FULL MOON KNOCKS SAILFISH CATCHES DOWN TO 1 OR 2 PER DAY

Nov. 18, 2005, Ed Kunze, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Fishing Report:

The 84 degree blue fishing water is only about 8 miles off the beach at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. The full moon is affecting the sailfish bite right now, with only an average of 1 or 2 sailfish per boat per day.

However, Cheva and Adolpho located a concentration of sailfish yesterday, Thursday, because they certainly did better than the average. Cheva, on the panga Dos Hermanos II, got 5 sails, and Adolpho, on the panga Dos Hermanos got four. They were fishing an area 17 miles off the lighthouse.

Blue marlin have really been the story at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. Our best fishing day, Wednesday, was 8 blue marlin for the fleet, with Alfredo on the Esturion getting two. The Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fleet of about 15 boats fishing the blue water, is averaging between 2 and 3 caught marlin a day.

With the inshore temperatures about 80 degrees, the jack crevalle and roosterfish action is holding steady. The jack fishing has been incredible for a couple of weeks now.

Adolpho fished for roosters for three days this week and released 6, but he also released 31 of the big jacks. Plus, for every boat targeting them, the sierras have also been providing us with limits all around. The roosterfish are averaging about 35 to 40 pounds, the jacks between 8 and 16 pounds, and the sierras are between 4 and 6 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.