it every chance I get down there and depending on where you are going, your wife might enjoy it too. On our honeymoon, my wife and I went to Playa Del Carmen (mainland across from Cozumel, just south of Cancun). Hired a charter that took us out to Ascention Bay for the day on a Panga. I spent the day catching Bonefish, Snapper, Jacks, Baracuda, etc. My wife spent the day working on her tan. We both had a blast.

Where are you going? If it is someplace I have been I might be able to help out more specifically.

In any case congratulations and enjoy!!

[kraziebone36]

Hey All,

I will be going to Puerto Vallarta.

[Gisteppo]

You need to get a tour out to Punta Mita:

http://www.puntamita.com/tunatime.htm

http://www.puntamita.com/oceanadventures.htm

There is your fishing....

E

[cavdad45]

Hey All,

I will be going to Puerto Vallarta.

There is another thread on this site started by Gringo about fishing in PV!

[Bigbass Dez]

DONT LEARN THIS LESSON THE SAME WAY I DID WHEN I WAS THERE , Keep in mind your talking "saltwater" and it will destroy the bearings in your "freshwater" reel .. either buy a cheap reel or a saltwater reel .. Thats my two cents .. BBD

[Drewp]

A thorough freshwater rinse should prevent the saltwater from damaging your reels. But indeed the salt can kill just about anything if you let it.