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bluewatermag.com.au 33HOT BITES | INTERNATIONAL
3 PANAMA: Black marlin and roosterfish
Larger female black marlin
moved in over recent months
and have put crews and anglers
to the test. The black marlin
bite is only eight to 13km
from the lodge, with most fish
caught trolling small live tuna.
Further offshore, on the
drop-off, blue marlin have been extremely active and we’ve
enjoyed large shoals of yellowfin tuna and dolphinfish. Sailfish
have also been in the mix, giving anglers a good chance of getting
a Grand Slam.
As the water cools slightly into April and May we expect the
billfish bite to slow down just as the inshore fishing turns on. It is
then time to head for the shallower reefs and pinnacles targeting
roosterfish, trevally, cubera snapper and grouper.
Richard White – Tropic Star Lodge
Email: [email protected]2 GUATEMALA: Back to red hot
January was slower than average off the
Pacific coast of Guatemala, but in February
things got back to normal with warmer blue
water pushing in close and the bite turning
on big time.
Boats averaged 50 to 70 sailfish raises
a day, with as many as 100 in the spread
on the best days for top boats. Some blue
marlin were caught – and an occasional black
or striped marlin – but they were lazy in
general. However, the dolphinfish bite was
phenomenal, with most fish 15 to 20kg.
We are now expecting a spectacular
season ahead, with world-class billfishing in April and May. These
are some of our favourite blue marlin months, and there are big
numbers of sailfish.
Capt Brad Philipps – Guatemalan Billfishing Adventures
http://www.guatbilladv.co4 KONA, HAWAII: Big blues move in
As winter approaches, the smaller bait has
moved in on the ledges and the skipjack
tuna have moved out.
Blue marlin are still consistent, with most
boats getting a bite every day, and on
average the fleet has caught at least two
fish over 200kg each week.
However, not much to say for the stiped
marlin, spearfish or big yellowfin tuna as
they have yet to make a strong appearance.
Dolphinfish have been found on floaters
out wide, but few have been caught on the
troll.
Spearfish should show up thick through April and May, with larger
blue marlin arriving too. History shows these months to produce the
largest of the marlin ever caught here.
Capt Chris Donato – Grander Marlin Sportfishing
http://www.grandermarlin.com1 CALIFORNIA/BAJA: Record yellowfin
The hoped-for bonus bluefin bite has fizzled
in California and has been overshadowed
by huge white seabass, just in time to
replace the seasonal bottom fish closure
which is now in effect. In the meantime,
long-range charter boats from San Diego
manage a steady pick of cow-sized yellowfin
tuna down in Mexican waters despite cranky
weather. Locally-based charters also scored
yellowfin in the 140kg class, and the pictured
192.32kg (424lb) monster taken on 24kg
tackle in the Sea of Cortez near Loreto,
B.C.S. is now a pending IGFA world record.
California awaits the yellowtail and hopes for bluefin tuna as
well, while the long-range fleet anticipates calmer weather and a
stronger bite of tuna and wahoo.
Gary Graham – Baja On The Fly
http://www.bajafly.comPhoto: Jay Yadon, Outpost Charters