Sport Fishing: Mexican Authorities Board Several U.S. Vessels

A recent Sportfishing Association of California (SAC) newsletter said that only passengers on boats venturing south of Ensenada would need to carry passports as the Mexican Navy steps up inspections of boats.

But, according to the Facebook page of the sport fisher Gallilean: "Guess the Mexican navy doesn’t read the SAC newsletter."

Mexican sailors on Saturday boarded the Gallilean, which hails from San Diego, about 20 miles south of the Mexico-U.S. border Saturday at South Coronado Island.

"Today at south Coronado island we got boarded by Mexican navy. It was a routine inspection and also wanted to see passports for passengers/crew. In the choppy weather, their steel boat met up with my wood boat,” the Gallilean's Facebook page said. 

The Horizon, Royal Polaris and at least one other vessel also were boarded by the Mexican Navy at Cedros Island last week. Passengers asked for proof of citizenship.

“Three vessels were boarded on routine inspections,” wrote Michelle Gandola from SAC.  “They were asked for passports.  Some passengers didn’t have passports.  It created a situation but in the end all vessels were allowed to continue their fishing activities.”

in early July that Mexican sailors were going to start boarding U.S. sport fishing vessels. Arturo Martinez from the Baja California Norte State Tourism office said that you must have a passport to enter Mexican waters.

"Yes absolutely, they are entering Mexican waters or territory and are required to comply with the immigration laws of Mexico,” he said.

Martinez said even anglers on 3/4-trips to the Coronado Islands should carry passports.