Cortez Yacht Charters Weekly Mexico Fishing Report

Week ended 01/24/19

THE CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT FOR THE GAVIOTA SPORT FISHING FLEET AND FISH CABO FLEET

The exceptional Striped Marlin fishing just continues! Even with the full moon, results were fantastic with multiple fish days reported throughout the fleet and the action was again mostly close in. The Dorado counts were down a bit but many boats still found quality Dorado. The Yellowfin Tuna counts were up for those willing to make the longer runs offshore.

The Striped Marlin fishing continues to produce excellent results overall on the Pacific side with fishing continuing to concentrate around the Lighthouse as the new center of activity.  The fleets reported exceptional counts of Striped Marlin with most boats averaging 2-3 fish per day. The Yellowfin were again showing in the 25-30 mile range to the south and southwest and also off the Golden Gate – the key is to find the pods of Porpoise and you will find the Tuna with most averaging in the 30-100 lb range this past week.  The Dorado fishing softened a bit but still plenty of Dorado flags flying and plenty of filets! 

Inshore fishing has continued to produce nice catches of smaller Dorado and schools of Skipjacks with the Sierras showing in good numbers from Solmar to El Arco. Roosters are showing occasionally in the surf from Solmar around the point at the Lighthouse and also in the Palmilla area.

We should note that the 34’ Tuna Time of the Fish Cabo fleet is back in the water after several months of rehab and newly rebuilt engines and transmission and wasted no time in producing 6 Striped Marlin and 14 large Yellowfin for her anglers in 3 days of fishing.

Cabo Climate:  January has been  very pleasant weather with a mix of mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with the future outlook for average daytime temps in the upper 70’s and evenings in the low to mid  60’s. The good news is the forecast is for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with zero chance of rain forecast through into early February. Winds are expected in the gentle 8-10 mph range through early February mostly out of the SW shifting to the WSW at month end.  Humidity is expected to run in the low to mid 60’s into early February.

Sea Conditions:  Seas have been relatively calm in the mornings throughout the area with some swells and chop showing up in the afternoons as breezes increase.  The pat week reported a single day of seas in the 4-5 ft range. Forecast is for more of the same with winds in the 8-10 mph range from the SW and WSW.  Sea temps have cooled but stabilized and running from 72-75 (Pacific) and into the 73-75 range on the inside around the Gordos.

Best Fishing Areas:  The Marlin hot spots have remained to the west and north.  The Lighthouse area was clearly the hot spot again this past week.  Most of the fish are being found 1-8 miles out from shore.  There were also very positive reports from the Golden gate area. The Yellowfin are being found 25-30 miles out to the South and SW near the 110, 120 or 180 Spots.  Good counts of quality Yellowfin were also coming off the Golden Gate area and some Yellowfin up to the 100 lb mark were reported around the Gordos.  For those willing to make the longer 50 mile run, the Finger Bank has continued producing double digit Striped Marlin counts with a few boats reporting over 20 fish per day. Traffic is light up there competing for the large numbers of migrating Striped Marlin.  As the Yellowfin have moved in so have the commercial tuna boats and Captain Roberto Marquez reported the appearance of several commercial tuna boats with helicopters so there is concern the Yellowfin fishing will hold up strong again in the coming 2 weeks.

Favorite Baits: Trolled blue/green smoke trail lures along with live Mackerel or live Cabillitos were the favorite for the Marlin. Soaking live baits around the Finger Bank produced successful multiple Striper counts. Drifting live bait around the Lighthouse was also very productive. Everything seemed to work for the Dorado from trolled lures to drifted baits. Hoochies were by far the preferred and most productive lures for the Sierras. Trolled feathers and cedar plugs were the ticket for the Yellowfin.

Bait Supply: Live bait is available at the $3.00 per bait upon exit from the harbor. Mackerel, when available, are popular with the captains.

