June 25, 2023

As summer season has now officially begun, we are seeing more vacationing family groups arrive. Weather patterns are now starting to progressively warm, increased humidity and more tropical as well. Some scattered cloud cover, burning off quickly and high temperatures now averaging 90 degrees. Ocean water temperatures now ranging 80 degrees or higher, strong currents running, increased swell activity, as well higher tidal swings, as is normal for this summer solstice time frame.

Anglers were able to find bait supplies of caballito and other jacks, limited mullet this season. No sardinas to report, ballyhoo and slabs of squid were another option. On offshore fishing grounds more schools of bolito are showing, these are always a favored food source for all larger sized gamefish, definitely an encouraging sign.

Local fleets were scouting in all different directions, though their most consistent action was being encountered off of northern grounds, from Iman to San Luis Banks. Overall the action this week was slower than previous period, hard to say what reason that might be for, conditions appear favorable, though stronger than usual current might have put the fish down further in the water column, bite has varied from day to day where best action was found.

Off the bottom there were a mix of red snapper, yellow snapper, barred pargo, leopard grouper, amberjack, bonito and triggerfish, though numbers were limited and currents made this deeper action that much more challenging. This bottom bite was done using a mix of yo-yo jigs and with various bait options.

We were still finding a scattering of dorado, though in less numbers than during the last couple of weeks, found trolling lures and various baits, no particular hotspots, from close to shore, to farther offshore on the marlin grounds. Still a decent chance at finding a trophy bull, we saw a couple up close to 50 lb. this week.

Yellowfin tuna action was very slow this week, early in the week far offshore some 10 to 30 lb. yellowfin were found traveling with porpoise, but this was a very hit or miss deal, a few larger grade tuna were seen and hooked into on the Iman Bank as well, so as currents settle, something could develop with this. Wahoo were scarce as well, but actually this week, even in the very warm water,  we saw a few more ‘hoo striking on trolled rapalas, even double hook ups were reported, sizes up to 35 or 40 lb.

Offshore billfish bite was heating up along with the local weather. A slight edge in numbers on the Pacific side. Most common species still being striped marlin, though we also saw a fair number of larger sized sailfish in recent days, moving in with the warming currents. Our local super panga accounted for a 300 lb. class blue marlin over the weekend. Also there were at least two swordfish brought in over the weekend, smaller 110 to 130 lb. fish, but impressive nonetheless, one which we weighed in on Friday.

Late June is typically the peak season for chances at larger roosterfish. We did have reports of roosterfish up to 50 lb. in recent days, though they have not been found in normal numbers as we would expect for this time frame. Also we have not seen the typical larger sized schools of mullet bait fish congregating along inshore stretches. There have been a mix of jack crevalle found as well, 30 lb. fish that fight like pitbulls.

Good Fishing, Eric

June 18, 2023

With the majority of school semesters now done and now in summer recess, we are seeing more numbers of traveling families arrive. Weather patterns have been great, perfect time to visit now, with mostly clear sunny skies, high temperatures nearing 90 degrees, but still bearable and not too hot as it can be in the coming months, Pacific afternoon breezes have been refreshing.

Overall fishing action. Offshore striped marlin action became more scattered and more schools of bolito were reported, which always are a good sign for attracting larger pelagic gamefish species. In our local marina area the main bait source has been caballito, jurelito, ballyhoo and of course slabs of squid as well, even though not much has been hitting on the strips.

On the grounds from Iman to San Luis Banks there have been hog sized amberjack being brought in every day, most of these striking on the live bait, we saw many fish in the 30 to 80 lb. range accounted for, on most days the best action was earlier in the morning.

The same rocky high spots and even closer to shore anglers were finding a mix of leopard grouper, barred pargo, yellow or red snapper, bonito, pompano and triggerfish, using baits and yo-yo jigs. None of these in very high numbers, but some quality great eating fish are being found.

Besides the trophy sized amberjack, another highlight has been a handful of very nice sized bull dorado, up to 40 lb. or higher, found scattered throughout the region, often times in pairs, with the smaller females, they were encountered from close to shore, on the roosterfish beach stretches, to bottom fishing spots and on offshore marlin grounds.

There were yellowfin tuna weighing in the 5 to 30 lb. range being located associated with the porpoise far offshore, often a 50 mile run in each direction, so that was not a normal practical charter option unless contracting this in advance for additional fees. Some tuna were also hooked up near Iman and San Luis, but it was sporadic and unpredictable action, though these fish were of nice quality to over 60 lb.

Only a few wahoo being reported, most of these in the 25 to 35 lb. range, striking incidentally while bottom fishing and some on the more traditional trolling rapala type plugs. Conditions are favorable now as water temperatures are in the upper 70s, though water is not really that deep blue that these fish prefer, a little bit off colored  from changing currents and increased ocean swells.

Inshore the main deal was slow trolling baits for jack crevalle and roosterfish, which is now peak season, started out a little late, but the charters that we did have target these fish did well on fish up to 40 lb.

Good Fishing, Eric

June 11, 2023

This week was much quieter in our local marina area, as the fiesta and carnival which had been congesting and blocking normal work areas were removed and clean up followed. Only moderate numbers of anglers were now in town taking advantage of calmer weather patterns, sunny skies with highs near 85 degrees. Bait supplies consisted of caballito, jurelito, ballyhoo, slabs of squid and some mullet.

Sportfishing charters spread out looking for various options. Farther offshore there were chances at finding yellowfin tuna traveling with moving porpoise, but this was not a normal charter deal since more often this hit or miss action was encountered 25 to 45 miles offshore. There were also chances at finding tuna near Iman and San Luis Banks. Though these yellowfin also proved very sporadic and scarce. Only a couple of wahoo reported through the week as well.

Better chances at catching a variety of good eating species was off the bottom, particularly early in the morning while using yo-yo style jigs. Success varied from day to day, but did produce some quality fish, including one 81 lb. amberjack, other fortune jack, red snapper, leopard grouper, bonito, barred pargo, yellow snapper, triggerfish and one yellowtail. At times the red snapper were seen in masses near the surface, apparently feeding on small jelly fish and had to be enticed to strike anything else after adapting a taste of this natural food source.

Striped marlin were still being found offshore, but more scattered than in previous weeks. We did see fair numbers of dorado on local grounds and many of these were over 25 lb. and some were up closer to 50 lb. Striking on lures, but more often on various baitfish. Often found in small groups, such as female and male pairs and there were repeated reports of larger bulls being more finicky to strike, as females were hooked up they would follow aggressively but more often than not would shy away from striking any offerings with hooks in them, guess for this reason they have grown to larger sized proportions.

Closer to shore there were jack crevalle and some roosterfish, but so far roosterfish action was not what we would expect for this time of year, as we are nearing peak season, still have not seen the mass schools of mullet which typically move in during this time frame.

Good Fishing, Eric–