Well once again El Nino has us scratching our heads wondering what is coming next. Last week it looked like the ¨summer¨ fishing season had finally ended. Then all of a sudden Striped Marlin move in off Sayulita in force, the Dorado move back in to the Punta Mita area, Yellowfin Tuna for now at El Banco, it´s a real mixed bag with summer species swimming alongside winter species. It´s anyone’s guess from this point how the season is going to shape up for the rest of the winter, but if this is any example of what we can expect, I´m excited at the possibilities.
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!
Well folks it had to happen, winter is moving in. With the present El Nino being one of the strongest in history I have been expecting conditions to remain the same for a while longer. There were a few storms up north in Southern California that threw some nasty cold temperatures and rain at them which pushed down some cold currents and fronts. These conditions changed quickly and once the water temperatures dropped drastically like they did this past week something had to give. Having said that if you´re happy with winter species, you´ll be fine. The winter storm pattern is setting up in northern waters and the currents being pushed down will affect the area. Winter fishing is here in Puerto Vallarta.
As we continue to see amazing fishing in mid January we wonder if this can continue for much longer. With warm water temperatures that stretch way, way north we could be in pretty good shape for summer species hanging out around our World Famous Fishing grounds for weeks or months to come, cross your fingers. Having said that we are still seeing Marlin, Sailfish and Dorado all around the place. One nice surprise is we´re finally seeing some decent sized Yellowfin tuna around El Banco or The Bank in English. The water is High Visibility blue at all the fishing grounds but of course there are always challenges when it comes to fishing and this week is no different.
What a difference a week can make and this week we´re seeing what we probably shouldn´t be, thank El Nino for this amigos! Sailfish, you bet, Marlin are all over our world famous fishing grounds. Dorado increased in size and abundance, Wahoo return, Football Tuna all over the deep water fishing grounds of Corbeteña and El Banco. The bay is boiling with action and frankly if you show up, you´ll catch fish. Short days smaller gamefish, longer days, more expensive I might add, bigger fish. Summer fishing in High Season, YeHa!!
As we all welcome the New Year we see our World Class Fishing Grounds move into ¨neutral¨ for lack of a better descriptive. Normally at this time of the year we see water temperatures drop sharply forcing our Billfish, Dorado and Yellowfin Tuna out of the area without as much as a ¨Good By¨. This year things are going to be a little different. With water temperatures still at the 80 degree mark we find we still have a fair amount of Marlin and Dorado cruising the area. We won´t complain about these conditions, the only thing is, this normal cold water conditions act as a barrier keeping fish from ¨wandering¨ north. This is not the case at the moment. So what does this mean, well these ¨fish¨ move and they move erratically. For now, they´re moving up the coast and out to sea. Basically our fishing grounds are ¨spreading out¨ and we can´t do a thing to stop it. The good news is we still have great fishing. The active word being ¨Fishing¨.
In the world of Deep Sea Fishing the only ¨constant¨ is that nothing stays the same for long. With a drastic drop in water temperatures last week I thought we had seen the best fishing fade away for the rest of the year. Then the Illegal Long Liners bugged out, and the fishing improved greatly. Water temperatures are still at 80 degrees which I would say is cold for these warm water species, but in San Diego where the water temps are considerably colder they´re still boating Marlin and Dorado. So what does this all mean? Your guess is as good as mine, but if they´re ¨playing¨ in colder water up north that means the season if far from over for Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado and we even have Wahoo in the area. Now if we could find a way to coax a Yellowfin Tuna in the area we´d be happy campers!
In the ever changing world of fishing, currents can change and all of a sudden everything changes in a heartbeat and this is where we are now amigos. We have seen a strange current, a cool current come through Corbeteña this past week and all of a sudden the fishing just stopped at the Rock
Right now, get in a boat and go anywhere, you´ll find fish! Corbeteña is a hot spot, finally, with Marlin to 500 or more pounds, Sailfish around 100 lbs, Dorado 30 to 50 lbs, Cubera Snappers to 55 lbs, Wahoo at 40 lbs, Jacks Crevalls are back and good sized up to 50 lbs., and Yellowfin tuna 25 to 60 lbs which is small, but they should be getting larger soon as water temperatures are finally starting to come down a bit. The good news is water temps are dropping as well which is bringing the Yellowfin tuna up to the surface. Yellowfin have been hanging in deeper water to regulate their body temperatures. Now that the water is cooling, they´re very comfortable pretty much at all depths now, including the normally warmer water sea surface.
Sailfish and Dorado have moved in closer, including inside the bay and you may wonder what the title for this article is all about? Well, Corbeteña has Bottle Nose Dolphin, they like to hang with Marlin and Tuna, they´re buddies so to speak. For the last month these large Dolphin (Flipper type) have been sneaking up and eating your bait right up to the hook. First time is funny, second time is not so funny, the third time and you´re getting worried. They´ll take even Goggle eyes and this is an issue. So, the challenge, if you´re willing to accept this mission, is catch fish at Corbeteña without the bait bandits getting between you and your ¨Finned Fantasy¨!
