Large Dorado, Marlin, Sailfish, Need I say More?
Large Dorado, Marlin, Sailfish, Need I say More?
Written by: Stan Gabruk owner of Master Baiter´s Sportfishing & Tackle
All year long I answer questions about when the Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado and Especially Yellowfin Tuna, when will they be here. Or even better, in the middle of winter I am asked what it´s going to take to get to Yellowfin Tuna. The smart ass in me wants to tell them to find an airplane! The middle of winter may be when most of Puerto Vallarta´s Tourism happens, but the fishing season is from summer to the first week of January. For those in the know, we´re catching big, world class fish here at our world famous fishing grounds. The unusual part of the whole thing is they´re close in, not at the deep water locations, but close in which means fishing is as affordable as it can be and still get you on a Marlin, Sailfish or Dorado. Fishing Season is here, the only question now: Is the fishing season going to pass you by again?!
The story this week is much the same as last week and the week before. The only real difference is the Dorado are even more abundant and large. Right now five to ten miles off the point of Punta Mita is where it´s all happening. Capt Cesar off Magnifico hit a 800 lb Black Marlin twelve miles off the point just to have it work the leader with its bill and finally snap the line! So we know we´ve got some huge fish out there and close! There are also big Bull Dorado tapping 60 lbs and this is huge for a Dorado! Average size in the moment is right at 30 to 45 lbs. Sailfish are also picking up in numbers as they do at this time of the year. There are also fields of bait, Skip Jack Tuna is the primary bait preferred by the locals right now. Still Goggle eyes, Flying fish, Bullet Skippies are the super bait and of course there is so much varied bait it´s hard to make a call on how much to purchase in the morning. Of course buy too much, it´s cheap insurance. But you´ll be making bait in the area to make sure you´ve got what will work!
Corbeteña still has the larger Bottle Nose Dolphin around the rock and they´re still taking your bait since it´s easy pickings! It´s so frustrating you can´t keep a bait in the water long enough for a Marlin to find it! El Banco is seeing some small Yellowfin Tuna for this time of the year at 60 to 80 lbs and it´s work. We´re thankful these larger Yellowfin Tuna Footballs are here, but they should be larger. Soon the water temps will drop a touch then we expect it to turn into YF Tuna City, stay tuned… Update Nov 17: Yellowfin tuna have finally shown up at Corbeteña and El Banco. Nothing huge, between 60 and 100 lbs, but we have them. They´ve been hitting bullet Skippies or Bullet Skip Jack Tuna. Nothing else for the moment is really working because of the Red Crabs. The numbers are not there yet, but when we have one, more will follow. When the water temps start to drop, won´t be long, we´ll see Monsters at Corbeteña and El Banco… stay tuned amigos!
The bay is alive, but it´s full of Jack Crevalls at 35 lbs, Small Dorado (gracias a dios), Skip Jack Tuna, Bonito 30 lbs, Needle fish. Many sails are in the bay, mostly around the La Cruz Area and in front of Los Arcos Rocks. At the mouth of the bay Dorado are large, some in the 60 lb range and this is huge. It´s even more surprising since you´d expect this sized Dorado to be at Corbeteña or El Banco. So those looking for fish close in will have the special treat of being the right place at the right time… at the right price. My boats in La Cruz Marina cut your travel time some and a six hour trip will get you to where you want to be a touch cheaper on travel time and on your dinero amigo. Something to think about, I have two boats in the La Cruz Marina now to support my clients in the Punta Mita, Four Seasons, Sayulita area! Some occasional 40 lb YF Tuna footballs around Yelapa and of course there is always the river mouths where you´ll find Snook, Snapper and more Jack Crevalls.
One unusual thing this week is the return of the Red Crabs. These Red Crabs are tiny and every fish out there is full of them. They´re not on the surface, they´re flowing with the currents and it´s a Red Crab Smorgasbord! If fish get picky, this is why, they´re full of these delicacies! You can imitate them with ¨Hoochies¨ in dredge rigs. Since they´re still taking trolled baits, you´ll need to make a call.
This week we´ve seen an early bite, mid morning when we´d be expecting a later bite with the moon in its present phase. Be where you want to fish by 8:00 a.m. and you´ll be good to go. Fish are still hitting baits after 12:00 pm (mid day) but at a slower rate. Water is blue, warm and perfect at 85 degrees. Currents are strong and varied, so the stumps and assorted debris the Dorado are hanging around is still plentiful, you can thank Hurricane Patricia for this fishing fanatics! Find crap in the water, toss baits and get ready for action! Lures: purple, and purple with red skirts! You can get creative naturally, but start with Purple with a Red Skirt with your live bait.
My weekly Video Fishing Report on my web page is very popular and to be frank it´s all done with a cell phone and a cheap computer program. I am still learning how to put these things together, but it´s nothing refined. It´s me, it´s accurate and it´s a video so you can hear my brand of ¨fish talk¨ over and over again… funny thing is I seem to remember myself looking younger in the mirror. Shared boats: We´re also doing what we can to help those looking to share a Super Panga or large ¨hook-up¨. We are now focusing on 8 hrs or 10 hr shared trips to enable me to keep my sanity with those switching and changing minds. So contact me and we´ll fix you up. You can save money and still catch world class fish on vacation with this option!
Until next time, don´t forget to ¨Kiss Your Fish¨. . .
Master Baiter´s has changed locations 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 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.
