Z Fish Report (5/5/16)

Tomorrow (Friday) is the start of the 3 day annual kill tournament for sailfish, proving dinosaurs are still alive today. The Mexican male cannot get it out of his system he has a chance to win a big prize, even though many of the winners of the past have been justifiably accused of cheating…Which happens when money is involved. Paul Phillips and I worked hard to get the kill tournament to wake up to reality and the future, but had to settle for a 30 kilo (66 pound) minimum size, which was realistic just a few years ago, when it took a 50 kilo fish to get into the money. Since then, with long lines taking their toll, the kill tournament (of a few weeks ago}, down at Puerto Vicente Guerrero, was won with a 30 kilo sailfish. Yet still, captains who complain they have had few clients, and are starving to death, are entered into tomorrow’s tournament as boat #XXX. Go figure.

Offshore (average) surface water temperature - Includes from the 5-6 mile mark at the 100 fathom line, on out to about 50 miles with the 1,000 fathom line being at 32 miles: 81°

Inshore (average) surface temperature. From the beach to about 5 miles: 80°

Blue water: Is really mixed up, and hopefully adversely affects the tournament. (Temperatures and chlorophyll data per Terrafin SST) See photo below.

Offshore. It was been up and down for the sailfish and marlin. There were a few around this week, but a 1 fish average was about norm, and much less for the marlin.

There are still very few dorado.

From the below photos, it would be a good idea to use Adolfo on the panga Dos Hermanos, not just for the excellent fishing, but to join him for lunch.

Inshore: We are still doing well on jack crevalle, sierras, and even a few roosters. Adolfo, on the panga Dos Hermanos is still doing his thing, and finding fish.

Ed Kunze                                                                         

 (Director of the Roosterfish Foundation, IGFA Representative)