As we enter tourist season, it’s also the time Puerto Vallarta’s fishing season moves into high gear. For the past few weeks, we’ve had tropical storms and hurricanes push fish out of the area. So, you can imagine the frustration of those heading out to fish in the Bay of Banderas. But in the world of fishing, everything changes in the blink of an eye.
For now, we’re not seeing the normal level of fishing we’d expect, but the water conditions are pretty much perfect. Bait is very available, and soon the Sailfish will be so thick, you’ll have trouble getting your bait in front of any other species out there.
A year after the insane swing from El Niño to La Niña and then back again, we’ve moved into a more normal mode. As we remember, in the world of world-class fishing, it’s all about our ability to improvise and adapt, as we take our best shot.
So, here’s the deal: at this time of the year, all of our attention is directed to our deep water fishing grounds of El Banco and Corbetena. The shorter days of eight hours focus on the point of Punta Nayarit to the Marietta Islands and El Morro. Inside the bay is more affordable, and you’ll catch fish, but the simple fact is, the main action is in eight-hour trips or longer.
When we finally reach this time of the year, we focus our attentions on Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, and Yellowfin Tuna when they’re in the area. These are world-class species that many people will fantasize about, but will never realize the thrill of catching a fish bigger than your car! Right now, we have 300 lb-plus Blue Marlin and Black Marlin can be much larger than that. But you have to go where they are, and right now that’s anywhere between El Banco and Corbetena!
An inside secret is, if targeting Marlin and Yellowfin Tuna, four miles north west of El Banco is a good place to drop your baits and then go from there. If you’re heading to Corbetena, drop baits about 8 miles before the rock, and this is another hot spot. With so few charter boats going out as it has been the summer season, it’s difficult to get a good feel for the real fishing situation.
But the conditions are close to perfect. Beautiful blue, high-visibility water. Yellowfin Tuna can be running with the Spinner Dolphin in the same areas. But Yellowfin Tuna will be focused more at Corbetena and El Banco, but will also be in the mid-point area many times. Confused, me too. And now Sailfish are finally picking up in numbers and will only increase in abundance as the days go by.
With plenty of high-quality bait in the area, conditions are improving. But be warned, the long liners have all their lines set up at El Banco’s high spots, so you know the fishing is getting better.
For now, we’re just waiting for customers to arrive as we enter the tourism season, and over the next three months, the fishing will be as good as it’s going to get for the entire year. In the eight-hour locations from El Morro to north of Punta Nayarit, the dirty water from the recent rains last week was up to 14 miles out from the point.
This week, we’re seeing the dirty water only out to eight miles before the blue water, which means the currents are changing and pushing fish inland towards shore. This is particularly nice since it will increase the number of Sailfish and possible Dorado as they are both starting to finally move in. The bottom line here is that conditions are improving just in time. Stay tuned!
At this time of the year, inside the bay, there is a lot of action, but the fish will be smaller. For a few days, we had some nice Dorado in the 12 to 15 lb range at the Los Arcos area, but don’t expect that daily.
Sailfish have been running the same area around Los Arcos, but again, this isn’t something you can count on since they come into the bay, following the currents from Corbetena. Jack Crevalles, usually a cold-water species, are still hanging out around the Nuevo Vallarta area.
La Cruz, near the marina, for some reason, there have been Sailfish in this area as well. Rooster fish are off Punta Negra, but they’re small. If you want to target Roosterfish, your best option is at the Mayto area in Cabo Corrientes. Then of course there’s always Skipjack Tuna at 8 lb, and a host of other smaller species. But Roosterfish in the bay is a 10-hour day. The action is excellent right now. Roosterfish will average anywhere from 30 to 60 lb, and it’s all happening now.
With water temperatures at 89 degrees or so, blue water, and plenty of bait, the fishing conditions are near perfect. The bite is a little earlier, so plan on being where you want to be by 08:30, but it can be very late in the day, about 17:00 or 5 o’clock in the afternoon. So be ready to go early, amigos.
Until next week, don’t forget to kiss your fish!
