SEVERAL BLUE MARLIN CAUGHT DURING THE WEEK

July 23, 2005, Ed Kunze, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Report:

The 80-degree blue water is still only a few miles off the beach, but the full moon phase has slowed the sailfish fishing a bit at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. Sportfishing boats are each averaging only 1 to 2 sailfish a day.

On the high note, several blue marlin were taken this week. I believe the marlin are here because there has been a large influx of skipjack tuna working the area. These 4 to 10 pound hard fighting members of the tuna family are not considered good table fare, but are excellent game on a fly rod, and very much like candy to a large marlin. All the marlin are being taken in an area 10 to 12 miles out, and on a 180-degree heading.

One notable Ixtapa Zihuatanejo marlin catch was made by Butch Cooley while fishing with Santiago and Adan on the panga Gitana II. Butch set the hook on the large blue while trolling a live bonito. The marlin apparently had the bonito crosswise in its mouth, restricting its ability to get ample water flow to breathe, allowing Butch to get the estimated 400 pound blue to the boat in 15 minutes. The fish was released in excellent condition.

Due to a rain storm, we Ixtapa Zihuatanejo have one day of port closure early in the week, but the rain has all been in the late evenings since. The days have been perfect weather.

The roosterfish action has been outstanding, but the earlier rains have caused large outflows from the rivers, causing the inshore areas near Ixtapa Zihuatanejo to have mostly stained water. To find clean water, Adolpho on the panga Dos Hermanos has been running 45 miles to the south. On one day he picked up 12 roosters, and all of them from 35 to 50 pounds. The heavy rains of early in the week have abated, and the inshore waters are clearing up now.

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