BILLFISH AND DORADO HEAD OFFSHORE SPORTFISHING LINEUP

Jan. 7, 2006, Ed Kunze, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico Sportfishing Report:

The 82-degree blue fishing water is just outside Zihuatanejo Bay and the fishing has been excellent.

Most of the offshore sportfishing action at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo is coming from the 12 to 15 mile mark on a 200-degree heading. We are getting lots of sailfish, dorado (also mahi-mahi or dolphinfish), blue marlin, and striped marlin. Actually, the striped marlin are somewhat unique for this area, but this last week has seen a bunch of them taken.

Adolpho, on the sportfishing panga Dos Hermanos, had a great week for his clients. Fishing offshore, he had a 1 day total of 8 sailfish releases. He then took the 45 mile run South to Papanoa and got 4 roosterfish and 15 large jack crevalle. Yesterday he fished 35 miles North and got 4 roosters and 21 large jacks.

Rick Erdman and his wife, annual clients on the panga Gitana, fished three days with Santiago. They released 10 sailfish and caught an additional 3 striped marlin.

A 70 year old client, Mr. Clevland from Chicago, fished yesterday with Santiago. They were back at the dock before 12:00. The client was worn out with 4 sailfish and 1 striped marlin.

Santiago's biggest day was today. Fishing with Kevin Evans and Gary Robison of Las vegas, they released 8 sailfish. When you include client Buck Roepke's 4 sailfish and a large dorado, Santiago released 26 sailfish this week.

John Ring of Lodi, California, fished with me one day, tagging and releasing his first sailfish on the fly. His 11 year old son David also released his first sailfish when we did a bait and switch drop back using a 20 pound spinning outfit with a circle hook. David fought the fish alone the entire 30 minutes it took to get the sailfish to the boat for a photo and release.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo dorado are averaging about 25 to 30 pounds, and 1 to a boat per day. The sportfishing fleet is averaging about 2 to 3 blue marlin a day.

(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.