|
|
|
|
|
Jesse's Hunting > Fishing Articles > Articles > Following the Birds in Puerto Vallarta - Part 1
Following the Birds in Puerto Vallarta - Part 1
David Blake - JHO ProStaff
- Southern California
June 29, 2005
Puerto Vallarta Sunrise
There's something special about a Mexican sunrise as you're heading out for a day of fishing. |
Boats from several different marinas were around us and headed the same direction, so I knew that things had been happening out that way. Captain Perez has been fishing these waters for a very long time and has caught every species possible. I couldn't be in more capable hands.
The objective for the day was to get me onto some fish with my fly rod while trolling lures with conventional tackle as well.
We followed the flocks of seabirds which included Pelicans, boobies and gulls of varied types as they dive-bombed schools of sardines. On our approach to one particular sardine massacre, Captain Perez dropped a Rapala with a small plastic squid trailer off the stern and reduced to trolling speed.
Not a minute later the rod started bucking under the weight of a good fish. I stepped to the back of the boat, took the rod and leaned into a strong pulling fish. The 10 minute tug of war resulted in the gaffing of a nice jack crevalle, called “toro” in Mexico, of about 10 pounds.
Toro! Toro!
Jack Crevalle are aptly called "Toro" in Mexico because of their bull-like tenacity on the hook. Here, the author hefts a nice one into the boat. |
The school of sardines had moved on so we did the same. When a flock of feeding birds is seen it usually means that there are schools of game fish pushing the bait fish to the surface. Focusing on these flocks of sea birds will usually mean catching fish.
The next fish was a carbon copy of the first one. We were trolling around another “fowl” feeding frenzy when another jack crevalle hit hard. Since I had some practice on the first one, the fight didn't last as long. We got that one in the boat and continued fishing.
I really wanted to get a fish on my fly rod, so we focused on that for a while. The game fish were moving around quite fast, so drifting through them for casting was not really possible. I ended up tying on a “lefty's deceiver” and trolling it in front of the fish as we passed them.
After several strong strikes I managed to hook a really feisty skipjack which put up a huge fight for a 3 pound fish. After getting it in the boat I could chalk up another species for my fly rod.
The rest of the afternoon resulted in more jack crevalle, a couple of nice snapper, three more skipjack and a bunch of small bonito, many of which were caught two at a time. We cleaned some of the bonito and I took some to eat in the condo. They are really excellent cut into steaks and sautéed in butter with garlic, lime, tequila and beer…a delicious way to end a great day of fishing.
Captain Perez can be contacted on his cell phone at 044-322-102-00-48
Gear Used
Damon 10wt flyrod
Teton 10-12wt Spey Reel
Chartreuse “Lefty's Deceiver” tied on a 3/0 Orvis Circle Hook
4 inch silver Rapala with a pink and orange plastic squid trailer
6 foot Penn heavy action rod and Penn reel with 30 pound test line
Maui Jim “Typhoon” Sunglasses (Don't leave the dock without them)
|
|
|
|
|
