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

Spring has sprung and love is in the air, or rather water where fishing is concerned. Conditions are challenging with swirling currents, rapidly changing water temperatures and an over abundance of bait. The Seasoned Captains with electronics have the edge with water temperatures fluctuating from 69 degrees to 74 degrees with the warmer water being the better the fishing. This may all sound strange, but for the locals we know what spring means. The fishing is actually fairly good, but again, it´s gonna be work amigo.

Short day fishing in the bay is still alive and well with Jack Crevalls in the 30 top 50 lb range and frankly will be found all over the area. Snappers are running 10 to 20 lbs in the area and are taking trolled spinners or Sardines or silver spoon type rigs, larger than smaller. Sierra Mackerals, Skip Jack Tuna and Bonito and a host of others are all possible near the structure. Great fishing for those on a budget or those with kids, you´ll have fun.

The Marietta Islands is / are still running hot and cold, literally with the swirling currents and fickle fish. With breeding season in full swing it´s difficult at times to get these abundant and fickle fish to look at your baits. The warm areas are naturally working better than the chilled streaks, but Jack Crevalls don´t care much about cold and will most likely be in the cooler swirls. Rooster fish are abundant in the 35 to 60 lb range and like the rest of them will ignore your baits one day, then attack anything shinny the next. It all comes down to the bite. So when is the bite you may ask? The bite changes a little daily, so you have to stay on top of this crucial piece of observed information you can only get by being on the water. Right now we´re looking at a mid morning bite and a mid afternoon bite. Sleep in a little, the fish are on a schedule right now. Dorado are in and out. Red Snappers in the 30 lb range are taking baits nicely, Pompano in the 30 lb range, Amber Jacks, Skip Jacks and the list goes on. Again, hit the bite and have varied baits at the ready, they´re all fickle!

At the Punta Mita point, things have changed as well. Sailfish and the Marlin have thinned out and are almost impossible to find with the chilled water conditions. North of Punta Mita, north of San Pancho you have a shot at Sailfish and Dorado in the warm currents sliding down from Mazatlan. Other than that, not much reason to head to the point.

Those looking for trophy Yellowfin Tuna can find them at the Tres Maria Islands. For the record the islands are a restricted area where a prison is located. It´s also a fishery, which means it´s a breeding area for Yellowfin Tuna. The restricted are ranges from twelve to fifteen miles. This means fishing inside this area is illegal and has legal ramifications. Lately there have been more and more federal agents checking to make sure you respect the boundaries. Having said that 200 lb and larger Yellowfin Tuna are being boated daily and have taking bait with no spring spawning issues. FYI, there are at least five more longer range boats setting up business to head to these prison islands and soon there will be more and more anglers fishing our fisheries. With the Seiners on top of that, it´s just a matter of time now before the Yellowfin Tuna numbers are in the dumper. For what seems so obvious is lost on those raking in the money. It´s a hundred miles one way amigo, if you´re a fanatic, then you´ll be happy to pay in both time and money.

The good and the bad of it all is we´re in a transition period from winter to summer, with spring being just a road bump in between. Water currents will be changing and we may see some dirty water from the bottom sediments being stirred up with the changing currents. We will be looking at the seasonal changes in the next few weeks as we lead into summer fishing. We expect warm water conditions to return shortly and of course the warm water species of Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado. So be patient and at the ready. When things get moving again the fishing will be outstanding, which can be any day.

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 Master Baiter’s ® Sportfishing and Tackle is protected under trade mark law and is the sole property of Stan Gabruk.