Punta Mita Still Rocking With Rooster Fish / Sailfish

Punta Mita Still Rocking With Rooster Fish / Sailfish

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

For late January, the fishing is surprising good. Normally Sailfish, Dorado, Marlin and Yellowfin Tuna are long gone by now, but we´re seeing these fish hanging out around Punta Mita. By contrast, the deep water locations of Corbeteña and El Banco are disappointing at best. But then again, these are summer species locations so this is no surprise as we expect these conditions to continue for the short term. For the visiting Angler, there is plenty of action to be had, so don´t be discouraged, you just have to know where to go.

First, El Banco and Corbeteña are for all practical purposes not the best place to head out to as Marlin and Yellowfin Tuna are pretty much done for the winter. Corbeteña has Cubera Snappers to 60 lbs, Bonito, Jack Crevalls and that´s about it for now. El Banco has Spinner Dolphin in the area so Yellowfin Tuna of 25 to 40 lbs are running with them for now, but this is no reason to head out this far as the fuel dollar is going to become a concern as prices continue to sky rocket in Mexico. Don´t waste your time or money for now.

Once more the point off Punta Mita is the place to be and will most likely stay that way for the months to come. It´s not far from Puerto Vallarta and an eight hour trip will produce the desired results. Rooster fish are still in the area and running very large at 60 to 70 lbs! Dorado are thinning out as you´d expect but still out there in the 40 to 60 lb range as well. Sailfish are thinning out as well, but they´ll be in the area for some time to come, just not in larger numbers. As long as you understand that, it´s worth a shot with these other desirable species hanging out.  Skip Jack tuna or ¨Skippies¨ are large, bait size large and up to 35 lbs. Great tasting and fun to catch, smaller folk will appreciate these exciting fighters. Sailfish in the area will be found 13 to 15 miles off the point on a heading of 300 degrees. Same place I always tell you about, so keep this information handy for future reference. You may also find Striped Marlin in the area as water temps drop as expected weekly.

Marietta Islands are not far from Punta Mita so you can imagine things are improving here as well. Pompano in the 25 to 40 lb range are abundant in number and sized nicely as I write this article. Not the most popular species for some reason, they´re great tasting fish. Rooster fish in the 35 lb range, Jack Crevalls (they´re everywhere), Bonito, And Spanish Mackerals are still in the area and taste great as well.

Great small game fishing inside the bay will be like this for the foreseeable future, Jack Crevalls in the 30 lb range and plentiful, Snappers around the structure and schooling, Snook at the river mouths and shoreline, Bonito, Sierra Mackerals for the near term and the list goes on. Four to eight hour fishing days are your best fishing bet for the next few months as should be expected.

As far as early winter fishing goes, we´re doing great with plenty of action, perfect fishing conditions and decent water temperatures of 76 degrees. Water conditions are mostly blue, but the bottom muck has stirred up a bit with changing currents so the water is not perfect, but good enough at most locations. Lures have been working well for Tuna and sailfish, jet heads are working best. Color wise, purple and yellow lures, Blue and Pink and Brown with black stripes are the ones you want in your bag of tricks this week. Dead Bait trolled is working well also. As mentioned earlier water temperatures are inching their way south which for the near term means Striped Marlin will be coming in for a short time as they head south to warmer waters with their cousins.

Something to think about, fuel prices due to the new laws that began Jan. 1,  are rising at a brisk clip. Calculating the break down to dollars and gallons, you´ll be looking at about 30 cents a gallon increase monthly for the foreseeable future. No kidding, this is going to make fishing more expensive. The new tax laws that were scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1 have been postponed until April 1. This is also a giant pain and will put fishing boats that operate under the radar more difficult to operate, impossible in fact, but it´s Mexico they´ll find a way around it. For now we´re looking at some challenges to keep the industry ¨afloat¨ but like all increases the clients will bear the burden. We´re looking at some interesting times ahead in the next year, if you have any questions on how this will affect you and your fishing, feel free to contact me.

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 and are now near Victors Café Te Cuba. Look for me at the least traveled end of Marina Vallarta and I will be there in my new place. 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 (this is my cell phone directly until the shop phone is workingFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Master-Baiters-Sportfishing-Tackle/88817121325The trade name Master Baiter’s ® Sportfishing and Tackle is protected under trade mark law and is the sole property of Stan Gabruk.