Mexican Fishing Laws

SpearfishingCaribe work under the Mexican fishing laws. Remember that we must be responsible with the environment!


Fishing Regulations in Mexico


Mexican fishing laws:

Mexico has selected nine fish spicies and reserved them exclusively for the activity of sport fishing practiced in the area located within the first 50 nautical miles measured from the sea-shore. Six of these spicies are commonly known as Picudos (billfish), these incluide 4 species of Marlin, Sailfishand Swordfish, in addition to Tarpon fish, Roosterfish and Dolphin fish (also knowas Mahi-Mahi or Dorado).

*Sport fishing permits strictly prohibit any commercial fishing activity or  making any monetary gainfrom their use. On-board filleting is also forbidden and catches must be destined for personal consumption or taxidermy mounts.

*It is compulsory for every sport fisherman to have a license to cractice the activity, according to Mexican federal Duty Law. 

*Sport fishermen must abide by Federal dispositions regarding minimum sizes, fishing bans and may only use fishing poles, reels lines whit hooks and with or without bait or lures.

*Sport fishing service providers must keep and present when required a fishing log (which is available at the CONAPESCA web site).

*Catches are limited to five fish daily per sport fisherman in freshwaters and ten fish in saltwater, whit the following quota limits per species:

  1. Not more than five fish of any species.
  2. Regarding Marlins, Sailfish, Swordfish and Shark, the maximum limit for each sport fisherman will be of one specimen per day; any catch of these species is to be considered equivalent to five specimens of any other.
  3. In case of tarpon fish, Dolphin fish (Dorado or Mahi Mahi) or Roosterfish, the maximum limit allowed will be two specimens, and will be also equivalent to five of any other species.

VEDAS

Do you know what VEDA is? 

It is the time of reproduction of the fishery resources, to guarantee their conservation, exploitation and rational exploitation; in order to avoid the decline and extinction of the species.

What species and when are they in Veda?


Grouper:

February 01 to March 31. Minimum size 50cm

inhabits the western Atlantic from North Carolina south to southern Brazil.  It is also found in the Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean Sea.  Yellowfin grouper has two color morphs:  greenish gray in shallow water and bright red in deeper water.  It has oblong dark spots that form horizontal rows on its sides.  Small red spots can often be seen on the belly.  The pectoral fins always have a yellow margin.
Maximum observed age:  15 years.
Age at maturity:  ~ 3 to 4 years
Maximum weight:  40.79 pounds (18.5 kilograms)
Maximum length:   39.37 inches (100 centimeters).
Minimum Size Limit: 20 inches total length
season: closed from February 1- March 31
Life History and Distribution:
This grouper lives at depths from 7 to 450 feet (2 to 137 meters).
Yellowfin grouper habitat includes reefs and rocky or muddy bottoms.
Juveniles live in seagrass beds until mature enough to move offshore.  
Seasonal spawning times vary substantially in different regions within the Gulf of Mexico; generally, spawning occurs January to August.  Yellowfin grouper form spawning aggregations and they share spawning sites with other groupers such as Nassau, black and tiger grouper.
Like other grouper species, yellowfin grouper is believed to change sex from female to male but this trait has not been definitively shown.

Lobster: 

March 01 to June 30. Minimum size 13.5 cm (TAIL).

Scientific Name: Panulirus argusFamily: PalinuridaeCategory: Spiny LobstersSize: 6 in. to 2 ft.  Depth: 3-200 ft. (1-60 m)Distribution: Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida

Octopus:

December 16 to july 31.

Family: Octopodidae
Category: Octopuses
Size: 1 to 2 ft. (30 to 60 cm)  
Depth: 15-75 ft. (5-23 m)
Distribution: Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida

Nassau Grouper:

Closed season until further notice.

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BILLFISH 

The myth of the Peaks, or billfish. In Mexico it is very common to hear that the capture of Picos or Billfish with speargun is illegal, but far from being true. The capture of these animals simply requires different regulations.
Unlike snappers, groupers, barracudas, etc. that it is possible to capture 5 specimens of the same species per fisherman per day, in the case of the Picos, it is only one specimen per boat per day. And in that case, we will not be able to capture any other type of billfish, even if it is of a different species (Marlin, sailfish, swordfish).
It is important that we know all these important regulations, because thanks to them we can enjoy the beautiful Mexican Caribbean Sea for a long time.

Mexican fishing laws
Mexican fishing laws
Sailfish Retreat
Mexican fishing laws
Sailfish Retreat

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Fisherman´s pactMexican Fishing Laws

Although it is legal to hunt the billfish, there are always different opinions regarding its capture, so to maintain peace among all the fishermen of the riviera, this Fishermen's Pact was formed, in which given the case that a billfish be captured, it should be with the objectives of using it for taxidermy, do not sell meat, therefore only for own consumption, of course the animal must be an adult and always remembering that we can only capture 1 billfish

Mexican fishing laws
Spearfishing in Baja
Sailfish Retreat
Mexican fishing laws
Sailfish Retreat