Joe Francis -- I'm Renting a Sea Lion ... To Play With Me

The "Girls Gone Wild" honcho tells TMZ ... he rents a Sea Lion named "Litibu" once a week from Vallarta Adventures to hang out with him and his GF Abbey Wilson at his casa near Puerta Vallarta.

It's pretty incredible ... he says the 11-year-old mammal is so well trained he arrives via boat ... swims up to the beach ... walks to Joe's backyard ... and then dives straight into his pool.

Not only that, Joe says Litibu has a slew of tricks up his blubber ... he can do handstands, give kisses, stand and clap, roar on command and lets Joe and Abbey take rides on his back in the pool.