The Ultimate Summer Fishing Adventure Welcome to the most exciting Puerto Vallarta fishing report of the year! June marks the beginning of the rainy season (June 15 – October 15), but don’t let that bum you out—this is when the fishing truly heats up. While some fishermen may assume rain slows things down, the opposite is true. The evening rains push baitfish into the bay, attracting massive pelagic predators. If you find bait movement, you’ll find fish, and June delivers some of the best action of the year here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Prime Fishing Conditions in June Heavy rains create a unique phenomenon where rivers flood, washing debris into the bay. This forms "trash lines"—where dark blue and off-colored water meet—that become hunting grounds for sailfish, mahi-mahi (dorado), and even marlin. Slow-trolling live bait along these lines is incredibly effective. When you see a fleet of boats working these areas, you know the bite is on! Floating debris, including logs and vegetation, also creates artificial reefs that attract dorado, tuna, and smaller gamefish right in the bay. But if you're after trophy-sized catches, offshore is where the real giants roam. El Morro, Corbetena, and El Banco, to mention a few. Top Offshore Hotspots for June These deep-water spots are teeming with: Blue & Black Marlin (500+ lbs) Yellowfin Tuna (100-300 lbs) Mahi-Mahi (Dorado) Sailfish The best way to start is with Live bait, high-speed lures, and patience. We start with fast-trolling skirted lures to attract marlin and sailfish. If they’re hesitant, we switch to live bonito or skipjack—big baits for big fish! Best Techniques for June Fishing Live Bait Fishing – The most reliable method for marlin and tuna. High-Speed Trolling – Skipping lures mimic fleeing baitfish, triggering explosive strikes. Kite Fishing – Perfect for sailfish and dorado near debris lines. Jigging & Popping – Works great for yellowfin tuna at El Banco. Weather & Fishing Forecast Many anglers worry about June’s rain, but storms are usually brief and occur in the evenings. Mornings are often overcast but calm, making for ideal fishing conditions. We monitor the weather closely—safety is our top priority. With almost 40+ years of accident-free charters, you can trust our captains to make the right call. Pro Tips for June Fishing Trips ✔ Bring plenty of live bait – Essential for marlin and tuna. ✔ Use tuna tubes – Keeps bait fresh for offshore trips. ✔ Pack light rain gear – Evening showers are common. ✔ Trust your captain – We know where the fish are biting. ✔ Celebrate with a cold beer – Nothing beats a cold one after landing a trophy! Looking for a meat fishing trip, try one of our 10-hour or 12-hour trips. Money can’t buy happiness… but it can buy an unforgettable fishing trip in Puerto Vallarta—and that’s pretty close! Tight lines, https://www.travelvallarta.com Capt. Pete & Crew

 Hey Group,

Haven't posted in a while so figured I should put something up to keep active.

Headed out a fornight ago for an afternoon fish with my 8yo, weather wasn't great but was meant to drop off in the arvo for a short window (it did not).

Launched an mangles at about 2pm in some pretty heavy rail, assuring my daughter "dont worry the fish like it when it's raining!". 

Headed out to go past point peron and it wasn't very nice, going slow I decided I'd sound while running past the close reef, turn the display to map and depth sound, no depth... very odd.

Played around with some settings, on and off again, couldnt get depth, decided I'd turn around and head back in, plan was to sound for a spot to anchor and burley for snapper so the sounder kind of played an important part in that.

As I've turned around and started heading back in, turned to give the 8yo the run down and spot something off the back of the boat.... was the transducer being trawled by the cable! Damn it! Quick stop and pulled it in to sit inside the boat. 

Had a feel around the back of the boat and as suspected, the plastic bracket had snapped.

Feeling defeated, not wanting to make dad look like a total pleb, thought I'd try one more thing.

I had previously driven over and marked very accurately the D9 wreck in cockburn, not that I'd ever fished it before but had thought about diving it in the past. Well why not.

So in the not so great weather, motored slowly to the mark, went up wind about 50m and anchored and chucked the burley pot out.

Was actually pretty red hot, school of skippy came to the boat very quickly, followed by some 20-30cm pinkies which kept the kid entertained.

Floating half a whiting into the burley trail on the bigger rod it suddenly took off.

I grabbed it and set the drag and passed it over, gave her a good fight, dad was on the net and managed to land her first legal pink at 65cm. She was Stoked! Shaking with excitement for hours afterword, the two of us singing "Pink Snapper Club.." (our own version of the popular Pink Pony Club song all over the radio at the moment) all the way home.

Only managed the one, but it was more than enough! Made it look like atleast sometimes Dad does know what he's doing! haha

Cheers for reading.

 Quick report on the recent trip to monkey Mia.

started off a bit stressful when 3 days before leaving noted one of the bearings leaking grease! Luckily after a bit of ringing around, managed to get the trailer in and get all the bearings done. Picked up thurs arvo to leave early Friday! Shout out to Towsafe in Osborne park for fitting me in!

trip up was nice and uneventful, arrived to some awesome weather and took the family out the next day for a cruise. Kids were not feeling in and just complaining lol! Daughter made me throw make a really nice black snapper (turned on th tears), so gave up, hosed the boat, was just reeling in the floater to head back when after 2 winds got smashed and ended up with a nice little Spaniard on board! That one wasn't going back!

Was allowed 1 day out with the other dads so launched from the Denham side as was going to be the only day good enough to fish that side, was hoping to get to Dampier reef, but weather wasn't good enough. Got some nice big golden trevally, some red throat, heaps of spotted mack, and lots of Charlie court. Missed a few big hookups on the floater, and lost some good feeling fish to sharks! Sharks were an absolute plague. Had 5 circling the boat at one stage, no chance getting anything past them. Headed home with some nice fish in the esky.

managed one other arvo out from monkey mia side, found a patch of big black snapper, and rankin cod. Heaps of small cod, so only kept the ones above 45. Was out with one other guy so had our bag pretty quick. Managed a nice little long tail tuna as well for a bonus.

took the family out to give the kids a second try and found a nice bust up of tuna, got the missus onto one which was good to see, thought she was going to end up overboard! 
some really nice cruising to see heaps of turtles, sea snakes, sharks and dolphins.

cant wait to head back next year! Hopefully a few more dedicated fishing days!!

 Got out again last night after last Wednesdays success on the Pinkies. Went solo last night in the same area in 10m. Set anchor and started a burley trail and things started happening within about half an hour with a couple of undersized ones coming up. Then hooked one that had a bit more pull, after a good little tussle I had my first legal one in the net, before the sun had even set. Dropped a couple more, then at around 6pm had a solid hookup. This things initial run had me thinking I was onto a Sambo. Then it stopped, done a couple of big head shakes and took off again. By now the adrenaline had kicked in big time, so got the net ready and took my time slowly working it back to the boat. Had a quick look over the side when I knew it was close and adrenaline spiked again. A big solid Pink!! Managed to net it reasonably easy. Tried to take some pics before Iki and bleed but it didn't turn out great. To say I was stoked is an understatement. 
Cheers

Kirky. 

