
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