GORDO BANKS PANGAS
May 18th, 2025

Morning temperatures have taken a turn as we start to feel more heat and humidity. Mornings are averaging low 70s with hot sunny days in the mid 80s.

The highlight this week was a good wahoo bite offshore. Best action came throughout the surrounding areas of the 1150 Bank. Some boats also had success covering the grounds in between both Gordos and a few miles out from the outer Gordo. Most of these wahoo are big, averaging 50-60 pounds. The biggest one caught this week was an 83 pounder by Spencer Foster and Captain Marcelo. This big fish came on a Nomad DTX in between the outer and inner Gordo. This weekend, over 20 big wahoo were reported in between the panga area. These strikes came on rigged ballyhoo, marlin lures, X Raps, Nomad DTXs, and marlin lures. Many reports confirmed that these wahoo have been more active in the 78–80-degree clear blue water.

While looking for these wahoo, some boats also landed a handful of big dorado and some striped marlin. Most boats reported seeing many marlin, though they weren’t too interested in checking out our baits.

A few lucky boats also found porpoise schools a few miles out from the outer Gordo this week, with great yellowfin action. Most of the tuna that are hanging with these porpoise schools are football size, with some 30-40 pounders in the mix. One 100-pound tuna was caught earlier this week at Vinorama on a live caballito. This was the only big tuna reported this week.

Bottom action was slower this week. There were a few boats that landed some grouper, amberjack, and red snapper earlier in the week, though they had to work the jig hard throughout many rock structures. These boats found best action at Vinorama and San Luis early in the morning. Some boats that focused on the bottom ended up striking out as some days were better than others.

Roosterfish action was great this week. Most of these Roosters were on the smaller side (5-10 pounds), though we did see some bigger ones in the 20-25 pound range on the bigger caballitos. Best Rooster action came throughout the shorelines of Secret’s Hotel, The Marriott, La Bocana, and Trailer Park. This Saturday, one boat reported landing and releasing 15-20 Roosters in the first couple of hours of the morning. Some boats also caught some snapper on small mullet, caballito, and rápalas at La Bocana. 

The bait guys continue to net caballito and mullet in the mornings; however, supply can be limited most days. Still no luck on live sardines.

Good Fishing, Brian

GORDO BANKS PANGAS
May 11th, 2025

Happy Mother’s Day!

This week, we did see more bottom action than the previous. Best action came from Vinorama and San Luis; Imán was decent as well some days. The fleet was able to land some red snapper, amberjack, white bonita and grouper on jigs and live caballitos. Most of the groupers came on live caballito. Bottom action, per usual, was best earlier in the mornings. This Sunday, we had a massive 64-pound dog tooth snapper on a jig. A 60-pound tuna was also landed earlier this week on a jig. This was the only tuna reported throughout the week by the panga fleet.

We continue to see a handful of dorado almost every day within the same areas of Vinorama to La Fortuna. These dorado have been hooked on live caballito, ballyhoo, lures, and feathers. A couple of wahoo were landed this same way as well.

Many boats reported huge schools of jacks throughout most of our high spots, even while jigging 140-170 ft of water. Even though they are not good eating, these 20–30-pound jacks put up a great fight for our clients, especially on lighter gear.

We had some good striped marlin action this week as well. Most of the boats that tried for Marlin headed towards the 1150 bank and surrounding areas. They are using lures and ballyhoo for the most part. This weekend, one of the boats landed 2 big wahoo (45-50 pounds) and one dorado while looking for Marlin. Another boat did not have any luck on wahoo or dorado offshore, but did catch and release 3 marlin.

Roosterfish action throughout our shorelines continues to be productive. While slow trolling live caballitos and mullet, there is a chance of also hooking snapper and big Jacks.

Good Fishing, Brian

GORDO BANKS PANGAS
May 4th, 2025

Not many of the bigger tuna were reported this week at Vinorama and San Luis. We did see a couple throughout the week, but the bite was very slow and spotty for most boats. This Saturday, one of our captains landed 2 yellowfin, one came in at 78 pounds and the other at 112 pounds. The smaller one was hooked on a jig and the bigger one on a live caballito. 10 other boats were trying for tuna in the same area and had no hook ups. Talk about being at the right spot at the right time!

The small footballs are still anywhere from 35-50 miles out on most days. Most of the boats doing the long run have been successful, catching their limits quickly. While chasing tuna with the porpoise schools, a handful of big wahoo have also been landed by surprise.

Two big 30–35-pound dorado were caught this week a few miles offshore from Palmilla Point on small lures. A few other big dorado and wahoo were reported 10-15 miles offshore while looking for marlin on lures and rigged ballyhoo. Some of these wahoo were in the 60–70-pound range. A few smaller wahoo were also reported while trolling XRaps/Nomads, and rigged ballyhoo covering the grounds of San Luis, Vinorama, and Iman. Some dorado were reported in these grounds as well slow trolling live caballitos or fast trolling ballyhoo and lures.

Bottom action continues to be slow and spotty on most days. Throughout the week, we had 4-5 amberjack and 5 decent sized groupers. These boats reported jigging for most part of the day and only having a couple hits. A handful of red snapper were also caught on the jigs earlier in the morning.

Throughout our shorelines, we continue to see bigger Roosterfish come in. We are slow trolling live caballitos and mullet. Most of these Roosters are averaging 15-25 pounds, though we are seeing some in the 40-50 pound range already. We are also seeing some big jacks and some Sierra while trolling for Roosters. Best action seems to be coming from San Luis (inshore), Zacatón, and La Laguna. We are still not seeing live sardines in the mornings, though we are seeing live caballitos and mullets more consistently.

The most consistent bite has been the white Bonitas at Vinorama and San Luis. While drifting bait for tuna, we have been able to land them while jigging. These Bonita help secure dinner as there is a big chance of striking out with these tuna. 

Good Fishing, Brian