 Long time since I've posted anything. But had a good evening on the Pinks last Wednesday. With the full moon on the Tuesday, Wednesday looked good with the moon rising at 6:15. Got to the ramp at 4 and made our way out. Someone had left a few good size Pinkies frames under the ramp, so that was a good sign. Although I got a bit disappointed to see the wings still attached, each to their own I suppose. 
Headed out and found some likely ground in 10 m no big shows on the sounder but a bit of bait around so set the anchor and got the burley going. Was pretty quiet for a while and was thinking it might not be our night but as soon as the sun had dipped below the horizon I had a hook up, a Pinky but a few cm under. About 10 minutes later I was on again this time a much better fish, after a great fight on the small gear up came a healthy 70 ish cm Pinky. Next the brother in law hooks something a fair bit bigger but not a Pink. After a couple of laps of the tinny and a dance around the anchor rope we net a nice size Sambo. Dispatched it for some yummy Thai fish cakes. After the commotion of the Sambo it seemed to turn the Pinkies on and we got our bag in about half an hour. All the fish were pretty close to the same size and solid. Doug did battle with another even bigger Sambo that we released and we were back at the ramp by 7:30. Was a great evening and will be back out there to do it again soon hopefully. 

Cheers

Kirky. 
 

May in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, fishing report. It's one of the best times of year to be on the water. The ocean comes alive, the bite turns on, and we start seeing some of the best action of the season. As a captain with decades of experience fishing these waters, I can tell you this: May is prime time for inshore and offshore fishing. Why May Fishing in Puerto Vallarta is Unbeatable By May, water temps climb to 78°F and above, triggering an explosion of baitfish. Schools of mullet, goggle-eye, ballyhoo, and shad flood the bay, drawing in everything from roosterfish and jack crevalle inshore to marlin, tuna, and dorado offshore. To put in simple terms, you can catch just about anything out in our bay or offshore. If you're a casting enthusiast, this is your month. The surface action is incredible, whether you're throwing poppers at roosters near the rocks or live-baiting for yellowfin tuna at El Banco. What’s Biting in May 2025? 1. Blue & Black Marlin The marlin bite really starts heating up in May. We’re seeing more blues and blacks moving in around Corbeteña and El Banco. Trolling lures and live bonito have been producing solid hookups. 2. Yellowfin Tuna The tuna schools are getting bigger, and the bite is aggressive. We’ve been finding them 30-50 miles offshore, but they’re also pushing closer to the Marietas Islands. If you want a cow-sized yellowfin, now’s the time. 3. Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) These acrobatic speedsters love floating debris and weed lines. We’ve been hooking 20-40 lb bulls on light tackle—some days, they’re so thick you can’t keep them off the lines. 4. Wahoo If you like high-speed strikes, May is a great month for wahoo. They’re hitting high-speed trolled lures and live bait near temperature breaks. 5. Roosterfish & Jack Crevalle (Inshore Action) The roosterfish bite is red-hot right now. We’re getting 30-60 lb fish on live bait near Punta Mita and Los Arcos. Jack crevalle are also thick—great for light-tackle anglers looking for a fight. How We Find the Fish A lot of clients ask me, “How do you always know where the fish are?” The truth? Experience, teamwork, and technology. Real-Time Intel: We stay in constant contact with other captains, sharing updates on hot bites, water temps, and bait movements. Sonar & Thermoclines: We use advanced fish-finders to locate bait balls and thermocline breaks where big predators stack up. Tides & Water Clarity: The tidal flow plays a huge role in fish activity. If the water’s murky inshore, we’ll run offshore—or vice versa. Pro Tips for May Fishing Best Techniques: Trolling for marlin & tuna Live baiting for roosterfish & dorado Popping & jigging for explosive surface strikes Hotspots: This May will be El Banco (tuna, marlin),Corbeteña ,(big-game central),Punta Mita (roosters & jacks) We’re offering special spring rates before the summer rush hits. Whether you want an inshore light-tackle trip or an offshore big-game hunt, we’ve got you covered.

  Tight lines

 https://www.travelvallarta.com

 Capt. Pete & Crew

Summary: Fished 35m for Shark and Cuttle. Fished 45m for 1 x shark, 2 x Dhu and 1 x Black arse. 87m for 1 x Dhu and got nothing at Woodies fad. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was chatting to a bloke at the ramp about boats, and we then got onto fish and my hisorical inability to reliably find fish. Anyhow, he was decent enough to share me a couple of spots to put us in the right area.

Now i know how to put bait on a hook can use a jig like anyone else, and have historically been right beside mates who have caught fish and me, with the exact same set up, have caught nothing. Hence one of our spots being called the Fuck All spot, because he will catch snapper there and I will catch fuck all...

My issues seem to be patience related, and my preference to fish with my family (who are only interested in catching fish) doesnt help there

Anyhow, i got a message mid week about a sunday trip in a mates boat. The conditions didnt look great but I agreed and it turned into a trip in my boat with the idea's man and another mate where we did 73nm including around an hour at the Woodies FAD.

We launched just before 7 and ventured to the channel leads to try to get some live bait with us only managing to get a tiny silver bream which went back, a buttery and trumpeter. After messing about with that for 30 minutes, we ventured to a spot in 30m behind the 5, south of Rotto where we did a couple of drifts. The breeze was only ~12 knots but having been blowing 15-20 knots the day and night before, was sloppy as hell! My guts had begun their turn but I had hoped a couple of quells would settle. 

I was using a 110gm vexxed thingo with a piece of Occy on it and my rod loaded up on what felt like a big plastig bag. A couple of tugs later had me knowing what I had was alive and after a few moments a monster cuttlefish appeared on the surface. Concerned about an ink out, we carefully netted it and assuming it had inked lifted it into the boat to dispatch it using the tenticles for bait for the remainder of the day. Once in the catch bag, its unloaded its ink sack. I could have supplied BIC with ink for 12 months with the black sludge that came from this cuttlefish....but damn its tenticled were good bait!

My rod bent over again with a decent run we put down to a sambo but turned out to be what we origionally through was a gummy but now believe was a whiskery shark. It was quickly dispatched , gutted and de-finned into the catch bag. 

After a couple more drifts and being accompanied by someone who saw us with a rod bent, we moved further out where whilst in transit, I had to hand the helm to one of my mates while i ejected my morning berocca both through my mouth and nose...it smelt acidic but after chewing on some ginger (didnt realise I needed to just swallow not chew - so aweful), I was back on track.

We got to near the next spot and saw some fluff on the sounder and did a quick drift where again, my rod went off. I handed it to one of my mates who hadnt caught anything yet and after a tussle, a black tipped shark popped up which we released.

While re-baiting both mates hooked up and shortly after, two dhuies popped up to much celebration followed shortly after by the biggest black arse I have seen. 

I managed another hook up and decent run which chucked the hooks.

Another few drifts had a large sweep come up before we headed out to the 80's to try another spot.

Now we loaded up on the sinkers and did a couple of drifts before the final demersal (another dhu) came to the surface. Damn its a long winch up with just sinkers letalone a fish.

We were only 15nm from the Woodies Fad so we opted to chug out to there where we found a couple of fish though couldnt interest anything with bait, lures or a live trumpeter and buttery. 

Due to the south easterly slop, we did the first 15 or so miles at 12-14 knots before managing to make it up to 20 knots then sending it in for the last 5 or so miles at 25 knots before the seabreeze finally made it in a couple of hours late slowing us down a tad.

Overall, 100l of fuel, 73nm, 3 x Dhuies which were size on the old scale, big and fat black arse, a shark and a blob of cuttlefish

Humerously, i am yet to catch a size dhufish but was very very pleased that we got a couple onboard.

An enjoyable element is that we didnt actually catch fish on the points we were given rather found some good looking fluff not far from the point we had. I had always struggled to know what to look for. Yeah I have heaps of lumps marked on my sounder which have never really produced (3 x black arse). We went over the waypoints i was given to see what the bottom was like and found similar looking around nearby which was where we ended up catching fish.

