Ixtapa/Zilahuenueo Questions......

[tailchaser]

Looks like my father, uncle, and I are going to head south in January for some Mexican fishing. I know some people on the board have traveled here before and was looking for any good advise on where to stay, where not to stay, and what charters we should look for when we're down there. Ideally, we'd like to chase billfish for at least three days, we may rent a panga for a local excursion one day also, but we're targeting largers species.

We've looked at Cabo,PV, and Hawaii also, but it seems January is kinda slow for billfish during this time in those locations. We're all ears if someone has a hotspot that time of year. Thanks in advance.

tc

[Aqua-Holic]

Tailchaser....I've gone to Zihuatanejo the last 2 yrs with Skein. In April of '04 and March of "05. Therefore can't address the fishing in January. Zihua has 3 beaches..La Ropa..La Madera...and La Principal. La Ropa is more touristie and maybe a little more expensive. Madera and Principal run together closer to town... (withing walking distance to the fishing pier and town).
We've made 4 boat trips...2 pangas and 2 30 footers. Fishing was slow for us. I enjoyed a panga trip in the area of Ixtapa Island. Caught a few small fish and then took them to the island to be prepared for lunch. I believe that was Hawaiiana(sp)Tours. Have no preference on charters. A few names are in no specific order:
Dos Hermanos,Vamanos,Gringo Loco and Whiskey charters. Some work out of both Zihua and Ixtapa.

http://www.zihuatanejo.net/fishreport.html


We stayed at La Casa Sun and Moon on Madera both trips. Rooms run from $85 to $125 a day. Couple more names for rooms are:
Bungelows Ley, Hotel Irma, La Quinta Don Andres and Villas Miramar.......all on Madera

http://www.zihuatanejo.net/hotels.html

The following is a Ixtapa/Zihua message board with maybe some helpful info:

http://www.zihuatanejo.net/wwwboard/

Pm me with any questions.
Good Luck.......

[skein]

What he said.

I've looked back through my Zihua stuff and can't add much to what AquaHolic said. Seems that Pollo was the skipper on the last trip and while we didn't catch any fish, I could not have asked for anyone to work harder. I would book with him again. I think his boat was one of the Don Gordo boats, probably a 30' cruiser. His office is right there at the end of the dock at the marina.

And speaking of marina's, the cruise ships have really changed things. Half the marina is blocked off for their passengers, and the whole town takes on a different flavor when they come in. I think they were gearing up for 2-3 a day, which probably means you can kiss the old Zihua goodbye.

The panga guy is definitely Hawaiiana charters, right near the big stage setup at the beach side of town. Nice guy and he took us for probably the best trips we had. One day was surf fishing and sight-seeing, and the other time was what Dean described; a close-in light-rod fishing trip with a stop at Xtapa Island for a delicious shore lunch and some snorkeling.

Oh, and speaking of food, be sure to try Pozole at Atole's and Tamale's restaraunt. It's authentic Mexican food and all good!

For surf fishing I used big crocodiles in all silver and just watched the birds working up and down the beach. If I go back I will take some fishtraps to toss as well. The baitfish I saw weren't all that big, and a smaller offering may have worked quite well.

Our best surf fishing was at Barra de Potosí which is south of town about 15-20 miles. Had a nice shore lunch there too.

Here's a link that describes the beaches aroiund Zihua: Beaches

I'll post some more info as I dig it up. Wish I was going.

Skein

[RaiderRon]

A really good website for those planning a vacation is called Trip Advisor.Com. It will show you pictures of hotels, ratings from actual guests, compare prices for you, review restaurants, activities, etc. Take a look and have a great trip.

[FASTWATER]

Check out Ed kunze (edkunze@gmail.com) he will take great care of you!!! January is the monthf or zihue sailfish try to book when it is about new moon time of the month as the full moon puts the bite off a little bit. It also is the busiest time of year down there so you need to get busy if you want a good boat most of the rteally good boats will all ready be booked up but ed will do you right! We have been going down ther for four years and the average day you hook at least 4 or 5 sails daily with 23 boated in three days of fishing 2 years ago and uncountable fish raised in those three days. I usually stay at Ixtapa since it is nicer,cheap and just a short taxi ride to zihue! I have fished Cabo,Pv and would not waste my time personnelly anywheres else after discoverying Zihue in january or Febuary as it is the best these 2 months then it definitely tapers off fast,Good luck!!!PEACE

[tailchaser]

thanks guys, we're looking forward to the trip. Should be a nice time to sit and relax with a margarita that's for sure. I'm checking into the sites mentioned and captains also. The plane is booked, so we're half way there.

tc

[garyk]

Great post fastwater.

I usually stay at Ixtapa since it is nicer,cheap and just a short taxi ride to zihue!

Do you have any recomendations (or NOT recomended) for lodging in Ixtapa?

[skein]

We spent one day on a panga with Monsarrath Charters, and they were a SCAM! We booked that one at our hotel which is mistake #1. Go to the pier, watch the skippers and clients, see the catches, etc, etc. And don't waste good money on the above mentioned jerk. Go with Hawaiiana Tours.

Skein

Look Here

[garyk]

Thanks. Good book mark!

Ix-Zi, here we come

Gotta buy those Avet reels

[FASTWATER]

I stay at the dorado pacifico ixtapa really nice place oceanview restaurant with decent food to finish up your day