Small Improvements in Puerto Vallarta Fishing

When October finally arrives, we get anxious about fishing in Puerto Vallarta. It’s a bit of a waiting game as we ‘wait’ for the numbers of our world class species to increase here in the Bay of Banderas. But this is nothing new and as always the fishing is improving by small amounts. Or as my Mexican friends would say, ‘poco-poco’, or little by little. So, this past week has been on the positive side in both the bay and our deep-water fishing grounds. Those looking for larger Billfish like Blue and Black Marlin will find them, finally. Sailfish numbers are also picking up by the day. So we have great action across the board, which means we have something for just about everyone. Which leaves the question, ‘what do you want’?

I always like to start with Corbetena. In my opinion, Corbetena is Puerto Vallarta’s most versatile fishing area we have. Located 35 miles out from Marina Vallarta, Sailfish are picking up in size and numbers now. Sailfish always move in strong at this time of the year. Blue Marlin in the 250 lb range are running the neighborhood as well. 250 lbs is small for a Blue Marlin, take a picture and release that 250 lb baby to play another day amigos. Dorado are a little thinner this week, but still averaging in the 20 to 25 lb range. But be warned, they’re moving around quite a bit, so be prepared to move or ‘push water’ as they say. Yellowfin Tuna are still in the ‘large bait’ range of 30 to 45 lbs. Fun to catch, they’re great eating, but you have to catch them at the surface. Which could be ten minutes as they’re chasing bait. So they’re literally ‘up and down’! And remember, there is always the chance a Cow (200 lbs +) or Monster Tuna (300 lbs +) could be running the area. With plenty of bait in the form of larger Skipjack Tuna, it’s just a matter of time before Corbetena Explodes.

El Banco on the other hand has been quiet. Now we aren’t seeing many boats head out to these distant fishing grounds, but the conditions are ripe and there is no reason there aren’t Sailfish and Marlin around the high spots. There is plenty of bait out there and the water is a beautiful high-visibility blue. People will be showing up soon and the information will become more fluid and dynamic. Stay tuned amigos.

One indication that Blue Marlin are picking up in number is the simple fact they’re catching Blue Marlin six miles off the point of Punta Nayarit, aka Punta Mita. To be straight up, Sailfish is the primary player in this area. The Dorado or Mahi have dropped off in numbers for the moment. The area between El Morro to Punta Nayarit is a great area to focus on, this is an eight hour duration fishing charter. There are naturally other species you can find out there like Skipjack Tuna in the 15 to 20 lb range, 25 lb Jack Crevalles and with some luck and a possible rogue Mahi! One thing is for sure, if you’re not getting off your butt to find out, then you’re missing out amigos.

The action in the Bay of Banderas is always great. It doesn’t matter what time of the year it is, there is always family action in the bay. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get some exciting action like this past week. Larger Sailfish have been running the Los Arcos area and around La Cruz Marina! You need a bit of luck to find and hook into a Sailfish, but they’re in the bay and they’re being caught daily. Jack Crevalles, our ‘bread and butter’ species, is a strong fighter and plentiful. We have the Arctic Bonito in the bay, it’s part of the tuna family and tastes just like Tuna. They can run from 10 to 35 lbs, they make great bait also. In this case, it’s ok to eat the ‘bait’! Dorado running 15 lbs or so are still hanging out in the middle of the bay to Los Arcos! There are also superabundant Mahi or Dorado under 10 lkbs, please throw those back to play another day amigos. Near Yelapa there are Football Tuna in the 30 lb range and if you’re at the Cabo Corrientes area, Roosterfish are the primary player near their sandy beaches at the shore break.

The bite has been around 09:00 for some time now. But my captains have been experiencing some early action as well. It won’t hurt to arrive early for your ‘date’. For those who like to hit the afternoon bite, it hasn’t really been happening for some reason. So focus on the early bite until further notice. As I mentioned the last few weeks, when there is superabundant live bait, that’s when you want to run a dead bait. Reverse logic I know, but a dead and flopping bait, it’s the equivalent of fish ‘road kill’. On cloudy days, bright lures with pink, blue and Dorado green print colors are a good option as well. Sometimes if you don’t have the right color, you aren’t catching fish amigos. So a well-equipped boat can make all the difference. Water temperatures are at 87 degrees now, which is pretty much perfect. With very little rain, there hasn’t been much of a trash line this year. So the water is mostly blue throughout the entire area, except around rivers of course. If you’re a local and you read my articles, send me your fish pic of your catch and I’ll include you in my fishing reports and ‘fish pic of the day’. Give me a brief description and who knows, you may become a contributing ‘Master Baiter”… Ha ha!

Until next week, don’t forget to kiss your fish!

Written by Stan Gabruk

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