Information about dynamics and interactions between commercial and recreational fishing is often limited or entirely lacking. Thus, it is challenging to quantitatively evaluate the coexistence of these activities in coastal communities that comprise the southern Gulf of Mexico. This chapter offers an analysis of official data and secondary sources to characterize the fishing resources, fleets, permits, and regulations of the region within the context of a socio-ecological system (SES). This exploration enabled us to identify that small-scale fisheries affect more than 100 species, categorized into eight fisheries, and employ over 20,000 fishers and 10,000 vessels. The multispecies catches of sport and recreational fishing in the region are focused on at least 20 species, with more than 9800 recreational fishing vessels. Small-scale fishing has been negatively impacted by resource overexploitation, illegal fishing, and a lack of species-specific catch information. Additionally, there is no data available on the performance of the recreational fishery or its environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Through an integrated SES model, we uncovered that both activities converge in the use of common resources and respond to pressure from market, socio-environmental, and governance variables. Thus, activities pertaining to multi-user fisheries resources require comprehensive, interconnected, and participatory assessments to promote sustainable co-management.