Cancun is one of the top sportfishing hotspots in the world thanks to the warm sea temperatures and pelagic waters that so many species look for. Marlin fishing is one of the most fascinating challenges any angler can encounter due to its challenging essence and potential size. Sportfishing in this area is done on charter boats departing from Cancun on a “catch-and-release basis.” So, if Marlin is your ideal catch, here we have all the information on what to expect while fishing in Cancun.
Types of Marlin You Can Find In Cancun
Out of the four types of Marlin, there are two specific types you’ll find around these waters. The first one is the White Marlin, it is recognizable due to the upper half of its body being a dark blue to brown color, which shades the belly’s silvery-white color, with blue-black tiny black patches covering the first dorsal fin and its upper jaw is spear-shaped and extended. The other one is Blue marlin, which is most usually seen in temperate and tropical regions. It favors staying in warm waters near the surface that is above the thermocline and they are closely aware of seasonal changes in water temperature. Contrary to white marlins, which have rounded dorsal and anal fins, blue marlins have tall, anteriorly pointed dorsal fins and similarly pointed anal fins. The fish’s color is distinguished by dark blue above the lateral line and silver/white below, frequently with vertical stripes of azure blue.
Marlin Fishing Season in Cancun.
Since the Marlin is primarily found in temperate waters of tropical regions of the Atlantic Ocean, it prefers warm waters near the surface making the Caribbean waters one of the most popular spots for Marlin fishing.
Marlin season is from March to July, and as mentioned, because they love warm weather, summer is the ideal season to find them, so its peak season is from June to July. Expert fishermen visit us from all over the world during this time due to the high concentration of Marlin in Cancun waters.
Marlin is very difficult to catch from August to February. It is considered that there are a few or maybe none of them around, but you can try your luck with other species. Our tropical waters offer a wide variety of fish. Check out our Cancun fishing season calendar for more information about them.
Actually, that’s one of the reasons many expert fishermen love coming to these waters, although they have visited plenty of other seas, they always come back hoping to get a catch from our high range of species and calm crystalline waters, because it boosts their trip and makes of this sport a fun challenge.
Tips To Fish Marlin in Cancun
Given the size, strength, and relative rarity of the four marlin species, some game fishers view marlin fishing, also known as billfishing, as the pinnacle of offshore game fishing. Going after catches like tarpon or bass is a little different from baiting billfish. A fisherman uses different techniques and baits and there are three successful types of bait to entice a Marlin.
The first one is using a live lure, because they are predators, billfish respond more violently to live bait. The secret to it is keeping your bait alive for as long as you can, which will cause the fish to vibrate and draw the attention of the billfish. Rigged natural bait is an alternative to live bait, the rig is designed to allow the bait to travel through the water naturally even if it is dead.
And lastly, artificial lures provide a still reliable choice for baiting, and actually depending on the accuracy, it may help you troll quickly draw a Marlin or other predator’s attention. Although Marlin responds to both dead and live bait, it’s recommended to use real bait instead of plastic or wooden baits, natural baits, alive or dead, are more attractive to them.
The ideal would be to throw from three to four lures to attract Marlin fish, you don’t want to throw more than six or seven lines, and instead of chasing them frenetically, wait for the marlin fish to come close to the boat. Once the fish is close enough to catch the bait, hook, line, and sinker, it will be much simpler to catch!
Hook your line to the boat bollard or tie it off the end of the rod if the wind is messing with it. The weather in the Mexican Caribbean region around Cancun is generally consistent, being lovely and warm during the summer and fall months, keeping the winds and water fairly calm. Since the climate is constantly being monitored, locals are the ones who know best to go out, so our final piece of advice is to try to listen to your captain’s recommendations.
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