Our local reporters: Captain Roberto Marquez-Castro of the Fish Cabo Fleet and Gaviota Fleet Dock Manager Carlos Pena-Mirales. 

 

THE MAZATLAN FISHING REPORT FOR THE ARIES SPORT FISHING FLEET – MARINA EL CID AND El CID MEGA RESORT, PACIFIC

The past week was a little slower for our friends at the El Cid in Mazatlan. Their overall tourist traffic was off a bit and their fishing trips were slower than usual. The anglers that went out were overall rewarded with solid results as their Striped Marlin fishing continues to improve with the seasonal migration. Their inshore fishing continued to produce strong results.

The offshore boats reported a nice mix of quality Sailfish with most over 40-50 kgs and Striped Marlin. With the seasonal Striped Marlin migration showing up, the release counts are now 2:1 or 3:1 Marlin over Sailfish. The Dorado were hard to come by this past week.  No significant tuna action was reported. The inshore boats reported good action on Snappers, Sea Bass and Queen Triggers whether on 4 hour or 6 hour trips and the Jacks were producing nice action on poppers.

The El Cid fleet only fished a total of 11 offshore days and 11 Super Panga inshore trips.  They reported 3 Sailfish, 8 Striped Marlin, and 9 Bonito from offshore. Inshore, they reported 166 mixed snappers, 12 sea bass, 46 Triggers, 13 Jacks and 4 Roosterfish.

Mazatlan Climate: January has been very pleasant and the outlook into the end of January and early February is also favorable upper 70’s daytime and low 60’s in the evenings. The forecast into late January and early February is for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with winds in the 9-10 mph range primarily out of the WSW trending toward the WNS in early February. Humidity will be in the low 60’s going into February for very pleasant fishing conditions. There is no precipitation forecast into the first week of February.

Sea Conditions: The water is seasonally cooling and now in the 72-75 degree range resulting in a larger showing of the Striped Marlin.  They enjoyed mostly calm seas this past week with some afternoon swells. The future outlook is for relatively calm seas with mild breezes predominately from the West and SW in the 9-10 mph range.

Best Fishing Area: The offshore bite for the billfish is starting about 10-12 miles out with best results to the west and southwest of the Marina El Cid. In shore, the Super Pangas are finding success all along the coast especially around the rocks. The water is very clear and the Jacks

Best Bait & Lures:  Freshly caught rigged trolling baits and smoke trail lures produced best results for the billfish. The Dorado seem to be favoring feathers and smaller trolling lures like Doorknobs.

Bait Supply: Freshly caught baits are readily available from the bait boats

Our Local Reporter: Ms. Kitcia Berenice Ceja-Diaz, the Aries Fleet and Marina El Cid Office Manager and fishing reporter

 

THE IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT SPORT FISHING FLEET

The independent fleet reported a slowdown in Sailfish action this week related to the full moon and the extremely clear water. Great warm blue water extends almost all the way to the shore.  Fly-fishing and spinning rigs for Jacks and Bonitos inshore has continued to be steady. Rooster action this past week was a bit slow as they are now past their peak season. Good catches of Groupers were again reported off the rocks.

The sailfish action although down a bit was steady with fish showing as close as the 5-7 mile mark.   Capt. Temo reports quality size Sailfish with many surpassing the 100 lb range. This time of year they see a lot of European tourist who like to challenge the Sailfish with fly fishing which lowers the overall catch rate. This past week quality Dorado’s to the 20 kg range were still in the mix. The Yellowfin have been a little harder to find lately and when found, are 30-35 miles out at the 1000 fathom mark but, when found, are quality fish up to 150 lbs. Inshore the Bonito and Skipjacks were a bit more finicky this past week but the Jacks continued to be cooperative. Most of the inshore action is taking place 100-200 yds offshore due to the very clear blue water. Ixtapa Island was a hot spot this past week for the big Jacks. Nice counts of Groupers were reported of the rocks.

