Fishing in Tulum: Flats and Deep Sea

Among fly fishers, the flats inside the Sian Kaan reserve, Ascension Bay above all, are hallowed water: shallow, protected, and teeming with bonefish, tarpon, snook, and the famously difficult permit. It is one of the few places on earth with a real shot at a “grand slam,” bonefish, tarpon, and permit in a single day.

Trips run with specialized local guides who pole skiffs across the flats and sight-cast to cruising fish, and the reserve’s protected status keeps the fishery healthy: it is strictly catch-and-release. Fishing is good year-round, with tarpon strongest in the warmer months and permit possible every month of the year. Gear is usually provided, but serious fly anglers bring their own rods; book well ahead, as the best guides fill their calendars months out.

Offshore, the deep water starts close to the coast, so runs are short and the fishing starts fast. Charters target mahi-mahi (dorado), barracuda, wahoo, tuna, and snapper year-round, with the glamour season for sailfish and marlin running through the first half of the year. Boats depart from the marina at Puerto Aventuras, up the coast from Tulum, with trips typically running four to eight hours and tackle, bait, and crew included. Everything works for beginners: the crew rigs, spots, and coaches, you reel.