| March Fish Report |
By Ed Kunze
The 3 masted schooner had been waiting for daylight. She was 190 feet long. Built for one specific purpose, she could safely sail on any sea known to man. As the black rock became visible, the Fisherman glid into Zihuatanejo Bay.
“Magnificent dark mountains loomed above the dim mystic shore. The sun rose red over the range, flooding a scene of unparalleled beauty and wildness. Zihuatanejo Bay opened out into a round placid expanse of water, blazing with the gold and red of morning. It appeared more of a South Sea atmosphere than even the Cocos Island. The place was exquisitely beautiful, yet melancholy with something I could not grasp”.
To us fishermen, we live those words written by Zane Grey every morning as we leave Zihuatanejo Bay on our way to the fishing grounds. It is true that some things have changed since he was here in March of 1924, but then again, some things have not changed. “Tales Of Fishing Virgin Seas” was first published in 1925 and a good portion of the book was devoted to the fishing and the people of Zihuatanejo. He was the first person to ever fish the Galapagos Islands, Cocos Island and Zihuatanejo with a rod and reel. But, he really loved Zihuatanejo.
What he found was a bountiful sea, abundant in every quarry he had hoped to pursue. Offshore, there were blue and black marlin, sword fish, yellowfin tuna, and an incredible amount of sailfish. Inshore, he caught amberjack, jack cravalle, and huge roosterfish. The size of the game fish he wrote about has been reduced since 1924, proving that our resources are limited, and I am sure the quantity of game fish is not as he experienced. However, as a comparison to the rest of the world’s best fishing destinations, we are still very much holding our own. We still have the marlin and tuna. The sailfish is here in such quantities we consider it to be our “bread and butter fish” for the sport fishing fleet. And, the roosterfish, jack cravalle, amberjack, and rainbow runners will still give you a great day of inshore fishing. Also, as it did in 1924, all of this takes place in March.
As Zane Gray stated in his final paragraphs on the Zihuatanejo chapter: “I felt the thrill and pride of the explorer, the discoverer of an enchanted land. Right then I knew I would return.” (As you surely will also).
Capt Ed Kunze lives in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo year round and can be reached at 554-4876 or ixtapa@travel.com.mx
For more information on Capt Ed and his boats go to www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com http://www.zihuatanejo.net/seaandsand/construction.htm
March 2002
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