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Mexico Fishing Report
Zihuatanejo gets back on track
BY ROBIN WADE/WON Staff WriterPublished: Jun 01, 2012
IXTAPA/ZIHUATANEJO — Conditions have improved a lot, with some very warm 85-degree water just off the Zihuatanejo beach and blue water only out about 6 miles and along the 100-fathom line. And while the offshore fishing was still slow along the beaches the rooster fishing exploded.
“Ben Almquist was here with his family and they were a fairly decent sized group so they fished on the super panga Huntress with Francisco and the cruiser Aqua Azul with Mecate,” Ed Kunze IGFA Representative and fly fishing guide said. “Both are excellent boats and excellent captains, but neither boat got a single strike all day. Mecate worked the area around the 12- to 15-mile marks, with Francisco going out 25 miles.”
“But what is very good fishing for are the roosters and large jack crevalle while we wait,” Kunze said. “Don and Gary Grantges fished with Cheva this last week and were getting so many big jacks, it was tiring them out. And the action has been just a short boat ride to the area around Ixtapa Island. They would just watch for the birds, and soon the water was turning to foam from breaking fish.”
“The roosters have exploded onto the scene, with Adolfo releasing 80 roosters over the last three days,” Kunze said. “He told me he went north and got into them like they were schools of black skipjack tuna and then he went south and did a repeat. They had a fish on every cast.”
Larry Edwards, reporting for the Independent Sportfishing Fleet said he had a very upbeat report from Temo Verboonen, his reporter for the area and skipper of the super panga Secuestro De Amor. “Even the current tropical depression Bud, has not hampered the fishing for the area nor has it interfered with the sea conditions for the area,” Edwards said.
“Temo reported deep sea fishing was starting to turn around and the sailfish bite was within 10 miles of the bay,” Edwards said. “This bite has been accompanied by occasional marlin strikes, keeping anglers spirits high for a change. There is lots of bait along the coast line with green jacks and big eye jacks in schools all over and the bigger fish are starting to follow them.”
“Inshore fishing has been very good for roosterfish, too, with the jack crevalle chasing the anchovies near the rocks, which has been great for spinning tackle,” Edwards said. “There's also been some yellowfin tuna mixed in with the schools of bonito schools that's adding to the overall excitement and change in the fishing. Finally, it appears that conditions are returning to some normalcy in this area.”
In other Mexico fishing action:
— CANCUN TO COZUMEL: The entire area of Puerto Morelos, ranging from Cancun to Cozumel, on the western Caribbean Coast, continues to produce phenomenal fishing results, week after week.
“This past week reflected a continuation of the excellent fishing from the week before and ended up the week with better than a 50-50 chance for a billfish and an exciting mixed bag variety of other game fish,” Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said.
“The overall fishing report for a total of 25 charters included 14 fish species with 1 blue marlin, 5 white marlin, 7 sailfish, 16 dorado, 4 king mackerel, 3 blackfin tuna, 4 wahoo, 4 Atlantic barracuda, 1 Spanish mackerel, 7 bonito, 2 amberjack, 8 triggerfish, 1 banana fish, 6 mutton snapper and 8 grouper.
— MAZATLAN: There are very few anglers in Mazatlan, but the ones going out have been catching dorado and jack crevalle in good numbers and many billfish have been spotted.
“The billfish bite has been slow, however, as I said, there are very few boats going out so the sampling is small, but we have also been catching tripletail offshore,” Fleet Manager Tadeo Hernández from the Bibi Fleet said. “The best bait for dorado has been ballyhoo.”
“The weather has changed and the water temperature is 82 degrees right now,” he said. “Today is overcast and slightly windy, and we have been keeping an eye on Hurricane Bud which fortunately has already been downgraded so we have normal working conditions despite its effects.”
Reporting for the Aries Sportfishing Fleet, Larry Edwards said the water temperatures remained good throughout the week but the water clarity fell apart, turned green, and the billfish disappeared from the area.
“That’s very unusual for this time of year and it may take another week to get the clarity back into order before the billfish return,” Edwards said. “With any luck at all, the now Tropical Storm Bud will move the water sufficiently to entice the fish back into the area.”
“While there were a few quality-sized dorado taken this past week, the offshore boats were very limited to the fish bite and the fleet did have a few skunk flags flying,” Edwards said. “Adding to the difficult bite situation was the lack of anglers and the calendar reflected four days without any boats offshore fishing.”
“The inshore super pangas had only four inshore fishing days that resulted in 21 red snapper, 5 triggerfish, 20 jack crevalle, 5 barracuda and 6 perch for their efforts,” Edwards said. “The inshore fishing conditions were an extension of the dirty, off-colored offshore waters that also created some difficult fishing for those anglers, too.”
— PUERTO VALLARTA: The rainy season began in PV, with dorado and football-sized yellowfin in the bay and blue water at Corbeteña.
