PV Transitions to Winter Fishing, Rooster Fish Arrive!

                             PV Transitions to Winter Fishing, Rooster Fish Arrive!  

Written by: Stan Gabruk owner of Master Baiter´s Sportfishing & Tackle

 

As is natural Mother Nature has once again reset the current clock as we see water temperatures turn chilly to the summer species of Dorado and Black Marlin. Other summer species are still hanging around the deep water locations, but for how much longer? For now fishing has it´s challenges like fishing always does. We see the void being filled in nicely by Sierra Mackerals, Needle Fish, Large Bonito (Tuna in cans), Sailfish and Dorado still hanging north of Corbeteña and El Banco. Yellowfin tuna off Cleophus of the Tres Maria Islands and Blue Marlin between Corbetena and El Banco. Fishing isn´t perfect for the jaded, but for the guy looking for a challenge and some serious action, now is the time to hit it or it may be too late amigos for Tuna and Marlin!

Fishing around the area has turned to ¨slow¨ which means nothing is on ¨automatic¨ as we have become accustomed to. Even with its challenges fishing is still world class by any measuring device you may have, including your imagination! When you hook into a 400 lb Blue Marlin, this is not a small fish. Dorado to 45 lbs north of Corbeteña Sailfish and of course Striped Marlin to 250 lbs. With a half full glass attitude anything is probable! Bottle Nose Dolphin are still around the rock and the high spots of El Banco so you´ll have to deal with those bait stealing hooligans as they laugh at you! Wahoo is still around the area with average sizes being in the 60 lb to 80 lb range but we´ve seen larger around the area. If you´re at El Banco and north there are Yellowfin tuna 60 to 120 lbs to be had just this side of Cleophus by twenty miles. So for the deep water, ¨I wanna a big fish¨ kind of guy we´re able to scratch that itch amigo. Corbeteña and El Banco are both alive with action which includes Cubera Snappers for the jiggers and of course the side species of Bonito to 35 lbs, Jack Crevalls, Sierra Mackerals are just part of a long list of species available. For now your best fishing ¨bang for the buck¨ is in a ten hour trip.

Marietta Islands and the reefs in the area are seeing Wahoo just hanging out. We don´t normally see Wahoo handout in the area so this is a great opportunity to get this extremely sought after species. Their flavor is just incredible but don´t leave the boat with the Captain promising to bring your fish to the hotel, he just ripped off your fish dude! Fish is something just short of legal tender, about the only thing you can´t pay for with fish is your phone and electric bills! Smaller Dorado are also possible in the 20 lb range, but thinning out daily. Needle fish to 45 lbs, Bonito to 30 lbs, Sierra Mackerals to 15 lbs, maybe a misguided Sailfish chasing Skip jack Tuna. It´s all alive with more action around the Marietta Islands and El Morro Island. Eight hours is a decent trip, if nothing happens you can always come back to the bay and hit the winter species. There is no reason not to catch some fish, hopefully it´s the species you´re targeting! Punta Mita is slow, Dorado and Sailfish are still in the area but it´s more miss than hit right now. Anclote Reef may have some Rooster fish. If targeting Rooster fish use Bullet Bonito or Bullet Skippies and for lures use Green Runners, they´ll improve your odds!

Inside the bay we´re settling into our normal winter pattern with a twist. Everyone knows that this is Whale Season and there have been many comments that the Whale populations are diminished this season. Fishing in the bay can have its challenges as well with whales scaring all the speices out of ¨strike¨  range. Basically they don´t want to be Moby Dicks lunch! Another negative are the Killer or Orca Whales. They are eating everything, even Jack Crevalls like they´re candy. This has chased the Blue and Grey whales, etc out of the bay and around the Marietta Islands and points off Punta Mita and Cabo Corrientes. Killer whales will also target the youngling whales, Mother Nature can be a cruel mistress. Jack Crevalls all around the bay, especially around the Nuevo Vallarta Area. Dorado to 20 lbs can still be boated around the Los Arcos Rocks along with a slim chance of smaller Sailfish chasing abundant bait in the bay. Bonito to 40 lbs around Yelapa, Needle fish to 35 lbs, Sierra Mackerals, Rooster fish in the 15 lb range around the surf areas. Find a jetty and have at it. Four hour fishing trips in the bay can be very fruitful if you have an open mind and are looking for some pure action!

All and all the fishing is great, but it´s not October fishing as we see colder currents move into the area dropping the water temps to 77 degrees with a downward trend. There has been some green water around Corbeteña, so go north about four miles and you´ll find high visibility blue water. Dirty water is another indications of current changes and we may find more dirty water next week as sediments are stirred up as is normal for this time of the year, like it or not. The bit is happening a little later in the mornings now, be ¨there¨ by 8:30 a.m. and you should be on time.

Around 1:00 so you can hit both bites of you time things right. Lures: Are still blue with silver that mimic flying fish will do the trick and of course petrelaros with brown, green and purple are automatic.

Shared boats for 8 hrs targeting Dorado has been very popular! Just fire me an email so I know when you´ll be here and we´ll do the rest. The Downtown Store on Basidillo Badillo and Insurgentes is open for High Season. Call Chris (El Centro Mgr) at (044) 322 112 9558 for fishing, tours or T-shrts amigo.  I am still in Marina Vallarta so take your pick. YeHa! We are also Smoking your fish, we keep half, but man is this stuff good. Call Chris for Details in my El Centro store.

Until next time, don´t forget to ¨Kiss Your Fish¨. . .

Master Baiter´s is located in Marina Vallarta between docks A and B on the boardwalk. Email your Questions to me at: CatchFish@MasterBaiters.com.mx  Web page:  www.MasterBaiters.com.mx  , Local Phone at: (044) 322 779 75 71 or if roaming: 011 52 1 322 779 75 71 cell phone direct. Come like me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Master-Baiters-Sportfishing-Tackle/88817121325

The trade name Master Baiter’s ® Sportfishing and Tackle is protected under trade mark law and is the sole property of Stan Gabruk.