Buying a Mexico Sportfishing License In Person - San Diego Office

Step-By-Step Instructions for Purchasing Your Mexican Sportfishing License In Person from the CONAPESCA Office in San Diego

NOTE: You can also acquire your Mexican fishing licenses through the mail in advance of your trip.

If you are driving south on Highway 5 towards Mexico, you can take the Laurel exit (go East), and be at the CONAPESCA office in a matter of minutes. The entire process of purchasing your Mexico sportfishing license in person only takes 5 minutes or less once you are in the CONAPESCA office. When I visited the office in February 2010, there was no line, and no other customer came in while I was there.

You can purchase a fishing license in person between 8am - 2pm Pacific time - Monday - Friday.

If you are not familiar with sportfishing licensing requirements, read this page first.

Tips on how to save time when buying your sportfishing license in person:

• The CONAPESCA address is:
  2550 5th Ave. # 15
  San Diego, CA.92103,
  but the actual parking and entrance to the CONAPESCA office is on 4th Avenue at the corner of 4th and Laurel! There is garage parking, but it has very low clearance. If your rig is taller than about 7 feet, you can park in one of the bank parking lots across the street for a few minutes while your buddy runs in and gets the fishing licenses.
  
  
• Fill out your application before arriving at the office. The application can be printed from the CONAPESCA website. You can list all names in your travel party on one application (Section Three of application).
  
  
• Get your money order or cashier's check before arriving at the office. CONAPESCA does not accept cash or personal checks, so you must bring a money order or cashier's check. You can combine the total cost of all fishing licenses in your party into one single check (no need to issue a money order for each license).
  
  
• There is a 7-11 and a few banks within a few blocks of the CONAPESCA office who can issue cashier's checks and money orders. The 7-11 at 430 5th Ave., has an ATM inside, so you can withdraw the cash you need there, then buy your money order from the 7-11 sales attendant. (be aware of fees $2 for the money order and $2.75 to use the 7-11 ATM).
  
  

Satellite Phone Rental Office a Few Blocks Away from CONAPESCA LINK

If you wish to rent a satellite phone while you are in Mexico, there is a great satellite phone rental store within a few blocks of the CONAPESCA office. If you pickup and return your satellite phone in person (as opposed to shipping it back and forth), you can save around $50 - $70! Read more about satellite phone rentals for Baja and Mexico.