 What a day today. It looked so good weather prediction wise, 10 knot wind speed,1.5 meter swell, high bite prediction on the solumner tables. Went out of Freo to Rotto north side, wind 15 knots plus, Swell pushing 2 meters, strong current drift. Made a tricky fishing day. Travelled many km for absolutely nothing .Using top technology my Furuno sounder showed no fish. Wind eventually kicked back to 10 knots with a sea breeze but no change in fishing action. A complete waste of time should have stayed home. How did other people go?

 I don't post very often but figured why not, with the last couple of weeks catch forming a bit of a trend, it all started off a couple of weeks ago when I ran up the tinny at home after not being able to get out for about 3 months due to work, family commitments or weather just being plain crap!, tinny started just fine, give it a squirt, beautiful!, rice it another?, what nothing!, a bit of investigating and I have done a throttle lever that runs down the tiller arm, get onto google and find a schematic, figure out what parts I need and get them ordered, living up in Port Hedland there is no such thing as express postage even if you pay for it so wait 2 weeks for my parts, I get a notification saying my parts are arriving today!, I eagerly await the parcel driver then get to work as soon as the parts are in my hand, half hour later and in testing it, problem solved, now let's just hope the weather plays ball this weekend, weather forecast isn't the greatest for Saturday so I don't head out, I check it again on Saturday arvo and Sunday will be manageable, I pack the tinny and make sure I'm good to go, Sunday morning comes and I hit the marina with not a hiccup, great start!, first up w want to try for some blue swimmer crabs as there has been a few reports of them out there but not in big numbers, I set my 10 nets then go looking for love baits, about 30 min later I check my nets for the first time, 10 nets resulted in 4 nice bucks, second run after about 15min soak resutled in 3 more, 7 is enough for me so I retrieve my nets for a further 5 bringing my total to 12 ( plus a flattie tangled in the drop net), now time to get some fish, first stop a spot that I catch a fair few coral trout but this time I don't have the live baits that I like fishing there, so strip bait it is, first couple of drifts resulted in a tawny nurse shark and a few other small bits and pieces, time to anchor up with bluebone on my mind, first bait down and within 5 min I'm hooked up, up comes a 56 cm bluebone!, now not the biggest by any means but as I don't usually target them I am stoked!, a couple of more hours with nothing to show I return home with my catch

Fast forward to this week end, headed out Saturday morning with the intention of repeating last weekends catch, launch the tinny, net a few dozen northern herring and have them swimming happily in the live baits tank, head out the marina heading to my crabbing area then all of a sudden revs are increasing but my speed isn't, feels like a slipping clutch, I back the revs down and realise I still have propulsion, so head back to the marina, luckily I was less than a km away, slowly put in just above idle, once in the marina with live baits tank I figured I will check out the marina and see if I can at least catch something, 2 hours of mucking around on small trevally and queen fish I end up with 2 nice blue nose salmon!, time to head home and investigate, wash the boat and fillet the fish, time to have a look at the boat, removing the prop has confirmed my suspicions, spun hub!, there goes my boating over Easter, glad it wasn't anything major, new prop ordered, let's see how long this takes to arrive

sorry for the long winded story, hope you enjoy

 Hi all,

Is anyone willing to share some recent reports offshore Mindarie or rotto. Looking to get out tommorow fir a go at it.

 AFL is back

March is one of the most exciting months for fishing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as the waters come alive with a variety of species and the weather conditions are nearly perfect. With warm temperatures, calm seas, and an abundance of marine life, not to mention the friendliest people on the planet, anglers from around the world flock to this Pacific paradise for an unforgettable fishing experience. Whether you’re targeting inshore species or heading offshore for big game, Puerto Vallarta delivers in March. The wind can pick up in March but most days are flat seas with comfortable breeze. **Inshore Fishing:**4 to 6 hrsPuerto Vallarta fishng report March 2025 Inshore fishing in March is excellent, with roosterfish, jack crevalle, mahi-mahi and snapper being the primary targets. The rocky shorelines and sandy beaches provide ideal habitats for these species, and anglers can expect consistent action throughout the month. Roosterfish, known for their explosive strikes and acrobatic fights, are particularly active during this time. Live bait such as mullet or sardines, as well as artificial lures like poppers and jigs, are highly effective. Jack crevalle are also abundant and provide a thrilling fight, often found in schools near the surface. For those looking for a delicious meal, snapper species like red snapper and yellowtail snapper are plentiful and can be caught using cut bait or small jigs. In March, we see all kinds of baits showing up in the bay and offshore. In all my fishing reports you'll see, follow the bait and you will find the fish. Look for temperatures or around 75 degrees up to 82 degrees when it comes to the water. Spring break fishing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico **Offshore Fishing:** 8 to 12 hrs March marks the beginning of the prime season for offshore fishing in Puerto Vallarta. The waters teem with yellowfin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi), and striped marlin. Yellowfin tuna are a highlight, with schools of 20-50 pound fish being common, and occasional larger specimens exceeding 100 pounds. Trolling with cedar plugs, feathers, or diving lures is the most effective technique for targeting tuna. Dorados are also abundant, particularly around floating debris or weed lines, and they respond well to both trolled lures and live bait. Striped marlin is another prized catch in March, with many fish ranging from 120-180 pounds. These billfish are often found near temperature breaks and can be targeted using live bait or lures. **Bottom Fishing:** 4 to 8 hrs For those who prefer bottom fishing, the reefs and underwater structures around Puerto Vallarta are home to a variety of species, including grouper, amberjack, and snapper. Using heavy tackle and cut bait, anglers can expect to hook into some impressive fish. Grouper, in particular, is a favorite among bottom fishermen, with some specimens weighing over 50 pounds. Amberjack, known for their brute strength, are also a challenging and rewarding catch. Ya never know what's going to happen when it comes to bottom fishing in Puerto Vallarta. Spring break Puerto Vallarta 2025 **Weather and Conditions:** March is characterized by warm, sunny days with average temperatures ranging from 70°F to 85°F. The sea conditions are generally calm, making it an ideal time for both inshore and offshore fishing. The temperatures typically range from 75°F to 80°F, which is perfect for most anglers visiting Puerto vallarta. **Conclusion:** March is an exceptional month for fishing in Puerto Vallarta, offering something for every angler. The opportunities are endless, whether you’re casting inshore for roosterfish, trolling offshore for marlin and tuna, or bottom fishing for grouper. With excellent weather, calm seas, and abundant fish, Puerto Vallarta is a must-visit destination for any angler in March. Book your trip now and get ready for an unforgettable fishing adventure! Tight Lines https://www.travelvallarta.com Capt. Pete

 Made a late decision Friday to head to the fads on sat as forecast was looking good. Invited my 12 and 14 year old nephews who have been getting into fishing lately. Made the decision to launch early to try get live bait, but easterly was ripping and no luck. Once it dropped made the long trip out. Finally get there to find all sorts of shenanigans as usual. Multiple divers with no flags/ markers, people motoring right up to fad and deploying their min kotas etc... the usual. Managed to find a fad where the crowd was a bit more considerate. Within a short time hooked the first dolly at 84cm for the 14 year old. He was stoked! Next drift another hookup for the 12 year old. Got it all the way to the boat before getting bitten off. He was devestated! Luckily 1-2 more drifts and another hookup, this time he got it in, was great to see the beaming smile! 1 more for my brother, then called last drifting and a double hookup. Could tell was into a good fish so handed it the the older nephew. Massive fight ensued, nearly tangled around the fad twice, under the boat a few times, finally got it in, went 120cm, big male. High fives all round, kids were ecstatic! Think they are truly hooked how, but that fish will take a while to beat I think! Good effort from the kids on their biggest fish yet, no help, fishing 30lb and 40kb leader.

