If you’ve been reading my articles, you know that the world and fishing in Puerto Vallarta and the Bay of Banderas have been dealing with a mid-summer switch from El Nino to colder La Nina conditions. You may say, what does this mean to me? Well, we know that water temperatures affect weather patterns for one thing. But we’re talking about fishing; cold water is bad for the warm water species. This week water temperatures went from 87 degrees to 81 degrees, a drastic drop. Then all of a sudden Jack Crevalles are back in the bay and Striped Marlin are moving in. Now this may sound like a good thing. But in reality, it could mean an early “winter fishing” season. Black and Blue Marlin are still running the neighborhood, but we’ll be keeping an eye on the coming weeks to get a better feel for what’s happening. But for now, the fishing is great! With Sailfish, Striped Marlin and yes, even Jack Crevalles in the bay all add up to great fishing action in Puerto Vallarta’s world famous fishing grounds.
As we continue moving deeper into the best time of the year to be fishing in Puerto Vallarta, we’re seeing Marlin and Sailfish numbers increasing. Yellowfin Tuna are running around the “Rock” at Corbetena. Dorado are also picking up in size and number. This all may sound perfect, but we all know perfect is a ‘moving target’. With Bluewater and perfect water temperatures, the conditions are just this side of perfect. But we all know nothing is ever ‘perfect’. The challenge this week is how to deal with fish that have all the bait they could want. Skip Jack Tuna are massive at Corbetena. The bite is a moving target. So there are some challenges, but these challenges can be overcome with determination and a positive attitude. All of PV’s Fishing grounds are alive with action. It’s also tournament season, so if you’re here in PV it would be a shame if you don’t get on the water amigos!
What a difference a week can make fishing Puerto Vallarta’s Bay of Banderas! Last week I was thinking there really wasn’t any reason why we’re not seeing larger Marlin and Yellowfin Tuna, then BAM, they show up! Those lucky enough to be in Puerto Vallarta, fishing right now will be surprised to find Sailfish and Dorado in the bay as well. We’ve finally moved into tournament season and the fishing from this point forward will be as good as it gets for most of the year. Conditions couldn’t be better with plenty of bait, smooth seas, and mostly blue water. We’ve been waiting all year for the coming months and I for one plan on taking advantage of being a local in ‘Fish Heaven’.
After last week’s article where I was saying things are improving by the day, I was a little nervous that things may have turned in the other direction. But I’m happy to tell you that fishing this week took another small step towards perfect fishing conditions. Corbetena is alive and well with a strong pulse. In fact, all our fishing grounds are ticking in the right direction. Fish numbers are increasing along with all the favorite species like Yellowfin Tuna which are both increasing in numbers and size. After experiencing the La Nina / El Nino switch, I’ve been waiting to see what kind of results we would have this week and if things continue as they were. Now I’m thinking we may have an impressive fishing season this year. With perfect high visibility blue water, plenty of skipjack tuna and other baits, I have every reason to be positive and hopefull for the following months. It’s a good bet you’ll have memories that will last a lifetime after heading out fishing in Puerto Vallarta’s Bay of Banderas. The fishing just got world class and the only thing missing is you!
When October finally arrives, we get anxious about fishing in Puerto Vallarta. It’s a bit of a waiting game as we ‘wait’ for the numbers of our world class species to increase here in the Bay of Banderas. But this is nothing new and as always the fishing is improving by small amounts. Or as my Mexican friends would say, ‘poco-poco’, or little by little. So, this past week has been on the positive side in both the bay and our deep-water fishing grounds. Those looking for larger Billfish like Blue and Black Marlin will find them, finally. Sailfish numbers are also picking up by the day. So we have great action across the board, which means we have something for just about everyone. Which leaves the question, ‘what do you want’?
Every year we know it´s coming, the end of high season for fishing here in PV. Normally by the second week of the New Year we see water temperatures drop and everything changes. This year we saw this happen a little early, we´ve had 76 degree water temps now for about two weeks. We should see Dorado, Marlin, Sailfish and others bugging out. But that´s not the case as we see larger Dorado being boated, Striped Marlin in a frenzy, Blue Marlin are small but there. So no matter how contradictory it may sound, we have cool water and good fishing
People come in my shop all the time and want to discuss fishing and many other things. This week I found myself talking about how we have fish everywhere and where there are fish there are long liners killing your chances as the issue remains unsolved and those in the position of authority remain uninterested. Fishing is great, but don´t have expectations around the Long Liners, the good news is we can avoid them but you´ll be using more fuel than you should have to.
In the world of Deep Sea Fishing the only ¨constant¨ is that nothing stays the same for long. With a drastic drop in water temperatures last week I thought we had seen the best fishing fade away for the rest of the year. Then the Illegal Long Liners bugged out, and the fishing improved greatly. Water temperatures are still at 80 degrees which I would say is cold for these warm water species, but in San Diego where the water temps are considerably colder they´re still boating Marlin and Dorado. So what does this all mean? Your guess is as good as mine, but if they´re ¨playing¨ in colder water up north that means the season if far from over for Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado and we even have Wahoo in the area. Now if we could find a way to coax a Yellowfin Tuna in the area we´d be happy campers!
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.
