Puerto Vallarta Fishing Report
Captain Juan Pablo Moll
I am happy to report that the fishing is great, especially for this time of year. Each and every charter has been action packed for the last 3 weeks, and it looks like things are just going to get better. As expected the water is a little colder and dirtier than we'd all like, but we're still finding lots of fish. Corbetena, El Banco, and all of the inshore spots have all been bountiful. And with summer just around the corner I think we've all got a lot to look forward to.
Tuna Report
Corbetena (The Rock) as usual is a pretty busy place this time of year - so many tuna! Unfortunately they seem to be feeding on small crabs which always makes it more difficult for us. We're doing everything we can but most days were only getting 2 -3 tuna hookups, we've had a few better days with up to ten, but I wouldn't count on it. Most of the tuna are weighing between 30 - 80 pounds, and we've had the most success drifting live caballitos (google eye fish). We've also had a bit of luck with Diamond, Butterfly, and Lucanus jigs.
I've also found warmer cleaner water, and lots of smaller tuna 30 to 50 miles NW of Punta Mita. It's a long haul but the days we've made it have been great, action all day long. Last week we got 47 tuna weighing 20-30 pounds in about three hours, not as big as the tuna at Corbetena but with only three guys aboard I assure you we all went home with sore arms.
Marlin and Sailfish
It's been pretty slow when it comes to fishing for billfish, we've had a couple days with a bit of action but nothing much to talk about. We've found a few stripe marlin and a couple sails, but again this is not something you should expect. However, it should get better as soon as the warmer and cleaner water moves in, which we're all hoping will be sooner rather than later. There is a lot of warm water about 80 miles off the coast, but it's too far for a day trip.
Snapper
The snapper fishing at Corbetena is great. We're all having a lot of fun. There are huge schools all over the rock. We're getting 5 - 10 fish per day all weighing between 10 - 40 pounds, and we've had a few days with 25+ hookups. Unfortunately with so many other species in the area I don't get to do as much snapper fishing as I'd like, but it sure is a good time. As a big school passes the water seems to turn an orange color just before the reels start screaming. It's amazing!
Inshore
Inshore fishing has been great at all the spots - Punta Mita, El Moro, Las Marietas, and Litibu. We had a good rooster bite for about a week just off the point; we averaged about 5 per day in just a few hours. Most fish weighing between 40 - 60 pounds, and we've had the most success with live bait, poppers, and various jigs. We've also found some amberjack, jack crevalle, and spanish macrel. Again I've spent most of my time offshore but the days we've stopped at the point on the way back in we've had a good time - lots of fish all over.
In summary things are pretty good here in Puerto Vallarta, and it's going to get better as the warmer water moves in from the west and the north. I suspect this will happen very soon and we're going to start seeing lots more tuna at El Banco, more sailfish, and more dorado everywhere. But in the mean time we have more than enough to keep us busy, like I say it has been action packed every day for the past three weeks.
Good luck, good fishing, and I hope to see you in Puerto Vallarta soon.
Captain Juan Pablo Moll
Born and raised in Puerto Vallarta, Juan Pablo comes from a long line of sports fishermen. ESPN's Sport Challenge and Marlin Magazine have made his father, Captain Juan Moll, a.k.a. Mr. Marlin, known to sports fisherman around the world, and his grandfather holds the record for the largest sailfish ever caught in the Mexican Pacific. As a member of the International Game Fish Association who fully supports the conservation efforts of the International Billfish Foundation, Juan Pablo carries on the family tradition by offering quality sports fishing charters in Puerto Vallarta.
Visit his website at Sportfishing.com.mx
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