Royce:
We do alot of fishing south of San Diego here, mostly around the Coronados, a little bit out towards the "Butterfly Banks"...all over the place. If you're in International waters, no big deal...it's just when your within the grasp of the Mexican authorities. The Coronados are within Mexican water of course, being only a few miles offshore. I'm even hesitant to bring a flare gun aboard the boat, for fear of some uneducated Mexican Gun Boat crewman making a big deal about it. It may not be illegal, but when your 30 miles from home, in a foreign country, anything can be a pain in the ass.
We've been boarded by Mexican authorities on numerous occasions, but I do fish a lot. All my licenses are in order, we maintain a proper catch limit...everything. But one summer day when the Albacore were running and the Threshers were having a field day up north of SD, we went fishing. On board was a bang stick. That's a long stick with a 12 gauge shell that fires when forcibly pushed into the head of a shark, used of course to dispatch that puppy. You can always tie him up, tail first and drag him behind the boat, but that's kind of cruel in my opinion. We had little luck with the sharks and decided to head south for Mexico.. Anyway, off the South Island of the Coronados, we were approached by a Mexican Gun Boat, I believe it came from the North Island weather station, but I can't be sure. While we all still had lines out, my partner mentioned that he hadn't removed the stick, it was lying on one of the bunks forward. The Gun Boat was maybe a half mile starboard of us, and we had guys screaming through the boat, grabbing the stick, shells and a box of 5.56 that was in a backpack that someone had forgot to take out from a trip to Texas a couple of weeks prior...not gonna say who. Everything went overboard, stick, shells, the 5.56 rounds...everything, but very calmly. Had they found that stuff, even as innocent as it was, I'd be someones Sancho right now, plain and simple..Black And White. They don't eff around in Mexico, especially with the problems they have down in Chiapas. They checked everything, boarded us, checked the permits, rummaged through the boat, were VERY polite in the process but had they found something, who the hell knows?
If you get caught in Mexican waters, whether offshore or in a port with a firearm, expect a very long stay. Your family will be required to spend oodles of cash to have you returned, you'll be jailed, you may spend years behind bars for that .22 cal rifle you had with you...FACT.
Big Mac, you're correct, many do hunt in Mexico. Great Bird and Coues Deer hunting down there. But it is HIGHLY restricted on weapons. Fees are unbelievable and most opt to hunt with the outfitters weapons. I for one will only fish Mexico....Bass and Salt...I'll hunt here in the states.