One hundred and forty five kilometers along the Chetumal- Carrillo Puerto Highway, northeast of Chetumal, we turn off through Cafetal and head on to Mahahual (the Caribbean name for a tree belonging to the malvaceous family, with no English translation), a small fishing village that has become a vacation spot for many Chetumal families. The village has a hunting, shooting and fishing club equipped with its own dock, where a yearly fishing competition is held in June.
There is also a small federal dock, which despite its size, is able to accomodate large vessels. Just a few meters from the beach, a reef considered to be a second largest in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, stretches southwards down to Belize. Not only is the reef a natural barrier that protects Quintana Roo from incoming waves, but it is also home to an enormous wealth of plants, fish, coral and algae that is as varied as species living in the nearby tropical rain forest. Beyond the reef, which is like an extension of the beach, the Caribbean Ocean extends into the distance. It is home to innumerable edible, deep water species: red snapper, sea bass, porgy, chihua, grouper, pompano, striped mullet and catfish. Other species, such as the silent shark and so-called tintorera, eels or mernas, may also be found. Fishing enthusiasts may also come across marlin or the spectacular sailfish.

Source:The State of Quintana Roo Book