Z Fish Report 4/22/10)

        The 80° blue water is still holding at less than 12 miles, which is historically very unusual for April. But, since the migratory fish don't know the "historical" difference, the fishing within the normal "day" charter distance of about 20 miles, is very poor for the average charter.

        Incredible action can be had, but at the magic numbers of 40 to 50 miles. There are lots of blue marlin, sailfish, and yellowfin tuna right over the near vertical drop from 6,000 feet to 14,000 feet. (Just check out Google Earth if you don't believe me about the depths.)
        This trench, called the Middle America Trench , extends 1,700 miles from a bit north of us, down to Costa Rica, with depths at times of over 21,000 feet. It is a virtual highway for pelagic species like marlin, yellowfin tuna, and sailfish. This is where our local commercial pangeros, in a single engine open panga, go every day to make their living.
    Mike Bulkley, owner of the super panga Huntress, with Francisco as the captain, told me the clients do not want to pay the extra gas money and time it takes to get to the 45 mile mark. They read the daily charter rate on the internet, and expect the captain to take them to Hawaii, if that is where the fish are, and be back in Zihuatanejo at the end of the day.
          Rather than try and explain to a client to pay extra fuel for a trip of a lifetime, the Huntress has had very satisfied clients by going inshore and catching a lot of small game fish on light line. Then, as Mike only steers the boat on the blue water trips, Francisco has been taking the clients to Ixtapa Island for a lunch with their fresh caught fish, a little snorkeling, and water sports before returning to the pier, without having to stop for gas in Hawaii.
         Adolfo, on the panga Dos Hermanos, is very optimistic (read promoter), but then what can you expect from the very best captain in this port. He is getting a few roosters off the beach, with several sailfish and striped marlin in the blue water, when nobody else is getting them. Of course, he did not tell me where he got them, but his clients are very satisfied.

Ed Kunze