This will be a year to remember; with the El Niño to La Niña ‘double’ flip, the usual types of winter conditions we’d expect are anything but. We’re in the middle of our winter fishing season, but it’s not winter fishing. If that confuses you, then join the crowd.
For now, we’re seeing plenty of action in the bay, like usual, come March in the Bay of Banderas. Now, that’s not as bad as it may sound, heading out for a short day, plenty of action related to Jack Crevalles and Bonito is a good thing. But Puerto Vallarta offers options most don’t think about or even offer. Bottom fishing, aka ‘Jigging’, is one of your best winter fishing options.
I’d like to tell you about the great Yellowfin Tuna fishing at El Banco, but after a week straight of Seiners, aka production fishing ships, that scooped up all the 40 to 80 lb Yellowfin Tuna for about a week straight. So we can’t talk about the great fishing there. I had to mention this because it’s an obscene situation, as breaking the laws of conservation in Mexico carries no weight. It’s disgusting, but some things never change.
If we’re looking toward Corbetena, things are a little different. Corbetena, also known as the ‘rock,’ is one of Puerto Vallarta’s best fishing locations. The fishing could have been better for the last week, with water temperatures from the mid-60s to the upper 70s, then back down to the upper 60s. This is like ocean schizophrenia, multiple personalities, and you never know which one will show up. For now, water temperatures at Corbetena can range from 67 to 77 degrees depending on which schizophrenic current you’re dealing with.
So, on any given day, you could run into a Striped Marlin, or Sailfish. Dorado are a thing of the past, but some days, you’ve got a ‘lottery winners’ chance of boating a nice one.
Yellowfin Tuna are running the area from 15 to about 40 lbs, great bait for larger species. But the bottom fishing is another thing. Cubera Snappers to 60 lbs are there just waiting for you to arrive.
Possible Amberjacks are there as well. The water has been dirty as well; again, we’re seeing the currents stirring up the muck on the ocean floor. This dirty water pretty much is holding true for the entire area. And again, this should be moving out shortly. If you’ve got a bucket list of wishes for Yellowfin Tuna, El Banco and Corbetena aren’t the best bang for your fishing dollar. Of course, that’s if you’re not interested in bottom fishing.
Yellowfin Tuna Report: Many know and understand we have some incredible fisheries here about 100 miles north of Marina Vallarta. Right now, there is some regular boating of Yellowfin Tuna weighing more than 200 lbs. Many call them ‘Cow Tuna’; we’ve always called them ‘Cows.’ Tuna over 300 lbs are referred to here in Puerto Vallarta as Monsters! You’ll need a 2.5-day trip minimum to see this sort of action and we can provide you a ride. Look on my web page for the Tuna Fishing Section, then contact me for options.
You know, people are always asking me about Roosterfish. When are they here, and where can you find them? We don’t talk much about this popular species, but it’s time we started paying more attention to the Cabo Corrientes area.
Now, Roosterfish love the long sandy beaches, with rolling surf and plenty of structure in the form of rocks. The agua fresca, or fresh water in the summer from rain, makes even better fishing conditions. It’s not unusual to see the beach lined with surfing types during the summer rainy season. But anytime the Sardines show up, it’s a fish frenzy. This is a ten-hour fishing day, but we’re trying to put together some summer Rooster fishing excursions; stay tuned ….
The area from El Morro to Punta Mita is much the same as it was for the last couple of weeks. There are mostly Jack Crevalle’s and Bonito in the area. But they did catch a Dorado off Punta Mita last week, which was very strange, indeed. There may be some Sailfish, but they shouldn’t be here. You can find Sails north of Gaviota, a ten-hour distance.
Unless you’re bottom fishing off the back side of the Marietta Islands, behind the reef at the drop-off, there are possible Grouper, Snapper, Sea Bass, Pompano, and Amberjack; they’re all possible on any given day. If you are looking to bottom fish or jig, then this is a great and productive fishing option. The nice thing about these species is they’re all pretty much white meat that tastes incredible.
For now, if you’re in Puerto Vallarta and looking to do short-day fishing, then the bay is actually your best bang for your fishing dollar. Some days a four-hour trip can be a little sparse when it comes to action; fish move.
So, six hours gives you some time to find the fish, and that’s your insurance policy; an extra few hours can make all the difference. You’ll target Jack Crevalle’s to 50 lbs, with a 30 lb average right now. Bonito are large at 20 lbs. Remember, they’re from the Tuna family and are essentially Tuna, so don’t throw them back too quickly. Sierra Mackerels are an early morning option around the marina buoys. The water got chilly but then got warm again. You can still do some bottom fishing and get several more undersized grouper, but the cold water we hoped for, got cold for a very short time, so the Sea Bass were in short supply this year. Having said all that, even with the limited species in the bay, it’s well worth the time and money.
Details: in the next few days, they’ll be changing the clocks again in North America, but not Mexico. So be sure to adjust your clock, but remember, we don’t change the time in Mexico anymore, so be sure your clocks are set straight for your morning fishing trips. This is important because the bite is still late; it’s coordinated with the incoming tide, so be at your chosen fishing grounds before 09:00, but they may not start biting until closer to 10:00.
Water temperatures are about 70 degrees, but this may change quickly. The general water conditions have been dirty, and the crazy currents are finally showing up again. This shouldn’t last too long, but what do I know?
Right now, purple lures and green lures are working better than live bait for Jacks and Bonito. So keep that in your back pocket, amigos.
Until next week, don’t forget to kiss your fish!
