Fishing charters in Puerto Vallarta are usually sold as fixed packages — a 4-hour trip, an 8-hour trip, each tied to a specific destination. Ours works differently: any boat in the fleet can fish, rods and tackle are already on board, and how far offshore you go is simply a function of how many hours you book. More hours, more range. Here's how that breaks down.
Fishing Is Priced by the Hour, Not the Trip
There's no separate "fishing package" here — it's one of the four experiences you can build into any charter, on any boat, alongside snorkeling, beach time and whale watching. That means you're not locked into someone else's idea of where to fish; you're booking hours, and your captain uses them to get you to the best water for the time you've got.
How Far You Go, By the Hour
4-6 Hours: Inside the Bay
The shortest trips stay inside Banderas Bay itself — calmer water, shorter run times, and still productive fishing. Good for shorter charters or when you're mixing fishing with a beach stop in the same trip.
6-8 Hours: Just Outside the Bay
At this range we push just outside the mouth of the bay, roughly 5-8 miles out. More open water, generally better action than staying inside.
8-10 Hours: Corbeteña
A well-known offshore fishing spot, reachable on an 8-10 hour charter. What we target here depends on what you're after — tell your captain what you're hoping to catch and the approach adjusts accordingly.
10+ Hours: El Banco
The furthest spot we run on a single-day charter. If you want serious offshore range, this is the trip to book — 10 hours or more.
Multi-Day: 1-3 Days at Sea
For trips beyond a single day, we run multi-day charters exclusively on Steel n Time, our 53' Hatteras sport fisher. She's the only boat in the fleet that sleeps guests (up to 8 adults) and has a full kitchen and salon — everything you need to be comfortable a day or more offshore.
What to Bring on a Fishing Charter
Sun protection matters more than people expect out on open water — reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and polarized sunglasses make a real difference over a full day. A light long-sleeve layer helps on the ride out early in the morning, especially on the open-air boats. Bring cash if you plan to tip the crew, and bring a cooler bag if you want to take part of your catch home at the end of the trip. Seasickness tends to hit hardest in the first hour before you find your sea legs — if you're prone to it, take medication before you leave the dock, not after you start feeling it.
Morning vs. Afternoon Departures
Early departures are the norm for longer fishing charters — heading out around sunrise means calmer water, cooler temperatures for the ride out, and more usable daylight if you're running a full 8-10 hour day toward Corbeteña or beyond. Shorter 4-6 hour trips inside the bay have more flexibility on timing, including afternoon departures, since you're not racing daylight to reach a distant spot and get back.
Which Boat Should You Fish From?
All three boats fish well; the difference is comfort, range and group size:
- Peaceful Feeling — 32' center console, twin Mercury 300 HP outboards, Furuno GPS and fish finder. Fast and nimble, up to 8 anglers. A great choice for a smaller group focused purely on fishing.
- Guanatuna — 34' Gulfstream, twin turbo 250 HP Cummins diesels, Raymarine GPS, radar and fish finder. Up to 15 guests, open-air (no A/C) — built for a full day on the water.
- Steel n Time — 53' Hatteras, twin Detroit diesel 900 HP motors, Furuno GPS, sonar, radar and fish finder, 3 air conditioners. Up to 22 guests, and the only option for multi-day trips.
Combine Fishing With Whale Watching or a Beach Stop
Fishing trips here rarely stay just fishing. The most common charter we run combines all three: we fish while keeping an eye out for whales, stop fishing the moment we spot them to let everyone watch, then pick fishing back up as we head toward a beach for the last stretch of the day. If a straight fishing trip isn't quite what you're after, say so when you book — it's easy to fold in a beach stop at the end.
What's Included on a Fishing Charter
Captain and crew, life jackets, bottled water and ice, and rods and tackle are included on every boat. Not included: a fishing license if one is required for your catch, food and alcohol, and a fuel surcharge on trips that run well beyond the bay (Corbeteña, El Banco, and multi-day trips).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my own fishing gear?
No — rods, tackle and bait are on board. Bring your own if you have gear you prefer to use.
How do I know which spot we'll fish?
It follows directly from how many hours you book — see the breakdown above. Tell your captain what you're hoping to catch and they'll route the trip accordingly within that range.
Can we fish and visit a beach in the same trip?
Yes — it's one of the most common combinations we run. Just mention it when you book so the hours account for both.
Which boat is best for a serious offshore fishing trip?
Steel n Time, especially for Corbeteña, El Banco or multi-day trips — the range, the electronics (Furuno GPS, sonar, radar and fish finder) and the onboard comfort are built for it.
Is there a minimum for fishing charters?
The same 4-hour minimum applies as any other charter, extendable by the hour. Longer-range spots like Corbeteña and El Banco naturally require more hours to reach and fish properly.
