WAHOO AND MIXED SPECIES CAUGHT DURING SPORTFISHING TRIP

Aug. 4, 2006, Rudy Gonzalez, Slow fishing at Puerto Vallarta, but a wahoo saves the day:

I fished Puerto Vallarta on July 29-31, 2006, and of course when I get there the bite has turned off and is pretty scratchy.

On the first fishing day I made the mistake of going on a budget and got on a fishing party boat. We left late. It was a slow boat, and I didn't realize the run was 19.8 miles. We were only able to reach Isla Marieta and fish El Morro.

We slow trolled dead caballito for 6 large needlefish. I hooked 4 of them and handed my rod over to the girls and let them have fun.

So I learned my lesson and booked a twin engine panga scheduled early and targeting Roca Corbeteña. It was a bit pricey for myself but I wanted to try that area.

The boat was just what I expected, fast and with a serious crew. We arrived before 9 a.m. and conditions were nearly perfect except for the lack of fish: clean blue water, nice weed lines, and floating debris in the surrounding area. We slow trolled live caballitos and picked up a 15-pound yellowtail, 1 25-30 pound pargo, had a triple hookup for toros that pinned all 3 of us to the rail with rods bent and drags singing. They were tough fish at around 25 pounds each.

Then the fishing dried up til about 2 p.m. when the captain decided to go back to the rock and drag some lures. Twenty minutes later a 15 pound wahoo hit a small purple tuna feather. That made my day, for wahoo was one fish I hadn't caught yet and it was at the top my list. I was really surprised to see it come to color. At 3:30 p.m. we hauled butt back to the Puerto Vallarta marina.

(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.