Ok so I just back from a cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Over all the cruise was fun and I got to snorkel with several 100-150lb tarpon in Cayman.
Well in Cozumel we booked a fishing trip through the cruise ship. Six people for 5 hours@ 149 a piece. Seemed a lil steep, but they just talked up how many big fish are caught.
So long story short we eneded up with one poor little dolphin after trolling on top of the water in the same spot for 4 hours. Then about 5 other boats dropped by and did the same pattern of trolling in a circle along with us. I asked if the captain had any plaers to go deeper and they didn't. Then asked about any reefs or wrecks we could fish and he said we couldn't do that. We didn't even see any birds catching fish..lol
So all in all it was a 5 hour boat ride.
sucks but I guess it happens.

Next time do your research before departing. I hooked my friend up with and 8hr charter for $550, not through the cruise company. The cruise ship made at least 100% profit on you guys. They did troll but picked up 2 Wahoo a 35# and a massive 90#+ that was eaten boatside by an even bigger toothy critter. Mexico is a very cheap place to charter if you do research. Acapulco $200 a day, Cabo $450, PLaya del carmen $550

My best friend and his wife honeymooned down there a few years ago and booked a charter for the 2 of them. He said about $250 for the both of them for 4 hrs. They had a blast, said they caught a lot of dophins. They kept one and took it to a local to cook up for them. Said it was the best fish he'd ever eaten. Sorry you got the bum ride.

When you are on a cruise it is hard to take fish back on the boat. When i have fished in Playa i have taken dorado back to the hotel both times and fed the small restuarnt and had some for the cooks and waitresses to take to their families. The cooks gladly cook fish any way yould like if you talk to them directly and be generous. Most of the workers work for $5 a DAY.

I fished Cozumel in April on the Grand Slam and had a great day with a great captain and crew, catching Yellowfin, Wahoo, Mahi-Mahi and hooked a beautiful marlin as well but last it after a fifteen minute fight.

I did some good research before booking though.

Jim with Wahoo Tours also has an excellent rep.

Well don't book any trips through Carnival.

Me and my wife also took a cruise which stopped in Cozumel. The trick is never purchase the trips from the cruise line unless you have to. For the most part purchasing the trips from locals is way cheaper( with the exception of that dolphin park in Cozumel 99.00 on land & ship). We ended up talking the guide into taking us for 124.00 dollars for both of us, not each. We did not catch any dolphin or marlin, our guide did however take us to a reef where we caught plenty of fish.

Dont flame me..
But, fishing is fishing sometimes the bite is good and sometimes not.
Just because it is mexico dont assume anything ask before you book the charter .
Me personally I would have talked to the captain before boarding and ask about where you are going and what his plans are if the fish dont bite..
Guess their fishing is very different from mine.
CB
Like yesterday I went out the guy's saw how crappy it was more like 3-4's with occ. 6+ everyone SICK ! it was bad and I opted for them to do a bay/ beachfront/jetty freeport trip. I did refund some money but, They didnt go home empty handed a shark and a 44" redfish.

Booking fishing trips from Carnival, or most any other cruise line for that matter, is a gut-hooking experience.

You're better off staying on board, sipping a few Coronas, and finishing that good book you brought aboard.

Been there, done that!

Lesson learned, eh?

I have no doubt that I could have done better with a HotSpot map and my garmin gps. At least I wouldn't have trolled topwaters in the same spot for 4 hours.
I work harder than that just to catch crappie at Grapevine.

What really made me laugh was how the crew just played it off by saying, "well thats fishing..sometimes you just nocatch fish."
I fish alot out of Tampa with my father in law. We always catch something, bet it kings, spanish makerel, grouper, sharks, bonita,etc. Wheteher trolling spoons with planers or fishing the reefs made out of old m-60 tanks.
When we use to go out of Freeport we would catch snapper, amberjack, kings, ling/cobia,etc.
I have never not been put on fish. Just urks me...ok I feel better.
Then back at the dock they wanted a tip..rotflmao

Wish I could have fished for the tarpon in Grand Caymen. All I could do was chase them though...lol