Fishing· Isla del Carmen· Mexico
Dorado and Yellowtail Fishing (Loreto)
26° 4.8′ N · 111° 3.6′ W · approximate
Loreto built its fame on dorado: summer brings schools under floating sargassum off the islands, while winter and spring yellowtail stack up on deep structure off Isla Carmen and Isla Coronado; striped marlin, roosterfish, cabrilla and the huge endemic Gulf grouper round out the list.
Practical
Coordinate is approximate: off Punta Lobos at Isla Carmen's north tip (GeoNames 26.07243, -111.05956), where a 2017 trip found schoolie dorado. Yellowtail: local skippers jig mackerel baits to 250-400 ft at 'La Cholla', a high spot in the saddle between the big islands (Salt Water Sportsman, 2023). Mahi and marlin stay good through August (Sport Fishing). Dorado also run close to the rocky island shorelines in central Cortez. Tournaments: Governor's Cup (May), Loreto Dorado International (July), Copa Dorado (September) per Wikivoyage. Rules: everyone over 14 aboard a boat with fishing gear needs a Mexican fishing licence (2025: MX$204/day, MX$510/week, MX$766/month, MX$1,021/year); 10 points per person per day (dorado and roosterfish 2.5 points, billfish 5); spearfishing only while free-diving, 5 fish per day; no shellfish or crustaceans. Park zoning applies—check no-take areas with CONANP.
Best for
Filling the freezer legally
Season
Dorado June-October; yellowtail winter-spring
Nearby
- Punta Lobos Dive Site (Isla Carmen)0.4 NM away
- V-Cove (El Refugio), Isla Carmen1.9 NM away
- Puerto de la Lancha (Isla Carmen)2.8 NM away
- Painted Cliffs Anchorage (Isla Carmen)5.1 NM away
- Bahía Salinas Beach (Isla Carmen)5.6 NM away
- Bahía Salinas and Salt Works (Isla Carmen)5.9 NM away
- Bahía Salinas Wreck (Isla Carmen)6 NM away
- La Salina Trail (Isla Carmen)6.2 NM away