For the last three weeks now we’ve been seeing the same frustrating conditions. We have fish, of course we have fish, the question is “Where are they today”? With massive amounts of bait in the area there is no concentration of fish in any one spot. This means you’ll need a full fuel tank giving you the ability to move from location to location until you find them. Many people take a stab at one location and that’s about it, they’re going back. But if you’re serious about your fishing, then you need to have the fuel and finances to move as much as twenty five miles in any direction and fast. It may kill your fishing budget, but that’s what it’s for amigos. They’re out there, are you situated to take advantage of an opportunity or are you stuck in one place?
At Corbetena we have plenty of bait, perfect water temperatures and high visibility blue water you’d expect an abundance of Marlin, Tuna and Sailfish. But you’d be wrong. You see all these species are in the area, but there is no concentration anywhere. Also we’re finding that were “they” were yesterday isn’t where they’ll be today. What does this mean, well first off it means you’ll need a full fuel tank on the boat because you could be moving around the area a lot. It can be very frustrating and very rewarding for the guy taking a shot! Feeling lucky?
There is good news and bad news, the good news is we have Marlin, Tuna, Sailfish, Dorado and more. That’s the good news, the not so good news is where they were yesterday isn’t where they are today! That’s the frustration part, heading where you think there could be fish, the same place they were yesterday, most likely won’t be there today. You can hit the same location five days in a row, two will be incredible, three will have you scratching your head. Now many will say “fishing is not catching”. Which of course is true, but we manage this “risk assessment” giving clients their best chance to get a “bucket list finned fantasy”. So this week your guess is as good as mine, maybe better.
It’s been real head scratcher out there. We have fish, but they’re spread out thin. Outside of the bay are perfect fishing conditions, yet it’s thin. Bait is not an issue, everything is perfect if you’re a fish. But of course logic when you’re a fish doesn’t quite work like Fisherman’s desires logic. What does that mean, well what would make sense to a fisherman, doesn’t quite work for them. So for now the fishing is good, but we have to put in a few “caveats” which brings me to the rest of the article.
Every year at about this time we get tired of waiting for the warm water species to move in. This year has been no different and it’s starting to look like we’re finally going to see some changes. Water temperatures have been hanging at around “perfect” for every warm water species. Bait, you couldn’t hope for better bait conditions with variety of baits to choose from, fish wise. We’re seeing the seasonal rains now so the trash line from the local rivers are attracting smaller fish, which of course relates to bringing in larger fish. Water outside the bay is deep blue and frankly the stage is set for one hell of a season. If you’ve been going through “summer species withdrawal”, well suffer no longer amigos, it looks like we’re situated for a great season of world class fishing!
We get a little excited at this time of the year as we see conditions change to the point where we expect to see our summer species move in and none too soon. When they do start to “show” it’s exciting, then of course fish move and at times they move out of the area. We’ve seen some water temperature changes, massive bait moving into the area as the red Tuna Crabs move out. Rain in the evenings have been sporadic at best, which means a lack of a Trash Line. We’re still in a transition time and when things are good, it can be a temporary thing. Don’t fret, the fishing is still good, but we can’t put the Dorado before the bait, not yet anyway.
Every year we go through this “rerun” where we first get clashing currents creating dirty water. Then come the Red Tuna Crabs, Krill squids and shrimps with the new and changing currents. Next comes the dirty water from the currents “clashes”. We complain for two or three weeks then things start to improve. That is where we are now, improvement as Hurricane Season begins, the down side. All of this is normal and we’re actually seeing our first Hurricanes of the season rolling past us hundreds of miles out to sea. When it comes to conditions it’s always a mixed bag with a few surprises. One surprise so far is the fact we have Dorado moving into the area. Yes it’s early in the season for Dorado. In fact we haven’t seen any real Dorado numbers like we’re used to for more than three years now. Last year we didn’t see any real Dorado numbers until late Sept. So we’re positive with these early indicators, fishing is improving and things will only improve from this point on!
Again for the last couple of weeks we’ve had dirty water from clashing currents, which of course stir up the sediment on the bay floor turning the water to “coffee”. But this is thinning out now as we’re seeing the results of these currents in warmer water temperatures. The Red “Tuna” Crabs are an indication of current changes. With the other baits moving into the area it seems Sailfish, Striped Marlin and yes, decent sized Dorado of 25 lbs! With the simple and small changes we’ve seen the condition of fishing improve from not the best, to actually good. That is if you’re in the bay. Outside the bay can be different, but even the area around the Marietta islands are looking to have signs of improving. Hopefully we’re moving out of the “transition period” to Fishing High Season!
We all know that swirling currents mix up the bottom of the bay silt like a spoon in your coffee stirring in the cream. Of course with the warm water moving in we’re seeing Jack Crevalls number staying strong, thank the fish gods for this. Dorado and Sailfish that just a week ago were “possible” have pretty much become impossible for the next twenty minutes, after that I can’t be held accountable! The deep water locations of Corbetena and El Banco aka The Bank have been less than exciting. Corbetena is seeing 50 lb Yellowfin Tuna jumping and attacking baits in the water. The problem is the Jack Crevalls get to your bait before any other fish can get close.
One thing is for sure, fishing reports are never all good or all bad. This week it could be better, but with the season in slo-mo and few tourist here in PV it’s actually lucky for us in several ways. I mean if you’re going to have to deal with this sort of thing, now is the time. The dirty water we speak of is a result of the currents acting like a spoon in your coffee. It mixes up the settled muck on the bottom of the bay. Fish normally don’t like this, the muck gets in their gills and leaves a “bad taste in their mouth”.
