Recommendations for DIY saltwater fishing trip

[Dos Perros]

Looking to tap into the vast knowledge of the Rokslide faithful! I'm wanting to put together a dude's fishing trip, like 6 guys, around New Years. We want to do some saltwater fishing in some place warm and tropical and beautiful. The catch is, we don't want to hire a guide, because for some of us even taking the trip is a financial challenge. Also, and as you can imagine, getting 6 people to agree on the best way to spend time and money is tough! Everyone has their own ideas, and of course everyone thinks their idea is the best one. So, I'm looking for options. I already know how to do a trip like this in the Bahamas (VRBO, rent a car, rent a boat daily, etc) but I need something to compare it to. I looked at Baja California and the Yucatan, but I am having trouble finding a rental boat for a reasonable price; also they all seem to come with a captain, which we don't want. So I think the bottleneck is the boat. In Belize for example, a non-resident must have a boating license, so that's a no go. Most everywhere we should be able to find accommodations and transportation. Do you guys have any ideas?

 

[streamerfish]

Fly fishing or gear fishing??? What kind of species??

Where I go is Cayo Frances Farm & Fly in San Pedro Belize. Its what I would call semi DIY. Small place, quiet, they provide all food, they have high end canoes, stand up paddle boards, couple of mini non motorized towing skiffs etc. Its all flats fishing, mostly fly fishing people there, but i think they have some gear setups also.

They generally transport you to different areas towing the paddle boards or whatever, drop you off, and let you have at it. Pretty chill, nice people. Its in a very remote area, you can fish from their dock/in the lagoon the resort sits on, surrounded by tons of flats fishing for Bonefish mainly, permit, jacks, tons of barricuda, baby tarpon etc.

 

[Ferrulewax]

I want to try to do a DIY trip on Christmas Island, but just getting there may be out of your budget (mine too). There is an outfitter or two with DIY packages.

I think you are going to find it close to impossible to fish anywhere on a boat without hiring a guide. I have also considered buying an inflatable boat and shipping (or checking) a small outboard. But it seems that it’s probably more trouble than it’s worth.

 

[Dos Perros]

I will definitely pack some fly rods but most of us will use spinning gear. Will even do some spear fishing. Thinking fish like groupers and snapper and jacks because I don’t want to be out on the giant deep blue open ocean w/o a guide. Fish reefs or wrecks, stuff like that.

I spent a large part of the day looking for rental boats all over Mexico and Turks and Caicos and couldn’t find anything.

Looking for boats big enough for 6 dudes. We have rented 22’ Boston Whaler center consoles before and that’s basically what I’m after.

 

[solostalker]

If you can't figure out the DIY route, I would recommend Cabo. Good fishing year round for many different species and reasonably priced guided options. Most will charge a flat rate to charter an entire boat from $600-$1200 a day. Not exactly free but way cheaper than any guided trip in the states. I can't imagine renting a boat would come out to be much cheaper when you're all said and done but I get wanting to go DIY.

 

[LostArra]

Go in the summer to Alaska. 5 out of 6 people in a grocery line would rent you a boat.

 

[rob86jeep]

I would recommend the Florida Keys. Get an Air B&B with a boat dock for a week, then rent a 24-27 foot boat for the week. You can keep it docked at your place and go out as needed. I haven't done this, but have friends that have and if you're splitting with 4-6 people the price isn't that bad. Might be something to look into.

 

[Dos Perros]

We did the Keys this past December, and definitely could make that work, and I'd feel confident doing it. It's on the list for sure. The downside is the VRBO is way more but you get less. In the Bahamas you can get a beach and a pool very reasonably. Also lots of people/boats in the Keys. But you're right that's a good suggestion.

 

[307]

Texas redfish?

I know nothing about renting a boat. Not a motorized boat person but I am very interested in what you discover.

Bahamas were considering making DIY fishing illegal, so check that out first.

 

[Fowl Play]

Are you dead set on that time of year? Basically requires someplace exotic/expensive to get to. Keys would be much better earlier, lobster will also be better earlier. Or you could target 200lb tarpon from the beach during the mullet run on the East coast of FL— that is about the best shore fishing you can do in the US… it is absolutely wild.

 

[307]

Are you dead set on that time of year? Basically requires someplace exotic/expensive to get to. Keys would be much better earlier, lobster will also be better earlier. Or you could target 200lb tarpon from the beach during the mullet run on the East coast of FL— that is about the best shore fishing you can do in the US… it is absolutely wild.

Many places in Mexico or Central America are significantly cheaper (and significantly more interesting) than staying in US.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Crazy, I had no idea it was possible to rent a large boat and just head out to sea. The times I’ve been out deep sea fishing I’m not sure I could have found my way back. A few times I couldn’t even see land.