Find Where to Launch
| Launch | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Marina | Recinto Portuario, just before the Old Port | Launch and retrieval with their tractor, about $20 per launch plus about $5 parking in 2023. Fees can vary by trailer length, so call ahead. Wash-down and fish cleaning available. The back of the harbor is very shallow at low tide |
| Public ramp | Old Port, by the charter docks on the Malecón | Public ramp near where the charter boats tie up |
| Cholla Bay beach launch | Next to JJ's Cantina, across the street from the lodge | Flat beach launch, with staff launching bigger boats by tractor, about $20 in and $20 out in 2023. Very tide-dependent |
| Beaches near resorts | Sandy Beach and resort strip | Some beach launching. Conditions change, so ask locally |
Fees and conditions are from 2023 reports, checked October 2026. Call ahead, since fees change.
Launch with the Tide
Rocky Point's tides are among the largest in North America. During spring tides, around the new and full moon, the water can drop more than 20 feet between high and low. That means:
- Low tide launches fail. At some ramps, the water is hundreds of yards from the end of the concrete at low tide.
- Plan both ends of the day. If you launch on the morning high, know when the next high comes so you are not stuck offshore waiting to get back on the trailer.
- Watch the flats. Never drive a truck and trailer out onto wet flats to reach the water. Vehicles get stuck and the tide comes back fast.
Check the Puerto Peñasco tide chart and read our fishing tides guide. None of the ramps publish a minimum tide height, so the safe rule is to launch and retrieve within a couple of hours of high tide. In Cholla Bay the waterline can move about 100 yards between high and low.
Get the Right Paperwork for Your Boat
- Fishing licenses. Everyone aboard a boat with fishing gear commonly needs a Mexican fishing license. See our license guide.
- Boat sportfishing permit. Mexico dropped the separate annual sportfishing permit for boats in 2008, so you no longer need one just to fish.
- Temporary import permit. Mexican customs issues temporary import permits for recreational boats over 4.5 meters (about 15 feet), covering the boat and trailer for 10 years, for about $45 plus tax online through Banjercito (Mexican customs, checked October 2026). Enforcement in the Sonora free zone has varied, so the safest move is to get the permit before you tow.
- Title and registration. Carry the boat and trailer title or registration in your name.
Insure the Boat and Trailer
Your U.S. auto policy does not cover you in Mexico, and your Mexican auto policy does not cover your boat unless you add it. List both the trailer and the boat on your Mexican policy so you are covered while towing and on the water. See our sister site's guide to Mexican car insurance for Rocky Point.
Park the Rig Securely
The lodge has an RV garage plus a car garage that fit a large RV or up to 3 trucks, with room for a boat trailer. Your rig stays off the street and out of the sun. Tell us your trailer length when you request dates. See the lodge →
Rather not tow? Our partner captains run the boats, and you just show up. See Rocky Point fishing charters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I launch a boat in Rocky Point?
Boats launch at Safe Marina and a public ramp in the Old Port, and from the beach next to JJ's Cantina in Cholla Bay. Access depends heavily on the tide, so plan launches near high tide.
Do I need a permit to bring my boat to Rocky Point?
Mexico no longer requires a separate sportfishing permit for boats, but everyone aboard needs a fishing license, and import permit rules for boats have changed over time. Check official sources before you tow.
Does my Mexican auto insurance cover my boat?
Only if you add it. List the boat and trailer on your Mexican policy so both are covered while towing and on the water.
Where do I park my boat during the trip?
At the lodge. The RV garage and car garage fit a large RV or 3 trucks, with room for a trailer.