FLY FISHING FOR TUNA AND MIXED SPECIES AT SAN AGUSTINILLO

Jan. 18, 2007, Explore Fly Fishing, Eric Weissman, San Agustinillo, Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico:

The offshore fishing story at Huatulco is tuna. Skipjack and Yellowfin tuna are present, mostly yellowfin in large schools with big fish.

Yellowfin tuna range in size from 15 to 250 pounds, with many broken lines. The tuna are rising everywhere but they are hard to catch. We have been getting them on sardine and ohoton flies, and large jigs ripped vertically from about 100 feet deep.

Sea currents are very strong at Huatulco now, warm and cold water is mixing. The currents are creating large waves and swells, as well as large flat zones on the water. Further out from San Agustinillo, the fishing water is flatter, but on the currents, the swells are 3 meters and more in some places.

In the mornings and evenings, the sea has been generally calmer, but with new moon, seas are always a bit active here. Sea temperatures are cool, in low 80's, while air temperatures are in high 80's.

In Mexico's Huatulco fishing area, we have lots off sardina inshore and offshore, and offshore they are tiny, 1 to 2 inches long maximum. The Huatulco area inshore fishery is active with jacks, ladyfish, sierra, bar jack, and others being caught off the beaches and rocks.

We have just fabulous fishing with dorado, marlin and a few sails around too. Schools of Black Skipjack are abundant as well. When the Norte wind dies down in a few days the fishing will be awesome here.