Erratic Water Temps, Mega Bait vs Breeding Season!

Erratic Water Temps, Mega Bait vs Breeding Season!

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

It had to happen, spring is here and love is in the air, or water when we´re talking about our gilled friends right now. That´s right folks, even fish succumb to the laws of nature. If that isn´t enough the water is streaky with cold and warm areas all over the place. Plenty of bait, more than you would believe possible which is not a positive right now. The ¨up side¨ is there are fish everywhere. Bait is abundant to the point I can´t remember the last time there was so much bait in the area and I mean at all the fishing grounds. The ¨down side¨ love is in the air and the last thing they´re thinking about is their stomachs. I’m afraid you´ll find the fish have decided that chasing ¨tail¨ is more important that chasing your bait! Fear not amigo, you can catch fish for sure, but you have to be at the right place at the right time. The window of opportunity is small as these fish come up to feed on three inch Sardines taking ¨ a quick bite¨, then they´re gone, back to chasing ¨tail¨.

Corbeteña or El Banco, forget it, nothing happening for days at these deep water locations. Hang tight, things will change by the next report or so. These yearly events, essentially spring break for fish will only last a couple of weeks at best. So don´t be discouraged, this is expected and will change in a heartbeat.

Those actually looking to catch fish, it can be done, but you´ll have to have a seasoned and salty crew. The correct equipment and tackle, which means Rapallas, Spoons to imitate the Sardines, and a sharp eye as these schools of fish come to surface to feed for a short while (minutes), then they´re back down to the business of flirting with the lady fish! The Marietta Islands, the point off Punta Mita and El Morro are your best bets to catch something for the dinner table. Dorado are questionable, but they´re 30 lbs if you can get one to look at a bait. Snappers can be anywhere from 5 lbs to 35 lbs. Bonito, Jack Crevalls all in the 30 to 50 lb range. Rooster fish all over the place chasing bait balls that seem to be spaced every twenty feet apart! If you get lucky enough to entice one you better make the best of it! Still these Roosters are running 35 to 60 lbs. Pompano, Amberjacks and a host of other picky fish are all here just waiting to drive you crazy. Dorado at the buoys near Punta Mita are running hot and cold and if lucky you´ll find some warm spots. Sailfish are sparse and in the warm spots. Speaking of warm spots, we´re seeing water tempers from anywhere between 67 to 78 degrees. You may find some dirty water as the week continues with these swirling currents stirring up the sediment on the sea floors bottom.

For some reason Jack Crevalls, Sierra Mackerals, Snappers and Needle fish, the primary players in the bay, they´re all taking baits in the bay. So if you need a ¨fish fix¨ you can still scratch that itch amigo. Bring the kids, we´ll throw snorkel equipment on board and you can make a day fishing, snorkeling and who knows, the Whales are still hanging out in the bay so you´ll probably see some of them as well. So Keep your ears on and be at the ready, these fish will soon be very hungry, YeHa!

With the fish we´ve been catching, once we cut these fish open we´re finding them full of eggs, that´s how we know it´s breeding season. Dorado, Bonito, Jacks of all kinds, ditto. Once these fish get back to eating, the abundant bait should keep them in the area for a long while. Another thing to consider is that Squid have shown up again. The Skip Jack Tuna and Bonito are stuffed full of Squid, they´re favorite bait to chow down on. So having some Squid on hand would not be a bad thing, any fish market has it and it´s tough to catch and keep them in one piece. So there are plenty of challenges for the local Captains and crews. Another thing to consider, Sharks. Something I don´t talk much about, but there are so many sharks, the kind of situation you´ll see on NatGio, I’d think twice before swimming in the surf off Punta Mita.  It was suggested by My Captain that I put a warning out to be careful swimming, wouldn´t want you to become shark bait. The bay is fine, no troubles like that with the abundance of bottle nose Dolphin (natural enemy). The sharks can be up to ten feet long, so just keep an eye open outside of the bay if swimming in the surf. Don´t panic, just be a tad more cautious swimming these days.

Until next time don’t forget to kiss your fish and remember at Master Baiter’s Sportfishing & Tackle “ We Won’t Jerk You Around”!

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 +