February is the month for Lovers and Lovers who enjoy fishing in Puerto Vallarta. Being known as the friendliest people in the world, you can see why fishermen want to come to Mexico and wet a line in our beautiful bay.  February is upon us here in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, and as always, it’s a great time to reflect on the fishing action we’ve seen over the past couple of months. December and January were fantastic, with incredible weather and some truly memorable catches. The pelagic fish have been plentiful this winter, despite some cooler mornings (down to around 59 degrees) that quickly give way to perfect afternoons around 75 degrees. We’ve been experiencing these pleasant temperatures for the past few weeks and expect them to continue throughout February.

So, what have we been catching, and what can you expect if you’re planning a fishing trip to Puerto Vallarta in February 2025?https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/puerto-vallarta-fishing-report-Febraury-sailfish-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/puerto-vallarta-fishing-report-Febraury-sailfish-768x577.jpg 768w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/puerto-vallarta-fishing-report-Febraury-sailfish.jpg 1164w" sizes=" 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

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 Me, Daz and my young bloke got onto a few dhuies on jigs this morning. Back by 830am. Best were 84 and 70cm, fun on PE2. 

Happy Holidays and Feliz Año Nuevo from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

My pleasure to bring you the January 2025 fishing report straight from the stunning waters of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. If you’re looking for world-class fishing and a winter getaway that feels like paradise, you’ve come to the right place. Perfect weather, incredible beaches and some of the friendliest people on the planet. What else do ya need? Of course some biting fish. Let me tell you where they will be this January.  Should be a fantastic month for both inshore and offshore.https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/sailfish-in-January-Puerto-Vallarta-fishing-1024x689.jpg 1024w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/sailfish-in-January-Puerto-Vallarta-fishing-768x517.jpg 768w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/sailfish-in-January-Puerto-Vallarta-fishing.jpg 1438w" sizes=" 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

When trolling offshore, we often rely on live baits like “Google eye” to attract striped marlin, dorado, and sailfish. The excitement of spotting a fin slicing through the water or a marlin breaching the surface is hard to match. Timing is key, and tide changes can turn a quiet day into a frenzy of activity. Keep an eye on the short rigger when trolling for those big marlin. They can be sneaky on the short line.https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20181017_133616_036-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20181017_133616_036-150x150.jpg 150w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20181017_133616_036-768x768.jpg 768w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20181017_133616_036-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20181017_133616_036-2048x2048.jpg 2048w" sizes=" 300px) 100vw, 300px" />

https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/January-dorado-fishing-in-Puerto-Vallarta-847x1024.jpg 847w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/January-dorado-fishing-in-Puerto-Vallarta-768x929.jpg 768w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/January-dorado-fishing-in-Puerto-Vallarta-1270x1536.jpg 1270w, https://travelvallarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/January-dorado-fishing-in-Puerto-Vallarta.jpg 1322w" sizes=" 248px) 100vw, 248px" />

 Any FADs reports anyone?  or any metro spanish mackeral around?  cheers dave

 Headed out of Bunbury into the 30's, baldy came up first, dhuey came up with both my rig and the deckies rig pinned in his gob, never seen that before, then another baldy similiar to the first and came home with the sea breeze kicking up.

Good day out.

 Few dhuies plus several of these in close

 Dinghy came off the back of our boat at Rotto last night (23rd December).

Its a Highfield 2.8m ridgid inflatable, no motor, just two oars. 

Was a strong south south westerly last night, so probably between Hillarys and Two Rocks. 

FOUND - Got a call from the police to say it had been found north of Jindalee.....pretty much where I thouht it would be from the overnight winds......in perfect condition between rocky outcrops. Bit of a carry out but brilliant!

Thanks to the person who found it and reported it. 

After having a week to digest and collect my thoughts, I’m now able to piece together some of the memories worth sharing. I did write a daily journal of what we did before I went to bed so that i didn’t forget. It’s a bit of a long read but hey, it’s got no advertising.
About 18 months ago a few guys on my swing asked if I’d be interested in a 7 day trip to swains reef. I said “lock it in, Eddie.” Before I consulted with my wife, who replied “I love you very much, spend as much as you like and I hope you nail a big dogtooth?” Or something like that.
Quite a few others were keen but then when it came to pay the deposit, everyone seemed to have tennis elbow or rusty wallets. Doesn’t matter, I was still keen.
Fast forward a year and a bit.. I’ve basically bought 3 of everything I might need, lures in multiple colours, every accessory I might need and not have; with my prized possession being a fish flogging bat that I was reserving for a shark - those who know me know how much I hate sharks; if I were prime minister I’d dedicate one day a year where families can flog sharks, a public holiday, like the Simpsons whacking day. Anyway..
The trip date lined up with when I was due to finish my swing, and they planned the swing to be in Queensland. One of the boys lived in Bundaberg so the plan was to finish work, hang at his for a few days, fish on Big Cat and then head back to Perth after the trip.

Day zero - Full steam ahead
- We were all staring at our ceilings when our alarms went off. Nobody was missing this trip. Packing the car with the excitement of a group of teenage girls in line to see Twilight.
- We made a deal of no work talk before 10am or you have to buy a round at the bar.
- Practice casting, knot wars, dreaming of our hit list while the bant-wagon was full at full speed.
- The plan was to steam out for 15 hours and stop at the south eastern end of the Swains reef system.
- Inspired, determined and well equipped we all went to bed to the 60 decibel lullaby of a big diesel engine.

Day 1 - Leaving the Shire
- After barely a wink of sleep, we heard the captain had decided to steam an additional 5 hours out to some further ground due to a favourable weather forecast. This system receives a lot less fishing pressure and we were all excited.
- Tenders in at 1pm
- We had an afternoon session about 4 hours. I started with plastics and jigs as I had comitted to a lure only trip but it was very light on the fish.
- Scorching heat unlike anything I’ve ever felt before and I’ve worked in the Simpson desert for a number of years. It was just relentless. No wind, no shade, sunscreen didn’t seem to be doing much.
- Out from the horizon, the Absolute best rain I’ve ever felt. It had already started evaporating before it landed on us but Iy felt amazing.
- Feeling pretty deflated as we only managed to capture 4 fish for the session, time to head in at 5pm. After a decent dinner, we caught a few squid in the lights of the boat and all went to bed earlier than a date night with Bill Cosby.

Day 2 - Into the groove
- Change of plans - fuck the lures
- Got onto some deep fish on the leeward side of a bump but instantly getting sharked every time.
- Hooked a few sharks and one managed to stick until it got boat-side. The GoPro must have stopped recording or something but the shark swam off fine and for the record, no shark was struck with a bat 30 times.
- A few fish in the bag but not a great deal. In for lunch
- Afternoon session we got redemption. Red throat & coral trout. A couple of tusk fish. I got a small red emperor
- Bit of time trolling through the day but didn’t see any birds working, no bait balls, no pelagic activity.
- In for dinner with a decent bag of keepers. I had never caught a red throat emperor before but they were in plague proportions out there.
- I’ve never been to a chainsaw convention but putting 11 guys in bunk beds in one berth wouldn’t be far off. I’d never heard snoring like that in my life. If you were an earplug salesman you could have paid for your trip.

