This week we´re looking at similar conditions as we have had for the last couple of weeks. As mentioned Sailfish are the main players around the bay for the time being. Sailfish are showing up in larger numbers off the point of Punta Mita from five to ten miles. Dorado as well off the Anclote Reef and buoys near Sayulita. Buoys are your friend amigo if you can find one. Dorado, which have been mostly on the smaller side, will be running about 15 to 20 lbs. These are throw back sized fish and any self respecting sportsman will throw them back. You may find some Snappers in smaller sizes of 10 to 15 lbs, perfect for the dinner table, fun on light tackle. Those heading to San Pancho will have had no better luck than around the point of Punta Mita or the Marietta Islands….
Well here we are once again, the end of High Season for tourism and the beginning of High Season for Fishing. As the seasonal visitors head back north it´s the biggest signal the seasons are changing. Soon the fishing fanatics looking for Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Tuna, etc. will descend on PV. We are already seeing signs of Black and Blue Marlin at El Banco. Water temperatures are inching up slightly, bait is more abundant (if that´s possible), the water is clear green and breeding season is all but finished, finally! Yes we´re on track for a wonderful fishing season and it all starts NOW!
If you were in Puerto Vallarta you´d think it was summer. Water Temperatures are back up around the 78 to 81 degree range. Bait is thick, Breeding Season is coming to an end as all the species are taking bait again. It´s still the clear green water conditions for the most part, but that´s OK since it really doesn´t hurt anything, blue is still preferable for visibility reasons. Dorado are moving back in, early actually for the season, but Dorado have been in the area all winter long, so why would this surprise any of us? Sounds great, right? Well for the ¨salty¨ captains this is the situation, they´re catching fish. Lesser Captains and crews are still coming in ¨wanting¨, again nothing new there. From this point on, it will only get hotter, both for the weather and for fishing. So get your loose change together, it´s time to think ¨World Class Fishing¨!
For now the water is still ¨clear green¨ in color, which works fine for fishing, doesn´t affect the bite much. Water temperatures are now in the 75 to 78 degree range, but the currents are still swirling, so electronics on the boat is a welcome tool which will direct you to where to drop your baits. If you´re lucky enough to find yourself in the San Pancho (San Francisco) area north of Punta Mita you´ll find nice sized Dorado in the 35 to 60 lb range. Sailfish are also hanging out in the area as is normal for this early part of the fishing season.
I love Marina Vallarta, if you´ve never been there (here) the place is full of life and of course this is where the World Class Sportfishing Companies and crews are. As I walk around the Marina you can´t help but notice the ever vanishing Sportfishing boats from the slips. After more than thirty years Marina Vallarta has changed ownership and has naturally raised prices (slip cost) for boat owners, including the fishing boats already suffering from seven straight ¨depression¨ years. As a result fishing boats that were on the edge have left the industry or gone out of business. Boats that are still operational are searching for affordable options in La Cruz and Nuevo Vallarta Marinas, good luck. Some are biting the bullet, staying and paying. Raising slip cost are just one factor driving the cost of all water sports up, not just fishing boats.