“May is a month when things start to happen,” Stan Gabruk of Master Baiter’s Sportfishing and Tackle said. “We are at the end of May now and we have already seen two hurricanes form and fizzle which seems unusual, but in reality it is right on-time. Water temperatures continue to inch up to about 78 to 80 degrees now as the days are warmer and more humid. Bait is moving into the bay and is of course attracting larger fish. The trash line in the bay will soon be a daily thing for those short trip days when you’re looking for action, but time is an issue.”
“The blue water ten miles before Corbeteña is a wonderful sign, with striped marlin and a few blue marlin sightings already happening,” Gabruk said. “Sailfish are increasing in numbers and the fishing grounds are deserted. Summer is knocking and spring is stepping aside. Fishing from this point will be nothing like it has been for the past six months.”
“Good fishing exists now in the bay as well,” Gabruk said. “Smaller dorado of 20 pounds or so are moving in closer to shore and building in numbers. Skipjack tuna are moving into the bay ranging from 20 to 30 pounds and bringing an appetite. Bait is also moving into the bay more heavily as we expect this time of the year.”
“With the rainy season knocking on our door the trash line will be forming, which means you can plan on catching something for the dinner table in the bay,” Gabruk said. “The down side in the bay is the water is still a little dirty but when the visibility is down, just hit the trash line.”
“Outside of the bay, lays the Marietta Islands,” Gabruk said. “The Islands are always good, with reefs and plenty of small bait in the area there is always decent fishing here. When we come into these transitional times we see the species change and it can seem like overnight. For now we’re still seeing some roosterfish in the 30-pound range. Dorado are still increasing in numbers, but the sizes are still on the smaller side. Sailfish are just a little farther out, with skippies, snapper and pompano moving in a little and a host of other species are available on any given day.”
Gabruk said at the northern end of the bay Punta Mita is still fishing well. “Roosterfish are at Anclote (Sayulita), dorado at the point and sailfish are in the same area, with the striped marlin heading out to El Banco.”
“Dirty water has been the norm with clear green to coffee colored dirty water,” Gabruk said. “But ten miles or so before Corbeteña we have blue water. That high visibility, blue color is where bait and action are visible from distances by yellowfin tuna, marlin and sailfish. It’s still very early to see marlin and monster yellowfin at places like Corbeteña but the conditions are ripe and anything is possible. Footballs are in the 30- to 50-pound range at the Rock right now and the preferred bait for monsters and billfish alike. It may still be a little early for the season to start here but cubera snapper have been surfacing as well. Wahoo are also a possibility while trolling the jutting finger.”
“For the moment if you’re heading out to the deep water locations, Corbeteña would be the better choice,” he said.
For more Mexico fishing reports visit: www.bajafisherman.com
Readers: To have your reports included in the Mexico report, send photos and e-mails to baja@wonews.com.
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IXTAPA/ZIHUATANEJO — Conditions have improved a lot, with some very warm 85-degree water just off the Zihuatanejo beach and blue water only out about 6 miles and along the 100-fathom line. And while the offshore fishing was still slow along the beaches the rooster fishing exploded. “Ben Almquist was here with his family and they were a fairly decent sized group so they fished on the super panga Huntress with Francisco and the cruiser Aqua Azul with Mecate,” Ed Kunze IGFA Representative and fly fishing guide said. “Both are excellent boats and excellent captains, but neither boat got a single strike all day. Mecate worked the area around the 12- to 15-mile marks, with Francisco going out 25 miles.” “But what is very good fishing for are the roosters and large jack crevalle while we wait,” Kunze said. “Don and Gary Grantges fished with Cheva this last week and were getting so many big jacks, it was tiring them out. And the action has been just a short boat ride to the area around Ixtapa Island. They would just watch for the birds, and soon the water was turning to foam from breaking fish.”“The roosters have exploded onto the scene, with Adolfo releasing 80 roosters over the last three days,” Kunze said. “He told me he went north and got into them like they were schools of black skipjack tuna and then he went south and did a repeat. They had a fish on every cast.” Larry Edwards, reporting for the Independent Sportfishing Fleet said he had a very upbeat report from Temo Verboonen, his reporter for the area and skipper of the super panga Secuestro De Amor. “Even the current tropical depression Bud, has not hampered the fishing for the area nor has it interfered with the sea conditions for the area,” Edwards said. “Temo reported deep sea fishing was starting to turn around and the sailfish bite was within 10 miles of the bay,” Edwards said. “This bite has been accompanied by occasional marlin strikes, keeping anglers spirits high for a change. There is lots of bait along the coast line with green jacks and big eye jacks in schools all over and the bigger fish are starting to follow them.” “Inshore fishing has been very good for roosterfish, too, with the jack crevalle chasing the anchovies near the rocks, which has been great for spinning tackle,” Edwards said. “There's also been some yellowfin tuna mixed in with the schools of bonito schools that's adding to the overall excitement and change in the fishing. Finally, it appears that conditions are returning to some normalcy in this area.” In other Mexico fishing action: — CANCUN TO COZUMEL: The entire area of Puerto Morelos, ranging from Cancun to Cozumel, on the western