MEXICO - Cruising Guide

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MEXICO - Cruising Guide

Cruising guide to Mexico (Pacific Coast, Sea of Cortez, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean)

Mexico's extensive coastlines include the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Mexico has friendly people, unique food, art, archeology, pyramids, haciendas and 6,000 miles of shoreline.

Weather ranges from the snow mountains of the Sierras, to rainy jungles in the Southeast, and the desert heat of the Northwest. Great anchorages, nice weather, warm sand beaches, lots of golf courses and resorts, and excellent sport fishing are just a few of the reasons why Mexico is ranked the 8th major destination for foreigner visitors.

Mexico, is a federated Union of thirty-one states and a federal district located in North America. It is bounded on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the North Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Covering almost 2 million square kilometers, Mexico is the fifth-largest country in the Americas by total area and the 14th largest in the world. With an estimated population of 109 million, it is the 11th most populous country, and the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world. The capital, Mexico City, is one of the most populous cities on Earth.

Documents you need for cruising a sailboat or power boat in Mexico:

1. Current vessel documentation certificate or state registration. Any other "proof of ownership" papers you have (bill of sale etc.)
2. Current Passport for owner and crew
3. Mexican temporary import permit (issued by mexican customs). All boats coming in to Mexico must get a temporary import permit. There is no longer a 6-month grace period.
4. Boat insurance for your boat in Mexico, if you choose to have it (different than Mexican liability insurance).
5. Mexican boat insurance (liability).
6. Fishing licenses for you, crew, boat, dinghy if you have so much as a single fish hook on board. Mexican Navy checks for these, even if you haven't checked in, so get it before entering Mexico. See below for more information on fishing in Mexico.
7. Mexican Ham Licenses (if needed), in addition to FCC ship's station licence. You can't get them at Ensenada, you need to get it in Tijuana before you leave, or wait until La Paz. In Tijuana get one for around $75 from: Secretaria de Communicaciones y Transportes (1071 Calle 16, Libertad - phone 011-52-668-29500 or fax 011-52-668-23889).
8. Tourist card (visa), can be picked up at any port of entry, or you can get them in advance (but you need one in advance if you want to get a Mexican ham license). Usually good for six months. Get a tourist card in advance from many travel agencies in San Diego or at the Mexican Consulate in San Diego California (1549 India St. phone 619-231-8414).

Mexico Ports of Entry for Sailboats and Power Boats:

• Ensenada, Baja
• Cabo San Lucas, Baja
• La Paz, Baja
• Cedros, Baja
• San Carlos, Baja
• Loreto, Baja
• Santa Rosalia, Baja
• Guaymas, Sonora
• Topolobamba, Sonora
• Mazatlan, Sinaloa
• San Blas, Nayarit
• Chacala, Nayarit
• Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
• Manzanillo, Colima
• Zihuatanejo, Guerrero
• Acapulco, Guerrero
• Puerto Angel, Oaxaca
• Salina Cruz, Oaxaca

Major Ports in Mexico:

To see details of these ports, click here, enter the port number in the box, and click search.

MEXICO EAST COAST

• Port 9355, ALTAMIRA
• Port 9360, TAMPICO
• Port 9370, TUXPAN
• Port 9380, VERACRUZ
• Port 9390, ALVARADO
• Port 9395, CAYO ARCAS TERMINAL
• Port 9400, PAJARITUS
• Port 9405, COATZACOALCOS
• Port 9410, NANCHITAL
• Port 9420, MINATITLAN
• Port 9425, DOS BOCAS TERMINAL
• Port 9430, CONCEPCION
• Port 9440, FRONTERA
• Port 9490, CIUDAD DEL CARMEN
• Port 9500, CAMPECHE
• Port 9510, PROGRESO
• Port 9550, SAN MIGUEL DE COZUMEL

