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MEXICO REPORT: Mazatlan gears up for the Big Game Trolling Tournament as Hurricane Rick spreads fish
BY ROBIN WADE/WON Staff WriterPublished: Nov 03, 2009
MAZATLAN - It was another very busy week in Mazatlan with a significant increase in the dorado counts, and fish spread over a wide area. "Many boats and teams from all over the world were pre-fishing for the invitational Mazatlan Big Game Trolling Tournament, that hosted anglers from around the globe," said Larry Edwards reporting for the Aries Sportfishing Fleet. Slated to run from October 26 to November 01, final payout and awards were not available at press time but 47 countries were expected to participate
"High boat for the week was the Aries VIII skippered by Captain Carlos Morales and a Slovenian team led by Marko Zaloznic, landing and/or releasing 4 sailfish, and 81 dorado for their five fishing days of pre-tournament action," Edwards said.
The overall catches for a combined total of 57 outings totaled 4 blue marlin, all under 250 pounds, 18 sailfish, 1 striper, and 509 dorado. "The overall increase in action was attributed to Hurricane Rick, which left a new high pressure building over the area," he said.
Sea conditions were back to the standard, near perfect fishable conditions throughout the area, with minor swells and light tropical breezes. Surface water temperatures ranged from 84 to 86 degrees throughout the area.
Most of the boats were using rigged trolling baits in conjunction with artificials, practicing for the tournament. "The boats fished a wide spectrum of the lower Sea of Cortez with reports of an occasional billfish here and there, but no concentration however, dorado were taken in all directions."
• CANCUN TO COZUMEL: According to the Fleet Manager, Armando Gutierrez, the bite this past week reflected some off season sailfish action for the boats that elected to fish the 6 to 8 hour fishing days. The overall combined fish counts averaged out at 5.5 fish per boat, per day, that included a seven fish variety for the week. The breakdown included 3 sailfish, 38 bonito, 13 king mackerel, 11 red snapper, 3 grouper, 6 triggerfish, and 15 giant Atlantic barracuda for their 16 charter fishing efforts. "All in all, a good fishing week for anglers," he said.
Sea conditions included light tropical surface breezes to about 10 knots with sea temperatures at 85 and 86 degrees throughout the area. Un-rigged ballyhoo worked best on the sailfish and was also productive on most of the other trolled fish species
this week.
• IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO: Reporting for the Independent Sportfishing Fleet Larry Edwards said following the effects of Hurricane Rick, the waters here have continued to improve to near perfect fishing conditions. "The general fishing starts at about 8 miles outside the bay in the deep purple colored waters, with excellent dorado action, sailfish, and even a bite on the yellowfin tuna," Edwards said.
While the numbers of anglers and charters are still at an all-time low here, the fishing is starting to shape up to the premium levels of this area. "We have been mixing the trolling baits with the artificials and this has worked extraordinarily well for the sailfish and dorado," he said.
"Also, the inshore roosterfish bite is still good but much of the time the wave action and off colored water prevents the super pangas from getting close enough to the beach to be productive. However, when the conditions are right, the bite is great."
With near perfect sea conditions, mostly calm with very light surface breezes, and very clean purplish waters just a few miles offshore, surface temperatures were stable at 85 and 86 degrees. "Both bait and lures have been working well and mixing the two has been very productive, especially using the green/yellows and blue/white artificials," Edwards said. Roosters were best on live bait and red/white pencil poppers.
• PUERTO VALLARTA: PV Sportfishing said mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and big black marlin are all here as it is high season and everything that is out there can be done on a short day inside the bay and still catch a dozen dorado off the point of Punta de Mita.
"You find the right line and the smaller dorado are jumping in the boat, go a little further to Corbeteña and you will find smaller tuna from the 40- to 100-pound range, sailfish from 90 to 110 pounds, and bigger dodos up to 50 pounds," said Dan Martin of PV Sportfishing.
"The bank has been different day to day every day. We went Tuesday and it was hot with Wahoo and tuna. The next day just a lot of bait and 1 240-plus yellowfin tuna, so the big ones are there. You just need to pick the right day, but if the big tuna cows are there I guarantee you our crew will put you on them," Martin said.
Puerto Vallarta is holding its 54th annual sailfish and marlin tournament starting November 11 with over $400,000 in prizes plus daily sailfish, marlin, yellowfin tuna, and dorado jackpots. For more info on the tournament email info@puertovallartafish.com.
• SAN CARLOS (SONORA): Bryan Replogle of Team Margarita Sportfishing said he caught some sierra in the bay and some 7- to 15-pound dorado off debris outside the reef but the tuna were found one day and not the next, a few small marlin and sails were also being caught.
"A friend said that larger sierra were around Window Rock in the bay. I snorkeled Isla Blanca just inside Window Rock and spotted a dozen 7- to 10-pound cabrilla, hundreds of 3- to 6-pound sierra, large ladyfish, and many other species," Replogle said.
At the beach they were catching a mixed bag of smaller fish with lots of skipjack around. "The fishing should be great this week with water temperatures now less than 80 degrees and the blue water getting scarce. I heard that one panga had a great catch of yellowtail at San Pedro Nolasco and my friend caught a 60-pound wahoo 14 miles out," he said.
The pangas in the Esterito had a nice catch of small cabrilla and golden spotted sea bass caught in the bay. "Everything is here and the fishing is going to get nothing but better."
Readers: To have your reports included in the Mexico report, send photos and e-mails to baja@wonews.com.
PUERTO VALLARTA- JUMPING IN THE BOAT-Find the right trash line and the smaller dorado are so abundant it seems like they are jumping in the boat, like this one weighing about 35 pounds caught by Edward Savco. PHOTO COURTESY OF PV SPORTFISHING.
