Many species can be caught here. Marlins, for instance, are highly coveted between the months of June and November. The period of time stretching from June to January is perfect for yellow fish tuna. Dorado, wahoo, sawfish and huachinango are equally delicious. Abundance of marine life is so huge and widespread in both Bahia and Vallarta, that this neck of the woods hosts an annual world-class fishing tournament that has become one of the best-organized contests of its kind in Mexico. The Puerto Vallarta Fishing Club was founded between 1956 and 1957 with fifteen original members.

The club eventually became official in 1960. The first tournament was held on April 1957, but no prizes were doled out. The next year, the event took place in November and it has remained that way to date. The third tournament gave local skipper Antonio Moll Gil the opportunity of snaring the heaviest sailfish ever reeled in here with 70.600 kilos. This time around, the guest of honor will be Miguel Koenig, the man who was trained in Puerto Vallarta and set a new world record in Hawaii for the heaviest sailfish ever caught, a 1,258.50 pounder.

You can fish all year round in Puerto Vallarta. The local fishing club organizes any kind of expedition and puts all kinds of conveniences at your fingertips. As a matter of fact, anglers from everywhere around the world have been lured by the spell of these seas.It's important to underscore that there's a fishing tournament for kids and sixteen editions have taken place ever since. During that event, children are taught to preserve species by reeling in and then releasing their catches. They are also told they can't snare fish under certain weight limits. They are the future of this seaport, the ones who can take care of it and keep it running.

Conditions have changed since the first tournaments were ever held, but certain things remain unaltered: the magic of gazing up at the sky and seeing the stars, the chance of feeling the breeze white you pack your tackles, and making out whales, dolphins, flying fish and birds on the horizon. Either fishing by the pier under a moonlit sky or catching big fish in the high seas to the sound of the riptide waves, Vallarta is a place everybody finds hard to forget about.

ENTERING Shrimp Factory is like stepping into a laid-back ambience of gaudy colors and inspirational music. Plants that hang from the ceiling give the place a natural, fresh touch, while the kindness and good service provided by the staff from the moment you cross the threshold is simply amazing. The name speaks for itself –Shrimp Factory. The restaurant is a festival of shrimps cooked in many ways: breaded, a la coconut, a la devil, peeled, unpeeled and stewed.

All these choices are great rainy day treats because you can also watch water rolling down the huge glass window panes. The long menu card also features lobster and seafood, plus chicken and meat, ready to meet the most demanding tastes, no matter what your preference is or where you come from. If this is your first visit, you should try the combos, pieced together in great quantities and varieties. Some of them include lobster, seafood and shrimps, all cooked in nearly a half dozen different manners.

Sauces are the perfect complement: cocktail, tartan, garlic and butter, spicy and mango –my favorite- are all refreshing and excellent when you order shrimps a la coconut. All feasts have a sweet end, and this one is no exception. An exquisite fried ice cream wraps up a long list of great sensations that you experience from the moment you walk in. There’s no doubt that this is a place you must bear in mind next time you come to Puerto Vallarta.