Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – FishingBooker, the world’s largest platform for booking fishing trips, has officially announced the winners of the 2026 Angler’s Choice Award. Three captains in Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita have been recognized for their exceptional service and reliability in one of Mexico’s most competitive maritime markets.
As Puerto Vallarta celebrates reaching the 1 million visitor milestone in early 2026, these captains are setting the professional standard for the region’s nautical tourism. Out of 9,463 captains evaluated worldwide, only 791 (8.3%) met the criteria to receive this year’s award.
The 2026 Regional Winners are:
- Puerto Vallarta: Mario Castillon Santana (Burton III Sport Fishing) and Jorge Gamiño Alvarez (Valeria I)
- Sayulita: Juan Luis Ortega Jimenez (Chawin Fishing Sayulita & Ocean Sports)
“The Angler’s Choice Award is our way of highlighting the captains who consistently deliver top-tier experiences,” says Vukan Simic, CEO of FishingBooker. “In a year where Puerto Vallarta is thriving as a premier global destination, maintaining a 98% reliability rate is an incredible feat. These captains are the leaders of the charter industry in Jalisco and Nayarit.”
To qualify, captains must meet strict criteria consistently across four consecutive quarters:
- 4.8+ star rating from 10+ verified reviews.
- 98% reliability score and 98% response rate.
- Full business verification for passenger safety.
FishingBooker.com is the world’s largest platform for connecting anglers and fishing guides, with over 57,100 fishing trips available in more than 2,600 destinations worldwide.
Everyone here at Banderas News congratulates our world-class local fishing guides and the well-deserved recognition they received from FishingBooker.
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