Dorado Finally Show Up At Corbeteña, Marlin, Sails, Tuna Too!

Dorado Finally Show Up At Corbeteña, Marlin, Sails, Tuna Too!

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

Normally we´ll see Dorado in Puerto Vallarta’s fishing grounds anytime after April. For years now we´ve seen the arrival of Dorado later and later in the fishing season and this year is the latest I can remember. With all the long liners, indiscriminate fishing (poaching) at out fisheries like the Tres Maria Islands, aka Prison Islands it doesn´t surprise me at all. But for now, we have some very large Dorado for a week straight now at Corbeteña. El Banco is still alive with Action as well. The water is still a clear green which is always an indication of cool water moving in. Bait is plentiful and the fishing grounds are deserted. To be able to have Corbeteña or El Banco to yourself with Marlin and more is for many a fantasy. A Fantasy that could come true but first you have to be here!

I keep waiting for something dramatic to happen, but instead we´re seeing subtle changes from week to week which is a good thing, it means we can predict where to fish and what to present them with bait wise. As mentioned we´ve seen the second week now of Clean Green Water. The fish don´t mind it, but this clean green water is always an indication that there are some changes coming as we move into peak fishing season. Eight miles off the point of Punta Mita the water is high visibility blue which is preferable, but there is no reason to avoid this clean green water amigos.

Corbeteña this week continued with what happened early in the week, I am of course talking about larger Dorado in the 40 to 60 lb range and it´s the only location we seem to have them in for the moment. Many people come into the shop looking for Dorado and I´m glad I can finally tell them we have these golden beauties again. Sailfish are also all over the place and they have no bait issues, find Sails and they´ll take your bait. Marlin as well are still hanging closer to the rock than for the last two months. Black Marlin are still starting at 350 lbs and Blues are right there with them. When it comes to Marlin you can expect three to four strikes, so you better make the best of them. Yellowfin Tuna have showed up eight miles off the rock to the west or North West. Just look for the Spinners (Spinner Dolphin that spin when they jump from the water) and you´ll find 15 to 40 lb Football Yellowfin Tuna. Not huge, but they still taste great and we won´t complain about even smaller Yellowfin tuna. Plenty of other species in the area like Cubera Snappers, Bonito to 35 lbs (bait), Jack Crevalls and who knows what else. It´s time to hit the rock amigos!

El Banco, I always say ¨they´re  bigger at the Bank¨ and for now that still holds true. Yellowfin tuna in the 30 to 80 lb range are running wild about 7 miles off the high spots with spinner dolphin. There are massive amounts of Skip Jack Tuna (Skippies) that are catching the attention of Black Marlin anywhere from 350 to 800 lbs. Blue Marlin are in the same size range and they´re hungry. Sailfish of course, Dorado NO! No Dorado at El Banco but you have to ask yourself for how much longer? For now I would think Dorado are there but I have no sightings or reports so for the moment so I can´t recommend a trip to El Banco for these golden beauties. For now the range of fishing in this area is impressive.

Around the point off Punta Mita we can´t say too much. We haven´t had any rain so there is no trash line which draws Dorado in. For now we still have Striped Marlin with blue water eight to ten miles from the point on a 300 heading. Jack Crevalls and Bonito around the Marietta Islands, with a possibility of Sailfish as well. Some small Rooster fish have been caught, but not enough to get excited about. Needle fish in the 30 lb range and that´s about as exciting as it gets around this are right now. Eight hours of fishing is less than exciting, but you could hit a Sail and hopefully soon Dorado, stay tuned.

Inside the bay, it´s exactly the same as last week, Dorado in the 10 lb range have been around any floating trash, but you need to throw these babies back. Football Tuna have been in the 15 to 40 lb range around Los Arcos for some reason, but we´ve seen Sailfish boated in the area all year so there is some attraction for them. Bonito to 30 lbs, Jack Crevalls to 30 lbs, Needle fish to 25 lbs and a host of other smaller game fish. Inside the bay fishing is great, but you won´t find Moby Dick in the bay so reduce your expectations amigos.

We are seeing some subtle changes in the conditions. Blue water is still off the point of Punta Mita once you´re out eight miles, then it ´s blue all the way past El Banco. But around Corbeteña we have the Clean Green Water which is always cooler water. It´s an indication that we have changing currents and it also indicates a change in the seasons as well. With cooler water north we should see our warm water species that have been vacationing in San Diego find their way south. So hopefully we´ll see larger Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado, cross your fingers! Bait is plentiful with Skippies everywhere. Bullet Bonito, Flying fish of 6 inches, Goggle Eyes and the list goes on, no issues making bait amigos. The all important water temperatures are still at 88 degrees, but with the clean green water surface temperatures could be cooler so don´t be afraid to use a plainer to get the baits just a bit deeper. The bite is still mid day, after 10 a.m. so plan accordingly and late in the afternoon around 7 p.m. So the early bird will miss the fish. As far as lures go we´re still seeing green / yellow working very well. As are the pink / blue lures. Live bait of course is working very well but if you´re running one lure like I suggest then anything is possible! October promises to be an interesting month with cool water moving into the north areas pushing Dorado and YF Tuna in our direction as peak fishing season begins.

Until next week, Don´t forget to kiss Your Fish!

Master Baiter´s will Freeze Your Fish! Master Baiter´s clients get this service for free. Non clients will pay $150 pesos ($7.00 usd each Gallon Zip Lock bag). You can make arrangements to pick up your fish just before leaving PV to keep cold as long as possible. And of course we´re the only ones offering this service in Marina Vallarta that I know of. If you get ten bags of fish it makes us the cheapest fishing company in Puerto Vallarta.

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

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