Fishing and Exploring Puerto Rico April 2026

When it is spring time in Montana and each day is about 50 degrees and raining, it is so nice to be able to travel to a different part of the world and experience the different environments and cultures that it has to offer. One of the more subtle challenges that can easily turn your trip into a more uncomfortable time if you are not paying attention, is trying not to burn your skin that has been hidden from the sun under layers of warm clothing for the past 5 winter months in Montana and then suddenly exposed to 80 plus degree temperatures and more direct sunlight (a lesson that I have learned the hard way). My wife and I have been planning this trip to Puerto Rico for about a year since I came down last year at around this same time with a group of friends for a week of tarpon and permit fishing. We did really well landing around 100 tarpon and some permit as well during that trip. This trip would be a little different as we are not just fishing the whole time, but also mixing some more explorations and swimming/snorkeling.

We started our adventure by taking the 6am flight out of Kalispell, MT to Denver. After a short layover we took our 6 hour leg right into San Juan, Puerto Rico. We booked a rental car and a house in San Juan within walking distance to the beach and a lot of different restaurants. Our first day after getting off the plane and checking into our place was spent walking around San Juan and getting a bearing on our surroundings.

Day 2:

We woke up for our first full day in PR, found some coffee and then walked to the beach. After spending some time enjoying the Caribbean elements and the sand between our toes, we did some research online to find out where would be the best place to snorkel and read about some different beaches that companies will take tourists for a fee to snorkel. Most, if not all, of these companies provide all the gear and then guide you to a good spot. On the surface this seems like a good idea and if you are new to swimming in the ocean this could be a great option for you, but there are some downsides to going with a company like this. For one, they keep you in a group together and you feel like you are on a high school field trip with chaperones that you need to ask permission for things. Another downside, which for me is the biggest turn off, is they make you wear a life jacket. While some people may need a life jacket and they may feel more safe with it, I personally hate wearing a life jacket while snorkeling because I love to dive down and that is where you can see most of the cool things. With this in mind we came prepared and brought our own fins and masks. This way we have the freedom to go anywhere we want and swim as long and far as we want.

We ended up finding an area called Escambrón Beach Cove, which was not that far from where we were staying. After getting down to the beach area with our snorkel gear in hand, we immediately saw multiple different snorkel company groups all together, wearing their bright orange life jackets, so we knew we were in the right spot. It was a decent spot and we saw a bunch of different reef fish, but the highlight was when we found a turtle and swam with him as he went about his day swimming and eating seagrass.

Day 3:

Today was spent driving and exploring the northeast part of the island. We found some random beaches that we would stop on, have some drinks and swim. It was a good day seeing the little different communities and finding some good restaurants. A good spot we found with some great fish tacos was Las Picuas 123 in Palmer.

Day 4-6: Fishing Days!

Our first day of fishing started at 5am and we were targeting tarpon. It started off great as we landed one before the sun came up off of some dock lights. These fish are great fighters and can get up to a couple hundred pounds. They are notorious for jumping way out of the water after being hooked and generally anglers will only land about 1 out of 3 fish hooked. After this first excitement things cooled off and we never even had another bite.

Our second and third day of fishing would be targeting dorado also called mahi mahi. Things did not look so good on this second day of fishing as the seas were choppy and there was a heavy rain. We did the best we could navigating through the rain and trying to spot frigate birds. After an hour or so the rain stopped and the clouds dissipated enough for us to spot our first frigate bird a few miles away. We ended up tracking it down and just as our captain predicted, there were dorado feeding! This ended up being the highlight of our fishing adventures as we caught all 4 of the dorado that were in that school. Along with their stunning colors, these fish are also known for their insane speed and fighting ability. A great tactic for catching these on the fly rod is to get them close with live bait and then throw your streamer out there and watch them chase it down. Dorado are some of our favorite fish to catch in the oceans. They check every criteria box for what an angler wants in a fish;

1. They are great fighters and will eat close to the surface so you can see everything. Once hooked they will jump out of the water multiple times showing off their beauty.

2. They are one of the most beautiful game species of fish. The mix of blues, greens, and yellow is extraordinary.

3. They taste amazing! Their meat is firm and mild, making it perfect for almost any type of fish preparations.

We got skunked on our third day of fishing. After hours of hunting, we never spotted any of those majestic frigate birds that usually circle above, signaling the presence of fish below, and all day was spent without even casting the fly. Our day was salvaged as we took some of the previous day's catch to a local restaurant where the chef prepared our freshly caught mahi mahi in various different dishes.

Day 7:

This was the last day we had in Puerto Rico, and initially, we found ourselves at a crossroad, unsure of how to spend our final hours on the island. When we travel to various destinations around the globe, we like to plan a couple of activities in advance but intentionally leave our days open to the spontaneity of new experiences. Over the years we have found that when you plan your trip from your computer at home, you limit yourself to the recommendations of the internet and miss out on the hidden gems and unique experiences that the locals cherish. By keeping our itinerary flexible, we can engage in conversations with residents we meet along the way, allowing us to uncover the truly remarkable things to do and see that may not be widely advertised. After conversations with a waitress on the previous day, we learned about an island off the east coast of PR within a short ferry ride called Culebra. This island sounded very cool with a small population less than a couple thousand and amazing beaches to explore. We were all set to go there on this last day, but couldn't get the ferry times to match up with our schedule. This revelation was a bit disheartening, as we had been looking forward to exploring its sandy shores. Feeling a bit bummed about missing out on Culebra, we shifted our focus to another thrilling adventure. We had heard about the longest zip line in Latin America, which promised an exhilarating experience soaring through the treetops. However, as we delved deeper into the details, we discovered that, unfortunately, they were closed that day as well. This string of disappointments had us feeling a little defeated, but we were determined not to let it ruin our final day. After some discussion, we decided to embark on a drive to the heart of Puerto Rico, to a small town called Orocovis. This small town is nestled in the geographic center of the island and surrounded by the majestic Sierra de Cayey mountain range. This was by far the most curvy and narrow road that I have ever been on, making the drive an adventure in itself with local truck drivers driving with little regard to the smaller vehicles. We ended up parking by a bridge to a small stream and began hiking up into the rainforest. After a short trek following up the stream, we were rewarded with the sight of an incredible waterfall, cascading down over 50 feet in height. The water sparkled in the sunlight, creating a mesmerizing display as it tumbled into the pool below. Without hesitation, we jumped in, the cool water refreshing against our skin, and we swam in this surreal location, surrounded by the beauty of nature. It was the perfect way to cap off our awesome adventure in Puerto Rico, reminding us that sometimes the best experiences come from embracing the unexpected and exploring the less-traveled paths.

Overall this was a super fun trip. The fishing itself was a little disappointing. We checked our 65 Yeti cooler as a carry on bag in hopes of filling it full of fresh Caribbean seafood and bringing it back to the mountains of Montana, but didn't even end up filling half of it. That is how fishing goes sometimes though and anyone who has spent any time hunting and fishing knows the reality of not harvesting what you expected. Yet, despite the lack of fish, we found pleasure in the beauty of our surroundings, a reminder that fishing is not solely about the catch but also about the experience, the moments spent in nature and the people you spend that time with.