Interesting title if I do say so myself, but one thing I haven´t been talking about is how we´re on the back end of an El Nino Year. If you remember last March we were seeing 300 lb Yellowfin Tuna at Corbeteña. That was about when the ¨strangeness¨ began. Now we survived a less than spectacular summer fishing wise and now we´re seeing Dorado in February, the midpoint of winter fishing! The same can be said for Sailfish, Striped and Blue Marlin that that have been hanging out off Punta Mita about 15 miles or so for weeks now, strange stuff indeed. For the person looking to boat a Dorado when they shouldn´t be there, well now´s the time amigo because this ¨Strangeness¨ can´t last forever.
It´s been no secret that the endless string of tropical storms and Hurricanes which have taken their toll on fishing in PV this year. Normally Hurricanes are hundreds of miles out, but this last one, Hurricane Odile was a little too close four out taste. But it´s past us now, so it´s a mute point. The result of the storms is Dorado are finally here with the currents. El Banco and Corbeteña are the primary locations for now for these desired species, but soon we´ll be seeing them in the bay so cross your fingers. Marlin and Sailfish are still on the job, increasing in numbers. Even the moon phase is in our favor, so be happy, the best part of fishing season has just started!
The headline this week pretty much sums it up. First the Hurricanes have drifted off throwing their energies and swells to points like Malibu in Southern California. We had some rough days also, but the seas are smooth and inviting. The Water tempts are still too warm for comfort at 89 to 91 degrees, not bad for Marlin, not good for Tuna in the Yellowfin Variety. Dorado for the most part is still touring Manzanillo, Small Dorado at the trash line. Jack Crevalles are still taking baits, plenty of bait. The conditions are all and all wonderful and with Marlin and Sailfish, two world class species, picking up in numbers, which means we have fish! And I am happy to say they´re taking baits after so many weeks of just being ¨lookie-lu´s¨ they started getting a little more aggressive, YeHa!
As we move deeper into Summer the conditions still could not be better. Outside the bay the blue water is clear and just beautiful. A deeper blue than the Caribbean, the visibility is amazing. Bait is everywhere and varied in species. Bullet Bonito, YF Tunas favorite bait is all around the point of Punta Mita and in the bay. Flying fish in the four inch length are all around the reefs and the Marietta Islands. Goggle eyes, Chorras (bonito, small tunas) are boiling all over the place. Once again it´s a bait smorgasbord, all you can eat for fish. Sounds like a good thing right, well the down side is there should be more fish here than there are. Maybe this is just my impatience, it is still a little early in the Big Game Fishing season, it´s like Christmas and the presents aren´t under the tree yet, but you know they´re coming.
This week we´re looking at similar conditions as we have had for the last couple of weeks. As mentioned Sailfish are the main players around the bay for the time being. Sailfish are showing up in larger numbers off the point of Punta Mita from five to ten miles. Dorado as well off the Anclote Reef and buoys near Sayulita. Buoys are your friend amigo if you can find one. Dorado, which have been mostly on the smaller side, will be running about 15 to 20 lbs. These are throw back sized fish and any self respecting sportsman will throw them back. You may find some Snappers in smaller sizes of 10 to 15 lbs, perfect for the dinner table, fun on light tackle. Those heading to San Pancho will have had no better luck than around the point of Punta Mita or the Marietta Islands….
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¨.
Water temperatures have returned to 74 degrees, not a bad thing, and the fishing is great, but only if you hit the bite. Which of course means we know the place, we just have to be there at the right time which of course now is mid afternoon with a full moon. As the moon fades like it is now, there will be a morning bite. The full moon was causing problems this past week as fish were using the light of the moon looking upward to zero-in on the baits. As far as winter fishing goes, it´s still great, but the summer species may be harder to find until the water warms up a little. Since it´s spring, that won´t be long.
As the northern states and Canada seem to be under Freezer like conditions, we´re seeing warmer than normal weather as El Nino begins to raise its head with Pacific water temperatures well above the 70 degree range as water temperatures remain about 79 degrees. This is very comfortable for Marlin, Yellowfin, Dorado and of course Sailfish. Winter species are mixed in as well with Jack Crevalls, Snappers, Needle fish and of course Sierra Mackerals. It´s mixed up out there for sure. The upside, there are fish everywhere and they´re waiting for you to come out and play!
To be straight up with my loyal readers, all 54 of you, February is not the best month of the year to be fishing here in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay to be exact. Not that the fishing is lacking, but because most people are looking for Monster fish like Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna and Wahoo to name a few. Now we still have Dorado, Rooster fish and Sailfish if you are in the right location, which is not in the bay amigo. Yes we´re moving into winter fishing which means Jack Crevalls coming out of our ears, billions of Sierra Mackerals that are great tasting, but not large.
All year long we wait for High Season. We know the tourist are back and we know we´ll see more people coming to Puerto Vallarta by the day. This time of the year we see the days grow shorter and cooler. Yet the water temperatures will take weeks and weeks before they begin to drop. For now, conditions could not be better and when fish are abundant, you have a recipe for success. But first you have to be on the water to take advantage of our world class fishing in the Bay of Banderas!