Day 3 - Just like the magazines
- game plan - get some fish in the bag and then switch tactics in the afternoon.
- We drifted a lot early and put a lot of good coral trout and red throat in the bag.
- Decided to troll for a bit for no success but we were sounding some amazing structure that went from exposed rocks to 30-40m in less than 10 meters of distance.
- We pulled around to the west side of Beacon reef and worked a few poppers on the exposed reef holes/flats for GTs. We had an epic session of coral trout top water lures. Every isolated bommie had a coral trout guarding his little castle that had a hatred for rattles. After about 6/7 good keepers we headed in for lunch.
- The special thing about all 7 tenders coming in to lunch is the storytelling. Everyone’s swapping spots, tactics, hanging shit. We told a few of the other guys about our top water success and by the afternoon session a few boats decided to head out together and work the same reef system for coral trout. The reef had completely changed as the high tide had come in. We still managed a couple of fish but nothing like we had got earlier.
- I put on a Halco Sly dog in pink (my 3 year old daughter picked it for me) on my ‘08 Stella 5000, 8ft 30lb casting outfit. We were working some different sort of structures, casting deeper into the reef itself due to the incoming tide.
- I had a little bit of a strike but missed it, then a few casts later the water exploded and I got absolutely monstered. An epic fight where I was giving it my all. Disaster, the fish got my line around some bommie and I could feel braid rubbing, I could hear the dreaded braid violin. Sully says fuck that’s a HUGE TROUT on the other side of the bommie. I tried working different angles and tried my best to get it off the rocks when it suddenly got free. I was still connected and gaining ground!A horse of a trout comes boatside and I’m saying “GAFF GAFF, please.” We boated it and we were all on cloud 9. We measured at 79cm and it was a fat brute, battle scarred and angry.. High 5’s and thank-yous to the fish gods. I was more than happy to hang up the gloves for the day.. the problem was we still had 4 hours to go.
- Coomber hooks a double header of red throat, one on each treble on a 150mm stickbait
- We trolled for a bit and hooked two small mackerel but lost them both, one boatside and one spat the hooks after a while.
- Bottom bashed on a hot tip and got a few trout, red throat and then finally sharked. - time to call it a day before the bat has to come out.
- The skipper of the boat said we had made a mistake and the fish actually measured 81cm which means it was oversized. I measured it 3 times so I’m not entirely sure how we made that mistake?

Day 4 - Recon & The Gaff
- The weather was the best they’ve seen in years. So far the worst day was 10knots wind and a complete glass off by the afternoons.
- We decided to hit some unknown ground east of the mothership, no data as no other group had fished there before us. We were the British and there were unexploited new lands to the east. Exciting
- There was a strong north to south current, we were thinking we could troll around some big upwelling as the current would hit these decent lumps where it went from 70-90m up to 30-40m
- Spanish Mack’s landed on every tender that came out wide. One of the boats missed a sailfish. The banter on the radio was top notch.
- Still no bird activity or any signs of pelagic fish other than hooking them.
- Bluetooth speaker on full noise playing that ol’ reliable crowd-pleasing dad’s rock playlist.
- My workmate hooked a good one and I lost it at the gaff too. I sunk the gaff into the Mack and with my “slippery girly engineer hands” the gaff just pulled straight out of my hand.. still hanging from the fish. The fish shook the gaff off and then shook the lure off and both were to never be seen again. It was very silent trolling after that.
- Came in for lunch and worked some reef close to town
- Hooked a monster fish on the steep rise on heart reef. Baitfish splashing around and a medium stickbait cast near. Explosive top water hit and a really good fight before being snipped off as the fish was nearing the boat. Thinking a decent Spaniard?
- Trolled the rest of the afternoon for about as much excitement as the Jake Paul/Tyson fight
- Time to head in and go to bed. Fishing 9-10 hours a day in a tender and only getting 4-5 hours sleep was really getting to everyone. There were some real characters on board the boat.. some real storytellers and knowledgeable fishermen. There was even one guy who had only been fishing twice before and joined the 7 day, $3600 charter to “learn how to fish”. Right o

Day 5 - Tensions
- My workmate and I had a spit less than 100 meters after taking off from the mothership. Both of us unable to talk to each-other without things escalating, one hand on the bat and one on the tiller. With our mutual workmate just being the 17 year old child of a nearly divorcing couple, smiling into the sunset.
- It was my turn on the tiller for the day and I really wanted to get the boys into some decent trout or GT on top water lures similar to the session the previous day. There wasn’t a sniff on this reef with multiple casts. Decision to change tactics.
- Coomber decided that while we were motoring out of the reef system, why couldn’t he just put a 150mm stickbait out the back, on troll. Ok no worries, do your worst. Believe it or not, he pulls a coral trout at 7 knots on a stickbait skipping along the surface.
- I got the boys into the north side of the reef and could see some fusilier darting around every now and then. I got nice and close so they could cast over the reef in 1-2 meters of water and then the lure would work back towards the boat where it was 70 meters deep.. yes 70.
- Chris got a massive top water explosion and this fish went south, fast.
- Coomber busts out the GoPro and we’re being towed/motoring into the sketchy bombies while Chris fights this monster. After an 11 minute fight on video, we have a monster GT boatside and I don’t whiff landing the fish.
- Bear in mind Chris and I still aren’t talking to eachother at this point but once that fish came overboard it was High 5’s, fuck yeahs, yeah the boys and hugs. Argument over, thus solving the problem forever. The friendship saver fish.
- A few more casts but we’re all shattered and we got the fish we came for.
- After lunch we decided to hit a little sand island between heart reef and half moon reef. Once we landed on it we found it wasn’t actually sand, but a mound of dead coral.
- We hit a spot called “Cock and balls” with crazy drift and swell. You can just imagine the radio banter with some of the groups hitting the tip, some having more success on the shaft and one boat working the gooch.
- Trolled the afternoon for hours for stuff all. A chair next to Troy Buswell would have got more sniffs.

Day 6 - Winding down
- The boat steamed through the night and it was the first night I’d actually slept due to the snorers being drowned out by the beautiful hum of the boat.
- The boat anchored at Heron Island
- For us, it was a wind down day. The plan was to troll for a while, half heartedly.
- Everyone’s hands were covered in braid cuts, fish spines, nicks & cuts. You could see the general energy of the boat winding down.
- We found some nice ground in 30 meters that were showing fish and we were hooking up straight away on strip baits, only to be sharked 5 drops in a row. Fuck I fucking hate fucking sharks.
- After losing 5 rigs to sharks and having to tie a couple of new leader knots to snags, I spat the dummy. Time to listen to music and enjoy being cooked alive by the relentless sun. God only knows how the British felt when they first landed in some stupid thick red coat but we were suffering with full long sleeves, gloves, wide brim hats and buffs.
- After lunch we wanted to get coomber onto his first Mack tuna. Coomber is a western Queensland farm boy who’d never seen any fishing other than yellowbelly in dirty creek that would either cost you a finger to eat or gain you one.
- After chasing tuna for ages, he finally got one boatside. We had a different third guy on the tender today and he beat that tuna senseless with a pair of ganging pliers. I was impressed and disgusted.
- We used the tuna as bottom bait and worked some ground 15-25meters for a few coral trout, red throat and tuskfish.
- Time to have our last cast(s) and head back in, knowing we wouldn’t be back for a very long time, if ever.

