GORDO BANKS PANGAS
January 25^th, 2026

The week started off good with decent action at the Inner and Outer Gordo. We saw more tuna action in the 40-to-70-pound range.  These tuna were hooked on live bulito, small skipjack, chiwili, strips of squid, and some on live sardines. We also saw a handful of tuna in the 100-to-170-pound range within the same areas and bait. While slow trolling these baits, some nice 20-to-30-pound dorado were also caught. On Thursday, one of our pangas landed 5 yellowfin and 2 dorado. Two of these tuna were 165 and 155 pounds; the other 3 were 50 to 70 pounds, and the 2 dorado were averaging 25 pounds each. Some boats did not do so well as you really need to have patience if you are trolling baits at Gordo. After a few hours of trolling at the Gordo with no strikes, many boats decided to come in closer to shore to secure dinner with a dorado or two.

Through the fishing grounds of Iman, La Fortuna, Cardon, 25, and Punta Gorda we are seeing nice sized dorado. For bait, we are using live caballito, sardines, and ballyhoo. Some of them were also hooked on lures and feathers.

Water conditions have taken a turn after Saturday’s South wind. The port closed on Saturday due to 15-20 mph South winds and morning showers. This Sunday, as expected, fishing was much slower throughout all fishing grounds as water was colder and green. Many captains reported temperatures in the mid to high 60s and dirty water. This Sunday, only 3 medium size tuna and a couple of dorado were caught at the Gordo between 15 pangas or so. We had more action closer to shore, where boats found smaller tuna and dorado on live sardines and caballito.

Good Fishing, Brian

GORDO BANKS PANGAS
January 18, 2026

We continue to see good action throughout the fishing grounds closer to shore, such as La Fortuna, 25, Cardon, and Punta Gorda. Tuna numbers are down compared to previous weeks, though most boats were able to land a handful on most days. Reports indicated that these tuna were more active later in the morning around 10-11 am. Most of these tuna are on the smaller side, 5 to 8 pounds. Best action has been on live sardines, though live caballito and strips of squid have also worked well. We are also seeing nice size dorado in the same area while slow trolling sardines and caballito, or fast trolling lures, feathers and rigged ballyhoo. Only a couple of small wahoo were reported this week.

Good production also came from both Gordos. We are seeing medium size tuna (40 to 80 pounders) at the Inner Gordo. Most of these tuna came on sardines and strips of squid, a few of them on live caballito. Numbers are not great, but there is a chance of hooking into a couple of nice fish if you put in the time.

Most boats that fished the Outer Gordo trolled live bulito and skipjacks. While slow trolling these bigger baits, we had a good mix of striped and blue marlin, dorado, and tuna. Tuna in the 60 to 150 pounds preferred the bigger live baits at the Outer Gordo. This Sunday, one of the pangas landed 6 tuna, one of them 146 pounds, another 87 pounds, and the other four in the 45-to-55-pound range. They also caught one 25 pound dorado. Not a lot of boats fished the Gordo this weekend as most boats decided to fish closer to shore due to the wind.

Not a lot of bottom action to report at this time. Some boats have landed some small snapper, grouper, and amberjack on the jig while drifting bait for tuna.

Good Fishing, Brian

GORDO BANKS PANGAS
January 11th, 2026

Wind played a big factor for most part of the week. Hard to trust the forecast as some days were expected to be rough and ended up being calm, and vice versa. We did have some wind, predominately from the North, though we were able to fish closer to shore throughout La Fortuna, Cardon, and Punta Gorda without a problem. Heading towards the Gordo, more specifically Outer Gordo, was a challenge some days as swells were big.

The local wahoo tournament was this Sunday. This tournament was supposed to be back in November of last year but had to be moved as storms in October affected the tournament schedule for the year. Slow wahoo activity, only 3 wahoo came to the scales (between 30 teams). The biggest wahoo came in at 42 pounds; the other two were significantly smaller. Most boats entered dorado jackpots as it was the best chance to take some good money. Most boats within the tournament landed a few dorado, making it very interesting. We saw many dorado in the 24-to-35-pound range, though the biggest on came in at 39 pounds.

The bigger 25 to 35 pounds dorado are coming from Inner and Outer Gordo while slow trolling live bulito or small skipjacks. These dorado are in the same area where the big tuna have been hooked. Not many big tuna came in this week, though we did hear reports that many guys lost them after long fights. We saw a handful of blue marlin, most of them in the 150-to-280-pound range, as well as some striped marlin and 1 small black marlin (around 150 pounds). This Sunday, one of the boats that landed a blue marlin reported losing a black marlin in the 400-500 pound range.

Closer to shore, throughout the areas of Punta Gorda, Cardon, and La Fortuna, we continue to see good yellowfin tuna and dorado action. Most boats that focused on tuna were able to catch their limits. Most of these tuna are averaging 5 to 8 pounds, with an occasional 30-40 pounder in the mix. For bait, we used live sardines, caballitos, and strips of squid. Sardines, as usual, worked best. We had a good sardine supply throughout Secrets and Marriot Hotel shoreline. Some days, captains reported getting full tanks of sardines (good size too!) for the regular $30 rate (reminded them of the old days). Towards the end of the week, we notice the supply started to dip again.

Good Fishing, Brian