Well, here we are in the middle of February, and the water temperatures are much warmer than they should be. Usually, at this time of the year, we’re looking at water temperatures in the upper 60’s. And to be fair we did see a week of cold water, then ‘pow’, the water got warm again. If you are confused, just think about the fish!
We’re still seeing some of our summer species running our world-class fishing grounds in Puerto Vallarta. But the Bay of Banderas hasn’t let us down; we’re still seeing great action-fishing.
For those looking for Sailfish and Striped Marlin, they’re out there, but the numbers are thin; you’ll need a full-day fishing trip, and, you could still come up empty-handed. That’s fishing for you; assess the situation and make a decision. But there is always great fishing in Puerto Vallarta if you are open-minded and focused on action and not so much a specific species.
Last week we had all kinds of schooling Yellowfin Tuna at El Banco, then the production Seiners, the giant ships raped the entire area illegally. So that pretty much wrecked the fishing in this area, but it will come back soon. Which, of course, leaves Corbetena as our premier deep-water fishing grounds. We’re currently seeing Striped Marlin and Sailfish still running the area. With water temperatures at a warm 77 degrees, some of the warm water species, as mentioned, are still hanging around.
For those interested in actually catching fish, there are many options, jigging for Snappers or going for Grouper is always an option that most ignore. Some positive news is the water is finally blue at Corbetena after almost eleven weeks of dirty, cold water.
Now, there are still areas of the ‘clean green’ water, and there are fish in this colder water. But if you find the blue water, your chances of favorable results increase greatly!
If you want to take a shot at larger species, then you’ll have to weigh the possibilities. But, to be straight up, this is probably not your best bang for your fishing dollar.
If you’re looking for a shorter day but still want some decent action, then the area around El Morro and the Marietta Islands is perfect for jigging for Grouper up to 20 lbs. Cubera Snapper and Amberjacks are all there. Now there are Sailfish and some Striped Marlin in this area. Not to mention massive amounts of Jack Crevalles and Bonito. The water is bluer by the day, and conditions can only improve from this point.
For those looking for larger species, this is a good option, but you’ll be targeting a low percentage of catch species if chasing Sails and Stripers.
Inside the bay, we’re still looking at ‘Action Fishing’, where you’ll be catching fish in a shorter time. Some days, it can be difficult to find fish in the bay. That’s some days.
Most days you’ll come back to port with spaghetti arms. Jack Crevalles are moving all around the bay, and sometimes they can’t be found. They’ll be in the 35 lb range if you find them. Bonito are also plentiful in the bay and are large at 20 lbs. Remember, the Bonito are Arctic Bonito, a member of the Tuna family, and taste great. I suggest letting the meat sit in a freezer for 24 hours, which de-bloods the fish and gives it a great taste.
Sierra Mackerels are plentiful, but smaller at 12 lbs. Something strange happened this week; they caught a Striped Marlin off La Cruz. So, anything is possible.
For now, a six-hour fishing trip in the bay is your best bang for your fishing dollar. And it’s great for family fishing, and remember, there are still whales in the bay. Why not enjoy the whales, do some fishing, and we can even put snorkeling equipment on the boat. That’s how you save money and still have a great day on the water.
What to look for? Well, my crystal ball fell off the table and what I’m seeing is a little obscure. But for the coming weeks, we should see water temperatures drop. At that point, Snapper, Sea Bass, and Grouper will be coming in closer to shore. The Grouper you may have seen posted are basically babies. As I mentioned earlier, water temperatures are unusually warm for this time of the year. Water temperatures hit 67 degrees, which is favorable for Bay Grouper and Snapper. Then it shot back up to 77 degrees, which the Stripers like.
So it’s hard to predict what will happen with the crazy transition from La Niña, to El Niño, then back to La Niña, I think Mother Nature is confused. But to be honest, it feels like we’ll have an early summer, which means water temperatures may not hit their normal yearly lows. So I guess you’ll just have to keep reading these articles and keep an open mind.
The bite here is still about 09:00, so leaving the dock too early isn’t helping your cause. I suggest going around 08:00, and you should maximize your opportunities to catch fish. But like always, everything can change in three days, so stay tuned!
Until next week, don’t forget to kiss your fish!
