NEW MOON PHASE BRINGS BETTER ACTION FOR LOCAL FISHING BOATS

Nov. 5, 2005, Ed Kunze, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Report:

As expected, with the new moon phase and the water cleaning up, the offshore fishing at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo is improving. Friday was the best fishing day of the week for the blue water. However, it is still below the seasonal average.

A few of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo sportfishing boats released two or three sailfish yesterday, and others maintained an average of one. There are also several 20-pound class dorado coming to the dock. The fishing is certainly is not wide open, but about one nice dorado per two boats average.

A few blue marlin have also showed in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fish counts this week, with an average of one a day for the fleet, with about 15 boats a day fishing the blue water.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo inshore fishing has picked up dramatically. Adolpho, on the panga “Dos Hermanos,” is averaging three roosters and 10 to 15 jack crevalle a day on conventional gear.

I guided Baja on the Fly clients Tom and Elisabeth Hart of Houston yesterday to sample the great jack action using the flyrods. Fishing with Felipe on the panga “Yellowfin,” we got into acres of breaking jacks. They were everywhere! We literally had hundreds breaking the water only 20 feet from the boat. It sounded like a hard rain storm. The jacks were in individual schools of 8 to 10 pounds, up to schools of about 18 to 20 pounds. Needless to say, we caught a few fish.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo water temperature 80-84; Air temperature 78-87; Calm conditions, clear.

(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.