Suggestions for shore fishing around Playa?

arctric · 02-13-2002

This will be our first trip to Playa, around mid-March. Whenever in Mexico we always spend a few days trying our luck fishing from shore. Had great luck last year north of Cabo and really looking forward to Playa this year. We have an auto rented and some good maps... any suggested areas within driving distance for fishing from shore would be greatly appreciated!

seananddeb · 02-14-2002

I am sorry I can't help with your question but I am wondering the same thing. I will be at the Mayan Palace with my wife at the beginning of March. I am wondering what kinds of fish you had luck with last year? I have secured a guide to fish for bonefish in Cozumel but it can start to get pricey after a while.

**james** · 02-14-2002

I've never seen anyone fish from shore here. You might want to head south into the biosphere and try some of the world renowned flats fishing in Sian Kaan.

arctric · 02-14-2002

Agreed. We will take a day with a guide also. Shore fishing in the early morning is hard to beat though, it's always an adventure! You can use a variety of lures / spoons, but the best all around bait is cut squid. We use a med/heavy long rod with 20# Fireline, slide on a 2 or 3 oz. barrel slip sinker and a bead, then tie on a 50 lb. ball-bearing swivel. Attach a 3 foot 50 to 70 lb. fluorocarbon leader finished off with a heavy wire 6/0 circle hook. Cut the squid in strips. Find structure.
This is an Americanized version of a technique learned from a local one year. He was using line he had found washed up on shore and no pole, had two old spark plugs tied on for weight and threw the rig out toward submerged boulders by hand. In two mornings my wife and I had 16 fish including two real nice red snapper. But, the local still out fished us with spark plugs!

**james** · 02-14-2002

yeah, I've seen the sparkplugs in action, and sampled the results before. weird wild stuff.

froofroo · 02-15-2002

I'm a bit unclear as to the replies. Has it been decided that it's not a good idea to try fishing from the beach at PDC? Arctric-is your reply related to the areas south of PDC or from the beach at PDC?

Reason for me to ask is we are going be staying at a beachfront place in Playacar and I was considering bringing along a rod and some simple equipment. Since I get up early I thought I might try there before my family gets up. I understand the need to find structure and I guess I'll find out when I get there. We will have a car though.

A stupid question: not owning any salt water equip....is it silly to think about bringing an ultralite (since it will fit into my suitcase)?

arctric · 02-17-2002

froofroo- My reply (above) was to seananddeb's question above who was also looking for the same info we are. (I am also the original poster of the question.) My reply refers to our trip last year to Cabo San Lucas. Hopefully some of what we learned there will be applicable to the East shore, we will see.
Your unltralite should work in most situations from shore. It beats no pole with spark plugs tied on! Many of the fish closer to shore are small, however if you should tie into one of the larger predators you will have your hand full. But that's the fun of it, right? I would still use Fireline, probably in the 8lb. class which should be around the diameter of 4lb. mono. Also still use a heavy leader material, it helps keep the toothy ones from snapping off and offers protection against the rocks and reef. One of the problems on the Pacific side is the heavy pull of the huge surf, an ultralite would absolutely be useless there but I don't anticipate that kind of surf around Playa. Hope that helps, good luck!

Peppervette · 02-19-2002

I will be going to PDC in late April and plan on bringing a fishing pole. I have seen many large fish around the ferry pier late at night and will try my luck there if it's ok. Will most likely donate the pole to a local before I leave.
By the way, who the hell cares if you catch something as long as your in Playa.

RS

robandsand · 03-30-2002

Hi there! We're wondering if any of you shore-fishers came back from your trips and have any tips for us! We're going to Playa del Carmen/Tulum area at the end of April and are going to bring our rods and try our luck. We have yet to plan our itinerary,..so can work it around some nice shore-fishing spots..any advice?
Sand and Rob

arctric · 04-03-2002

We returned from PDC March 19th, didn't do too well shore fishing this year but then again we really didn't try very hard. There's just too much to do, we ran out of time. We did learn a few things though and can offer a few suggestions. If you have a car try the areas just North of Tulum. You can easily still find access and it looks to hold good potential. There are shallow bay spots and areas that the shoreline extends out to meet the reef as well.
In PDC, just North of the ferry dock, there is a rock breakwall used by a few locals every day for fishing. Further North from there, (close to the Fishermans Resort) is another good looking spot consisting of rocky reef type structure extending out from the beach.
The best chance in PDC from shore appears to be at night. The fish are most likely out near the reef all day but may come in to feed at dark. Don't know this for sure though since we had other priorities at night while in PDC ;-)

02-14-2002	#3 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,763	I've never seen anyone fish from shore here. You might want to head south into the biosphere and try some of the world renowned flats fishing in Sian Kaan. __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image!

