GORDO BANKS PANGAS

October 11, 2020

We are now seeing more numbers of anglers arriving, as the start of the busy fall season has officially begun. Weather patterns are ideal, mornings are starting to chill off slightly, had lows down to 73 degrees, though by mid-day temperatures are still quite warm, around 90 degrees. No storms seen developing on the forecasts now and ocean conditions have remained very calm for the most part, though we did see some wind picking up later in the day. Water temperature still averaging about 85 degrees.

Anglers are mainly relying on sardinas for bait, which are found along the beach stretches near the Marina entrance, other options have been strips of squid and ballyhoo. Larger baitfish such as chihuil and skipjack are being found on the fishing grounds, but have not been a guarantee for finding them each morning. Local fleets this past week were fishing from off of Palmilla Point, Gordo Banks, La Fortuna, Iman, and as far north as Vinorama. The all-around action was more sporadic this past week, changing daily as for where the better bite was found.

Mid-week there was good action found close to shore off of Palmilla Point for both wahoo and dorado, then as the word spread more boats showed up and this action faded out. Wahoo to up to 40 lb. were reported and dorado to 25 lb., many charters limiting out. Later in the week the action slowed and most boats were heading towards the north, yellowfin tuna were harder to find, though they were seen, getting them to bite was another story, of the tuna found, they ranged from 10 to 70 lb., though larger fish to 150 lb. were hooked into, but lost. Anglers were doing well to land one or tuna in their overall catch.

Not much bottom action, though a handful of dogtooth snapper were landed, earlier in the week mainly, also a few amberjack and grouper, but nothing consistent now going off the bottom. Billfish were limited as well, a few sailfish were landed, as well as blue and black marlin hook ups, one estimated 500 lb. black was lost after a battle from a super panga and one blue marlin or about 200 lb. landed. The problem is if the marlin strike while anglers are using lighter leaders intended for line shy tuna, they did not stand much of a chance. Big marlin are in the area, just have to put in some serious time specially targeting them.

Good fishing, Eric