“El Soltar’s” owner, Joe Sleipka of Houston, Texas, hooked into an estimated 600lb. BLUE MARLIN just a short distance from the marina.”
The following is a compilation of the reports received from Stan Lushinsky of Ixtapa Sportfishing Charters, Ed Kunze of Mar y Tierra and Ed Garvis of Whisky Charters. They represent about 1/3 of the totals from the Zihuatanejo fishing fleet. The best part is that unless dead or severely injured these fish were released with the exception of the Dorado & Tuna.
The beginning of the month brought excellent Sailfish action that waned with the coming of the full moon and a slightly colder offshore current appearing in the latter portion of the month. Though this moves the blue water out from the bay, the colder current also brings the Marlin and big Tuna. These fish will now remain in the area through the summer. The Sailfish bite will remain fair to very good as this current moves to and fro. The blue water is now at about 10-15 miles offshore with the best chance at the larger fish being in the 20-40 mile range. Fishing pressure has now began to wane as the high season comes to a close with Easter.
Numbers and notable catches for the month are as follows. These vessels fished a total of 184 days landing 300 Sailfish, 4 Blue Marlin, 2 Black Marlin, 57 Dorado, 21 Tuna and 138 Roosterfish. Only Tuna in excess of 200#, and Dorado, Wahoo and Roosterfish in excess of 20# are reported. To start the month Captain Marcus aboard the Super Panga, “Wahoo”, had a 450lb BLACK MARLIN and a private charter landed a 400lb BLUE MARLIN. Captain Poli of the “EL Gordo” landed a Yellowfin in excess of 250# during the second week of the month. First time visitor to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, San Diego angler, Mike Borden, fishing aboard his yacht the “Fish Magnet”, landed an estimated 300lb. YELLOWFIN TUNA on March 19th and the “El Soltar’s” owner, Joe Sleipka of Houston, Texas, hooked into an estimated 600lb. BLUE MARLIN just a short distance from the marina. Most boats reported 2+ Sails a day.
nshore: Captain Adolpho Espinsoa of the Super Panga, “Dos Hermanos”, found the keys to the hen house locating school after school of hungry ROOSTERFISH. In 4 charter days, Captain Espinsoa and clients landed 53 ROOSTERFISH to 85lbs.
Of particular note… French angler, Patrick Perdreau – who one day had a 7 SAILFISH day aboard the Super Panga, “La Hawaiiana”- caught a fish that carried a National Marine Fisheries Service tag, which was recovered and sent to NMFS for the catch data.
The outlook for April will be an increase in the Large Marlin and Big Tuna as boats begin to venture past the ever-present Sailfish. Water temps remain in the 70’s inshore and 78+ at about 7-10 miles. The bait supply is excellent most days.
-April 2000
