| February Fish Report |
By Ed Kunze
Just a few months back, an intensive study was completed, with the results reported in Sport Fishing Magazine. The object was to rank the best places in the world to catch a sailfish. Without going into details, of all the famous and well known world-best destinations, two relative unknown locations ended up being essentially tied for first place. Ixpta, Guatemala and Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo, Mexico hit the limelight. Because of our year round fishery, Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo is considered the best destination in the world to catch a sailfish.
Imagine what the fishing would be like in the best month of the year in the best location in the world. Could you envision days with double digit numbers? Could you take the sport of fishing for billfish to a new level and catch them on a flyrod? Could you fish for other gamefish with success? Yes, yes, and yes.
That is what February is all about. February is our peak month for the best of the best. Captain Calli, fishing on the Vamonos II just recorded 21 sailfish releases in one day. But, the unofficial record is still standing from a couple of years ago when Captain Margarito released 24 fish from the Gaby on another fantastic February day. With tagging and releasing efforts being practiced by almost all the good captains, I expect that record to fall some day. You can almost bet it will fall in a February.
The sport of fly fishing for a billfish is really taking off. There is nothing mysterious to fishing with the “moska”, it is just taking the art of light line fishing to a new level. But, until you master the skill, you need to be in an area where you can raise large numbers of fish in order to be successful. To have a sailfish slashing at the hookless teasers while he charges the boat, and at times getting close enough to touch him, is sight casting at its very best. We have that here, and February is your best month to experience the ultimate adrenaline rush.
If giant tuna are your game, we have them also. In February, the 200 to 300 pound plus tuna start showing in earnest. The school size yelowfin tuna (up to 80 pounds) are here now in large quantities, and the giants should soon follow. Blue marlin are often caught as an incidental catch by some unsuspecting fisherman, whose objective was to just go out and release a few sailfish. Those who actually target the big marlin, do very well.
If the blue water is close to the beach, wahoo can be caught at the White Rocks. Small yellowfin tuna, dorado, sierras, and chulas can all be taken either at Ixtapa Island, the Solitary Rock, or the White Rocks for some outstanding inshore fishing.
Please remember, a billfish is to valuable to catch only once. Tell your captain you practice catch and release.
February 2002
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