BLUE SPORTFISHING WATER COMES RIGHT TO THE BEACH

Oct. 10, 2004, Ed Kunze, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing:

The 80-degree blue water is on the beach at Itapa-Zihuatanejo, creating one of the most spectacular color combinations you have ever seen. When the waves crash up on the rocks, creating a foaming inferno, the cobalt blue water starts showing through as the wave subsides. The stark white and iridescent blue contrast is incredible.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo has been getting some evening rain storms however, silting up the shoreline in several areas. This has taken away some of the beauty, and slowed the inshore fishing a little.

We just finished our roosterfish fly fishing tournament, called "Jacks Or Better". Each boat in the tournament had at least one story to tell where a roosterfish, of world record breaking size, grabbed the teaser bait and would not let go. I fought an estimated 70 pound rooster for over five minutes on the hookless teaser, because it had taken a whole 2 pound bonito completely inside its mouth, and would not let go.

The theory is to keep the live bait away from the fish, and "tease" the rooster closer to the boat, to where the fly caster can make a cast to the aggravated fish. When a huge rooster blind sides the hookless bait, and takes it whole, It makes for a tough situation for the fly caster.

Itapa-Zihuatanejo sailfish action has been picking up also. Most boats are averaging 2 to 3 fish a day. Some tuna are showing in isolated locations, but when they are located, they are giving the angler plenty of action. These smaller tuna are averaging about 20 pounds.

(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.