Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Right about now, after reading my weekly reports, I am sure you're ready to start hearing about Yellowfin Tuna. Well, the good news is they're at Corbeteña. The kinda down side of this is they weren't taking baits for love or money. That was a few days ago, now we're seeing some nice sized Yellowfin Tuna, football sized at 50 to 360 lbs or so, but this is great news. For early June, this is not exactly normal.

Other good news is Chorras, or bait sized Bonito / Skip Jack Tuna, are just pouring into the area. As we see more bait like this we'll see larger and more abundant game fish of the trophy sized version. So get your reels ready, change last year's line and count your pennies. Puerto Vallarta's High Season for fishing is coming on strong!

We just had Hurricane Amanda fizzle out, it was slow and destined to fizzle. We've had horribly hot and humid days for what is still considered Spring. This is not exactly surprising since we've seen water temperatures at the deep water locations jump from 81 degrees to 85 degrees in just a few days. Remember weather patterns always, always, always follow water temperatures.

Hurricane Amanda did its job, it pushed Tuna, Marlin and who knows what else into the area. Bait, no worries, Chorras out past the Marietta Islands, Goggle Eyes everywhere in bait balls the size of Tuna McDonald's (parking lot and all). What was overabundance is now perfect for the level and quantity of fish moving in. If it sounds like I'm excited, I am... for a reason. It's because this is an indication of the season to come.

What was clear and clean green water for what seems like weeks has turned into the bluest of blue waters. Sapphire blue water is great for visibility and seeing your presentation (bait that is). So everything is coming into alignment for a super summer fishing season.

An example of this would be Yellowfin Tuna (Footballs) in the 60 lb range at Corbeteña. A few days ago, the Magnifico headed out and found Tuna, but couldn't get them to take a bait. Now we know "there is no crying in Fishing," but it was enough to make you want to throw a fit. Nothing worse than seeing your targeted species ignore your bait.

Well, this begs the question: Why? Well the answer is RED CRABS! That's right folks, with the currents in early summer or late spring comes the Red Crabs, Yellowfin Tunas favorite food. These fish will go after these red crabs faster than my ex wife after a new Nordstroms credit card! Hard to compete bait-wise with Red Crabs.

If you don't know about these crabs, they have an air bladder they fill which makes them float like a thin crust pizza on the water surface. When they get hungry, they deflate the bladder, sink to the sea floor and pig out. When this happens you'll see the Yellowfin Tuna, but they won't take bait. This is because they're all "bottom feeding" on the hungry crabs looking for dinner. How they eat these things is beyond me, but they eat jelly fish as well, so go figure. But this explains why they wouldn't take baits! They are still out there in small patches, drifting off, some of which are in Banderas Bay...

Now, what we ARE seeing is abundant Goggle Eyes, and we can deal with them. Throw in Cubera Snappers (jigging), Sailfish and all of a sudden you have a reason to break into the piggy bank. Things could explode in both fish size and species available, so stay tuned.

El Banco, a site we don't talk about much come winter, is showing signs of revival as Blue Marlin are moving in nicely following the Football Yellowfin Tuna at 60 lbs, just like Corbeteña. You'll find Sails, maybe some Dorado, and that's about it for now. Still early, may still be a little early for El Banco to start firing, but this is a teaser of things to come.

Now, north of Punta Mita, we're still seeing Sailfish. Why? Who knows, but they're hanging out. If you have a Sailfish desire you can head out this way, but in a week they'll be thicker at the Marieta Islands. Dorado are around the buoys running about 35 lbs. Not a bad location to check out and hit the Marieta Islands on the way back. Sardines are thinning out, Goggle Eyes are probably eating them, but bait is bait and Mother Nature has her own ways of working overabundance out in a hurry.

The Marieta Islands are still luke warm, but getting warmer. Some Sailfish, but mostly Snappers, Bonito, and Rooster fish in the 45 lb range. As the Sardines thin out, Rooster Fish have no issue taking Goggle Eyes at all. I have fish charts up on my site, but in reality these fish don't follow any real patterns. They turn up in August, March, July, and anytime they feel like it. For now, we're lucky - so get your butts out there! Some Dorado, small in the 25 lb range, normal for this time of the year, so feel lucky about this.

Inside Banderas Bay we're seeing an explosion of Bonito, Skip Jack Tuna and Snappers, for the moment in 15 to 25 lb ranges. One thing to remember, as it rains inland it swells the local rivers which, in turn, dump into the bay. Where the fresh water, or Agua Dulce, meets the ocean salt water there will be a variety of fish hanging out. Robalo or "Snook" to those up north, are there waiting for seeds, roots, leaves, any tasty morsel they can chow down on. This is a real opportunity to boat 25 to 45 lb white meat fish that fight well and taste even better. Just a little secret that nobody but the nationals seem to understand or pay attention to.

Also in the bay are still some Jack Crevalls, Snappers, Bonito, Dorado to 20 lbs and up. Skip Jack Tuna about 35 lbs are hanging around Yelapa. There are also Red Crabs in this area so make a daisy chain out of these crabs and let the Skippies slash your line. Smaller Tuna are great tasting, strong fighters on light tackle, and fun.

OK, the bite is happening about the same time as last week in the morning hours, but it's happening a little later in the afternoon after 2 pm, so if you're leaving too early in the morning, leave a little later and catch both bites. As far as lures go, Petrelaros (I know I spelled that wrong) of green and purple are about the only lures that are working right now. Cedar plugs are automatic, Goggle Eyes and of course Chorras are working well.

Blue water that's just getting warmer by the day will just lead us into what I am predicting will be a wonderful season for all of us fishing fanatics. So get in shape, get your gear ready and sign up for my Reel Time Fishing Reports by firing me an email. Get it first here, get it fresh from the only real time source of fishing information about Puerto Vallarta available from a reputable source you already know!

Until next time don't forget to kiss your fish - and remember, at Master Baiter's Sportfishing & Tackle, "We Won't Jerk You Around!"