GORDO BANKS PANGAS
October 25th, 2026
As we head towards the end of October, and both Bisbee’s Tournaments are now complete, we expect to see a significant increase in foot traffic at our marina. Unfortunately, like all years, these tournaments have left us with a live bait shortage. As we head into our busiest month (November), the bait guys will be scouting out different areas for live sardines as our marina and shorelines next to us are depleted. The bait guys are still able to sell bags of dead sardines that they are getting from other bait suppliers on the East Cape. We are mixing bags of dead sardines with squid to fish for tuna. It is now a good idea to purchase a bag of ballyhoo (if available) as we are finally starting to see a few wahoo.
The tuna bite was spotty all week, especially Wednesday through Friday due to extra pressure out on the fishing grounds from the tournament boats. Many of these tournament boats focused their time either catching bait or trolling them at Vinorama, San Luis, and Inner/Outer Gordos. Many of our charters focused their efforts in trying for tuna, wahoo, and bottom fish (if the current was not too strong). Boats were lucky to hook one or two tuna within a morning outing; many of them were not able to hook any. On Tuesday, one of our charters landed a 180-pound tuna at Vinorama on a dead sardine!
Many of our boats decided to cover more ground with Rapalas and Ballyhoo at Vinorama, San Luis, Iman, and 25 for a chance at a wahoo. Wahoo numbers are still not good, though we were able to see a handful every day at the fillet station. Most of the wahoo caught were on the smaller side, averaging 15-25 pounds. Water is still warm, averaging around 87-89 degrees. While trolling for wahoo, a few sailfish and striped marlin were also hooked. Surprisingly, no dorado made it to the tables this week; only 1 boat reported releasing a baby female.
A handful of big grouper and dogtooth snapper were caught this week. The big grouper came on live skipjack while fishing for tuna at Vinorama. The snapper were hooked on chunks of skipjack within different rock structures at Iman, 25, and La Fortuna. Captain Chuy and his client Darryl had a 99-pound grouper Thursday. Darryl went on to catch another 55-pound grouper on Saturday!
This weekend, multiple boats reported tuna action at the Inner Gordo on live chiwilis and strips of squid. There is plenty of bait at the Inner Gordo (chiwilis, skipjack, and bulito). This will be the hot spot for the Tuna Jackpot tournament starting on November 5th.
Big Congrats to our friend Kenny Pymm and his team “Contango Spartan’s Revenge” for winning the 2026 Bisbee’s Black and Blue Tournament with a 491-pound Blue Marlin. This fish was caught on day one and there were no other qualifying marlin throughout the 3 days of fishing! Kenny and his team took home $5.6 Million; this would be a record for the most money ever won by a single team in Bisbee’s Tournament history!
