Puerto Aventuras Boats Sweep Playa del Carmen’s Nuestra Señora del Carmen Fishing Tournament

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Quintana Roo — Puerto Aventuras crews dominated the traditional Nuestra Señora del Carmen 2026 Sport Fishing Tournament, taking all three top places in a competition that brought 40 boats to the water off Playa del Carmen on Sunday.

The winning boat was Ana María, from Puerto Aventuras, captained by Salim Azueta. The crew finished with 2,234 points and claimed the tournament’s top prize of 150,000 pesos. Second place went to El Dorado, captained by Jesús Barrera, also from Puerto Aventuras, with 1,809.25 points. Third place went to Más Power, captained by Noé Jesús Martínez Novelo, completing the Puerto Aventuras sweep with 1,363.85 points.

The tournament was held Sunday, July 19, in front of Parque Fundadores and the Portal Maya, as part of Playa del Carmen’s traditional celebrations in honor of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, the city’s patron saint. Boats departed at 8 a.m., with the weigh-in window opening later in the day and the awards ceremony following the close of the scale.

This year’s event drew boats from across Quintana Roo, including Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Tulum, Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos, Xpu-Há and Playa del Carmen. Organizers had originally expected between 50 and 60 teams, but the final field of 40 boats still marked a strong turnout for one of the municipality’s most established fishing events.

Municipal officials presented the tournament as both a sports competition and a way to preserve Playa del Carmen’s coastal identity. The city said the event has more than 43 years of history and brings together fishermen, families, visitors and local businesses during the patron saint festivities.

The 2026 prize purse included 150,000 pesos for first place, 100,000 pesos for second and 50,000 pesos for third, along with sponsor prizes. Registration was set at 5,000 pesos per boat, and organizers said people without their own boats could participate by working through local fishing cooperatives, subject to tournament rules.

The municipal government also highlighted the event’s conservation component, saying the tournament was held under a catch-and-release format. Jorge Fuentes, described by the city as a pioneer of these local fishing tournaments, said that model helps promote conservation while keeping younger generations connected to Playa del Carmen’s maritime traditions.

Under Mexico’s federal sport-fishing rules, several high-value species, including marlin, sailfish, swordfish, tarpon and dorado, are reserved for recreational sport fishing within 50 nautical miles of the coast. CONAPESCA also states that sport fishers using boats are required to have a recreational fishing permit, whether they are Mexican nationals or foreigners.

For Puerto Aventuras, the clean sweep is a reminder of the community’s deep connection to the water. Better known to many visitors for its marina, dive shops and charter boats, Puerto Aventuras also has a strong local fishing culture that continues to show up in regional tournaments.

The win also gives the community another reason to celebrate during a summer when Playa del Carmen’s patron saint festivities have drawn large crowds, concerts, cultural events and traditional activities across the municipality.

More than just a trophy day, the tournament served as a snapshot of the Riviera Maya’s coastal roots. Before the region became one of Mexico’s busiest tourism corridors, fishing communities helped shape the identity of places like Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras. On Sunday, those traditions were still very much alive, and Puerto Aventuras came home with the proof.