Puerto Rico Information

Tips & advice for an angling holiday to Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, a U.S. island territory in the Caribbean, boasts lush green mountains, cascading waterfalls, and a tropical rainforest. Its pristine white-sand beaches and vibrant coral reefs make it a top destination for snorkeling, diving, surfing, and sailing.

Experience the best of both the Caribbean and the Atlantic with diverse fishing opportunities. Cast your line in tranquil lagoons and mangroves for tarpon, snook, jacks, and snapper, or venture offshore into the deep waters of the Atlantic for an exhilarating pursuit of blue marlin, white marlin, wahoo, dorado (mahi-mahi), and tuna. Whether you prefer inshore fishing in calm, shallow waters or the thrill of deep-sea angling, Puerto Rico offers an unforgettable experience for every angler.

In San Juan, the capital and largest city, the Isla Verde area is known for its beach bars, nightclubs and casinos. There are also multiple lagoons like Torrecilla and San José, which are known hotspots for tarpon.

Torrecilla Lagoon, a short drive from San Juan, is one of the top fishing spots on the island and our chosen destination. The lagoon offers a rich environment with mangrove channels and flats that attract a variety of fish. Tarpon is the primary target for most anglers visiting the lagoon. Torrecilla is renowned for its high population of tarpon, which range in size from juveniles to large adults. Another targeted species is snook and the lagoon provides a suitable habitat for snook to thrive. Jack Crevalle are also prevalent and can provide exhilarating experience on light tackle. Ladyfish and Barracuda are less targeted but are still present.

While tarpon and other species are present year-round, the best months for tarpon fishing tend to be between November and April. Tarpon are prolific and big, expect silver fighting machines from 5 to 150 pounds plus. They can be seen hitting big shoals of bait fishing or just cruising. Often they hang under the mangrove branches ready to pounce on shoals of fry. Whether fishing baits or fly fishing or both, it is difficult to predict the size of tarpon you might hook up with. It could be any size; you just never know until you hook one. The bulk of the Tarpon are resident, but occasionally tarpon enter the lagoons from the sea and these are more silver, sleeker and slightly harder fighting. These rich lagoons hold a massive head of food fish and also the big predators.

Snook like features and ambush points, they can be targeted on light tackle along the mangroves or out in the middle of the lagoons over shallower water and you will find plenty in the 1 to 15-pound range.

Caribbean Fishing Adventures are our accommodation and guide company based just 15 minutes from the City and San Juan International Airport. They are serious professionals who take a great interest in clients and their excellent product.

Flights:
Please note flights are not included. If you require assistance booking your flights, please call Martins World Travel on 01246 220020 for the latest information. Please do not confirm any flights without contacting us first to check that they will connect with the transfers.

If you are booking your own flights, you are advised to pay on your credit card. This gives you maximum protection in the event of an airline failure.

Travel Insurance:
It is more important than ever to get comprehensive travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. We recommend that you arrange travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday.

Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

As Puerto Rico is a US island territory, entry rules are the same as for the USA.

Passports:
Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. You do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.

It is important that you check both your issue date and expiry date on your passport. All travellers entering USA under the Visa Waiver Programme will need to hold a passport with an integrated chip.

Esta:
You will need to get a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver to enter or transit the USA as a visitor. ESTA is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Ensure that you have a valid ESTA visa waiver application confirmed online at least 72 hours prior to travel. It is valid for 2 years. ONLY USE THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE via the link

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

Application charge is $21, payable by credit card.

Please be aware that if you have ever been arrested, cautioned, or convicted, you may not qualify for travel under the Visa Waiver Program. Additionally, if you have been denied entry to the U.S., deported, or previously overstayed under an ESTA visa waiver, you may not be eligible to apply for an ESTA.

Information on whether you are eligible for an ESTA visa waiver can be found in the help section of the official ESTA Application Website.

You should also be aware that if you have travelled to or have been in Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen on or after March 2011, you are normally not eligible for an ESTA visa waiver and will need to apply for a US visa.

If you have travelled to or have been in Cuba on or after 12th January 2021, you may not be eligible for an ESTA visa waiver and may need to apply for a US visa. You should consult the US State Department website to determine which you will need.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html

If you are not eligible for an ESTA, you must instead apply for a US visa. The US Embassy in London has information on how to apply for a visa. Visa appointments at the US Embassy in London are limited. Plan your application as far ahead as possible before travel.

Global Entry programme:
The US Customs and Border Protection Programme Global Entry allows pre-approved travellers through border control faster at some US airports. If you’re a British citizen, you can register to get a UK background check on GOV.UK. If you pass the background checks, you’ll be invited to apply for Global Entry. All air passengers to the USA are also required to provide contact information to their airlines before boarding. You should check with your airline before you travel for more details.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

https://www.gov.uk/global-entry-usa

Travel rules are constantly changing so please check current restrictions and entry requirements on the following Government site:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa