Puerto Vallarta fishing

[Ranger sport]

Has anyone been fishing in Puerto Vallarta before? Going down there in november for a wedding and looking to go fishing for a day.

[Dave B]

I have been there 4 times in the last 6 years and absolutely love it. I can offer some advice on other stuff (restaurants, bars, excursions) if you have any questions, but I have never been fishing.

[Ranger sport]

So what are the bars and restaurants you like? Looking for some good seafood!!

[Blair Nelson]

It's been many many years but as I recall ... the most fun is going down to the south docks. Rent a boat and guide for fishing in the bay. As I recall the boat we got was about 20' with a 50 Merc for $60 half day (mid 90s). Skip the deep sea stuff. When I went out over XMas we got into the Dorado (5 between 20 and 40#) and a 100# sail as a bonus fish. Take your biggest Dorado and leave the rest of the fish for your guide. He'll sell them in the market and really needs the pesos. Bring your dorado to your favorite restaurant (or hotel restaurant) and make a deal with the manager. Normal rate is your party eats free dorado dinner w/trimmings (plus drinks if you are a good negotiator) in exchange for the fish. Will be the best meal of your trip.

Fish where the blue and green water meets.

[Dave B]

The food was very good, but the experience was awesome. El Panorama is up a hillside about 6-7 blocks from the Malecon (the boardwalk that separates the beach from the town). It is on the 7-10th floors of a building and the views are awesome. Book for sunset-you can see FOREVER.

Something else that was very good was the beach bars on the south end of town. Sit on the beach and let the vendors drop off 6-8 oz marlin fillets, large shrimp or lobster all marinated, grilled and served on a stick for $4. You need to cross the river to get to these places. Cheap buckets of beer too.

El Andiego was also very good. Great service and staff (like most of PV) -free drinks too, not sure why, they just kept bringing us stuff. It is on the north end of downtown.

Tequilas is on the beach and nice for a bite or cocktail. Go upstairs and sit outside and view the ocean and city.

El Toritos is good for catching a game if you need a NFL fix. Above average food at a decent price.

We also stopped in some tiny taco shops about 3-4 blocks off the main strip. If you dont mind risking it, awesome homemade streaded beef or chicken tacos for $.50 each.

We also loved the Geronimo excusion. $40-60 for a day on a 40' sailboat. In the winter you see humpback whales, dolphin, scuba, private beach, booze and food. I dont think the whales are there right now, but the dolphins should be.

[Ranger sport]

Thanks for the info guys!! Sounds like we will be eating and drinking well. Dave, that Geronimo excursion sounds like a good time also!! What time of the year did you see the whales?

[Scott M]

How's the fishing in June? I found out I'm going to be down there (Ixtapa, Zihuatangejo, Puerto Vallarta) for a wedding in June of '09. Guess I can start saving for renting a fishing boat. Tips or recommendations?

[analyzer]

I went sail fishing there in feb, many years ago. We only caught one fish, but it was about 100#.

Although, for the price, we also got to see a sting ray , and some dolphins, and assorted other stuff. You could pay about the same and go on an excursion to see those things, and not get to fish, so this was better.

Frankly, save your money and go sail fishing out of cancun, if it's sail fish you want... alot more action in cancun. Like the other guy said, maybe go after durado or something else.

I would like to recommend the horseback riding. I don't know exactly what outfit it was out of, but we got to see rural mexico, and go to some secluded little shack and eat the local shrimp.

Around here, most horseback riding is on a trail, with your horse's nose, up the next horse's butt, and you don't even need to steer.

There it was much more fun. Sort of freelance, and ride down streets and up mountain paths... they even let us run em wide open for a few hundred yards. That was thrilling!!

I'd definitely recommend it.

We also went on this little booze cruise to some place where we could walk to a waterfall, and swimming area. I don't know about June, but when we went back there in feb, brrrr. I was picturing this romantic secluded little pool of water and a waterfall, and kissing my wife in a very romantic setting. pffff. No one would go more than ankle deep.... run off from the mountain, and it was COLLLLLLLLDDD!!!! Still fun though... and might be much warmer in JUNE.

[bgreen82]

i went down there last september and it was a blast. we didnt get out to a lot of restaraunts, but it was still fun. we didnt stay right in P.V. We were up the north coast a bit near la cruz. if you like adventure do a canopy/zip line tour down there. we did ours through vallarta adventures and it was awesome. great body boarding too. constant waves up there. we did eat at a restaraunt owned by some people from germany called the black forest that was great.