MEXICO WEST COAST

• Port 15710, PUERTO MADERO
• Port 15730, SALINA CRUZ
• Port 15740, PUERTO ANGEL
• Port 15760, ACAPULCO
• Port 15765, LAZARO CARDENAS
• Port 15770, MANZANILLO
• Port 15790, PUERTO VALLARTA
• Port 15800, SAN BLAS
• Port 15810, MAZATLAN
• Port 15820, ALTATA
• Port 15830, TOPOLOBAMPO
• Port 15840, YAVAROS
• Port 15850, GUAYMAS
• Port 15860, PUNTA PENASCO
• Port 15870, SANTA ROSALIA
• Port 15880, ISLA SAN MARCOS
• Port 15890, MULEJE
• Port 15900, LORETO
• Port 15910, BAHIA SALINAS
• Port 15915, SAN JUAN DE LA COSTA
• Port 15920, LA PAZ
• Port 15930, BUENAVISTA
• Port 15940, SAN JOSE DEL CABO
• Port 15950, SAN LUCAS
• Port 15961, SAN CARLOS
• Port 15963, PUERTO SAN BARTOLOME
• Port 15965, PRT VENUSTIANO CARRANZA
• Port 15975, PUERTO MORRO REDONDO
• Port 15980, PUERTO SAN QUINTIN
• Port 15990, ENSENADA
• Port 15995, ROSARITO

MEXICO - SPORTFISHING:

Sport fishing is popular in Baja California and on the Pacific coast.

More striped marlin are probably caught recreationally at the Mexican tourist mecca of Cabo San Lucas than anywhere else in the world. Large fleets of local and American sportfishing boats fish the productive banks and offshore grounds of this renowned hot spot. Striped marlin may be caught year round in Cabo waters but the heaviest concentrations seem to show up in late autumn and good numbers stay around into the spring.

Further north on the Pacific coast of the Baja peninsula, great concentrations of striped marlin also seasonally gather in the area of Magdalena Bay.

MEXICO FISHING LICENCE FEES:

• 1 week $25.80 US
• 1 month $37 US
• 1 year $48.20 US

NOTE: YOU MUST OWN A LICENCE, EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE HOOK ONBOARD AND YOU DON'T INTEND TO FISH.

HOW TO GET A MEXICAN FISHING LICENCE:

• LICENSE REQUEST FORM
• You can also get them in San Diego from the Mexican Fisheries Office (2550 5th Ave. phone 619-233-4324).

MEXICAN SPORTFISHING REGULATIONS:

• When operating a boat that carries fishing equipment in Mexican waters, it is necessary to hold a valid fishing license for everybody aboard the boat, regardless of age and whether fishing or not. A Fishing License is not required when fishing from land.
• Only one rod or line with hook is permitted in the water, per person, but there is no restriction regarding the number of replacement items.
• A fishing license allows to capture only fin fish. It does not allow to capture any other mollusks or crustaceans, and their capture by anyone is strictly prohibited. Totuava, turtles and marine mammals are under protection of the Ministry and may not be captured at any time.
• To capture bottom fish, up to four hooks on a vertical line may be used.
• The use of electric reels is restricted to disabled fishermen only, after written authorization for the Ministry before use.

MEXICO FISHING BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS:

• In ocean waters and estuaries the limit is a total of ten fish per person per day, with no more than 5 catches of a single specie, except of the species of Marlin, Sailfish, Swordfish and Shark, of which only one specimen from this group is allowed per day, and which counts a five toward the overall 10 fish limit, or Dorado, Roosterfish, Shad, or Tarpon, of which only two samples from this group are allowed, and which count as five toward the overall 10 fish limit.
• Limit on inland bodies of water (rivers, lakes, dams, etc.) is five fish per day, whether of a single specie or in combination.
• Underwater fishing is limited to five fish per day, using rubber band or spring type harpoons, and only while skindiving.
• There is no limit to the practice of "catch and release", as long as the fish that exceed the bag limit be returned to their environment in good survival condition.
• Where sportfishing is conducted from boats out at sea for longer than three days, the bag limit will be the equivalent of three times the amounts mentioned above.

MEXICAN FISHING VIOLATIONS:

• It is illegal to capture and maintain alive any fish for ornamental purposes.
• It is prohibited to receive any financial gain from the product obtained through sportfishing.
• It is prohibited to dump trash, litter or substances that harm the aquatic flora or fauna, whether on lakes, river banks, shores or oceanic waters.
• It is prohibited to collect shells, corals, sea anemones and snails, or to disturb the original ecosystem environment.
• It is prohibited to practice sportfishing 250 meters or less from swimmers.
• It is prohibited to use artificial lighting to attract large quantities of fish.
• It is prohibited to discharge firearms in Mexican waters.
• Fish caught under a sportfishing license may not be filletted aboard the vessel from which it was caught

For more information on fishing regulations in Mexico visit: Mexico’s National Aquaculture and Fishing Commission (CONAPESCA)

Weather in Mexico:

• Mexico Weather
• The current Forecast for North America
• National Hurricane Center

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