The Cancun fishing area is located on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo and it offers a wide variety of sportfishing opportunities, from offshore charter fishing for sailfish, marlin, dorado or mahi-mahi (also called dolphin fish), wahoo, barracuda, and blackfin tuna, as well as inshore flats fishing for tarpon, permit, snook or "robalo," and the challenge of bonefish on the fly. In between, structure fishing on inshore waters surrounding Cancun offers action on grouper, jacks, snappers, and other fish species found in relatively shallow water. Seasonal offshore charter fishing at Cancun can be excellent for Atlantic sailfish during the spring-summer months of April through about late July when fly tackle enthusiasts may get a dozen shots a day on this species. The same spring-summer Cancun fishing season also offers peak opportunities for dorado, and white and blue marlin. April-May is considered Cancun's peak fishing season for sailfish and white marlin, and at this time broadbill swordfish and shortbilled spearfish may also be sometimes encountered.
Cancun sport fishing opportunities during the fall-winter period of September through January are peak for inshore grouper, snapper, and mixed jacks such as amberjack. The deep winter months of February and March can bring windy periods, as can passing tropical storms during late the summer months centered on September.

The charter sportfishing industry at Cancun is well developed and its surrounding waters can be tested by the fly angler fishing the famous coral sand flats, or offshore, traditional gear offshore angler, or even the spinning tackle angler who wants to share a boat. For more information, you visit our section on Cancun snorkeling adventures.

In Cancun and nearby Cozumel, fishing is actually overshadowed by the very large and active resort and vacation travel industry, Mexico's largest, but both locations, as well as the nearby Isla Holbox, Puerto Morelos, Puerto Aventuras, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Rivera Maya, and other vacation travel centers offer sportfishing boats, marinas, and services of all kinds for the tourist angler.
Cancun's warm fishing waters all along this stretch of Mexico's Caribbean coast benefit from an abundance of upwelling and nutrient stimulating currents resulting from turbulence caused by local reefs, islands, and points, beginning the proverbial food chain that attracts a variety of fish to the area. This effect is particularly important between the coast and the island of Cozumel where an underwater trench brings deep water very close to shore and allows sportfishing to begin within minutes of departing the marina.
In addition to sportfishing, Cancun offers many other attractions for the tourist angler on vacation, including some of the world's most beautiful beaches, world class diving in fish-filled crystal clear water, the famous Mayan ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula, an embracing tropical climate, traditional Mexican hospitality, and of course, the go-go, super developed tourist resort industry and nightlife that doesn't know the word "blush." The Cancun fishing area has something for every vacationer.