Caribbean Coast, continues to produce phenomenal fishing results, week after week. “This past week reflected a continuation of the excellent fishing from the week before and ended up the week with better than a 50-50 chance for a billfish and an exciting mixed bag variety of other game fish,” Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said. “The overall fishing report for a total of 25 charters included 14 fish species with 1 blue marlin, 5 white marlin, 7 sailfish, 16 dorado, 4 king mackerel, 3 blackfin tuna, 4 wahoo, 4 Atlantic barracuda, 1 Spanish mackerel, 7 bonito, 2 amberjack, 8 triggerfish, 1 banana fish, 6 mutton snapper and 8 grouper. — MAZATLAN: There are very few anglers in Mazatlan, but the ones going out have been catching dorado and jack crevalle in good numbers and many billfish have been spotted. “The billfish bite has been slow, however, as I said, there are very few boats going out so the sampling is small, but we have also been catching tripletail offshore,” Fleet Manager Tadeo Hernández from the Bibi Fleet said. “The best bait for dorado has been ballyhoo.” “The weather has changed and the water temperature is 82 degrees right now,” he said. “Today is overcast and slightly windy, and we have been keeping an eye on Hurricane Bud which fortunately has already been downgraded so we have normal working conditions despite its effects.” Reporting for the Aries Sportfishing Fleet, Larry Edwards said the water temperatures remained good throughout the week but the water clarity fell apart, turned green, and the billfish disappeared from the area. “That’s very unusual for this time of year and it may take another week to get the clarity back into order before the billfish return,” Edwards said. “With any luck at all, the now Tropical Storm Bud will move the water sufficiently to entice the fish back into the area.” “While there were a few quality-sized dorado taken this past week, the offshore boats were very limited to the fish bite and the fleet did have a few skunk flags flying,” Edwards said. “Adding to the difficult bite situation was the lack of anglers and the calendar reflected four days without any boats offshore fishing.” “The inshore super pangas had only four inshore fishing days that resulted in 21 red snapper, 5 triggerfish, 20 jack crevalle, 5 barracuda and 6 perch for their efforts,” Edwards said. “The inshore fishing conditions were an extension of the dirty, off-colored offshore waters that also created some difficult fishing for those anglers, too.” — PUERTO VALLARTA: The rainy season began in PV, with dorado and football-sized yellowfin in the bay and blue water at Corbeteña. “May is a month when things start to happen,” Stan Gabruk of Master Baiter’s Sportfishing and Tackle said. “We are at the end of May now and we have already seen two hurricanes form and fizzle which seems unusual, but in reality it is right on-time. Water temperatures continue to inch up to about 78 to 80 degrees now as the days are warmer and more humid. Bait is moving into the bay and is of course attracting larger fish. The trash line in the bay will soon be a daily thing for those short trip days when you’re looking for action, but time is an issue.” “The blue water ten miles before Corbeteña is a wonderful sign, with striped marlin and a few blue marlin sightings already happening,” Gabruk said. “Sailfish are increasing in numbers and the fishing grounds are deserted. Summer is knocking and spring is stepping aside. Fishing from this point will be nothing like it has been for the past six months.” “Good fishing exists now in the bay as well,” Gabruk said. “Smaller dorado of 20 pounds or so are moving in closer to shore and building in numbers. Skipjack tuna are moving into the bay ranging from 20 to 30 pounds and bringing an appetite. Bait is also moving into the bay more heavily as we expect this time of the year.” “With the rainy season knocking on our door the trash line will be forming, which means you can plan on catching something for the dinner table in the bay,” Gabruk said. “The down side in the bay is the water is still a little dirty but when the visibility is down, just hit the trash line.” “Outside of the bay, lays the Marietta Islands,” Gabruk said. “The Islands are always good, with reefs and plenty of small bait in the area there is always decent fishing here. When we come into these transitional times we see the species change and it can seem like overnight. For now we’re still seeing some roosterfish in the 30-pound range. Dorado are still increasing in numbers, but the sizes are still on the smaller side. Sailfish are just a little farther out, with skippies, snapper and pompano moving in a little and a host of other species are available on any given day.” Gabruk said at the northern end of the bay Punta Mita is still fishing well. “Roosterfish are at Anclote (Sayulita), dorado at the point and sailfish are in the same area, with the striped marlin heading out to El Banco.” “Dirty water has been the norm with clear green to coffee colored dirty water,” Gabruk said. “But ten miles or so before Corbeteña we have blue water. That high visibility, blue color is where bait and action are visible from distances by yellowfin tuna, marlin and sailfish. It’s still very early to see marlin and monster yellowfin at places like Corbeteña but the conditions are ripe and anything is possible. Footballs are in the 30- to 50-pound range at the Rock right now and the preferred bait for monsters and billfish alike. It may still be a little early for the season to start here but cubera snapper have been surfacing as well. Wahoo are also a possibility while trolling the jutting finger.” “For the moment if you’re heading out to the deep water locations, Corbeteña would be the better choice,” he said. For more Mexico fishing reports visit: www.bajafisherman.com Readers: To have your reports included in the Mexico report, send photos and e-mails to baja@wonews.com. |
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