Banderas Bay vs offshore — where should you actually fish

Banderas Bay is deep — it drops off fast, which is why a four-hour trip here is real fishing, not a harbor cruise. Inside the bay: roosterfish, jacks, sierra, snapper along the beaches and points, with sailfish and dorado closer in when the water's right.

Offshore is a different trip. The outer bay and the Marietas (~20 miles) want six to eight hours. El Morro (~28 miles) fits in eight. Corbeteña — "the Rock," the seamount everyone flies here for in autumn — needs ten to twelve, and El Banco twelve. The run eats the day if you under-book it; nobody enjoys turning around at the good part.

So the decision is really about hours, not geography:

• —4 hours — stay in the bay. You'll fish the whole time.
• —6–8 hours — the outer bay opens up: sailfish, dorado, tuna.
• —10–12 hours — the banks. Marlin and big tuna season.

Tell us the fish and the month on WhatsApp and we'll tell you the hours honestly — including when four is enough.