FISHING WAS SLOW FOR ALL SPECIES LAST WEEK

March 12, 2005, Ed Kunze, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Report:

A cool water current has moved into the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing vacation area, essentially sending the sailfish south. Fishing for all species, except for some very good action on large jack crevalle, has been slow all this last week.

This annual cool water current brings in the big yellowfin tuna and marlin, but it is still a little too early to target them with consistent results. Cheva, on the panga Dos Hermanos II did catch one nice black marlin of about 250 pounds this week, as well as Pepino on the Whisky II with a smaller blue. A few other marlin were hooked, but lost.

Steve Talbot has been targeting the big jacks most of the week with Capt. Martin on the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo charter fishing panga Isamar and, releasing about 10 fish a day. The big jacks are averaging between 15 and 20 pounds, with an occasional 25 pounder. Their fish have been caught using a red and white surface popper, live bait, and trolled Rapalas.

Baja On The Fly client Matt Herman of Los Angeles fished inshore one day with Cheva, releasing 5 of the big jacks, several black skipjack tuna, and one chula, or kawakawa tuna. Here in Zihuatanejo, the kawakawa average from 3 to 5 pounds. They have a serious set of teeth, and the white meat is actually better than albacore.

(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.