Day 7 -
- After a lot of drinks the night before, we woke up to a gentle motoring into the marina.
- I’ll never understand how organised everything is in tackle bags and boxes on the way out to a fishing trip.
- When the trip ends there are loose hooks in pockets, swivels in wallets and soft plastics in cup holders. Somehow none of my gear managed to fit back in the way it came out. A true mystery.
- The boat docks and we unload all our gear. The catch comes out and we managed to keep 569 fish between 21 fishermen. Mostly red throat and coral trout, but there was a mixed grill of tusk fish, Cobia, Spanish Macks, red emperor, mahi-mahi, hussar, sweet lip and whatever else I’ve forgotten.
- We could have easily caught 750+ if we just wanted to bottom bounce and kill fish all day. For most, it wasn’t that kind of trip but a a trip of making memories. We spent a lot of time trolling and casting, chasing ghosts of magazines pages.
- It’s goodbyes and handshakes. A few Numbers were exchanged. We had 21 fishermen on board and by the end we were all mates.

Headed out on Sunday with the rest of Perth to be greeted with a 1hour queue to launch the boat. Obviously getting to the ramp at 5.30am doesn't quite beat the crowds anymore..
with this in mind, we decided to stay fairly close to get our fish before the chaos at retrieval. 
First drop resulted in a little dhu followed by a whiskery, big ray, 49.9cm pink and couple of little pinks too. While retrieving one of the baits, a big squid latched on and we managed to slowly bring it up to the surface. It spat the bait right next to the boat but it hung around long enough for us to grab the squid rod down and jigged up a big squid! surprisingly another squid must've followed it up to, so ended up with 2 squid in the bag.. the hood on the bigger one was pushing 40cm. After that little bit of action it went quiet..

moved a little bit further south, first drift we got onto a nice 45cm breaksea and then hooked up big time on the underdog jig.. with line peeling off the PE3 combo, managed to keep enough pressure to turn its head and after a little tussle up came a BIG FAT DHU. Some seriously solid girth on this fish which explains how much line it peeled off! 
With 3 fish in the bag, just needed one more fish for our ticket back to the ramp. 

decided to keep heading closer in and found a couple of cray pots signalling some structure amoungst the sand. Found a nice show and dropped down to get a 70cm Dhu. With high fives all round we made it back to the ramp with the smallest of queues in sight. Always a good thing when a plan comes to fruition.. managed to beat the crowds (on one side at least) and get our fish and head back in. 

Weather was pretty much perfect and a great session especially for only being on the water for a few hours.

The big dhu came in at 980mm and 16.8kg. So close to the magical metre mark!

cheers

video from the day below 

https://youtu.be/gh7Rs9IcW04?si=azKil2YEQiza9zp1 

Puerto Vallarta is more than just a sun-soaked beach destination. It's a world-renowned angler's paradise, where the warm waters teem with a diverse array of marine life. With its prime location on Mexico's Gold Coast, this coastal city is a hotspot for both inshore and offshore fishing adventures. Let's take a look and what's going on in September 2024 this month. The Bay: For a more relaxed yet rewarding experience, the bay offers excellent fishing opportunities. Half-day trips on a 28-foot super panga can yield a variety of catches, from snappers and grouper to amberjack and mahi-mahi. It's a perfect choice for families or those new to fishing. This trip can be customized to include snorkeling,hidden beaches and sightseeing on request. Perfect for a family of four. El Morro: If you're seeking the thrill of deep-sea fishing, El Morro is your destination. This 8-hour adventure takes you to the open waters where you can encounter marlin, sailfish, mahi-mahi, and tuna. It's a great option for experienced anglers looking for a challenge. The month of September will see some big marlin out at this fishing destination along with some of the larger dorados. Take plenty of live bait on these fishing trips.

 Corbetena: Known for its abundance of trophy fish, Corbetena is a must-visit for serious anglers. This offshore trip offers the chance to land larger species like marlin and tuna. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many fishermen. One of our favorite fishing spot around Puerto Vallarta. One of the tricks we use here is fishing live 10-pound chorros. Either up top on a long line or short downrigger. This type of fishing produces large tuna,marlin, and big snappers. Imagine a snapper eating a 10-pound bait. El Banco: Considered one of the best fishing spots in the world, El Banco is a hotspot for trophy fish. This 12-14 -hour trip is ideal for those seeking the ultimate fishing experience. It's a bucket list destination for many anglers. From the fishing spot El Banco you can see the Maria Islands where the old prison used to be. There were over three thousand inmates out there up to a couple of years ago. Amlo the new Mexican President took everyone off the islands and will turn into a resort of the next few years. Beyond the Basics: Puerto Vallarta offers a variety of fishing experiences to suit all skill levels and interests. Whether you're a seasoned angler or a beginner, you'll find the perfect fishing adventure. There's something for everyone, from bottom fishing for grouper and snapper to trolling for billfish. Expert Guidance: With over 100 professional fishing guides, Captains and Marina biologists we have you covered here in Puerto Vallarta fishing charters. Puerto Vallarta fishing with Capt. Pete ensures that you have the best possible experience on the water. Our knowledgeable guides will help you choose the right trip based on your preferences and skill level. So, what are you waiting for? Come and discover the fishing paradise of Puerto Vallarta. With its diverse marine life, stunning scenery, and friendly atmosphere, it's the perfect destination for an unforgettable fishing adventure.

https://www.travelvallarta.com

Tight lines Capt. Pete and crews

August in Puerto Vallarta is a fisherman’s paradise here in Mexico with warm waters, the fish are hungry, and the action is non-stop. Let’s dive into this month of August and see it has in store for us.Puerto Vallarta fishing in August Water Conditions and Temperature are always changing this time of the year. There are rains,winds but mostly sunny days with clear skies for fishing here in Puerto Vallarta. The water temperature in August typically hovers around a balmy 82-84 degrees Fahrenheit. These warm conditions create an ideal environment for a variety of marine life, making it a prime time for fishing. The water clarity can vary, but generally, it’s good enough to spot baitfish schools and structures. There might be some days with slightly choppy conditions, but overall, the sea is usually calm and conducive to fishing. We use Terrifin App that tells us where the blue water is,water temperatures, and even thermocline breaks are in the bay and offshore. Offshore Action in Puerto Vallarta for the month of AUGUST. Tuna: August is tuna time in Puerto Vallarta. Yellowfin tuna are the main target, and they’re in abundance. We’ve been finding them in deeper waters, around 120-150 feet all the way down to 300 feet, where there are temperature breaks. On some days we have deployed the downriggers. Deep drops work fantastic for big tuna. Live baiting with skipjack tuna or flying fish has been producing the best results. The bite has been explosive, with some real hogs being caught. Have questions about booking your fishing trip click here.fishing for marlin in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Sailfish: While not as prolific as tuna, sailfish are still around. We’ve been trolling for them in the deeper blue waters. The key is to cover the ground and use a variety of lures. It’s always exciting when that white sail breaks the surface! Marlin: Black and blue marlin are making appearances, but they’re more of a bonus than a target. We’ve had a few hooked up, but the bite hasn’t been consistent. Still, every time that line screams off the reel is a rush like no other. Inshore and Bay Fishing for some of the best fishing we have to offer in the summertime. Looking for the best rates in Mexico click here. Snapper: The snapper fishing has been excellent in the bay. We’ve been targeting dogtooth snapper around the islands and rocky points. Live bait and artificial lures both work well. There are some real trophies hiding in those structures! Roosterfish: The roosterfish action has been hot and heavy. These acrobatic fighters are a blast on light tackle. We’ve been finding them around the jetties, river mouths, and sandy beaches. Topwater lures and soft plastics have been producing consistent results.how to catch marlin in Puerto Vallarta Overall, August is an incredible month to be fishing in Puerto Vallarta. The variety of species, combined with the warm water and favorable conditions, make it a truly unforgettable experience. Whether you’re targeting big game offshore or enjoying the excitement of inshore fishing, there’s something for everyone. Tight lines, https://www.travelvallarta.com Capt. Pete and crew

Headed out of Hillarys with Tony for an evening try yesterday.  Not long after we anchored up his floating scalie was inhaled, and the below images show the result.  Was good to see it go past 20kg on the certified scales - 130cm long with a 65cm maximum girth.  It was a relatively long fight on the snapper gear, and a happy boat when landed.

