For many years, the little village of Puerto Peñasco (better known as Rocky Point) Mexico was the Mecca for fishing and boating in the coastal waters of the Sea of Cortez. Local residents spent most of their time on the waters, scooping up marine life in relentless commercial fishing operations for shrimp and just about every species of fish that could be found. The nearly unlimited profit-making fishing operations subsequently led to the near complete elimination of the totoaba (or totuava), a huge relative of the white sea bass. At the same time, Rocky Point was inundated with an influx of sport-fisherman from Arizona and California during the 1950s and into the 60’s. Hordes of anglers flocked to the tiny coastal village to fish the waters for the weekend, some arriving by train for fishing excursions aboard enormous charter boats. Today, a concern for the waters and marine life around Puerto Peñasco has provided a respect and responsibility for the fishing and boating that visitors and locals still come to enjoy in Puerto Peñasco; ensuring the sport and recreational fishing in the crystal blue waters will remain for many years.
Listing the top places to fish and boat in Rocky Point is not an easy task. Because the water temperature changes as the seasons change, tides rise and fall and wave sizes and water conditions can change in an instant, its hard to say where the waters are always calm and where the big fish are always biting. The best thing to do is book your fishing charter well in advance. They will tell you when it is the best time to fish; usually based on the type of fish you are hoping to catch. All of the charter operators communicate with each other, and will keep each other up to date on where the best fishing is. Here is a basic rundown on what you can expect depending on where you go in Rocky Point to embark on the fishing adventure you have always wanted to experience.
The fishing that can be found in the waters around Rocky Point and the Sea of Cortez have proven to be quite resilient and prolific despite the alarming decreases they once experienced in their populations. Today, these once thinning schools are returning to abundance, providing very good fishing opportunities in the area to both experienced anglers and first time fisherman. As the fish species return to the area, the range of choices for angling becomes more abundant as well.
During the spring and summer, the “51-mile” reef found outside of Cholla Bay can provide some very good fishing action, most notably for red snapper, whitefish, halibut, and gold spotted bass, as well as some exceptional action when angling for black sea bass. During the winter months, desert-style winds sweep down from the north and drop the water temperatures down into the mid-50s. The drop in temperature and accompanying winds tend to make fishing at Rocky Point during this time of the year very difficult.
As late summer begins to raise the water temperature, the shallow water in the Sea of Cortez becomes the warmest, increasing to about 93 degrees with temperatures creeping even higher. Far to the south of Rocky Point, on the eastern shore that lies just south of Isla San Jorge, the late summer and early fall seasons increase the opportunity of catching sailfish, dorado and even marlin.
Although Rocky Point is probably best known for its thrilling boat fishing, fishing from the shore (beach fishing) around Rocky Point can provide an excellent opportunity to encounter small to medium-sized pompanos, corvine and other different species. As the surface water begins to warm beyond the optimum range, the water temperature usually peaks at around the end of May and then tapers off gradually. It is during this time that the inhabitant fish retreat to the cooler, deeper depths of the ocean.
In the shadow of a town experiencing massive growth from a growing vacation travel industry, with hotels and resort villas rising above the once sleepy little fishing village, the original tradition and feel of Puerto Peñasco can still be found, from the banks of its white sandy beaches to the deep blue waters of the Sea of Cortez, where sport and recreational fisherman continue to enjoy the excellent fishing opportunities that are available for the both the tourist and professional angler.
