During my last trip I focused my attention on the activities performed by locals, which become the daily events for those who live in this dreamy city, anchored on the shore of the Caribbean sea. Artisanal fishing, a common practice in the coastal populations, lives its splendor, and for those who practice it on a daily basis, there is the strong conviction that it must be kept as an art and cultural heritage. In Cartagena there are islands, mangroves and fishing villages.
First thing fisherman do is to share their stories, have a cup of coffee, and prepare their tools to embark on their daily journey towards the depths of the Caribbean Sea. With cords of nylon, hooks with the number 11, a cooler full of bait to deceive their prey, they also do the sign of the cross and ask to god to be its boat companion. They allow themselves to be taken by the breeze and go into the immensity of the sea that provides them with sustenance every day. While the boats were moving away, my camera was shooting all those special moments for them and unforgettable to me. Sometimes there is not luck and no fish gets caught, forcing them to go back to land. But when there is a good catch day they come back with one or two baskets full of fish, among which there are “caritos”, “juancho juancho”, snappers, bass, sawfish and mackerel.
Just as “La Tenaza”, another strategic place for fisherman is “La Boquilla”. As well as in the island of Tierrabomba”, most of the people in here are engaged in fishing in the sea and around the swamps.
La Boquilla
“La Boquilla” is one of the best-known fishing villages of Cartagena. Its natives usually fish the whole 365 days of the year, and make of this practice their source of income. I arrived in there one afternoon, attracted by the extraordinary beauty of the “Ciénaga de Juan Polo” and the “Ciénaga de la Virgen”, and, of course, prepared with my camera, hat, sunscreen and bug repellent.
I was led around by two fisherman during my journey in this district of Cartagena’s North Zone. They took me by the swamps and explained me how to use the fishing line, the fishing net, and everything related to the traps to catch shrimp and crabs. The two hours that this tour lasts allowed me to shoot with my camera the great biodiversity of this natural paradise of Cartagena. In this task, one of the natives, with his traditional technique, manage to catch a “sábalo”. Bass, “mojarra”, black snapper, “lebranche”, as well as sea snails, clamps, shrimp, crabs, and lobsters, are some of the species you can find in these swamps, whether you do it by using fishing lines, nets or traps.
That day I opted to end this new experience laying down on the beaches of “La Boquilla”, tasting a delicious cold coconut water and taking advantage of the last rays of the sun.
At night, the spurs located in the “Avenida Santander”, by the curve of the “Santo Domingo Baluarte”, attract fans of this sport. Above the rocks, both, experts and novices, throw their hooks to the sea and spend several hours in there doing what is known as coastal fishing or spinning.
Whether you do it as a sport or as a means of sustenance, fishing is an awesome experience. If you are in Cartagena, go out and live it while you let the sea manifest.
At how many miles can you fish?
30-40 miles outside, two or three hours away from Cartagena.
Full moon days.Fish mating seasons.
According to the artisanal fishermen, the first rains of May.
According to sport fishermen, from June to November.
La Tenaza
Like any other amateur photographer and fisherman, at 5:00 a.m. I went out of the boutique hotel where I am staying. Heading towards the beaches of “La Tenaza”, there is a place where fisherman go out to do their daily job garnishing the Caribbean Sea with their colorful canoes. At that hour the silhouettes of men with tanned complexions and gray hair start appearing by the “Avenida Santander” while they go down one by one to the beach. Their objective is to fish all they can, and mine, is to hear their stories and capture with my lens the highlights of this work they passionately execute.First thing fisherman do is to share their stories, have a cup of coffee, and prepare their tools to embark on their daily journey towards the depths of the Caribbean Sea. With cords of nylon, hooks with the number 11, a cooler full of bait to deceive their prey, they also do the sign of the cross and ask to god to be its boat companion. They allow themselves to be taken by the breeze and go into the immensity of the sea that provides them with sustenance every day. While the boats were moving away, my camera was shooting all those special moments for them and unforgettable to me. Sometimes there is not luck and no fish gets caught, forcing them to go back to land. But when there is a good catch day they come back with one or two baskets full of fish, among which there are “caritos”, “juancho juancho”, snappers, bass, sawfish and mackerel.
Just as “La Tenaza”, another strategic place for fisherman is “La Boquilla”. As well as in the island of Tierrabomba”, most of the people in here are engaged in fishing in the sea and around the swamps.
La Boquilla
“La Boquilla” is one of the best-known fishing villages of Cartagena. Its natives usually fish the whole 365 days of the year, and make of this practice their source of income. I arrived in there one afternoon, attracted by the extraordinary beauty of the “Ciénaga de Juan Polo” and the “Ciénaga de la Virgen”, and, of course, prepared with my camera, hat, sunscreen and bug repellent.
I was led around by two fisherman during my journey in this district of Cartagena’s North Zone. They took me by the swamps and explained me how to use the fishing line, the fishing net, and everything related to the traps to catch shrimp and crabs. The two hours that this tour lasts allowed me to shoot with my camera the great biodiversity of this natural paradise of Cartagena. In this task, one of the natives, with his traditional technique, manage to catch a “sábalo”. Bass, “mojarra”, black snapper, “lebranche”, as well as sea snails, clamps, shrimp, crabs, and lobsters, are some of the species you can find in these swamps, whether you do it by using fishing lines, nets or traps.
That day I opted to end this new experience laying down on the beaches of “La Boquilla”, tasting a delicious cold coconut water and taking advantage of the last rays of the sun.
Sport fishing
It is one of the most desired plans by visitors, who rent either a boat or luxury yachts for up to seven hours and depart to areas designed for those activities such as “Punta Canoa”. The insular zone of Cartagena also welcomes, all year long, hundreds of tourists who love fishing.At night, the spurs located in the “Avenida Santander”, by the curve of the “Santo Domingo Baluarte”, attract fans of this sport. Above the rocks, both, experts and novices, throw their hooks to the sea and spend several hours in there doing what is known as coastal fishing or spinning.
Whether you do it as a sport or as a means of sustenance, fishing is an awesome experience. If you are in Cartagena, go out and live it while you let the sea manifest.
At how many miles can you fish?
30-40 miles outside, two or three hours away from Cartagena.
Where to fish in Cartagena?
“Ciénaga de Juan Polo”, “Ciénaga de la Virgen”, “La Boquilla”, “Tierrabomba”, “Punta Canoa”, insular zone, “Manga’s” dock, “La Tenaza”, among others.Best fishing seasons:
Between June and July.Full moon days.
Fish mating seasons. 
Good months to fish
According to the artisanal fishermen, the first rains of May.
According to sport fishermen, from June to November.
Bad months to fish
From February to April.Species you can find in Cartagena and surroundings
Red snapper, shad, barracuda, jack mackerel, mojarra peña, pompano, catfish, wahoo, tuna, mahi-mahi, marlin, sawfish, and “juancho ronco”, among others.May I help you?
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