Think it’s my turn for the annual coral bay write up this year jsmolly??

Well, the trip has been and gone and was another trip that will be hard to beat (think we say that every year!)

We booked two weeks this year to give us flexibility on days, but we didn’t need it.

Had some awesome weather. Strongish easterlies in the morning, which allowed for gentlemen’s hour starts on most days, and then prob less than 5kt afternoons which gave some great fishing and return conditions.

Drive up with 2x cars and 2x boats was uneventful and 13hours door-to-door.

First couple of days was pretty tough going leading up to the full moon. A few squid to let the wind drop and then tried everything from 60-90m. Mountains of fish on the sounders, but just not feeding/ biting. We still managed some good fish (reds, robbos, honeycomb, Pearlie’s), but nothing amazing.

As the daily conditions just continued to get better, we decided to head to deeper water to try and find the goldband. And find them we did! A couple of consecutive days with big hungry fish, and the eskies were looking pretty good.

Fished some new ground on the second deep day with big double header goldbands giving the gear a workout.

Time for a rest day, well, sort of. we dedicated a day to squidding and landed amongst some massive schools of big squid (unfortunately didn’t take any photos). Once we found them, it was on with both boats cleaning up with easy bag limits.

We didn’t have much red in the esky so we made a call to punch way south in search of some new ground. Again, plenty showing on the sounder and despite trying a heap of new ground, we reverted to some old faithful spots which saved the day with some very healthy reds hitting the deck. the biggest breaking the magical 10kg mark.

Another couple of rest and maintenance days were then in order. The eskies still copped a hiding tho!!

Last fishing day we again were on the hunt for reds and trying new ground. Some of the crew had left so we just took one boat. with an awesome forecast, we headed out around 730 am in search. And this time it paid off!

Had a few drops on some new spots for a couple of robbo’s and spangleds (returned) and then tried a new spot not showing a lot on the sounder. All hell broke loose for about an hour with double header reds, spangleds, robbos etc hitting the deck on every drift.

With the boat bagged out, we headed back in for an early lunchtime finish. One of the hottest ‘red bites’ I’ve had and not a bad way at all to complete the catch.

Out of everyday, we only had one day where the sharks bothered us and we lost a few good fish. You just have to keep moving.

 Well...my annual report on our annual trip north to Coral Bay. 2024......hard work, just shows why its called fishing and not catching......but love it to pieces...an overview below. Once again....not enough fish pics..When will i learn.

April 2024- excitment is building, taking a cpl of newbies and a seasoned campaigner  on their first trek to Coral Bay on the Boys trip. To say the excitment was high is an understatement. The boys have listened to my stories of all these red emperor etc ..uh oh...hind-site is a wonderful thing.

Day before departure- issues already ???  I am washing my ute before packing and out of nowhere- my canopy window explodes like a 12 guage..u are joking !!!! broken glass everywhere..departure in 14 hrs, what to do..go to Westerberg Panel Beaters in Albany [ yes this is a plug as they where awesome !!] explain my prediciment- he says swing it in right now and we will sort it out with smash wrap etc...a bit of $$ plus some cold beers..these guys where amazing and have my business for life now !!! Driving home i get a call form one decky in Margaret river..his new ranger has gone into shut down mode at  midday..oh shit..towed to Ford- not fixable for 2 weeks. Some phonecalls and he has an old  work ute sorted..fingers and toes crossed it gets 18 hrs up the road and back...things are shaky and we havent left!!!!  Pack and pray was the order for the arvo..

Day#1- Leave Albany 5am, make a cpl of decky pick ups, the bullshit level is extreme, the boys didn't realize had the voice of an angel-  but 9 hrs later we roll into Nth Gero safe and sound..the Decky form Margs rolls in an hr after us-the team is together..plans a plenty that night..rest up.

Day #2 Leave Gero early..non eventful . We plan and put to the committee [ i was president of course !!]  the numerical point sytem I had concocted  and laminatedto score points for any legal fish that came aboard of course the better the fish, the higher the points..EG- Reds where 25 points, SPangos -5 points.....basically the points where tallied untill the last day, the winner gets a free feed and drinks on the last night..Throw some things where minus points where awarded-this proved to be a big talking point over the trip... into CB mid arvo. MIld weather-beautiful...early 30's for our stay..not as hot as normal.  1st thing- cold drinkies form the Engel..before tackling the unload. Done by mid arvo, downing cold bevvies and then the standard pub dinner 1st night..beautiful. Chatted with some locals we know- moon and tide not good for our stay..they ask why did we book these dates???...oh dear, i start to wonder a little..

Day#3- Good enough to go fishing, but weather looks real good mid/long term. We have 2 weeks to get our 10 kg of fillets..-lets chillax...boys went for a dive, got a few Occy's, then we got into a few squid along with some cold bevvies- life is good and we have slipped into the Bay lifestyle quickly..

Day #4 and 5- Fishing we go...wow...fishing was hard work..man did we have to do some Km's and effort to get our limit. As normal, i am fussy and keep the quality, send a lot back..but not much coming over the gunnells so we did well to get our limit these days-but hard work. Fish cleaning station was all chatter about the same-hard work...time to put my thinking hat on.

Day#6- the boys convince me to go to South Indonesia and go for Rubies as this was on the 3 boys  bucket list as they had not caught one- skipper wants to see them happy- fuel up to the brim, off we go to 380m..oh dear, 1st 2 drops in my never fail spot sees a nett result of fluff all...Skipper hat goes on and start thinking outside the square.  Off to some ground that rarely produces more then 1 or 2.... BANG- we are on them, they are hungry and we need to count..stop fishing......a cpl of good ones, but mostly great size. Photos all round, skipper has done his job and the boys are on fire..this makes me happy. The steam in is always good when there is a big esky of fish and some cold drinks-everybody wins 

Day#7- rum day..lets just say we had plenty of fish and we decide to have a cpl days off fishing-so we go hard..maybe a little too hard...Drinks a plenty from lunch till stumps, a cpl other crew we know come round with the same intention Lots of stories, heaps of bullshit-as u would expect. Who knew I am the Yatzee champion of Coral Bay..  plus Poker gets messy....great night

Day#8- did u read day#7...headaches and a very slow day around the house...a cpl of dips to clear the heads and whoops...we have some coldies again by mid arvo-albiet fairly slow ones.

Day#9- off to Exmouth to show the newbies around. Hoping to go to our secret Occy spot to get a bucket full...but tide was too high. A quick look around all the tourist things, a standard Tackleworld stop to buy more rods we dont really need, off to the Potty for a lunch and a punt-life is good once again. Highligh was sitting up at the lighthouse and some proper military jets went past..we could see the pilots smile they where that close- the sound and visual...awesome !!!!

