Tournaments, rules, conservation and coast news for anglers fishing El Salvador. tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 Sportfish El Salvador tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/shrimp-closure-oct-nov-2026 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

The new fisheries regulator, the Autoridad Salvadoreña de Economía Azul (ASEA), announced on Oct 2 a national closure (veda) on extracting marine shrimp, in force from Oct 1 through Nov 14, 2026. The 44-day pause is meant to protect the shrimp's breeding period, and it is the second shrimp closure this year after one that started on May 2. Shops and restaurants can keep selling stock they had before the closure, but they must declare those inventories to ASEA, and the agency says it will inspect boats, markets and restaurants. Why it matters: As reported, this closure covers marine shrimp extraction, not rod-and-reel sport fishing. It is a good sign of how actively ASEA is now using its power to set closures, so ask your captain whether any new rule touches your trip. Source: Infobae, "El Salvador decreta su segunda veda nacional del año para la extracción de camarón marino" (Oct 4, 2026) https://www.infobae.com/el-salvador/2026/10/04/el-salvador-decreta-su-segunda-veda-nacional-del-ano-para-la-extraccion-de-camaron-marino/

tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/billfish-tournament-2026-announced 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

Organizers announced the 32nd El Salvador International Billfish Tournament at an event with the tourism minister. Organizer Marco Zablah said more than 40 national and international boats were taking part and that prizes would total close to US$400,000, with teams from the United States and Brazil joining Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Honduras and host El Salvador. The official 2026 program lists the captains' meeting on Nov 12, fishing on Nov 13, 14 and 15, a closing beach concert by Colombian singer Fonseca on Nov 15, and the awards dinner on Nov 16. The 2026 rules keep total billfish release and require non-offset circle hooks with natural bait, an 80-lb line maximum, and video of every catch; marlin tagged with Billfish Foundation (TBF) tags earn 25 bonus points. Why it matters: This is the busiest offshore week of the year at Costa del Sol. If you are not fishing it, book boats and rooms around it; if you are, read the video and circle-hook rules before day one. Source: Diario El Salvador, "El Salvador la capital de la pesca deportiva" (Sep 24, 2026) https://diarioelsalvador.com/dedeportes/el-salvador-la-capital-de-la-pesca-deportiva/857160

tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/sea-turtle-release-dates-2026 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

elsalvador.com reports that the foundation FUNZEL has scheduled public hatchling releases on Oct 25 (7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.), Nov 8 and 22, and Dec 6 and 20 (3:30 p.m.). Fundación Doménech says female turtles come ashore to nest from August 2026 to March 2027, and groups remind visitors that eating sea-turtle eggs is permanently banned in El Salvador. Why it matters: A great rest-day outing between fishing days. It is also a reminder that turtles share the inshore water with you: never buy turtle eggs or hawksbill (carey) products. Source: elsalvador.com, "Viví la emoción de liberar tortugas marinas en El Salvador" (Sep 22, 2026) https://www.elsalvador.com/turismo/playas-y-sol/liberar-tortugas-marinas/1294644/2026/

tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/la-libertad-pier-reopens 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

Tourism minister Morena Valdez said the tourist pier at Puerto de La Libertad and the neighbouring Sunset Park reopened on Sunday, Aug 2. Both had closed in June after heavy swell from Tropical Storm Cristina, and officials said at the time that a section of the pier more than 15 metres long had collapsed. Why it matters: La Libertad is the closest port to San Salvador and the Surf City beaches. If you plan to fish from here, ask your operator where boats are launching on your dates, because rainy-season swell can close coastal facilities at short notice. Source: Infobae, "El Muelle Turístico del Puerto de La Libertad ya se encuentra habilitado, tras intervenciones por lluvias" (Aug 4, 2026) https://www.infobae.com/el-salvador/2026/08/04/el-muelle-turistico-del-puerto-de-la-libertad-ya-se-encuentra-habilitado-tras-intervenciones-por-lluvias-en-el-salvador/

tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/asea-transition-extended 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

A legislative committee approved a reform that extends the MAG–ASEA transition commission from 90 days to Dec 31, 2026, and lets the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) keep spending CENDEPESCA's 2026 budget on ASEA's behalf. ASEA executive director Edgar Palacios told lawmakers the new agency still lacked its own bank accounts and key finance staff. Why it matters: Licences and paperwork may involve both offices until year-end. A reputable captain should have current vessel authorizations; it is fair to ask. Source: Diario El Mundo, "MAG ejecutará presupuesto de Cendepesca en transición hacia Autoridad Salvadoreña de Economía Azul (ASEA)" (Jun 23, 2026) https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/mag-ejecutara-presupuesto-de-cendepesca-en-transicion-hacia-autoridad-salvadorena-de-economia-azul-asea

tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/jiquilisco-hawksbills-monitoring 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

