Yellowfin Tuna & Much More at Corbeteña and El Banco!!

                             Yellowfin Tuna & Much More at Corbeteña and El Banco!!

Written by: Stan Gabruk owner of Master Baiter´s Sportfishing & Tackle

Well summer came to Puerto Vallarta this past week with 70 percent humidity under a warm and unforgiving tropical sun. The summer is ¨off season¨ as family tourism picks up a few notches from July to the end of August which is also when the local weather gets hot and tropical. With this dramatic change in seasons, when things are as hot and humid as they´re going to get, this is when you´ll find the Monster Yellowfin Tuna, Big Black and Blue Marlin, Sailfish and more. It would be very nice to have prime fishing in high season for tourism, but it doesn´t work that way amigos. For those in the area, we´re seeing Deep Sea fishing now like we haven´t seen for years. I was half way expecting the fishing to pull back a little since it just exploded out of the blue last week. But that´s not the case, in fact the fishing is still outstanding and picking up on a daily basis. Short day trips or long days targeting world class gamefish, whatever you´re looking for, we have it now!

This week we´ve seen another dramatic increase in water temperatures from 81 to 84 degrees or warmer in some locations. Because of this we´re seeing the summer currents bring with them 3 inch squids, a Yellowfin Tuna favorite bait. Eight miles off Corbeteña jumping Schools of Yellowfin Tuna are now running 40 to 110 kilos or 88 lbs to 250 lbs. They´re taking lures of blue and silver with yellow dots or markings, run at least one lure of this color starting out with your live bait spread. Blue Marlin over 500 lbs are not eating those squids so have plenty of local bait. Sailfish are all over the place in increasing numbers daily. Dorado disappeared for the most part. Cubera Snappers of course for those jigging, but they´re also taking trolled baits as well. Jack Crevalls of course to 45 lbs, Bonito to 35 lbs and you may run into footballs (Yellowfin Tuna) in the 35 to 50 lb range. Very good eating so don´t ignore them! El Banco is pretty much the same, for me Corbeteña is a better choice. The Dorado at El Banco have disappeared or are much smaller in the 10 to 15 lb range, young. All and all if heading out to either of these locations you´re very likely to come in with a trophy gamefish, good luck.

At the point of Punta Mita or rather eight miles off the point we´re seeing good concentrations of Striped Marlin to 200 lbs, Sailfish at 90 lbs or so. Rooster fish are still in the surf areas but have thinned out considerably even with tons of Sardines and bullet Bonito to temp them. Around the Marietta islands is the same as last week, Skip jack Tuna, Jack Crevalls 45 lbs, Bonito to 35 lbs, Rooster fish possibilities and with some luck Dorado will show up soon, cross your fingers. El Morro has had Sailfish but you have to be about six miles out from the island and drop baits. Good area for Striped Marlin and a Freak Blue Marlin Hook up…

Inside the bay we´re still firing on all eight cylinders with Jack Crevalls, Sierra Mackerals (still here) Bonito, Football Yellowfin Tuna around Yelapa to 50 lbs. They´re concentrated also near Los Arcos as well. The Trash line is attracting small Dorado, under 15 lbs, but we expect this sort of thing and we´re happy about it. They draw in larger fish so everything is right on time. In front of the river mouths you´ll find Snook to 35 lbs, Snapper starting at 20 lbs and a host of other species enjoying the fresh water pouring into the bay. No matter where you go in the bay there are fish. If around Los Arcos, La Cruz Marina or points in between you have the freak opportunity to boat a Sailfish and they´re surprisingly abundant. So you may be looking for smaller fish for the family and get a Sailfish strike! Don´t be surprised to see these captains running larger baits on heavier tackle in the bay for this reason. Remember in the bay you should be fishing with lighter tackle, not something to bring in Moby Dick!  Four hour trips will get you to Yelapa and then get ready to hit the 50 lb Yellowfin Footballs, they´re great tasting and amazingly strong.

