Z Fish Report (1/14/16)

If Charlie was holding a salmon, it would be a perfect day off the Oregon Coast.
Note the tag

What crazy things this powerful El Niño is doing to us. After the anomaly of dirty inshore water early last week, we had rain for 3 days this week. And, not just the overcast drizzle type: With 5 inches recorded here at my house, the rain was not only at night, like the usual June, July, or August rain, but it was also in the daytime. Rain in January? I moved here in 1998, and have never seen rain in January. This was a first for me.

Charlie Barker on the panga  Cobra

 1998 was the last “large” El Niño we have had. But, being new to the area, I was not dialed into what a normal year or historical years were like. I am well dialed in now. Read on to learn the strange changes this new El Niño current is bringing us this week.. 

Phil Barker - panga Cobra

Offshore.. The two weeks after the new moon in January are historically the absolute two best weeks of the year for sailfish. And, the anglers know it, because they are here in droves. The municipal pier in the morning is a mad house. The only thing missing is the sailfish are obeying the warm water currents of the El Niño, and forgot to come to our party here.

In other words, the offshore fishing sucked this week, and combined with a cold rain and wind, the conditions sucked also. All we can do is hope next week will be better, because every day on the water is a different day.

Terry Johnson with a nice rooster while fishing with Mark Denison down at
Puerto Vicente Guerrero. Note the tag for the Roosterfish Foundation

On the other side of the coin, thanks to the El Niño, the Inshore action for roosters and jack crevalle, even with the inclement weather, is rebounding astonishingly. Usually, the roosters are gone by now, and our inshore action is only jack crevalle, black skipjack tuna, and sierras. It is very possible our rooster season may extend into the beginning of March.

Charlie and Paul with a few of the jacks they got. They gave them to the deck
hand Alejandro and Julio, on the tiller, for dinner. 

Mark Denison, fishing with fly fishing client Bredin South and Terry Johnson of Saskatchewan, while fishing down at Puerto Vicente Guerrero, had a school of migrating roosters pass under the boat. They were not interested in the offerings, but the 100 plus roosters in the school (Mark estimated them from 20-70 pounds) would not be here unless they are being driven down south from the waters finally cooling down a bit up north. This is an event which usually happens to us in November.

Charlie and Mark with a nice jack taken in the rain.

Then today Mark, fishing with Charlie and Paul, got into another good mess of fish. They fished at Puerto Vicente yesterday, but under miserable conditions only got a rooster and a few jacks. But, they noticed the bait was there and went back today (Thursday). The roosters were mixed in with the jack crevalle, black skipjack, and sierras. They had a great time, rain, wind, and lots of action.

 Ed Kunze                                                                        

 (Director of the Roosterfish Foundation, IGFA Representative)

CURRENT MOON

moon phase info