Spring Fishing has its own special challenges. It´s actually a transition period where winter currents turn into summer currents, which means swirling currents. This mixes up the sediment on the sea floor bottom, which in turn means dirty, coffee colored water. Fish hate this, it would be like walking around breathing through an open mouth behind a soot spewing buss! The currents pushing this sediment up from the bottom is normal, but not welcome. Bait fish, just like normal fish, don´t like this nasty tasting water so they leave. So all of a sudden we have breeding fish leaving the area due to cold, nasty water. It normally takes about three days for these types of conditions to settle down. For now Jack Crevalls are the dominant species and will stay in areas other fish won´t. Like I said, challenging…
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.
The fishing has been great, but it´s anything but automatic. With the bluest of blue water conditions, visibility for baits is as good as it´s going to get. Water temperatures hovering around 80 degrees are perfect for species like Yellowfin Tuna, Marlin, Sailfish and Dorado. We never see these fish in predictable numbers in February or March. But that is not the case right now. Corbeteña this week had 300 lb Yellowfin Tuna just off the rock about ten miles to the north. El Banco is alive with 50 lb Dorado and Black Marlin in the 450 lb range. Sailfish all over the place north of Punta Mita about ten miles. It´s just a mixed bag and depending on the day anything is possible, even the seemingly impossible like Monster Yellowfin Tuna.
Such is the case in the Golden Triangle, the area between El Banco, Corbeteña and the Marietta Islands. Fertile ground for Marlin, Sailfish and Dorado right now. It´s not too complicated, get there, get a bait in front of them and get ready for some heart pounding action. Black Marlin are running in the area of 350 to 600 lbs, Blue Marlin at 250 lbs and Striped Marlin are about 175 to 200 lbs. Dorado at El Banco on the high spots, larger Bull Dorado in the 50 lb range to be exact. Sailfish, Marlin, and if lucky some spinner Dolphin with Yellowfin Tuna running partners in the 50 to possible 120 lb range. Not exactly everywhere, but if you find them, be grabbing distance from a pole.
for now we´re seeing summer species in the dead of winter. Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Rooster fish, Snappers, Jack Crevalls and the incredible list just goes on. Unusually warm water temperatures will remain with us until summer, this means that out of season species will be available to those who will never be here in the heat of summer. This is a genuine opportunity to boat a bucket list fish and still be comfortable. For those with the time, money and frankly the luck to be here in Puerto Vallarta, you have a chance to experience world class fishing in the best possible conditions. If this doesn´t get your heart beating you better change the battery in your pace maker!
Well folks, We´re seeing things that just don´t make sense species wise as we are still experiencing unusually warm water temperatures. Sailfish, Dorado, Marlin, Sizeable Yellowfin tuna, Cubera Snappers, Rooster fish and the list goes on as if it was late summer fishing. Such are the results of an El Nino year. The news services are announcing how El Nino is alive and well meaning water temperatures are going to remain warm.
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.
This week we´ve seen the beginning of the yearly seasonal change from summer fishing and summer species to winter fishing. The species that will be dominating for the next several months are Jack Crevalls averaging 35 lbs, Sierra Mackerals on 20 lb average, Skip Jack Tuna, Bonito and for the ¨lucky¨ Sailfish will hang year round off the point of Punta Mita. Those looking for Dorado, Marlin and Yellowfin Tuna will soon be out of luck. Frankly it may already be too late in the season for Marlin and Yellowfin tuna of any size.
We have a great report this week folks. The water still green in some areas from the mucked up ocean bottom, but the water is mostly blue and full of fish! Water temperatures are holding nicely at 82 degrees, abundant bait at all the fishing grounds, I mean it´s just great to be fishing in Puerto Vallarta right now. Makes me wonder how anyone could put up with that cold weather up north when it´s just so beautiful here in my corner of Paradise!
Winter is moving in and with the return of the Whales in our beautiful Bay of Banderas, we all know the winter currents are beginning to come in. We´re seeing some dirty water swirled throughout the area. In the clean areas the fishing is great, but the raked up sea floor muck is another thing. But we expect this when the seasons change. The good news is the fishing is still great and Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado and even Rooster fish can be targeted with high expectations!
