FLY FISHING FOR BLACK SKIPJACK AT ABOUT 4 CASTS PER HOOKUP

May 14, 2005, Ed Kunze, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Report:

This is turning out to be one of our slowest months of May ever for fishing at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. The 82-degree blue fishing water is still just 5 to 6 miles off the beach, and the 80 degree clean water is all along the inshore area. But, the game fish still have not shown up at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. We are only averaging about 1 sailfish per boat, and no tuna, and no dorado.

The blue marlin fishing at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo has been doing very well however. We are only averaging about a total of 10 to 12 sportfishing boats a day going out. At least 3 or 4 of those boats are fishing inshore, with the rest in the blue water. Of those in the blue water, we are getting at least 3 to 4 hooked blue marlin a day, and landing one. One of the reasons the catch ratio is low, is because the big marlin are often taking the baits on the sailfish gear, and are spooling the reel.

I did have a great day on the water with fly fishing client Josh Vincent from Michigan. We targeted the black skipjack tuna inshore with a 9-WT rod. Casting to the schools of breaking fish, Josh was averaging a fish for every 4 casts.

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