THE IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT SPORTFISHING FLEET

Another banner fishing week from Ixtapa-Zihuagtanejo and now, there are big schools of yellowfin tuna 20-50 lb ranges just a few miles off shore, running along with the porpoise.  Adding to the excitement is the sailfish and dorados in the mix and everything is currently eager to bite whatever is moving around in the water.  We had many reports of anglers that had more than a double handful of tuna, along with dorado and sailfish in the mix, too.  The tuna are biting good on spoons and very small plastic lures.  Then, the inshore bite has also picked up with lots of jack crevalles, Sierras and even some roosterfish showing up in the area around Salidita.  

IZ Climate:  Fabulous weather with daytime temps at 84 degrees average and nights at 70.5 degrees average.  Humidity ratio was holding at 67 %.  Bright, sunny days and just incredible fishing results for all anglers.

Sea Conditions:  Water temps in shore holding at 82 degrees and rising to 85 degrees off shore, all with superb clarity from about a mile beyond the entrance to the Bay and on outbound from there.  Tropical surface breezes flowing in from the westerly directions at 7.85 mph average with calm sea conditions everywhere and in all directions.

Best Fishing Area:  The yellowfin tuna are in big schools and holding in an area that is about 8 miles offshore and in front of Zihuatanejo Bay.  Lots of sea life, birds and porpoise going everywhich direction and there is plenty of sailfish and dorado on the edges of the tuna schools.  It has been beyond great fishing in this area and going on for the 3rd to 4th straight week.

Best Bait/Lure:  The billfish like the rigged baits but the tuna are eager on the smaller spoons and small plastic lures.

Bait Supply:  A very good live bait supply at $5.00 per dozen and plenty of freshly caught baits for rigging.  The tuna have been anxious to bite the smaller lures in the 4-5 inches and most  any of the colors were working very well.  Jacks, roosterfish and Sierra were biting baits and the smaller arificials.  

Our Local Reporter:  Captain Temo Verboonen, owner of the Secuestro de Amor and Macho Banana, 25' Super Panga sportfishers.  One can almost feel the excitement with the fishing the way it has been lately.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________