Puerto Vallarta Fishing Report: December 2006

Greetings from Puerto Vallarta, up until now we've had a very exciting month at both of my favorite spots, El Banco and Corbetena, which both form part of an under water mountain range about 35 miles off of our coast. However the monster tuna season, which most people had been anticipating since October just started last week. It went from a few good hook-ups per week to a consistent 8 to 10 hook-ups every day (100 - 300lbs). Finally the tuna are feeding, and everything seems to be getting back to normal. Its no secret that a lot of big yellow fin tuna like to spend the winter in Puerto Vallarta and every strike is a possible record, needless to say we're having a lot of fun.

I first noticed an abundance of big tuna in late October but they seemed to be feeding a little different than they have in previous years, which most people believe is the result of "El Nino". They were feeding on small crabs and had little or no interest in our live skipjack. Obviously we tried to change and adapt to the way the fish were feeding, and we did defiantly have some success, but unfortunately the bite we were all anticipating, which produces many days with 10 or more yellow fin tuna weighing 200lbs or more just started this week.

As I'm sure you've figured out by reading up until this point, this time of the year is normally tuna time in Puerto Vallarta. However I think in previous years we've been so lost in all the tuna action that most fishermen, including myself have over looked the fact that there are also a lot of big blue marlin, sails, dorado (mahi mahi), snapper, and a variety of other species this time of year. Even if the tuna aren't biting there is still a lot to look forward to. There are still a lot of marlin and sails out there, I've personally had some huge blue marlin, quite a few sails, some big dorado, lots of snapper, some nice pargos, and I've seen other boats bring in plenty of nice fish.

Last three weeks catch included:

I've personally kept my approach quite versatile, fishing with live skipjack, caballitos, and bullet tuna, only using a kite and helium balloon when its needed seems to be a rig that attracts them all, marlin, tuna, dorado, and sails. We've also been catching red snappers on the drift over the high spots.

All in toll I think a lot of people were expecting a little more action from the tuna, however the past few months have been action packed. We seem to be on one species or an other day in and day out, and we've had quite a few big fish. Personally, I'm having a great time, two consecutive days of possible world record marlin, and my team and I walked away with first place in two of the three international tuna tournaments here in Puerto Vallarta. We won the "Hunt for Giants" tuna tournament with a fish weighing in at 290lbs, and we also won the 8th annual "Hook the Cure" charity event with a 112 lbs. tuna.

Good luck, Good Fishing, and look forward to seeing you in Puerto Vallarta

Capt. Juan Pablo Moll
sportfishing.com.mx