Sportfishing in Mexican waters requires a federal permit from CONAPESCA (the national fisheries commission). It's cheap, it's quick to buy online, and inspections do happen — at marinas, at boat ramps, and occasionally on the beach. Fishing without one risks a fine and confiscated gear.
Who Needs One
- Anyone fishing in Mexican waters, saltwater or fresh, from shore or from a boat.
- On a boat, the rule is broader than people expect: every person aboard needs a permit if fishing tackle is on the vessel — whether or not they personally plan to fish. Inspectors apply this strictly, so buy for the whole party.
- The vessel itself needs its own permit if it's a private boat you're bringing down.
- Licensed charters and pangas almost always include permits for their passengers — confirm when you book rather than assuming.
How to Buy One
- Buy online through CONAPESCA's official portal — permits are issued digitally and print at home.
- Or buy through a Baja travel club or a US-side tackle shop near the border. They charge a small service fee for handling the Spanish-language paperwork, which is worth it for a first-timer.
- Or let your charter operator handle it as part of the booking.
Permits are sold by the day, week, month, or year, and the annual permit pays for itself quickly if you fish more than a few times a season. Prices are set in pesos and adjust each year.
Buy Your Permit
Permits are issued by CONAPESCA, not by us — buy on the official government site or through your charter.
CONAPESCA official site →Carry It With You
Keep the permit on you while fishing — a printed copy in a dry bag beats a phone that dies or loses signal on the water. Carry photo ID with it; the name on the permit has to match.
Rules Worth Knowing
- There's a daily bag limit per angler, with tighter sub-limits on certain species (marlin, sailfish, dorado, and shark are restricted).
- Billfish and some other gamefish are catch-and-release or strictly limited — ask your captain, and don't assume a US rule applies.
- Selling your catch is not allowed on a sportfishing permit.
- Totoaba and vaquita protections make the Upper Gulf of California a heavily restricted area. Don't improvise there.
- Bringing fish back across the border is a separate question — see the Customs guide for US limits.
Driving Down to Fish?
US auto policies are not valid in Mexico, and Mexican liability insurance is required by law to drive here — including for the trailer if you're towing a boat. That's separate from your fishing permit and has to be arranged before you cross.
Get a Mexican auto insurance quote →Baja Amigo earns a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.General guidance only, not official CONAPESCA policy. Fees, rules, and bag limits change — confirm on the official site or with your charter before you fish.
Last updated August 2026
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