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501-acre Bahía de Guánica fishing map with NOAA BlueTopo survey contours (50.57% measured, 99.66% assessed), 15 measured source structures, four NOAA-surveyed regional gamefish, public access, three forage calendars, EPA contamination guidance and current Puerto Rico rules. The water tops out around 30 ft. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The channels, holes and drop-offs come from the source data, not a distance-from-shore model. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
The drawn water covers 502 acres wrapped in 6 miles of bank. With a 1.9 development index there's bank structure worth casting at, in moderation. The shallow band under 15 ft claims about 41% of the surface — that's where the groceries are. The basin spans about 1.9 mi end to end and 1 mi across at its widest. If the bite dies, Ensenada las Pardas is 1 mi to the south.
When the water first warms, lane snapper slide up into 3 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 3 to 30 ft, winter 4 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted rock: a hard bottom around 13 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a small vertical jig or a bucktail rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Small bucktail, Shrimp-pattern jig |
| Summer | 3 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Small vertical jig, Bucktail |
| Fall | 3 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Shrimp-pattern jig, Small bucktail |
| Winter | 4 to 30 ft | dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Small jig worked slowly, Bottom bucktail |
When the water first warms, yellowtail snapper slide up into 4 to 30 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 30 ft, winter 5 to 30 ft. If you only fish one area, make it NOAA charted rock: a hard bottom around 13 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a micro jig or a small paddletail rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Small bucktail, Light vertical jig |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Micro jig, Small paddletail |
| Fall | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Small vertical jig, Baitfish streamer |
| Winter | 5 to 30 ft | dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Small jig worked deep, Bucktail |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: gray snapper (mangrove snapper) in 3 to 22 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 4 to 30 ft before dropping to 5 to 30 ft for winter. The spot to know is NOAA charted pier, a dock line in about 4 ft of water that rates prime for gray snapper (mangrove snapper) in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a small bucktail or a paddletail gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 22 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | Small paddletail, Jighead + shrimp imitation |
| Summer | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted pier (4 ft) | Small bucktail, Paddletail |
| Fall | 4 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Jaboncillo (6 ft) | Small vertical jig, Jighead + paddletail |
| Winter | 5 to 30 ft | midday | Jaboncillo (6 ft) | Small jig worked slowly |
In spring, great barracuda run shallow here, mostly 1 to 30 ft. Summer keeps them at 2 to 30 ft, and they winter in 2 to 30 ft. Winter great barracuda concentrate at NOAA charted rock, a prime-rated hard bottom around 13 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a fast swimbait or a spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Fast tube lure, Long minnow plug |
| Summer | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Fast swimbait, Spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 30 ft | dawn & midday | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Mullet-profile plug, Tube lure |
| Winter | 2 to 30 ft | midday & dusk | NOAA charted rock (13 ft) | Long minnow plug, Fast jig |
Count 19 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, NOAA charted hard seabed, sits near 26 ft.
Access data: Puerto Rico DRNA — Guía del Navegante public access inventory. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Puerto Rico waters are set by the Puerto Rico DRNA (current fishing regulation) — and special regulations can apply to Bahía de Guánica specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Puerto Rico fishing regulations →
Bahía de Guánica is about 30 ft (9 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart is built from real agency bathymetry referenced to NAVD88; directly measured coverage remains distinguished from source interpolation. The contours reflect measured and quality-assessed source depths.
Anglers target lane snapper, yellowtail snapper, gray snapper (mangrove snapper), great barracuda on Bahía de Guánica.
NOAA charted rock is the top-rated area: a hard bottom in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for lane snapper in summer. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.
For lane snapper, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Bahía de Guánica is regulated by the Puerto Rico DRNA (current fishing regulation). Check the official Puerto Rico regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Ensenada las Pardas 1 mi · Caleta Salinas 3 mi · Bahía de Ballena 4 mi · Bahía de Guayanilla 10 mi · Lago Lucchetti 10 mi · Bahía Tallaboa 12 mi · Bahía de Ponce 18 mi · Bahía de Boquerón 18 mi · Caleta de Cabullones 21 mi · Lago Cerrillos 24 mi · Lago Caonillas 27 mi · Lago Guayabal 29 mi
See how Bahía de Guánica stacks up: best gray snapper (mangrove snapper) lakes in Puerto Rico · best yellowtail snapper lakes in Puerto Rico · best great barracuda lakes in Puerto Rico
Browse all Puerto Rico fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA BlueTopo (NAVD88; 51% measured, 49% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.