FISHING BOATS FIND DECEMBER WATER TEMPERATURES AS WARM AS 84.5 DEGREES

Dec. 11, 2004, Capt. Josh Temple, Prime Time, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Fishing Report:

Puerto Vallarta water temperatures have warmed a bit to 81.4 degrees over the last week. We did see one day push to 84.5 degrees. The water color has varied between blue, blue/green, green, and purple, so every day right now brings something different as currents and winds push things around a little faster than normal. Winds were usually from the northwest and much stronger than normal. That makes things a little bouncy but it's good for the tuna.

The predominant Puerto Vallarta catch this week has been tuna, dorado, and a nice push of marlin has been around on the days with cleaner water, which has been great for some nice big fish up to 600 pounds.

Denise Petrella landed her first marlin yesterday, a nice black marlin caught on live bait with a circle hook which was released.

Giant yellowfin tuna have swarmed over one of the high spots again this week after a short hiatus during the week after the full moon. Big tuna in the 300 pound class have been busting and tearing up bait schools which in itself is worth the price of admission. What a sight to see those fish tearing up baits...pretty incredible.

Productive baits continue to be caballito and skipjack and both have been fairly easy to find if you know where to look. Stomach contents have revealed squid and the first paper nautilus of the season, so things should get very interesting around here in the next few weeks when those things show up in numbers.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Puerto Vallarta and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Puerto Vallarta may be found at Mexfish.com's main Puerto Vallarta page.