The bite has been a little late, about 11:00 am or Noon-ish for the most part. So sleep in a little and be out there before things get too warm and have a great day. Water temps as stated earlier are up dramatically from 81 degrees to 84 degrees and that´s a heck of a swing. Water conditions are still high visibility Blue Water unless you´re around the rivers, the water can be a little murky there, but that´s nature for you. Lures: you need blue with silver and yellow spots or markings. There are times these color combinations are working better than live bait. I will say this, all the Tuna that have been cut open to see what they´re eating are stuffed full of squids, so have the correct lure combinations handy in your bag of tricks. Live Bait, we´ve got live bait coming out of our ears, but you may want to wait until you´re in the area of where you´ll be fishing to see what baits are in the immediate area. But get the Goggle Eyes in the morning anyway, can´t hurt a thing.

What´s Next: We´ve seen some slowdown, a few evenings where there has not been much rain so the trash line is weak at the moment. Dorado moving into the bay is encouraging and hopefully is an indication of this beautiful species returning in larger numbers, be positive, it helps. Yellowfin will continue to increase as long as the production Tuna Fishing fleets keep their distance, cross your fingers. It´s Prime Time for fishing, Fishing High Season so to speak and there is no reason to see things changing for the near term. What this means to you the Angler with a fantasy, it´s time to get on a plane and get on the water. If you have a bucket list that includes Marlin and Yellowfin then it´s time to hit it. We have not seen these sorts of wonderful conditions in many moons and it would be a shame if you´re a serious fisherman and you missed these ¨finned fantasy¨ opportunities.

Master Baiter´s Promotion A: Right now we´re running a Special for the month of July, 4 hrs, four people max, Ice, bait, captain, crew, licenses, on insured boats with English speaking captains is ony $250 usd or $62.50 per person on a four person boat, Up to four people max. You´ll have a shot at Rooster fish in the surf, Jack Crevalls, Bonito, Skip Jack Tuna, Needle Fish, possible Sailfish, Snook and Snapper to name a few and with some luck Dorado. Air fares are cheap, hotels are all running specials and the fishing grounds for the most part are still empty.

Master Baiter´s Promotion B: Family Fishing Package, We know fishing is not the cheapest activity out there, never has been. If fishing wasn´t planed in the budget, but you´d still like to get the family on the water, we´re offering a very Basic Fishing Trip of four hours for $200 usd, four people max, you´ll troll baits from Marina Vallarta to Los Arcos and surrounding area targeting Jack Crevalls, Bonito, Snapper, Robalo (Snook), Sierra Mackerals, and what ever else we come across. Now this is not a full blown fishing trip but we´ve watched our competition rip people off on these sorts of trips, no boat shows, etc. The margin is thin on this package, but we want you and your family to get on the water and see the magical ¨other side¨ of Puerto Vallarta. Take us up on this deal especially for my readers so let me know you read it here and get a free beer cooler or Koozie just for telling me you read it here!

Now that we´re in Prime Time Fishing Season I´m starting up with the Video Fishing Reports again. You can see my less than impressive videos full of information you just can´t find anywhere else when it comes to Sportfishing in Puerto Vallarta. It´s my cell phone and a selfie stick with my ¨take me or leave me¨ attitude where we don´t take ourselves too seriously . . . . With two reports a week now you have no reason to not be informed. That way when you talk with these ¨insect promoters¨ you´ll know if he´s blowing smoke up your pant leg!

Until next time, don´t forget to ¨Kiss Your Fish¨. . .

Master Baiter´s is located in Marina Vallarta between docks A and B on the boardwalk. Email your Questions to me at: CatchFish@MasterBaiters.com.mx  Web page:  www.MasterBaiters.com.mx  , Local Phone at: (044) 322 779 75 71 or if roaming: 011 52 1 322 779 75 71 cell phone direct. Come like me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Master-Baiters-Sportfishing-Tackle/88817121325

The trade name Master Baiter’s ® Sportfishing and Tackle is protected under trade mark law and is the sole property of Stan Gabruk.