GORDO BANKS PANGAS
June 8^th, 2025

This was a busy week for us as most schools are out for summer break. Usually, the first week of June is crowded and then it slows down significantly throughout the month of June all the way through September. This time of year, we must keep a close eye on storm development in the Pacific.

Most of our charters focused inshore this week as we have had a hot Roosterfish bite throughout our shorelines.  Bait guys have been able to net plenty of caballito and mullet daily. The hot areas for Roosterfish continue to be throughout the Hotel Zone (Trailer Park), La Bocana, Secrets and Marriot Hotels. You will find plenty of Roosters throughout this area averaging 10-20 pounds. If you head towards La Laguna, Zacaton, and San Luis (inshore), there is a better chance at landing a bigger Rooster. This week, 8 Roosters were reported over 45-50 pounds and many of them averaging 20-30 pounds in this area. While trolling live bait for these Roosters, a few boats were also able to hook into some big Jacks.

Most of the boats fishing inshore, also tried offshore after a few hours of catching and releasing Roosterfish in the early morning. These boats headed straight offshore, pretty much a direct shot from our marina. They concentrated in the surrounding areas of the 95 and 1150 Banks. Reports indicated that the best action came in 74 to 77 degree water. These boats were specifically targeting small yellowfin tuna on small Rapalas and lures. On most days, the run out to these areas was around 18-22 miles from our marina. Even though the numbers were not great, we did see a handful of small yellowfin every day at the fillet table. These tuna were averaging 15-30 pounds. While trolling for tuna, we also saw a handful of nice size dorado and wahoo. Many of these dorado were hitting the X-Raps and Nomads. Most of the wahoo came on X-Raps, Nomad DTXs, and rigged ballyhoo. Not many marlin were reported this week. Most boats reported seeing many of them, though they wouldn’t seem to be interested in the lures, ballyhoo, or live bait.

Many tuna in the 50-100 pound range came to the fillet tables this week, all from chasing porpoise schools anywhere from 35 to 50 miles out. Since these tuna are bigger, as compared to previous weeks, a lot more private boats are doing the long run.

Not much bottom action was reported this week. We did have a few boat try many of our go-to bottom reefs in San Luis, Vinorama, La Fortuna, and Cardon, though many of them came in empty handed. We only had 2 amberjack and 1 grouper this week.

Good Fishing, Brian

GORDO BANKS PANGAS
June 1st, 2025

Our port was closed Friday at 2:00 pm due to the Tropical Storm Alvin. Throughout our area, there was not much going on, light winds and rain throughout most of Saturday. We are expecting the port to be reopened later this Sunday. We plan to be back on the water tomorrow morning as none of our pangas were taken out of the water.

We had decent action throughout our week. The main highlight was a good striped marlin bite throughout most of our high spots, including areas not too far offshore. Many of the boats that specifically targeted marlin, were able to land a couple, lost a few, and spotted many of them free jumping or on the surface. Most of our boats focused on the areas of the inner and outer Gordo. On Friday, one boat reported spotting 15 to 20 marlin on the surface within the first hour of fishing at the Outer Gordo. They caught 3 marlin in a couple hours and then decided to come back inshore and cover the grounds of Iman and 25. They landed one nice wahoo and one dorado on rigged ballyhoo. This has mostly been the gameplan for most pangas; target marlin and then look for a wahoo or dorado, or vice versa.

Most of the wahoo caught throughout the areas of Vinorama, San Luis, Iman, and 25 have been on the smaller side, averaging 15 to 25 pounds. The bigger ones seem to prefer the surrounding areas of both Gordos and the 1150 Bank. On Thursday and Friday, many boats also caught small yellowfin at the Iner and Outer Gordos while trolling small Rapalas and lures. We also saw more dorado this week in the mix, nothing big to account for at this time; mostly 8 to 15 pounders; however, this is a great sign. On Friday, one panga had 4 yellowfin and 3 dorado, while losing a few other nice fish. One other boat reported 4 small yellowfin on small Rapalas at Vinorama and San Luis.

Bottom action was very slow this week. We did see a couple of amberjack and grouper, though most boats did not target the bottom. Roosterfish action throughout our shorelines continues to be productive as long as there are live caballitos and mullet. Live bait continues to be limited most mornings.

Good Fishing, Brian

GORDO BANKS PANGAS
May 25th, 2025

Not many boats were able to get in on the action this week, though the boats that did were able to land a quality size fish.

Throughout most of the week, the panga fleet focused offshore looking for clean blue water in the hunt for big wahoo and marlin. The best action came throughout the surrounding areas of the inner and outer Gordos, and the 1150 Bank. These strikes came on rigged ballyhoo, Nomad DTXs, X-Raps, and marlin lures. A few of the boats that caught wahoo reported double hook ups late in the morning- midday. We continue to only see big wahoo offshore. The smallest wahoo from trolling offshore was 45 pounds. Most of these wahoo were averaging 50-60 pounds. The biggest wahoo this week were 87 and 75 pounds. The Foster family (Spencer and Shane) landed another big wahoo this week. They came in with the 75-pound wahoo and another 54 pounder that came on a double hookup at around 12:30 when they were getting ready to head back in. While trolling for wahoo, we also had a handful of dorado and marlin in the mix. On Friday, one of our pangas hooked a striped marlin later in the day and while reeling it in, a 50-pound wahoo came up to the boat to check it out; They were able to hook and land this fish on a jig while reeling in the marlin. Talk about good luck.

This weekend, many boats reported a wahoo bite closer inshore, throughout San Luis, Vinorama, Imán and 25. These wahoo were smaller as most of them were 15-20 pounders. We did see a few nicer ones closer to shore as well; one of the boats landed a 54 pounder at 25. This Sunday, one panga landed 4 wahoo and one 80-pound tuna (on a jig) throughout the areas of Vinorama to 25. This was the only big tuna reported this week. Two smaller 20-25-pound tuna were also caught on a jig at Iman.

Not much else to report on the yellowfin bite. The private boats continue to find porpoise schools 40-45 miles out with good tuna action. One of our pangas decided to make the long run earlier in the week. They found a good-sized school later in the day and were able to land 9 yellowfin, 3 of them around 50-60 pounds, and the rest footballs. Very long run for these smaller pangas.

Bottom action continues to be slow. Many boats specifically tried to target bottom species, though came in empty handed some days. Other boats were lucky to catch one or two quality fish (grouper, snapper or amberjack). We were surprised to see one yellowtail on a jig this Sunday.

Closer to shore, we continue to see great Roosterfish action. Live bait has been inconsistent since the year started. We are seeing live caballito and mullet most mornings, though this can be limited most days. 

Good Fishing, Brian