SUPER WIDE-OPEN FLY FISHING FOR ROOSTERFISH ON THE PANGA DOS HERMANOS

Sept. 30, 2006, Ed Kunze, Baja On The Fly, Zihuatanejo, Mexico:

This past Monday was the most exciting fishing day I have ever had on the water. Baja On The Fly client, Jim Funk of Snow Valley, Idaho, fly fished with Cheva, Jesus Juarez and me on the panga Dos Hermanos. Jim and I made the 1.5 hour trip to Puerto Vicente Guerrero south of Ixtapa in my Suburban, while Cheva and Jesus made the 2.5 hour trip by water and brought the panga down from Zihuatanejo.

Ten minutes after getting on the panga and starting to fish, we were into the roosterfish.

They varied in size from 5 to an estimated 50 pounds. And there were a ton of them, with the average rooster being around 25 to 30 pounds.

In a few short hours we had teased up 32 roosterfish. The fish were so aggressive they followed the hookless surface popper to within 10 feet, to a maximum of 25 feet, from the boat. Sometimes we had a different roosterfish following the teaser on three and four consecutive casts. It was awesome fishing.

Sportfishing conditions at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo have calmed down considerably since the recent two near misses by Hurricanes John and Lane. The 82-degree blue fishing water has come back to the 12 mile mark from Zihuatanejo bay, and the sailfish action has been very good this week.

Even though there are very few people fishing at Ixtapa, the three or four boats going out each day are averaging about three sailfish each.

Blue marlin action has also come on very strong. Each charter boat is getting at least a shot at the blues, with a couple a day being landed. Most of the blue marlin are being hooked at the 20 to 25 mile mark.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo water temperature 78 to 87; Air temperature 77 to 92; thunderstorms.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Ixtapa Zihuatanejo and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Ixtapa Zihuatanejo may be found at Mexfish.com's main Ixtapa Zihuatanejo page.