Z Fish Report (12/31/15)

Blake Johnson, fishing with Noe on the panga Porpy, with a huge saifish

A good New Year to Everybody! And like last week…and all the following weeks, remember the reason you are working hard all year long is so you can have a great year, and preferably in a hammock under a palm thatch palapa in the tropics, after a great day of fishing.

Offshore. The expected sailfish action is finally picking up, especially after the full moon. Two to three sailfish a day is the average. Cheva, on the panga Dos Hermanos II released 4 4 today (Thursday). Adolfo and Jesus each released 3. The sailfish action is around the 10 mile mark.   

The Inshore action is still very good for roosters and jack crevalle.

On Tuesday Cheva, on the panga Dos Hermanos II, got 2 roosters, 5 large jack crevalle, and about 20 black skipjack tuna.

Ed Kunze                                                                         

 (Director of the Roosterfish Foundation, IGFA Representative)

A bit of a rant…How is it people make reservations for their flights and hotel months in advance, yet wait only until there is only a few weeks left to make reservations for fishing? And I am continually getting people wanting to get the best captains (and they name them) a week or less in advance. It simply is not going to happen.

Yet on the other side of the coin, other people look for the cheapest captain, thinking they will get the same service, fish the same areas, and have the same quality gear as the more expensive captains. They go to the pier and book direct with a captain they do not know, or book off a coyote off the beach. There is a reason the great day on the water did not develop as expected. I see only frustration in these situations.

Keith Paul said it right when I was lamenting my problems to him this last week about getting people good boats, but wanting reduced prices, which takes away the ability for the captain to buy good gear, a reliable motor, and paint for the panga. But most of all, if the captain has fuel money to go 14 miles out and back, but the fish are at 20 miles, both the client and the captain go home frustrated. And believe me; the captain knows the areas the fish are in. This is exactly what happens when you book a panga from a coyote on the beach or a travel agency in the hotel. They actually make more money from the commission, than the captain does working his tail off all day.   This is was he sent to me…and they are words of wisdom: People spend thousands of dollars on a vacation to Mexico (doesn't much matter the destination) and then try to save 25-50 bucks on a fishing trip by going out with some shady character that does not have their (or the fish he makes his living from) best interests at heart?
I have just never understood this. If it is you’re once in a year, five year, ten year, salt water experience, wouldn't you want the best thing going.

Please remember, if you have to settle for one of the lesser known pangas, if they kill a billfish, NO TIP.

The club used for killing a fish is usually nearby for the deckhand to easily grab it after leadering a fish. This is common sense for a tuna or dorado, which can disrupt things big time if brought into the boat alive and kicking well. But, for marlin and sailfish, ust pick up the club and stick in the toilet of the panga (or trash can on a cruiser) . There will be plenty of time if a tuna or dorado are caught to retrieve it. By putting it in the toilet, you get your message across big time.