Normally at this time of the year, my reports on fishing in Puerto Vallarta become a little ‘cookie cutter-ish’. Which of course means they start to look alike. Now that can be a bit boring, but normally at this time of the year we’re discussing how Marlin, Tuna and more are moving into the area in a big way. Now we do have these species coming into the area, but they’re spread out. Normally we’ll talk about how the fishing is great in this area or that location. But this year, there doesn’t seem to be one place or location that’s hot or on fire. But right now there is no concentration or location you can point at and say ‘The fish are here’!
If you haven’t figured it out by now, we’re having a really weird fishing season. You see there is a complex series of events that normally happen which makes world-class fishing in Puerto Vallarta predictable. But this year is a lot different. This year, we’re dealing with unusual climate conditions where we’re in the middle of a change from El Nino condition into a La Nina condition, in the middle of the fishing season. Normally this sort of thing will happen at the end or beginning of a season and lead into it. This has affected the entire weather pattern locally in the Puerto Vallarta Area. The normal Hurricanes, we normally see about 12 to 20, haven’t happened. Now this may sound like good news, but for a fisherman, it’s the same as a ‘monkey wrench’ in the machine. Without Hurricanes, we don’t have the strong currents that push fish into the area. This includes the varied baits as well. Essentially the whole area is just kind of stagnant. Now that doesn’t mean we don’t have fish, it just means you have to find them, not the current they’re in. Be ready to use some fuel amigos, it’s work out there!
If you’ve been reading my articles, you know Fishing in Puerto Vallarta is in the middle of a weird transition from an El Nino condition to La Nina conditions in the middle of summer. It’s created an interesting situation I have never seen before. With cooler-than-normal water temperatures, we’re seeing winter species mixing with summer species throughout the area. Striped Marlin are running with Black Marlin? That never happens! Another interesting thing is the complete lack of rain in the middle of the ‘rainy season’. So we haven’t been able to work the Trash Lines much. We’re just not getting anything close to normal levels of rain in PV, no rain, no trash line.
The fishing in Puerto Vallarta right now is showing a stronger pulse by the day. The fishing is finally starting to get exciting with more fish moving into the area. The numbers of individual species are picking up nicely and why wouldn’t they be? Conditions are close to perfect. We’ve had a calm Hurricane season, but the ones that have occurred have pushed fish into the area. Water temperatures are considerably lower than you’d expect at this time of year, but it doesn’t seem to be impacting fish from moving into the area. With a broad range of bait types, it’s a fish smorgasbord which can be a bit of a challenge. With more Dorado, Sailfish and Marlin moving into the area daily, the season is looking promising. The only downside is these fish just keep moving, and they’re pretty spread out. So you better be ready to use some fuel out there. But for those fishing outside of the bay, ‘bucket list’ species are now there for the lucky angler here in Puerto Vallarta!
After several weeks of the same boring information, we’ve finally got something to talk about. With the Tropical Storms finally showing up, fish are moving, pushed would be more accurate, into the area. Now I’m not saying everything flipped overnight, but when you’re finally boating Marlin and Sailfish, you know the ‘fish log-jam’ has finally busted. We’ve seen Spinner Dolphin, which means Football Yellowfin Tuna. Marlin and Sailfish are picking up in numbers and are now targetable. With no rain, the trash line is thin at best, but still working. Water temperatures seem to be stuck at 83, but we’ll take it because it’s not an issue. The water is mostly clean and it’s blue in the deep water locations. Plenty of bait and warm weather, but that’s how it’s played. Are you ready to get in the game amigos?
For those of you who read my articles on a regular basis, you’ll notice this report is being published a little later than normal. When it comes to fishing in Puerto Vallarta, we’re just now getting into the beginning of the fishing tournament season. I was hoping with more boats heading out, I could paint a nicer picture of what I’ve been writing about. There were some Yellowfin Tuna caught. And there were some nice sized Dorado. Does that mean that things have changed and the fishing is back on track? Not quite amigo. But the good news is currents are starting to do their job and we’re seeing different species moving in. Normally Sailfish are the first to come in, followed by Blue Marlin and we’re seeing this happen now. Water temperatures are stepping up a bit, again with the warmer currents and there is plenty of bait in the water. For the local angler, there are some tricks you need to be aware of. But once you know where the action is and what to do, you’ll have a great day on the water.
You know, every few years or so we go through the “Nino’s”. This means either we’re going ‘into’ or ‘out of’ a La Nina or an El Nino. We all know what this condition is, but we normally don’t see this change in the middle of summer! Which makes this very strange as we move from a mild El Nino, back to a La Nina condition. With this happening, the currents have more or less stopped. This explains the stagnant water conditions and the extended period where the dirty water didn’t move out. Normally those types of conditions last a few weeks before it all cleans out. After more than six weeks of dirty water in the area, things are changing. Finally, slowly, we’re seeing some current movement as conditions improve. When it comes to fishing in Puerto Vallarta the Billfish action normally begins in July. Right now we’re seeing Sailfish and Blue Marlin at the deep water locations of Corbetena and El Banco.
After writing articles for the last twenty something years, I have to say the conditions we’re looking at now are something far from normal. With relatively cool water temperatures, strange currents, strange wind patterns and even stranger fishing, nothing is predictable right now. We should be moving into a summer fishing pattern where the water temperatures are at a minimum of 84 degrees or about 25 degrees Celsius. The clashing currents are finally starting to calm down after more than a month of dirty water. The red tide is finally gone and we’re finally seeing some Summer Species moving into El Banco and Corbetena, but don’t get too excited amigos. We’re in the early stages of the summer fishing season and our El Nino conditions are changing back to the La Nina situation which explains a lot. Right now we’re in a wait-and-see mode, but one thing is predictable, we’re coming into what I believe will be an incredible fishing season in Puerto Vallarta!
In the world of fishing Puerto Vallarta (pronounced Puerto Viarta) seems to be the land Fisherman and fishing publications have forgotten. Famous from the time Puerto Vallarta was a Puebla, PV is known for some of, if not the best fishing in all of Mexico. Famous for Huge Black Marlin, Monster “World Record Possible” Yellowfin Tuna, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Striped Marlin and the list goes on. Naturally depending on the season will determine the Gamefish available. Puerto Vallarta (PV) has several personalities in the form of changing seasons and species making the entire area a fishing wonderland throughout the year. PV is perfect for the beginner angler to the professional.
El Nino has given us all here fishing in Puerto Vallarta a real gift. We’ve seen Dorado into late April, we’re still seeing Striped Marlin, and up until just a few days ago, we’ve had great Yellowfin Tuna Action. Water temperatures have remained fairly high throughout the entire winter fishing season as we continued to see summer species in what is normally off-season months for Yellowfin Tuna and Marlin. But it’s now late April and we can’t get around the annual ‘spring has sprung’ slowdown. For a few weeks now we’ve seen fishing being on and off. There are many possible reasons for this, massive amounts of bait are one. But the most likely is mating season has begun for many species. Fish that are not taking baits in the morning, will in the afternoon. Yes amigos, love is in the air, or rather water in the fish world of the Bay of Banderas. Right now the biggest question is: Who’s going to get lucky, you or the fish?
