Zihuatanejo - Sailfish!!

Luckybill · 08-21-2003, 12:55 PM

Sorry no pics to post yet, but here's my report. Went out on monday w/ a very nice guy recommended to me. Had three hook ups out of five takes - first fish after a couple of hours of trolling was missed!
With a quick turn of the boat a 8foot sail was hooked and safely released after picture taken. Twenty minutes later hook up w/ a smaller 7footer however he was hooked deep :depressed: captain said we had to take him. Twenty minutes later missed a Mahi-Mahi - the only take I actually saw. :whazzup: I was holding the pole and was sick that I might have been the reason we missed it. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]
Troll for another 2 hours approx and hook into the last fish a big 10 footer!! I saw on the second jump the stomach was hanging out!! :depressed: The capitan said it was a big and I wasn't too sure until we got back at the pier and was able to talk w/ a few others that had gone out that day. I notice a 5 1/2 footer a big guy was really excited about (he said as I walked up "that one is going on the wall!")
So with it being the off season no tuna or marlin - I guess I feel really fortunate to have had the experience I did. I want to go back already!! Where is the sign up for the trip in Febuary? [img]graemlins/program.gif[/img]

Sturgeon Tom · 08-21-2003, 06:47 PM

Its storys like this that make me want to go. Congrats on the trip and the catching. It sounds like you had a real good time.
st

corrirod · 08-22-2003, 08:08 AM

They recently figured out that a marlin with the stomach hanging out is no problem and can still be released unharmed. It's a mechanism they use to get rid of something bad they have swallowed. I believe it takes several days but the stomach actually retracts back into the body cavity. In fact, I think I read that they can actually lose their stomach and still be alright.

This is a very new finding that I read about in the last year. Just FYI.

Uglygreen · 08-22-2003, 03:59 PM

Luckybill, Congrats on the Sails, After my back surgery on the 2nd of next month, we are going to get serious about planning the Zihuatanejo thing.

Rod, several of the saltwater big game sites i follow seem to have the consensus that the stomach out the mouth is OK, the fish can reswallow and survive. The stomach out the gills and they will die, or thats what the tag and release data seems to show, dont know how much truth their is to it.

UG

Luckybill · 08-22-2003, 11:04 PM

Well thats interesting. I didn't mention that beside the fact the stomach was out it was hooked deep as well. I felt bad as I had no intention of keeping the meat. I gave it to the skipper who I am sure sold it as I believe I heard one offer as we hit the pier. I wasn't prepared to bring the meat back. I did take a huge chunk to have for dinner. It was the best part of my trip. My wife had the trip from hell. She was sick before we left and her Dr said it was the Flu. It turned out to be gallstones!! :shocked: But that is another story...

fish_on · 08-22-2003, 11:21 PM

I am going in mid Febuary when there is no moon with a couple of freinds. Are there suggestions you would have for a first timer to Mexico? Where did you stay and would you recomend it? What kind/size of hooks do they use down there?
Thanks

onebadfish · 08-23-2003, 04:42 PM

hey fish on ... i go there every year. i usually fish out of zih, but sometimes i drive down to barra de potosi. awesome rooster fishing down there as well as some really big dorado and needlefish. you can get a good charter for around 140 in the zih harbor. around the end of january ther is an awesome jack cravelle bite right in the bay. we caught 9 big ones one morning and then went offshore. i've never taken my own terminal tackle down there, but i do take a box of magnum rapalas in red/white and sardine pattern. try to avoid the timeshare guys and just go down to the harbor around 1:30pm and book your own boat. i usually rent a super panga with just the captain. that way i dont end up tipping some baitboy for nothing at the end of the day.
don't miss out on the massage next to carlos and charlies on the beach at ixtapa. it's cheap and you only hear the surf up there. i'll be there for three weeks form dec22 until jan10. we usually stay with our friends there and then get an apartment in zih. best shrimp cocktail in the world can be had at daniel's restaraunt in zih between the town square and the bay. any questions, shoot...

Luckybill · 08-25-2003, 09:19 AM

Thanks UG, by the way the stomach was hanging out the gills..
Fish-on you should join the group going down in Febuary at the same time I think. A dark moon period. From what I have read in the past it seems UG has some better info on where to stay in Zihua.
I stayed in Ixtappa which about 4-5 miles away and it much more Sterile than Zihau. I stayed at the continetal plaza which was about 100.00 a day for two. I probably wouldn't stay there again as I would probably go for a much, much cheaper place in zihua. More money saved means More fishing.. I did get alot of info from a guy named Rob who has a internet page he set up and he list's who he wants. Meaning no paid advertising, its called Zihuarob's guide. Do a search and you will find it.. Search under Ixtapa.. Let me know if you want more info

Luckybill · 08-25-2003, 09:22 AM

Oh, fish-on I forgot we used size 8 hooks.. One thing I will recommend is eating at J.J.'s steak and seafood. Excellent food and Good old fashion American breakfast's..

fish_on · 08-25-2003, 09:46 AM

Thanks guys for the info, maybe we will hook up with the ifish trip. Have any of you guys ever heard of the Whisky Water World fleet down there? They seem to offer a apartment and fishing trip that is very resonable.

[ 08-25-2003, 11:00 AM: Message edited by: fish_on ]

ketchumfast · 08-25-2003, 08:34 PM

Luckybill - - I think this is the address for the website you were talking about
http://zihautanejo.net
I was searching the web when UG was first talking about the trip next spring. I'm still hoping that I can make it. I already have my reservations for a trip to the East Cape Baja in May, but hope I can squeeze in some time in Z-wat. with some ifishers. Would I be looked on as a total nerd if I didn't bring any of my own tackle, but used what was available on the boat ?
Anyway, hope UG's back surgery goes well, and we can say "Let the planning begin" :grin:

Tight lines to all