Krill, Red Tide, Spinner Dolphin, Yellowfin Tuna and How to Cope                                     

Normally at this time of the year, we’re in the best of the “best time of the year” to be here in Puerto Vallarta for world class fishing. Normally, but this year we’re seeing some interesting challenges. As you all know were’ in an El Nino year. What does that mean, well nobody really knows how to answer that question. Pretty much all we can do is look at what’s happening, analyze the situation and then make your best guess. Frankly there isn’t anything new about that, but when it’s an El Nino year, it’s hard to predict. With strange currents and dropping water temperatures, we’re seeing Jack Crevalles moving into the bay. This is a winter species that will hang around in warmer water if the bait conditions are to their liking. In the last few days we’ve seen Jack Crevalles picking up in numbers. To the optimistic, this is all just a glitch in the fishing season. To the pessimistic, it’s the end of the summer fishing season. Me, I find it’s almost impossible to predict the future now that I dropped and cracked my crystal ball!

I’ve sent several boats out this week and they’ve all come back with the same story. Find clean green or blue warm water and you’ll catch fish. The obstacle here is finding it! For now it’s mostly red between Corbetena and El Banco. For the lucky there are still Spinner Dolphin with Yellowfin Tuna Footballs north of Corbetena in the clean green water. So, by now you know the fishing is spotty and so is the red tide. It seems to be a feast or famine situation in our deep water locations. One interesting secret is that there is a buoy about five miles due west of the rock of Corbetena. If you’re lucky enough to find it, there are Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish, and maybe Marlin at this point. It’s a bait “hot spot” with the buoy. For now, this is the best call I can make in the entire area. In a situation like this, it’s best to have a full fuel tank and the ability to push some water and find fish. You know, we deal with this situation on a yearly basis and soon, in a few days, this will all change as the red tide moves out. One nice thing is bait is still moving into the area in the form of Krill and Sardines! So, don’t be too pessimistic amigos, things always change quickly.

Being the “half full glass” type of guy, some positive news is north of Sayulita there are Sailfish, Blue-is water and Dorado. It’s about the only place I can tell you, that you have a chance to boat Dorado right this moment. Now we’ll see Dorado around the point again, but it won’t be for a few days. Not too much going on in this area and it’s hard to put a positive spin on the entire area from El Moro to Punta Mita. If you find yourself in this area, I’d point the boat towards El Banco where things could be different, but then again, that’s not an eight hour distance. I have has some positive reports about Rooster fish north of Sayulita. With Sardines running the area, this could be the best fishing options we’re “not sure of”. Go figure. UDATE: The red tide is moving out now outside of the bay. Sailfish and Dorado are north of the Punta Mita point now, plan on an 8 hr trip. A 10 hr trip will get you deeper into the Sailfish, Dorado and possible Rooster fishing grounds north of Sayulita! As the red tide moves out with the currents, the conditions will improve, I think… ja ja

Inside the bay, what can I say? Same story in a different location. Some positive news with the cooling water we’re seeing some Jack Crevalle action around the La Cruz area. Also there have been some Sailfish in this area as well. Looking to the south end of the bay around Los Arcos there are some spotty red tide areas and lets face it, the fishing will be “challenging” for the next day or two as we deal with this seasonal pain in the drain. Still, Jack Crevalles don’t seem to mind dirty, cold, red water and will take a bait if it sees it. There were some reports of football Tuna off Yelapa at 30 lbs and frankly that area has a strong chance of being clean and blue. No reports on this, just my gut telling me it’s the ignored fishing grounds with unforetold possibilities. Find some structure and you’ll find the “reef” fish like Snappers and Trigger fish, which taste great by the way. Bonito and Skip Jack Tuna are also running the area and are perfect for the younger fishing members of the family. UPDATE: Jack Crevalles and Sierra Mackerels, both winter species and seasonal fishing indicators as we begin to move into the winter fishing season. Bonito, Sailfish and more are waiting for you to show up. Six hours is still my recommendation to give yourself time to find the fish amigos!

By now you’ve probably figured out that the fishing this past week was a “shock to the system” for us all. Keep calm, it’s not the end of fishing in Puerto Vallarta. By the next fishing report things will have settled down from the red tide event. Nothing in PV stays the same for long in the world of fishing. The bite hasn’t changed, so be where you want to be before 08:00. Keep a positive attitude and be ready to move around the bay. If you can do that, you’ll find fish when others are empty handed.

Until next week, don’t forget to kiss your fish!

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