Environment ministry (MARN) teams stepped up underwater monitoring in Bahía de Jiquilisco. Biologist Enrique Barraza said conditions matched earlier surveys, and at Punta San Juan the team recorded two hawksbill turtles along with snappers, jacks, groupers and lobsters over hard bottom, which he read as a sign of a healthy bay. Why it matters: Snapper, jacks and grouper on hard bottom are exactly what estuary anglers come for. Jiquilisco is a Ramsar site and biosphere reserve, so fish it with a local guide who knows the protected zones. Source: Diario El Salvador, "Medio Ambiente supervisa la biodiversidad en la bahía de Jiquilisco" (Apr 13, 2026) https://diarioelsalvador.com/depais/medio-ambiente-supervisa-la-biodiversidad-en-la-bahia-de-jiquilisco/778652

tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/reef-diagnosis-los-cobanos 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

The environmental fund FIAES welcomed researchers from Baja California's Red de Observadores Ciudadanos and the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur to start what it calls the country's first integrated diagnosis of its reefs. The 14-month study, backed by the environment ministry, will measure reef biodiversity, coral growth and a reef health index at Los Cóbanos, Costa del Bálsamo and Punta Amapala. A day earlier, ministry staff and volunteer divers cleared harmful algae from 20 coral colonies in the Los Cóbanos protected area, about a kilometre offshore. Why it matters: Healthy reef means snapper, grouper and roosterfish. Los Cóbanos is a protected area with zoning, so check with your captain which areas are open to fishing. Source: elsalvador.com, "El Salvador tendrá estudios científicos para diagnosticar el estado de sus arrecifes" (Feb 4, 2026) https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/estudios-arrecifes-el-salvador/1261135/2026/

tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/asea-replaces-cendepesca 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

On Feb 4 the Legislative Assembly approved the law creating the Autoridad Salvadoreña de Economía Azul (ASEA), an autonomous agency linked to the Ministry of Economy that takes over CENDEPESCA's role. ASEA issues and revokes vessel fishing licences, sets closures, catch quotas and minimum sizes, and works with the environment ministry, security ministry and Navy on protected marine areas. The law was published in the Diario Oficial on Feb 9 and took effect on Apr 10, 2026, according to the Supreme Court's legislative bulletin. Why it matters: The agency behind fishing licences and closures has changed name and ministry. See our licences and rules page for what it means for a visiting angler. Source: El Diario de Hoy, "Asamblea aprueba creación de la Autoridad de Economía Azul como rectora de la pesca en el país" (Feb 4, 2026) https://www.eldiariodehoy.com/noticias/nacionales/en-vivo-asamblea-aprobara-ley-de-nueva-autoridad-de-economia-azul/60155/2026/

tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/leatherback-hatchlings-return 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

Marking four years of its Misión Océano program at Los Cóbanos, the environment ministry reported that leatherback turtles, a critically endangered species, had hatched in El Salvador for the first time on record since 2014. It said it protected more than 38,000 turtle eggs in the Los Cóbanos protected area alone in the 2025–2026 season, and that the program also removes abandoned ghost nets and has trained and certified more than 60 community guides under its whale and dolphin conservation work. Why it matters: Ghost-net clean-ups and protected nesting beaches make for a healthier coast. And if you see whales or dolphins offshore, the ministry now has a responsible-viewing guide. Source: Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, "Misión Océano cumple cuatro años..." (Jan 27, 2026) https://www.ambiente.gob.sv/mision-oceano-cumple-cuatro-anos-con-acciones-permanentes-para-la-proteccion-de-los-ecosistemas-marinos/

tag:sportfishelsalvador.com,2026:news/billfish-tournament-2025-record-turnout 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00 2026-10-22T12:00:00-05:00

The 31st edition ran Nov 9–12, 2025 from Bahía del Sol, with yachts from several countries tying up at the hotel's dock. Diario La Página reported that more than 300 foreigners entered the country for the event, and the tourism minister said the number of boats and participants had beaten earlier editions. For a sense of what winning looks like: at the 30th edition in November 2024, Diario El Salvador reported that the boat Allure won the billfish category with 7,025 points and the boat Biggie won the marlin category after releasing seven marlin. Why it matters: The event is growing, so expect a busy Costa del Sol every November, and a hot sailfish bite worth planning around. Source: Diario La Página, "Yates internacionales arriban a la Costa del Sol para el Torneo Internacional de Pesca del Marlín en su edición 31" (Nov 10, 2025) https://lapagina.com.sv/general/yates-internacionales-arriban-a-la-costa-del-sol-para-el-torneo-internacional-de-pesca-del-marlin-en-su-edicion-31/