Central Latin America is a paradise for those who love to fish, both freshwater and saltwater. It’s also a wonderful vacation destination for families who may not be interested in fishing so it gives everyone the best of both worlds—the fishing enthusiasts have their best vacation ever while their families or significant others can enjoy a wide variety of sightseeing and cultural, athletic and archeological activities. In the evenings the parties can end the day together.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a wonderful place to fish, particularly in the autumn months when people in the States are beginning to feel the chill. Extend your summer by going in October when the mahi mahi shows up with all the sailfish, tuna and marlin. You’ll also find Yellowtail tuna, roosterfish and Bonita. Most of these fish are caught when trolling mullet or pitch baits. You’ll enjoy lots of sun and water temperatures average around 85°. Plentiful sardines can be used as bait and also attract fish as they look for food.
You may want to go to nearby Banderas Bay, the largest natural bay in Mexico, where you can watch the Humpback Whales as they migrate there to give birth to their calves. November is the month for sailfish and marlin championships with continued perfect weather and great sailing. Take a sunset cruise after a day of fishing for the perfect evening. There are condo and beach house rentals as well as hotels for lodgings. Your family—or even you, after a day of fishing—will enjoy activities such as horseback riding, snorkeling, whale watching and tours of the city and the surrounding jungle. In the evening you can watch a game at a sports bar, go dancing or partake of casual and fine dining in all types of cuisines.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is another fishing paradise with the best of both inland and ocean sports. It has two coasts to fish and you can also fish the rivers of the jungle and mountains. This area has some of the best sport fishing in the world. You can take out your own boat with your group or hire a charter that will take care of all the necessities so you can settle down to some serious fun.
You can fish in-shore above the reefs for barracuda, snapper, jacks and grouper or go to the river and land a huge snook for your dinner. Or go to sea for marlins and other billfish, Dorado, wahoo, Yellowfin tuna and other sports fish. For something different try kayak fishing in a pedal kayak that keeps your hands free for the hard work of your chosen playtime. You’ll be right there on the water where the fish hang out and your guide will make sure that you catch all the fish you want. Or you can fish inshore along the coast for a more relaxing time; enjoy the beautiful surroundings as you reel in African Pompano, grouper, cubera snapper, dog tooth snapper and barracuda.
Costa Rica is another family friendly destination with tennis, golf, casinos, white sand beaches and night life. There are rain forest canopy zip-line tours, white water rafting or you can paddle down a jungle river. Hike the national parks and see volcanoes, hot springs and incredible wildlife. You can also enjoy waterfall rappelling, horseback riding and so much more!
Panama
Panama, meaning “abundance of fish”, is a fishing paradise. You may want to get an all-inclusive package that includes boat, fishing, gear, meals and hotel. One great destination is the Bocas del Toro Islands where you’ll fish among the 68 tropical islands in deep water as well as lagoons and reefs. Stop in Panama City to see the Panama Canal and the ruins of the old city, enjoy art galleries and fine dining. Or choose the Pearl Islands that used to shelter famous pirates from all over the world. The islands have plentiful fishing in the coves and you can enjoy white, black and gold sand beaches. San Jose, the second largest of the Pearl Islands, is known for having broken 16 black marlin world records. There are giant oysters, lobsters and shrimp as well as sailfish, tuna, cobera, red snapper and more to make Panama a paradise for fishermen both inland and deep water.
