What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco for the first time?

Don’t be afraid to ask to fish for a certain type of fish if you’re after something specific. Our captain was super flexible and would put us wherever and whatever we wanted to do. We wanted to pull in some fish with a good fight but not keep them, so he found us crevalle jacks to hook into. We had our two kids with us that wanted to see a lot marine life, so he found us sea turtles and manta rays, and took us to the most beautiful spot to snorkel. Just an amazing day out on the water!

I was told by the deckhand for the best chance at larger species like Mahi, Tuna, Marlin, etc. to book a longer 10 -12 hour trip. 6 hour trips only go 18-20 miles out and the longer trips go 40 miles plus. Was also told that November and December are the best months at larger species around the Bay for shorter trips. I mention this as something to consider if booking, just depends how long you want to fish and dedication to fishing as it relates to the rest of your party. My friend and I only booked the 6 hour because our wives came along and fishing was not their primary focus of this vacation. One item to note: bring cash with you to pay for the balance of the charter in the morning, our friends thought they would be able to use a card to pay and ended up having to go to an ATM to get cash which cut into our primetime early morning fishing. Also, bring food or snacks if your group needs breakfast, the boat will stop at a dockside restaurant if you want it to and our group had some breakfast burritos delivered to the boat. We thought there would be stores and restaurants open by the marina that we could stop at before getting on the boat. I'm not sure what time these businesses open but at 6:30 AM and even after 7:00 AM marina was still a ghost town with nothing open.

I never have been sea sick before, but even in what seemed pretty calm water I got a little sick. Maybe the tequila the night before had something to do with it, lol. Next time I would take the anti-nausea medicine before hand. Just expect to have a good time and catch fish.

Plan on an adventure over a fishing trip and you will not be disappointed with this 8 hour trip. Lots of action closer in but, mostly smaller fish. For bigger game fish you should book a longer trip and go out further…

Having a boat with cover was essential for the heat. It was helpful to be able to move around if the water made you queasy. I would suggest to pick a boat that allows more friends than are actually planning on boarding. I also needed a bathroom nearby the day we chose to go fishing, and it was really helpful that there happened to be one on board. Definitely made the trip easier.

If you plan to keep your catch, make arrangements in advance !! Things can get hectic and exciting on the trip itself and when you get back to shore! Wonderful experience -- need lots of muscle to reel in the fish !!

This captain knows the area very well. Trolling out past the bay can be hit or miss but we've had success each time we've gone. If numbers of fish are more important to you, talk to Gabriel before you go so he can plan the outing according to what you'd like to catch. There's a trip available for a better chance at some tuna but you'll need to plan for a 12 hour outing. It's 50 miles out.

If you are fishing PV in the winter, be prepared to fish all day and leave the bay. I’m the winter months the rivers cool the bay and it’s too cold for the pelagic fish like Mahi, swordfish, or there. We thought 5 hours could work for getting out far, but we were wrong

Set your fishing expectations early & also allow for some species flexibility if your priority catch isn’t interested in coming home with you that day. It’s called fishing, not catching, for a reason.

Read negative reviews with a grain of salt; it's not the Captain or deck hands fault if the day of fishing proves unsuccessful; do your research on lunar and tidal schedules to maximize your experience. Bring more drinks than you anticipate needing. Be in the moment; your phone can be put on airplane mode and still be used for pictures. Videos can be paused and screenshots can be taken later; don't focus on trying to capture the perfect picture.

Me being an elderly man that couldn't have been more accomadating helping me on and off the boat. The crew Alex and Captain Gabriel very professional and worked there hardest to get us fish. Being a resident of Coloso I will recommend your charter to my friends and neyborers. Thanks .

I believe June is considered a slower month. The fishing was slow until the end when the captain switched to live bait and did a great job figuring out what the fish were wanting. Next time we’ll come in November for comparison.

Fishing, is just that, fishing. You never know if you're going to catch anything from day-to-day. One day you could go out and catch everything you hoped, wished, and desired. The next day, you may not catch anything. This was our 1st experience fishing in Puerto Vallarta. I don't know if it is the best month for fishing, however, we were told that because the water temperature was warming that it could be a good time for some of those deeper water fish. That was not our experience, however.

Check recent fishing reports because the seasons are no longer predictable. Maximize your chances by co-inciding your trip with peak season / times. Establishh realistic expectations in advance of the trip. Do a longer trip if possible to get out of the Bay - bigger fish out towards Marietas. Bring your own tackle / gear if possible - the jig I brought out fished the ones used by the crew by 3x

It was a great trip for first timer or seasond fisherman. I was here in early April on spring break trip with my family. If I was booking a fishing vacation I would book when water temps are up. Lots of bait in the water and wildlife was abundant.

Make sure you book a trip that’s at least 6 hours long. 4 is fine if you only want maybe a few smaller style fish within the bay, which is fine and fun, especially for a first experience, but to get a real rush from cat hi my Marlin or mahi, you need a lot more time. It’s so fun it snaps right by!

If you're trying to go after sail fish, mahi mahi, etc. look at booking a full day trip. The half-day trip was only around the bay and we didn't have too much of a chance to get to open water to chase large trophy fish. Boat is fairly large but only has 2 90 hp outboards so it takes a while to get places.

The fishing was a little slow at times, but the Spanish Mackerel were biting big in the morning. Afternoon slowed down a bit. Were not able to link up any Mahi or Marlin, but did grab a Rooster to end the day!

Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful place, the sea was calm the day we fish but the fishing was slow, We book a 6 hour inshore bay fishing and we caught 4 small skipjack. I don't know if it was just an off-day or the bay is over fish, but nevertheless I guess it's better than getting skunk. If you're gonna fish at PVR I would recommend to book the highest rated guide or maybe go fish out of the bay.

Pick the right boat. Someone who will work hard to got you to the fish. We've had other experiences where it seemed the captain didn't care if we caught anything and didn't want to waste any gas. And sunscreen, do not underestimate the need for sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.

November and December is Marlin n Tuna Time. It takes at least 4 hours to get out of the Bay into Deep enough water to catch a Marlin or Mahi Mahi. Make sure you book at least 12 hours if you want anything bigger than a Bonita

The waters are a little cooler in April so the mahi mahi and dorados are further offshore. However there are still plenty of great fish to catch in the bay!

Nicest Captain and crew. They set it up to be successful, 6 lines trolling various baits and depths. We booked a 4 hour trip.

In March, If you are looking to find mahi and tuna, you're going to have book an all day trip so that you can go 2 1/2 hours offshore.

Visit with your captain and fish for the species that is the most abundant for the time of year your here.

Contact the captain and check with him on what’s being caught. Make sure you have the core address if you are taking Uber

No, choose a different company and check fishing conditions to ensure there isn’t an algae bloom.

Encourage the operator to have enough live bait. All of our good catches were on line bait

Wait until mid-april or later to fish. Water warms up and mahi move into the bay

First 2 days were pretty rough, third day we couldn’t stop catching them with gilligan