March 14, 2021

We are still seeing light crowds of tourists, though people do seem to now be showing more interest in possibly making travel plans during the coming spring season. Weather has been in transition, though another cold front swept through over the weekend, with strong gusting winds from the north. Ocean temperatures are in the 68 to 70 degree range. Water clarity is spotty greenish, starting to clear up some around the Iman Bank, though this recent cold front did not help stabilize conditions. This entire winter season it seems we have dealt with more wind than usual. Typically with the arrival of spring time we also see progressively warmer and calmer conditions.

Anglers were using some caballito and various sardina species for bait, also a lot of the action off the bottom structure has come on yo-yo jigs. Charter fleets have been fishing areas from Chileno to the Iman Bank and even as far north as Vinorama when weather allowed. With the cooler conditions the most productive action was found down over rocky high spots, up to 200 ft. deep.  There was a wide variety of quality eating species found, though none of them in great numbers, except for the bonito. Highlights were some nice grouper, amberjack, red snapper and an occasional yellowtail.

Inshore there was good sierra action found near Chileno, but also a lot of boat pressure, as this was one of the main options going, especially on windy days, sierra were of nice size, a handful of fish to 8 lb. Chance at pompano, pargo, triggerfish and jack crevalle as well.

Early in the week some of the commercial pangeros and private boaters landed some yellowfin tuna near the Iman Ban, these were quality fish in the 70 to 90 lb. class. These guys were experimenting with the kite and helium balloon techniques, using the gummy flying fish, with the lighter boat pressure they got into some nice fish. Though as weather turned, this action faded out later in the week.

Still quite a few whales in the region, though this is normally the final month we see numbers of these mammals, before they head back on their northern migration.

Good fishing, Eric