Fishing in Mexico: The Safety Question

Right on the heels of “Who is the best guide at El Salto?” the top question we receive is whether it’s safe to go. It’s certainly a valid question about any foreign or domestic vacation destination, and especially when you’re discussing Mexico, which has gained a reputation for violent crime in recent years.

Truth Number One: Bad Things Can Happen Anywhere

Whether it’s foreign or domestic, urban or rural, on any continent, in any climate, you should always be vigilant about safety and security.

I consider myself pretty street smart. I lived in what was then an “iffy” section of New York City from 1988 to 1995. I lived in Washington, D.C. from 1995 to 1997, and while my neighborhood wasn’t considered unsafe by any means, I frequently walked home from work at all hours of the night. I’ve also visited high-crime areas abroad, like Rio de Janeiro.

With all of that said, I think that my spidey sense is pretty good, and I don’t consider El Salto or Picachos to be high-risk areas. Still, I recommend that you do your own due diligence. Our relative comfort zones may be different. If you are going to be uncomfortable the whole time, don’t go – but don’t miss out on a bucket list trip for the wrong reasons.

Truth Number Two: Twenty Trips Tell a Story

I have not stayed in Mazatlan since December 2009, but I recall it being fine. Hanna and I walked to restaurants and tourist sites, as well as along the beach, even took a city bus, with no problems at all. I’m told that it has gotten nicer and more upscale since then. The reason we don’t linger has nothing to do with safety. It is because if we’re down there, we want to fish. We have friends who’ve stayed at resorts like the El Cid and Pueblo Bonito and they’ve all raved about the experience – not a single complaint.

The ride from the MZT airport to El Salto is almost entirely on a major highway. In the city portions of the trip, we’ve never had the slightest issue (except for the one time we almost hit a cow in the middle of the road). No one approaches the vehicle at stoplights, people drive more respectfully than they do here in the U.S. There is a restroom stop at the halfway point of the drive – when you step out of the van you might be approached by someone selling local honey or crafts but they are never pushy or threatening. No one in the local towns gives you a second look as you pass through. The ride to Picachos is shorter and not on that toll road, but it’s completely noneventful. Once you are at the lodges, you don’t go anywhere. Not that there’s trouble outside, but no one who doesn’t belong there is coming in – by land or water.

Truth Number Three: Most of the Violent Crime is at the Border

To the extent that Mexico has crime, most of it is concentrated at the border, far away from Mazatlan. I fished Falcon Reservoir during the “great years” and when you went to the Mexican side of the lake things felt a bit uncomfortable. As long as you kept to yourself, though, and kept your eyes open, there was no reason to avoid crossing the border. Yes, there was later some violence directed against some American jet skiers, but there were too many inconsistencies and oddities in that story for it to worry me. If you’re not doing anything wrong, the chances of trouble go way down. My brother, who is not an angler but who is been to over 80 countries, joined us at El Salto a few years back and said he’d have no qualms about bringing his then-9-year-old son.

Truth Number Four: Any trouble at these lakes is not worth it

Let’s say you live in a town near a Mexican lake that attracts a lot of gringos and you’re predisposed to cause some trouble. Sure, you might be able to get away with something, stealing a few bucks or some expensive fishing gear, but what does that get you in the long haul? Not much. There is a strong incentive for the local towns to impose a code of safety upon the areas surrounding the lakes. Not only do the fishing resorts directly provide a lot of high-paying jobs, but they also create other industries. For example, Billy Chapman Jr. has worked tirelessly with the locals at both El Salto and Picachos to develop lucrative commercial tilapia fisheries. Every time you see a gillnet, that’s another reason for them not to mess anything up – and another reason that the fishing is always so good. If these areas become magnets for crime, those jobs might go away. In fact, one of Billy’s biggest concerns is that some future incident at another lake, up to several hundred miles away, could tarnish the whole reputation of Mexican fishing. He does his part to keep everyone invested in safety.

Truth Number Five: You can’t live in a bubble

If concern over crime is preventing you from traveling, then I guess you have to stay home, but for some of us that’s not an option if we want to feel like we are L-I-V-I-N. If you go to Lake Fork or Toho or the California Delta or Lake St. Clair, there is crime all around. I’ve been to all of those, I’ve been careful, and fortunately I have not suffered any bad consequences – but I know that I’m taking a risk every time I go anywhere.

Truth Number Six: Mexico has some advantages

On a trip a few Januaries back, one of our group members suffered some health complications. Not only did the Anglers Inn staff wait on him hand and foot, but when it progressed to the point that he needed medical attention, one of the managers took our friend into town to the doctor early in the morning. The office was not open yet, so they hunted the guy down, and got our friend admitted to the hospital. He received an examination, several tests, and a prescription for the meds that ultimately got him better. Total cost = $42.

Truth Number Seven: Don’t Tempt Fate

You know the Rolex you wear to the office? You don’t need it. You’re on vacation.

Flashy engagement ring? Same thing. Simply put, don’t bring anything on vacation anywhere that’s unnecessary and will call attention to your existence.

At Anglers Inn, we leave our rooms unlocked, and while we don’t leave currency splayed out in the open, it probably wouldn’t be hard for someone to find. Don’t be stupid, but don’t be completely paranoid, either.

Truth Number Eight: Anglers Inn Goes Above and Beyond

I’ve dealt with Billy Chapman Jr., as a guest and as a friend, for over a decade. I’ve spent time with him in Mexico, Brazil and Idaho, as well as at some of the recent Bassmaster Classics, and I know that he is obsessive about customer satisfaction. Without safety there can be no satisfaction. A big part of his reason for expanding into Idaho was to give customers who are afraid of foreign soil an opportunity to enjoy the Anglers Inn experience. I also know firsthand that while putting anglers on world-class fishing is his goal, he won’t go to any lake – Mexican or otherwise – where there are likely to be problems.

On top of that, because of gringos’ concerns, he has to go over and above in the era of COVID. That means extra disinfecting, face shields, and anything he can do to help you forget about the troubles of the world and focus on your next fish and your next margarita.

That’s my personal assessment of the situation, but I suppose that the greatest testimonial I can give is that I go back again and again and again. If you have any specific questions, feel free to email us.

2023 Addendum

We repeatedly get calls and emails asking about State Department Travel Advisories and other reports of trouble in Sinaloa. I understand that these should be taken seriously, and that all of us have different levels of risk tolerance. At times when there are particular issues, I would ask that you exercise greater-than-usual caution, but otherwise we still feel safe. Anglers Inn does an incredible job of ensuring that you are always with lodge personnel, and I’ve never felt unsafe at any of their properties. Once again, we have multiple trips planned in the near and distant future and intend to go on all of them.