IMPROVING SAILFISH ACTION ABOUT 7 MILES OUT

Dec. 23, 2005, Ed Kunze, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Sportfishing Report:

With just a short 7 mile ride out to the blue water, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing action for sailfish is steadily picking up as we come out of the full moon cycle. Most of the best fishing is straight out of Zihuatanejo Bay on a 200 degree heading, and at 15 miles.

The Ixtapa Zihuatanejo sportfishing fleet is averaging about 3 sailfish a day per boat on conventional gear, and about two very nice dorado. The dorado have been a great late addition to the action this week, and are averaging a respectable 25 to 35 pounds.

Some Ixtapa Zihuatanejo charter fishing boats are getting a bit luckier than the average however.

Captain Maragarito, on the small cruiser Gaby, fished two days out of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo and released 10 sailfish. He also got 5 nice dorado.

Santiago, on the charter panga Gitana, released 5 sailfish with Philippe of Denmark and averaged 3 released fish per day the rest of the week.

I guided fly fishing client Terrence Tucker of New Jersey for some inshore action. The 14 to 18 pound jacks were really slamming the hookless popper teaser, but he was snakebit and could not get one on the fly. He ended up hooking two very nice dorado of about 25 pounds, and only 150 yards off the beach. We fished with Arturo on the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo charter panga Janeth.

Another guided fly fishing day with Baja On The Fly client John Oberton of Dana Point, California ended up with one sailfish and one 30 pound dorado. We fished with Captain Cali on the cruiser Vamonos.

(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.