Stories of how people go out on chartered boats (of all types) have some sort of accident, the boat sinks with everyone on it and inevitably people get hurt or worse. The logical assumption is that the boats are insured with liability insurance just in case such a thing should happen. Only to discover that there is no insurance, the people who own the charter or tour company pulled the wool over the eyes of the local officials. Or worse they paid off the “guy”, who of course isn’t there any longer and can’t be found, blah blah blah….
No matter how many times you roll the dice, you have to come up a winner at some point. Those who headed out to the Tres Maria Islands, also known as the Prison Islands found a few days there where Yellowfin Monsters averaging in the 240 lb range were running wild. Anywhere from the fifteen mile point to the first Island to the north end of the second island can produce arm busting action with very large, Maybe even monster Yellowfin Tuna. That’s right folks, I said Monster Yellowfin Tuna. With the water temperatures hovering in the 80 degree range, it was just a matter of time before we saw this abnormality spring up.
The inside story of the Puerto Vallarta fishing scene, living in the middle of it gives me a unique view of a world only those in it will ever see. I see what is happening in Marina Vallarta every day. I see all the boats, I know all the captains one way or another. The things that happen on the docks can affect the charter you reserved six months or six hours ago. There is a sub culture in these Mexican Marinas. Not everyone is a good guy, not everyone is a bad guy. Most have families, children, parents and lots of brothers and sisters. These families live and grow up in the Marinas and on the beaches. Puerto Vallarta is a small town, that may feel big, but is going through some growing pains. Big money problems, small minded solutions, and opportunities you can step into easier than a hot tub. Welcome to the real Marina Vallarta
Since the year 2000, Master Baiter’s has been in the Sportfishing Charter business. Some call it Deep Sea Fishing, others call it Sportfishing, what ever you choose to call it, it’s expensive and there’s no way around that simple fact of life. I always have potential clients enter my shop on the boardwalk in Marina Vallarta and they naturally ask for prices. When I collect all the information I need from them to make a recommendation, they are seldom happy about the price and that in itself is a deal breaker. Especially for many vacationing Anglers with a “whim” to go fishing for “Moby Dick”. When I do finally figure out the correct or best option for the client, he’s usually grabbing his chest from the heart palpitations he’s experiencing
For the last eight years I have seen every guy with a line of credit and a thirty foot Gradey White center console put out a shingle and declare his superior quality and performance. They will have nice, shinny newer boats, of course they want to be the star, so you’ve got yourself a ¨hot-shot¨ owner / operator running his own little circus. After all, if this guy can catch fish in (fill in the blank), then he can fish anywhere. They have the new shinny Black Barts.. and can talk a good game. They may or may not catch fish. Lets face it, in PV there are times that if you just show up, you will look good and come in with lots of fish! Me, give me the guy with experience, not the prettiest boat, and not running one single Black Bart Lure. These are the guys who grew up in the area, know the bay like the back of their hands and well, to be frank, for a price will teach that new guy with the new boat where to find fish and what they need to do! But they don’t teach the instincts a good, local captain will have. You can build a reputation on those guys, and around those types. Now managing them can be another thing… Hahahaha…..
Fish Porn, that’s right folks, if you get hot for fishing and PUERTO VALLARTA, this is better than …..
The states are feeling the effects of what El Nino Can do. Freezing Temperatures in Florida killing Tarpin is just one example of the weather extremes the world is seeing right now. Puerto Vallarta Sportfishing is no stranger to these global abnormalities. Right now we are seeing water temperatures bordering on spring time equivalents. Seventy Eight to eighty one degree water temperatures are creating a vortex of sorts.
