For years, fishing has been one of Puerto Rico's major calling cards. And whether you are showing up for one of the many billfish tournaments that are held off the island's shores, or are a novice dropping your line for the first time, as long as you are talking about deep sea fishing, Puerto Rico is the place to go.

Every year, the world's most prestigious anglers head to the shores of Puerto Rico in late summer, hoping to take home one of the championship trophies bestowed at the island's renowned billfish tournaments. Thirty world records have already been broken here, so you know the sea is stocked with your favorite prey. It's no surprise that Puerto Rico fishing is so popular.

The majority of fish you'll see while fishing in Puerto Rico include Allison tuna, white and blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo, mackerel, and tarpon. In summer, blue marlin will be your best bet. Winter is the best overall season for dorado, wahoo, and white marlin. The rest of the year belongs to the mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna and you'll still probably have good luck with the wahoo, dorado and white marlin.

Puerto Rico Map

Fishing in Puerto Rico is as simple as chartering a boat. Almost every hotel or resort you stay at will have plenty of options for you, so it's really just a matter of choosing where on the island to cast your line. Deep sea fishing Puerto Rico is most popular around Fajardo and San Juan, so that is where most of the island's fishing tours operate out of. Nearby waters are known as "Blue Marlin Alley," and although they must be returned to the sea, these fish are still one of the most common catches when Puerto Rico fishing.

But these northern cities are not the only fishing hotspots. Boats out of Arecibo patrol the island's northern coastline in search of dorado, while boats found in Rincon, Cabo Rojo and La Parguera head out for the abundant tuna that circulate around Mona Island. And areas near Humacao - already well known for its hold on the island's scuba diving enthusiasts - are where you'll find plentiful wahoo all year long.

Based on what time of year and which coast you are exploring, Puerto Rico fishing can take on many forms. This is yet another reason it is so popular: you can go as many times as you want, and still experience something new and interesting. So whether you want marlin, wahoo or tuna, the choppy waters of Puerto Rico are sure to provide.