Yellowfin Tuna at El Banco, Marlin Move into Corbeteña, Summer Fishing Improves!

Yellowfin Tuna at El Banco, Marlin Move into Corbeteña, Summer Fishing Improves!

Written by Stan Gabruk

I find myself in my office overlooking Marina Vallarta as the boardwalk is empty, the restaurants are getting one run a night and the dollar is strong so International visitors from around the world are finding the added discount to purchases are not hard to swallow. Summer has hit Puerto Vallarta as shops, restaurants and a myriad of tourism supported businesses try once more to hang on until November. For those interested in visiting an exotic location and hooking into a five hundred pound Marlin Puerto Vallarta is where you´ll find your dream. This week we´ve seen Blue and Black Marlin move into our Deep water locations of El Banco and Corbeteña. With favorable water temperatures, available bait, and crystal clear Sapphire blue water, fishing conditions are about as good as they can get. It´s still a little early in the season to find Monster Yellowfin Tuna hanging around the rock, but their smaller cousins are running anywhere from 60 to 150 lbs and that´s not bad!

The bay is the bay for now. Smaller Dorado, Skip Jack Tuna, Bonita, Needle fish are picking up in numbers, Roballo in front of the river mouths, and up the river near Nuevo Vallarta. Four hours can be a challenge for fish right now and you´re better off with six hour trips in the bay if looking for smaller fish. The good news is the conditions are improving daily. Last week with this strange northern current in the bay pushed the red tide and the fish in front of it out of the bay leaving it a little sparse for fish. But those who made it to the points our just around the corners found abundant fish. So don´t lock yourself into a four hour trip when six hours or fifty dollars more on a super panga is the difference between catching or crying…. The trash line is a daily thing now with some pretty heavy rains in the evenings. Remember as a side note to keep your wits about you in the bay, logs, stumps, you name it can  be found floating just a few inches below the surface which of course is bad news for props, shafts, supports and rudders. In this case speed kills, and there is no excuse if you go flying across the bay and you hit something, so be careful.

The Marietta islands are still seeing Sailfish, Conaco Snappers to 25 lbs, Bonito, Skip Jack Tuna, and Needle fish, Pompano to 30 lbs and the list goes on. The fishing has been good, but there are times when the points are better. Keep an open ear for what people are catching before heading out. But the good news is you will catch smaller gamefish with the outside chance of Sailfish.

Punta Mita is still there and doing well. We had clients with small children about seven years old who caught several smaller Dorado and Bonito which was just what the doctor ordered for smaller anglers. Heading out on a heading of 300 to 320 you will run into Sailfish and Marlin another ten miles out from the point. Dorado in this area could be bigger, but they are there and with a little luck you´ll run into some Rooster Fish around the reef. 

Some days El Banco is the place to be, others it´s Corbeteña. We all know these two locations are about twenty five miles apart so they´re close enough for the available Gamefish to travel between easily. The area between these two world famous locations is also fertile with Sailfish, Marlin and Yellowfin. So don´t think that if you are not at one of these locations, that there are no fish. There are peaks, valleys, channels, peaks, you name it when it comes to bottom conditions. Many a tournament winning fish has been boated in this stretch, so pay attention to what is happening out there and if you see birds diving, break out the gear!

Back to the fish, Yellowfin Tuna in the 60 to 150 lb range are all over these locations. A few miles of El Banco you´ll find bigger Yellowfin Tuna. Plenty of Chorras for bait (20 lb Skip Jacks, Bonito) and plenty of fish. I had a client get a free trip on another company’s boat and came in empty handed for some reason. But what we´re seeing is an increase in the numbers of Marlin in the 500 to650 kb range as well and have seen  several boated by the few boats heading out this way. Right now a twelve hour day to El Banco is producing well. The only thing is that you don´t know what size you´ll get. But getting fish here is a no brainer.  Sailfish, Cubera Snappers and larger Dorado are possible at any given moment with several other species like Rainbow Runners. So if you are thinking of heading out to these deep water locations now would be a good time to head out!

We all have been hearing the news make comments about how Dangerous Mexico is, but it seems that the news is falling on 22 million deaf ears as Mexico has a record year for tourism even with the newshttp://theintelhub.com/2012/06/29/tourism-booms-in-mexico- as-crime-rises/. So cooler heads are once again showing that if you stay out of the equivalent of Detroit in Mexico, and who wouldn´t, you are safe on any level. Enjoy your time in Mexico and in particular Puerto Vallarta. The Dollar is strong which means you get great exchange rates. Hotels are empty and the fishing grounds are full of fish. The price is right if you have the time and inclination. In the mean time give a view to the following video and hopefully we´ll see you here soon with a finned fantasy on the end of your line…

Until next time, don´t forget to kiss your fish….

Master Baiter´s has changed its location to a larger shop located directly in front of Dock D in the shops behind the grassy area in the Puesta Del Sol complex half way between the Oxxo and Las Palomas Restaurant. Map of location in Marina Vallarta: http://masterbaiters.com.mx/location/   Come in and get your PV Mirror there and say hello to Stan. Please tell your friends where they can find the Mirror and of course Master Baiter´s.

You can come be a ¨Fan¨ on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Master-Baiters-Sportfishing-Tackle/88817121325  looking forward to meeting you online.  Reports, Fish Pic of The Day, Local information, Tournament information  and all that good stuff that keeps you informed and not wasting your time or money on B.S., if  you know what I mean. Also Facebook Fans get special perks you won´t find in my reports.

Master Baiter´s Sportfishing & Tackle is located in Marina Vallarta on the Boardwalk in front of Dock D. Facing the water turn to your right and we´re down four doors or so from Las Palomas the Restaurant. Come by and say hello!  Remember, at Master Baiter´s Sportfishing and Tackle, We Won´t Jerk You Around! If you have any questions on any subject regarding fishing or Puerto Vallarta, feel free to ask at my email: CatchFish@MasterBaiters.com.mx Web page:  www.MasterBaiters.com.mx

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