02-14-2002	#5 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,763	yeah, I've seen the sparkplugs in action, and sampled the results before. weird wild stuff. __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image!

02-13-2002	#1 (permalink)
arctric sandflea Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5	This will be our first trip to Playa, around mid-March. Whenever in Mexico we always spend a few days trying our luck fishing from shore. Had great luck last year north of Cabo and really looking forward to Playa this year. We have an auto rented and some good maps... any suggested areas within driving distance for fishing from shore would be greatly appreciated!

02-14-2002	#2 (permalink)
seananddeb sandflea Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 5	I am sorry I can't help with your question but I am wondering the same thing. I will be at the Mayan Palace with my wife at the beginning of March. I am wondering what kinds of fish you had luck with last year? I have secured a guide to fish for bonefish in Cozumel but it can start to get pricey after a while.

02-14-2002	#4 (permalink)
arctric sandflea Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5	Agreed. We will take a day with a guide also. Shore fishing in the early morning is hard to beat though, it's always an adventure! You can use a variety of lures / spoons, but the best all around bait is cut squid. We use a med/heavy long rod with 20# Fireline, slide on a 2 or 3 oz. barrel slip sinker and a bead, then tie on a 50 lb. ball-bearing swivel. Attach a 3 foot 50 to 70 lb. fluorocarbon leader finished off with a heavy wire 6/0 circle hook. Cut the squid in strips. Find structure. This is an Americanized version of a technique learned from a local one year. He was using line he had found washed up on shore and no pole, had two old spark plugs tied on for weight and threw the rig out toward submerged boulders by hand. In two mornings my wife and I had 16 fish including two real nice red snapper. But, the local still out fished us with spark plugs!

02-15-2002	#6 (permalink)
froofroo lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 16	I'm a bit unclear as to the replies. Has it been decided that it's not a good idea to try fishing from the beach at PDC? Arctric-is your reply related to the areas south of PDC or from the beach at PDC? Reason for me to ask is we are going be staying at a beachfront place in Playacar and I was considering bringing along a rod and some simple equipment. Since I get up early I thought I might try there before my family gets up. I understand the need to find structure and I guess I'll find out when I get there. We will have a car though. A stupid question: not owning any salt water equip....is it silly to think about bringing an ultralite (since it will fit into my suitcase)?

02-17-2002	#7 (permalink)
arctric sandflea Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5	froofroo- My reply (above) was to seananddeb's question above who was also looking for the same info we are. (I am also the original poster of the question.) My reply refers to our trip last year to Cabo San Lucas. Hopefully some of what we learned there will be applicable to the East shore, we will see. Your unltralite should work in most situations from shore. It beats no pole with spark plugs tied on! Many of the fish closer to shore are small, however if you should tie into one of the larger predators you will have your hand full. But that's the fun of it, right? I would still use Fireline, probably in the 8lb. class which should be around the diameter of 4lb. mono. Also still use a heavy leader material, it helps keep the toothy ones from snapping off and offers protection against the rocks and reef. One of the problems on the Pacific side is the heavy pull of the huge surf, an ultralite would absolutely be useless there but I don't anticipate that kind of surf around Playa. Hope that helps, good luck!

02-19-2002	#8 (permalink)
Peppervette into ruins Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California Posts: 77	I will be going to PDC in late April and plan on bringing a fishing pole. I have seen many large fish around the ferry pier late at night and will try my luck there if it's ok. Will most likely donate the pole to a local before I leave. By the way, who the hell cares if you catch something as long as your in Playa. RS

03-30-2002	#9 (permalink)
robandsand sandflea Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 2	Hi there! We're wondering if any of you shore-fishers came back from your trips and have any tips for us! We're going to Playa del Carmen/Tulum area at the end of April and are going to bring our rods and try our luck. We have yet to plan our itinerary,..so can work it around some nice shore-fishing spots..any advice? Sand and Rob

04-03-2002	#10 (permalink)
arctric sandflea Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5	We returned from PDC March 19th, didn't do too well shore fishing this year but then again we really didn't try very hard. There's just too much to do, we ran out of time. We did learn a few things though and can offer a few suggestions. If you have a car try the areas just North of Tulum. You can easily still find access and it looks to hold good potential. There are shallow bay spots and areas that the shoreline extends out to meet the reef as well. In PDC, just North of the ferry dock, there is a rock breakwall used by a few locals every day for fishing. Further North from there, (close to the Fishermans Resort) is another good looking spot consisting of rocky reef type structure extending out from the beach. The best chance in PDC from shore appears to be at night. The fish are most likely out near the reef all day but may come in to feed at dark. Don't know this for sure though since we had other priorities at night while in PDC ;-)

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