IZ Climate:  January has been their typical winter climate and a mix of mostly sunny to partly cloudy days. Daily temps are in the mid to upper 80’s and night time temps in the mid to low 70’s with humidity expected to run in the mid 60’s to low 70’s through early February. The outlook heading into the end of January and into February is for more of the same. They are now in their dry season and there is no precipitation projected into early February. Winds are expected to be very mild in the 4-8 mph range from the West and WSW. 

Sea Conditions: The offshore water temperature cooled a bit into the 82-83 degrees range from the 5-6 mile mark at the 100 fathom line all the way out to the 1,000 fathom line at 25-30 miles.  Inshore temperatures are running in the same range to a bit cooler.  The offshore water at the 1000 fathom mark is now clear blue all the way into shore. With breezes in mid single digits, the seas are very calm particularly in the mornings.

Best Baits & Lures:  Rigged trolling baits and smoke trail lures continue to produce for the Billfish and Dorado with most boats preferring a mix of rigged baits for the Billfish and smaller lures and feathers for the Dorado.   Inshore top water poppers are the favorite for the Roosterfish, Bonito and Jacks.

Bait Supply: The bait supply remains good and freshly caught baits are provided gratis with most charters. Live baits are readily available at this time and are $5.00/dozen paid directly to the bait vendors.

Our Local Reporter: Captain Temo Verboonen – owner/operator of the Secuestro de Amor and Macho Banana.

 

CANCUN/PUERTO MORELOS FISHING REPORT FOR THE EL CID MARINA

Our friends at the El Cid Marina reported a great week of fishing with good weather and solid tourist traffic. With the post holiday tourist traffic still brisk, the boats were quite busy with many clients opting for ½ day fishing at the very productive shallow reefs. The close-in fishing available at Puerto Morelos continues to produce great action both offshore and inshore for our clients, many fishing for the first time on half day or 6 hour trips.

The El Cid fleet fished a total 51trips the past week.  The offshore targeted boats reported no sailfish this week as we are still a bit ahead of their seasonal migration. They reported solid counts of 19 giant Atlantic Barracuda, 12 King Mackerel, 14 Mahi-Mahi, 5 Blackfin tuna, and 24 Bonito. Many first time fishermen opted for shorter ½ day or 6 hour trips mixed between offshore and inshore. The targeted inshore and shallow reef fishing boats tallied 24 Black Grouper, 38 Mutton Snappers, 176 Chack Chi, 8 Jack Crevalle and 2 Queen Triggerfish.  Still, a total of 318 fish boated for an average of almost 6 1/2 fish per trip– many happy first time fishermen many on ½ day trips.

PM/Cancun Climate:  Occasional brief scattered thunderstorms continue with the seasonal weather pattern.  The extended forecast calls for a mix of sunny to mostly partly cloudy skies to scattered thunderstorms with a 20-30% chance of scattered thunderstorms on almost daily basis through early February.  Daytime temperatures are predicted in the upper 70’s to low 80’s and evenings now in the upper 60’s.  Humidity is expected to be in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s. Winds are expected in the 8-11 mph range out of the ENE trending to the East by early February.

Sea Conditions:  Water temperatures in the Cancun-Puerto Morelos-Cozumel area are at their seasonal coolest and are now running in the 78-80 degree range. Seas are running from calm to a bit choppy depending on the weather conditions.   The prevailing winds have lowered a bit and are out of the ENE at 8-11 MPH.

Best Bait & Lures:  Rigged Ballyhoo, small smoke trail lures were working well for the billfish with feathers also working for the Mahi-Mahi, King Mackerel and Giant Barracuda.  Cut bait is the preferred fare for the reef fishing.

Bait Supply:  The bait supply of locally caught Ballyhoo remains good and are provided gratis with most charters.

Our Local Reporter:  Victoria Garcia at the Hotel El Cid Spa & Beach Resort and Marina