Adjacent to the Loreto Bay National Park and located on the shores of the Sea of Cortez, Loreto is a historic and picturesque village that captures the heart. In addition to its beautiful hotels and boutique restaurants, this is quite possibly one of the best fishing destinations in Mexico!
Yellowtail are the top prize. In the winter (February to March), the marina is abuzz with sardine and mackerel fishermen—sardinersos—who cast their nets for live bait. Live bait is traded for American dollars, with mackerel fetching a dollar or more. Once the bait wells are full, captains sprint to the fishing grounds off San Bruno Banks or Isla Carmen, where Yellowtail in the 18–35-pound range will test your skills. Many fish break off on the rocks. But if you can hang on for those first few tense moments, a 20+ lb Yellowtail can be yours.
One of the charms of a village like Loreto is that the restaurants—like Mi Loreto near the old mission—will prepare your catch for you after a long day of fighting fish!
It’s hard to pick just one, but my best day in Loreto came a few years ago, when my 75-year-old friend and I bought 20 live mackerel in the predawn and headed out to fish the San Bruno Banks with a taciturn captain named “Cuervo.” Yellowtail gobbled up all the mackerel! We landed 11, and gladly gave fillets away to the captain and his family. There was simply no room in our coolers. That afternoon, just as the sun set over the gorgeous granite range that frames the town, Rich and I walked out onto the jetty and cast lures with the locals. We caught Jacks, small Roosters, Barracudas, and Triggerfish until it was too dark to see.
Charters are reasonably priced, the weather is gorgeous, and the town has an inviting atmosphere. American and Alaska Airlines fly right into the airport. And it’s just a short taxi to the bustling downtown, where all of the action takes place. Once you’re set up in Loreto, why would anyone leave this place? Anglers have a funny thing about them… They’re always interested in what’s around the next corner. Luckily, Loreto has a lot to offer. It’s within striking distance of many other fishing opportunities.
DIY Daytrips
With the luxury of a whole month in Loreto and nothing specific to accomplish, I hiked the sun-burnished coast with my black lab one June in an attempt to catch a decent Roosterfish from shore. I lost enough gear on the rocks that had I invested it in, say, Nvidia, I’d be retired by now! I never caught a decent Rooster.
But I learned some things.
There are rocky points, coves, and nearshore reefs you can access near town. I explored the rocks near the golf course at Nopolo, though the golfers seemed peeved at my presence. Pelicans diving at Playa Juncalito tipped me off to a school of ravenous Jacks one afternoon. I caught and released a half dozen.
And then I discovered the mangrove-lined coves near Puerto Escondido and Tripui.
This is trial-and-error fishing, where various guards at various resorts waved me through the gates unenthusiastically. Signs in Spanish cast doubt on whether it’s cool to fish there. The authorities never came down on me, but some of the deckhands of the luxury yachts gave me side-eyes as they passed through the tight moorage by the marina. Alone in a foreign country with my canine companion, I was never 100% comfortable testing the limits of exploration. I battered my truck on boulder-strewn roads. I drove an hour north and cast lures into Bahia Conception.
My reward? Trumpetfish, Puffers, and the occasional Triggerfish no one would travel over 2,000 miles to pursue. However, one morning, while fishing with a group of locals who told me they were actively fishing despite the resort’s efforts to ban them, I was there just in time to see an ancient man land a huge Sierra Mackerel on a handline baited with a dead sardine. Everyone cheered him on as he hurled the fish upon the dock, collected his few things, and headed up a trail into the hills.
Magdalena Bay
No one just “shoots over” to Magdalena Bay from Loreto. The drive is a little over 2 hours, but the switchbacks and hairpin turns climbing the Sierra de la Giganta require your full attention and, at least, a strong cup of coffee. Waiting for you on the other side are authentic, hardscrabble fishing villages with pangas and guides waiting to take you out into the expansive estuary that goes on and on.
