CHARTER FISHING BOATS AVERAGING 2 OR 3 SAILFISH RELEASES PER DAY

Nov. 17, 2006, Ed Kunze, Baja On The Fly, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico:

The 82-degree blue fishing water at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo has been fluctuating with the current all week. On Friday, the blue water was at 8 miles out, but it has also been as close as 1 mile, and as far out as 10 miles off the point at Zihuatanejo Bay.

Most Ixtapa fishing offshore boats are raising 4 or 5 sailfish a day, and hooking 2 or 3 of them.

Angler Russ Kitchener of Indianapolis, fishing with Capt. Adan on the panga Gitana II, had the best fishing day locally, with 4 sailfish releases.

Capt. Adan's brother Capt. Santiago on the charter panga Gitana I had a decent fishing day with angler Myles Mcfarr.

They first released a sailfish on conventional gear for Myle's wife, and then Myles released two sailfish on the fly fishing tackle. Then the real excitement kicked in when a nice blue marlin was teased in and ate the fly offering. The big blue marlin stayed hooked for about 5 minutes, running out a million miles of backing, and then came unbuttoned.

Capt. Margarito, on the Ixtapa charter boat Gaby made the 40 mile run south of Zihuatanejo to Puerto Vicente Guerrero and had a great fishing day with 3 sailfish and a nice 350 pound blue marlin.

In daily Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing about 1 out of every 3 boats is also adding a nice dorado to the count, with a 15 to 20 pound average.

Lots of jack crevalle are showing, as are tons of black skipjack tuna.

Fly fishing anglers are actually getting weary of catching 30 to 50 of these hard fighting fish species a day.

Roosterfish are still scattered in the Ixtapa fishing area. Late season rains have the inshore waters a bit discolored and each Ixtapa sportfishing boat is only averaging 1 or 2 roosterfish per day.

Ixtapa water temperatures are 74 to 82 degrees; Air temperatures 68 to 80 degrees; 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.