All the conditions for world class Sportfishing exist right now. Warm water at 85 degrees, super Sapphire blue water, bait in mega amounts the only thing missing are large fish in any real numbers. That´s right folks we´re held for fish! As we normally enter July we get excited because we know it´s just a short while before we see world record sizes on many of the species we normally see at this time of the year, normally. So what´s the problem you may ask, well I didn´t promise an answer. Frankly most of the saltier Captains in Marina Vallarta in a Mexican laid back voice tell me that I need to be patient. That they are coming all we need are some current changes and we´ll be ¨swimming¨ in fish. As I say this, don´t get me wrong, the fishing is about 50 / 50 right now. You´ll see fish, they´ll chase your baits, and they´ll laugh at you as they turn their heads away from your presentation.
As we enter late June, we normally expect to see an increase in larger Gamefish. But before this can happen, there needs to be bait in the area. Once bait moves in, we see the larger Trophy sized Gamefish follow and that is when the World Class Species of Marlin, Tuna, Dorado, Sailfish, etc come to Puerto Vallarta or the Bay of Banderas to be specific. It´s a balance that happens naturally, when that balance gets weighted to one side, as in too much bait, then there is a lag time until the larger (or any fish for that matter) move in. This is the situation as I write this report, too much bait. I mean every bait under our Tropical Sun is out there in huge amounts! So what does this mean to you looking to boat Moby Dick, well it means you have to have patience and an experienced and equipped boat. You´ll find yourself going through every live or dead bait combination you can think of. You´ll be running every lure you have to see if this will entice the odd fish. If lucky you´ll experience about four strikes which will be your shot to boat a gamefish. Now before you decide not to go fishing, we´ve already seen a week or so of this and it can´t last much longer. When it all breaks loose, and we see the Gamefish numbers pick up, it could turn into something to remember. So don´t get discouraged, be patient, this will change soon.
We´re seeing an early migration into the area, primary reasons are bait and perfect water conditions. Nothing too complicated. At this time of the year we also have seasonal challenges, primarily Hurricanes and Torrential Rains (normally only at periods of two hours or so). For mid June we´ve had our third Hurricane pass us, it was approx. 300 miles out of Banderas Bay, it sent some rain, but not much else weather or swell wise. With the swirling storm pressure, the fish will get kinda funny. They don´t like the pressure so they move out, now they´re moving back in nicely. We are seeing our summer species coming ¨in and out¨, a now you see them, now you don´t scenario. Bait is plentiful, no worries there. Sailfish are getting thicker near the point of Punta Mita, even inside the bay around La Cruz Marina area. Puerto Vallarta is right on time reflecting my fish calendar, with all the varied species you can now call Puerto Vallarta ¨Fish City¨ starting Right Now!
Lots of seasonal changes this week. It’s amazing how slow, yet fast things can be when it comes to world class fishing here in Puerto Vallarta. The rains change everything. The rains wash into the bay small seeds, leaves, nuts, roots, a fish smorgasbord, all you can eat. It forms a line where on the ocean side is blue, clean, clear water. The land side, the direction from which the river dumps into the bay, the water is Coffee colored murky, full of sediment from the local hills. The dividing line or the ¨Trash Line¨ is what forms between these two waters like a curtain. The Trash Line can run shallow or it can run deep, this depends on the currents and how they´re flowing in the bay. Most of the time this will only be about two to six feet deep or thick. This means you´ll need planers to pull your baits under this sediment, your sounders will show you how deep this sediment is and will put your skills and equipment to the test. If your captain is well equipped, you´ll catch fish. The front side of the trash line is a fertile area for larger fish feeding off smaller fish.
Well here we are once again, the end of High Season for tourism and the beginning of High Season for Fishing. As the seasonal visitors head back north it´s the biggest signal the seasons are changing. Soon the fishing fanatics looking for Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Tuna, etc. will descend on PV. We are already seeing signs of Black and Blue Marlin at El Banco. Water temperatures are inching up slightly, bait is more abundant (if that´s possible), the water is clear green and breeding season is all but finished, finally! Yes we´re on track for a wonderful fishing season and it all starts NOW!
If you were in Puerto Vallarta you´d think it was summer. Water Temperatures are back up around the 78 to 81 degree range. Bait is thick, Breeding Season is coming to an end as all the species are taking bait again. It´s still the clear green water conditions for the most part, but that´s OK since it really doesn´t hurt anything, blue is still preferable for visibility reasons. Dorado are moving back in, early actually for the season, but Dorado have been in the area all winter long, so why would this surprise any of us? Sounds great, right? Well for the ¨salty¨ captains this is the situation, they´re catching fish. Lesser Captains and crews are still coming in ¨wanting¨, again nothing new there. From this point on, it will only get hotter, both for the weather and for fishing. So get your loose change together, it´s time to think ¨World Class Fishing¨!
For now the water is still ¨clear green¨ in color, which works fine for fishing, doesn´t affect the bite much. Water temperatures are now in the 75 to 78 degree range, but the currents are still swirling, so electronics on the boat is a welcome tool which will direct you to where to drop your baits. If you´re lucky enough to find yourself in the San Pancho (San Francisco) area north of Punta Mita you´ll find nice sized Dorado in the 35 to 60 lb range. Sailfish are also hanging out in the area as is normal for this early part of the fishing season.
I love Marina Vallarta, if you´ve never been there (here) the place is full of life and of course this is where the World Class Sportfishing Companies and crews are. As I walk around the Marina you can´t help but notice the ever vanishing Sportfishing boats from the slips. After more than thirty years Marina Vallarta has changed ownership and has naturally raised prices (slip cost) for boat owners, including the fishing boats already suffering from seven straight ¨depression¨ years. As a result fishing boats that were on the edge have left the industry or gone out of business. Boats that are still operational are searching for affordable options in La Cruz and Nuevo Vallarta Marinas, good luck. Some are biting the bullet, staying and paying. Raising slip cost are just one factor driving the cost of all water sports up, not just fishing boats.
As warm water moves in the sun hangs longer daily in the Tropical Skies of Puerto Vallarta. This churned, swirling water conditions can result in brown, coffee colored water as the sediment on the sea floor inside the bay gets churned up. Typically all at the same time, we have warm currents, cold currents and fish that are not interested in your trolled baits. That´s the bad news, the good news is; that will shortly be behind us. May brings stability, dominant summer currents and of course world class species, Sailfish being the first to arrive in thin numbers. For the last month, I´ve done my best to make this sound as positive as I possibly can and still keep the truth factor firmly in place.
Along with the change in seasons come water temperature swings. The summer currents don´t just take over, they mix in with winter currents and this creates a swirling affect which can make experienced captains pull their hair out. This is where even cheap electronics will tell you the water you´re in is either warmer or cold. When you can´t see or find fish, trolling in the warm streaks and currents greatly improve your chances. Cheap boats, no equipment, no fish, it´s that easy. This is nothing new, having an experienced captain with a full bag of tricks (lures and baits) as well as a radio and electronics to me are basics clients should not have to ask about or for. Better boats will already have them in an effort to win your future business. Fly by the seat of their pants type boats and owners will find fish, but it´s luck so keep this in mind, it will ultimately help your cause.