Mag Bay is an ecosystem of tidal flats, mangrove forests, seabird rookeries, rocky islands, and ever-changing sandy spits. The fishing village of Puerto San Carlos—the one I’ve relied on over the years—is the jumping-off point for everything from whale watching to fly fishing for Roosterfish.
Teeming with packs of feral dogs, the town has kept true to its seagirt roots. Lobster, Shrimp, Scallops, and the famous “chocolate Clams” are available at palapa-style restaurants and at roadside stands. However, most of the seafood is processed and shipped away by the town’s cooperative operation. So, if you get a chance to dine at one of these establishments—or, even better, if someone invites you to their house—take that invitation.
Fly fishing for Striped Marlin in October and November is all the rage among the tattooed and wily Trout bums from the States, who show up and occupy the town during these months. Men at loose ends, trust fund babies, drifters with a battered copy of The Longest Silence on the front seat of their rig… The Marlin challenge is something they take personally.
The sardine and mackerel runs bring predators—Dorado, Tuna, and Marlin—in close, so it’s just a matter of flopping your sardine fly out there into the scrum. I’ve participated in Marlin fishing like this and, I must confess, it’s not for me. I’d rather cast lures into the rocky drop-offs and shallow-water reefs. Who knows what you’ll catch? I’ve taken several species of Snappers, a few Groupers, and the occasional Yellowtail by simply staying away from the hectic Marlin grounds and allowing my guide to show me the other Mag Bay.
I visited during the grey whale migration in winter, and caught as many California Halibut as I wanted! These were thick specimens, some over 2 feet long. I kept three. I released the rest. In the distance, the vapor clouds of breaching whales looked like columns of white marble.
There are other ways to explore Mag Bay. If you want to try some of the up-and-coming fishing towns, try Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos or Puerto Chale. Here, local panga captains know where to take you for Snappers, Golden Trevally, Corvina, and possibly, if everything is just right, the elusive Snook.
Go North
And there’s more! For the truly adventurous angler, there’s a treasure trove of fishing north of Loreto. It requires an interesting commute up the stunning coast and across the peninsula to the estuary villages of Abreojos and La Bocana.
Here, you’ll find an intact ecosystem with mangroves, sand flats, dizzying numbers of shorebirds, open Pacific beaches, and two wonderfully dusty villages where you can rent a room. Both towns have surprisingly good coffee shops, restaurants, little grocery stores, and a place to get your oil changed. In Abreojos, a man pushes a cart up the avenues every evening, selling fresh pasties and ice cream bars!
Tides are everything here. With an extreme low tide, you can walk the sandbars and tidal creeks with a 7 wt fly rod and clouser minnow. You’ll need a fish identification book to note the varied species these systems hold. Corvina dominate the channels and cuts. They travel in packs, so if you can find one, you can find a whole school. They’re the perfect sport fish on a fly rod or light tackle! Aggressive and not picky, Corvina over 2 feet long can make your fishing trip a resounding success. They make for wonderful pictures, too, and they’re a delicious fish to grill. But the ultimate prize here is catching a California Corbina—a member of the Croaker family—on the fly.
Other common fish are Broomtail Grouper, which use the estuary as a nursery. Offshore, these Groupers are important to the local economy. The ones you find in the estuary are mere youngsters and should be released to grow up. Both villages have well-organized cooperatives that offer estuary or offshore fishing charters at reasonable prices. For wade fishing, you can contact Carlos at Dara Fishing (IG: @darafishing_pesca) to take you to the local spots.
One of the great things about La Bocana is that the restaurant on the beach will cook your catch. Bring in a couple of Halibut or Corvina, and in a few minutes you’ll be staring at a heaping platter of fried fish fingers, complete with all the fixings. Just out the window, you can watch as the commercial fishermen come ashore to sort the day’s catch. What better way to live your fishing adventure?
Are you interested in fishing in Loreto? Maybe you have some questions for us? Reach out in the comments below!
The post “Pick a Direction, Any Direction!” An Angler’s Guide to Loreto, Mexico for 2026 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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