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MAZATLAN - It was another very busy week in Mazatlan with a significant increase in the dorado counts, and fish spread over a wide area. "Many boats and teams from all over the world were pre-fishing for the invitational Mazatlan Big Game Trolling Tournament, that hosted anglers from around the globe," said Larry Edwards reporting for the Aries Sportfishing Fleet. Slated to run from October 26 to November 01, final payout and awards were not available at press time but 47 countries were expected to participate "High boat for the week was the Aries VIII skippered by Captain Carlos Morales and a Slovenian team led by Marko Zaloznic, landing and/or releasing 4 sailfish, and 81 dorado for their five fishing days of pre-tournament action," Edwards said. The overall catches for a combined total of 57 outings totaled 4 blue marlin, all under 250 pounds, 18 sailfish, 1 striper, and 509 dorado. "The overall increase in action was attributed to Hurricane Rick, which left a new high pressure building over the area," he said. Sea conditions were back to the standard, near perfect fishable conditions throughout the area, with minor swells and light tropical breezes. Surface water temperatures ranged from 84 to 86 degrees throughout the area. Most of the boats were using rigged trolling baits in conjunction with artificials, practicing for the tournament. "The boats fished a wide spectrum of the lower Sea of Cortez with reports of an occasional billfish here and there, but no concentration however, dorado were taken in all directions." • CANCUN TO COZUMEL: According to the Fleet Manager, Armando Gutierrez, the bite this past week reflected some off season sailfish action for the boats that elected to fish the 6 to 8 hour fishing days. The overall combined fish counts averaged out at 5.5 fish per boat, per day, that included a seven fish variety for the week. The breakdown included 3 sailfish, 38 bonito, 13 king mackerel, 11 red snapper, 3 grouper, 6 triggerfish, and 15 giant Atlantic barracuda for their 16 charter fishing efforts. "All in all, a good fishing week for anglers," he said. Sea conditions included light tropical surface breezes to about 10 knots with sea temperatures at 85 and 86 degrees throughout the area. Un-rigged ballyhoo worked best on the sailfish and was also productive on most of the other trolled fish species this week. • IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO: Reporting for the Independent Sportfishing Fleet Larry Edwards said following the effects of Hurricane Rick, the waters here have continued to improve to near perfect fishing conditions. "The general fishing starts at about 8 miles outside the bay in the deep purple colored waters, with excellent dorado action, sailfish, and even a bite on the yellowfin tuna," Edwards said. While the numbers of anglers and charters are still at an all-time low here, the fishing is starting to shape up to the premium levels of this area. "We have been mixing the trolling baits with the artificials and this has worked extraordinarily well for the sailfish and dorado," he said. "Also, the inshore roosterfish bite is still good but much of the time the wave action and off colored water prevents the super pangas from getting close enough to the beach to be productive. However, when the conditions are right, the bite is great." With near perfect sea conditions, mostly calm with very light surface breezes, and very clean purplish waters just a few miles offshore, surface temperatures were stable at 85 and 86 degrees. "Both bait and lures have been working well and mixing the two has been very productive, especially using the green/yellows and blue/white artificials," Edwards said. Roosters were best on live bait and red/white pencil poppers. • PUERTO VALLARTA: PV Sportfishing said mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and big black marlin are all here as it is high season and everything that is out there can be done on a short day inside the bay and still catch a dozen dorado off the point of Punta de Mita. "You find the right line and the smaller dorado are jumping in the boat, go a little further to Corbeteña and you will find smaller tuna from the 40- to 100-pound range, sailfish from 90 to 110 pounds, and bigger dodos up to 50 pounds," said Dan Martin of PV Sportfishing. "The bank has been different day to day every day. We went Tuesday and it was hot with Wahoo and tuna. The next day just a lot of bait and 1 240-plus yellowfin tuna, so the big ones are there. You just need to pick the right day, but if the big tuna cows are there I guarantee you our crew will put you on them," Martin said. Puerto Vallarta is holding its 54th annual sailfish and marlin tournament starting November 11 with over $400,000 in prizes plus daily sailfish, marlin, yellowfin tuna, and dorado jackpots. For more info on the tournament email info@puertovallartafish.com. • SAN CARLOS (SONORA): Bryan Replogle of Team Margarita Sportfishing said he caught some sierra in the bay and some 7- to 15-pound dorado off debris outside the reef but the tuna were found one day and not the next, a few small marlin and sails were also being caught. "A friend said that larger sierra were around Window Rock in the bay. I snorkeled Isla Blanca just inside Window Rock and spotted a dozen 7- to 10-pound cabrilla, hundreds of 3- to 6-pound sierra, large ladyfish, and many other species," Replogle said. At the beach they were catching a mixed bag of smaller fish with lots of skipjack around. "The fishing should be great this week with water temperatures now less than 80 degrees and the blue water getting scarce. I heard that one panga had a great catch of yellowtail at San Pedro Nolasco and my friend caught a 60-pound wahoo 14 miles out," he said. The pangas in the Esterito had a nice catch of small cabrilla and golden spotted sea bass caught in the bay. "Everything is here and the fishing is going to get nothing but better." Readers: To have your reports included in the Mexico report, send photos and e-mails to baja@wonews.com. PUERTO VALLARTA- JUMPING IN THE BOAT-Find the right trash line and the smaller dorado are so abundant it seems like they are jumping in the boat, like this one weighing about 35 pounds caught by Edward Savco. PHOTO COURTESY OF PV SPORTFISHING. |
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