Day #10/11/12- weather is schmick..off we go trying all my normal tricks..fishing is really hard. Day #10 i did 150kms on the water..the first 6 hrs we had 1 x Rankin Cod...my worst effort ever..then found some new ground and off we go - filled the bag up in 25 mins..how fishing works ?? Day 11/12 where similar, hard work to catch a few but we gett here...just quietly putting on here that the extra bonus 100 points to the longest Red Emp for the trip...well the skipper here pulls the biggest one for the trip in the last hr-putting him from 2nd to first and taking out the 1st Annual Trophy for most points- of course calls where made about rigging it and only going to that  spot last etc. etc...just saying-it could be the best fishermen just got there in the end !!!!

Day 13/14- I pull rank with experience...no more fishing and spending $300 on fuel/day plus $200 on gear to sharks [ plus i was leading the points tally!!] .....lets put it into booze !!!! everyone agrees...:) Snorkling, general relaxing and doing a fuel touristy things for the newbies..what a way to finish the trip -super chilled.

Day 15- well...we decide to do the 17 hrs straight home to Albany..Big effort, but we get there safely with no dramas. Gee that pillow was sooo good this evening..had a dream run even through Perth at 5pm..lucky days..

Overview- i've been going to CB  a long time and have caught plenty of fish every time -but this year was the hardest ever...Red Emp where great size, but so few and far between...but it just showed me with using my experince and my never give up attitude- we rustled up plenty of fillets of top quality fish and most important made memories for life. Sharks where present, but i think they looked worse purely because we where not pulling fish in non-stop...but manageable-they still favor red emp though, thats for sure!!!!  The more years i go to CB, the more the memories become of the things other than fish..As a skipper who gets more enjoyment out of seeing a newbie get his 1st Ruby than catching another one myself....i get great satisfaction in these moments. 

The bay is back baby...i reckon it has rebounded from Covid times and back to normal- although no 'real'pub to go too was interesting...i am already sooooo loooking forward to next year, bring on April.

FYI- if u want a laugh, go to Youtube and watch/subscribe  our videos - Fullbag Fishing....just some peanuts having fun and not taking fishing too seriously...life is too short.

Till 2025....

so overdue report for the trip to monkey mia end of march.

was a cyclone offshore up at exmouth, so trip was looking a bit dicey as weather report was changing every day. luckily moved furtehr offshore woithout too much effect, but unfortunately made for a lot of wind all week. most days quite a lot of southerly whcih made finding a shletered spot a bit difficult, but the boat handled things amazingly so still managed some good fishing.

trip started off a bit tumultous, after onbly getting the boat 3 weeks before, i had a hell of a task getting it run in and getting its 20 hours  and first service done before leaving. throw in some dickly trialer/brake lights (flled with water after 2 dunks) that needed fixing, and weighing, gvm upgrade for the car, made for some busy weeks leading up to it!

drove t lancelin on the firday with the aim to depart at 3:30am to get up there early arvo. drove to lano and found brand new airbag deflated on l side. strnage as filled before i left. got under the car, and found they had left massive loop of cable and strapped it right next to the exhaust, so it had melted clean thorugh!/ luckily enough cable left for me to jimmy a reattachment and get them working.

drive up uneventful. towed really well, averaged about 22l/100km. slow on the hills etc, but crusing speed didnt know the boat was there.

arvo we arrived was glamour conditions, but only had 2-3 hours before sunset to test the boat out. went close and swarmed by silver cobbler and small black snapper.

unfortnately rest of the trip was windy as hell! managed to get to some of mya marks 9have only fihsed here twice before) for a good session of rankin cod.

found numeorus tuna busting up, managed to get 3 around the 15kg mark before they got spooked, kept 1, let the rest go.

next day was a write off, ripping southery ruined everything.

one day ut denham side motored to levelian schoals heading to some markes north of dirk hartog, but then relaised didnt have as much fuel in reserve as i would like, so couldnt get to where i wanted (was still getting used to the fuel consumption etc). but managed ot pick up a good cobia on a floating mulie. thorugh was  a shark at first, so stoked when got closer to the baot.

some mroe rankin, cod, then back to the ramp nice and slow to conserve fuel.

hepas of turles and sharks seen.

out form mobkey mia side next day came on a school of big golden trevally. tripple hookups. bloody good fun, and then they were gone. kept 1.

lots of bonito schools.

heaps of school mackerel .

lots and lots of silver cobbler lol.

highlight was having the floater go off, then mate thought was nothing on, but was just swimming towards us. gave it a good yank and a bloody tiger shark jumped clean out of the water, head and tail. then screamed off into the distance like a freight traiin. quickly cut the line.

that image is burned into my brain.

weather made for some beautiful sunsets/scenery.

flies were atrocius.

all in all trip was great, first dedicated fishing trip i have done, so was a bit of learning.

apart form some sooky deckies giving attitude, it was a fun trip

amazing place, and cant wait to get back there . would love to experience it with some good weather. think next time will likley take the family instead of a boys fishing trips. Either that or let someone else do all the work/supply the boat/car etc! lol!

 Over last few weeks only managed to head out for a fish 3 times. Missed the start of the demersal season, but at least didn't have to deal with the madness lol!

trip 1 headed to the 40s. Managed a good baldy at 55cm, smaller dhu at 45, but clearly some barotrauma so baked whole that night and fed 4 easy. Got a big harlequin, then got spiked by a bloody scorpion fish. By jeebers they hurt. Just a tiny nick but still had my whole hand throbbing.

trip 2 anchored in the 3 mile burleying for snapper. On way out ( just in sunrise) managed to go over a cray ripe. Luckily just around the legs, not the prop so easily unhooked. Annoying part is I saw the floats and gave what I thought was a wide berth, but turned out to have moles of rope on the surface. Annoying given only I. About 12m! Luckily no damage done. Only a few smaller models, picked up a 40 dhu, but released well given shallow and slow retrieve. Another big harlequin ( developing a taste for these!), and a nice fat kg at 58cm. Went for a snorkel at rotto looking for crays but didn't find any.

trip 3, 2 days later headed to same spot with a mate who hasn't been fishing in years. 15m of water I got a decent breaksea but nothing else. Mate got a 73cm dhu, and a cracker 62cm kg. Headed home at 11 so the wives didn't get narky. Filleted the dhu for my mate to take home, and we kept the wings and frame for dinner. I'm starting to enjoy the wings and frame more than the fillets. Shame that so many got waste. 
Good to get some blood in the new boat, and finally out in some decent weather!
 

Had another cracking trip to the Cocos Islands in January, product testing several new Flig colour schemes.

Went for a fortnight and lined up a couple of mates who were keen to do a week each, back to back. We did six days with the guide (Rizan from Chasing Island Tails) and the rest was self guided. We caught fish every day.

As always the hospitality and warmth of the local Cocos Malay population was first class. Had a new phenomenom this trip with the local kids (and several adults) keen to clean me out of any spare fligs I had. Sold a few mid trip but held them off till the afternoon before I flew home when they cleaned me out of everything I had left. Their instagram feeds since then have been a joy to look at.

Highlights were plenty but some of the main ones were Brad's PB of 72cm on the first day, Brad raising the bat at 50 bones on his maiden trip, Brad's cracker permit on flig, Eric's nice sightcast barracuda and plenty of good bones, a 3kg mud crab that Eric (a chef) turned into a feast, a 75cm bone for myself, sight cast flats fugu and so on.

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.

If you're after any specific info on the trip, send me a message.