Winter tuna, marlin, big water fishing ideas ?

[Valv]

Guys, I would like to surprise Mrs Vignati and plan a saltwater fishing trip this winter, it's going to be my Xmas present. Tuna, marlin, etc.

Most important thing is P R I C E !!! It has to be the lowest possible, my budget is... well a trucker's budget....LOW.

If you have info on a package you tried including flight, hotel, etc, let me know, otherwise where and approx when .

Thank you

[Down Deep]

In September I went to the Big Island, Hawaii. Marlin fishing was priced between $450.00 a day per person to share a boat. Price went up if there were less than 4 to 6 fisherman on the boat. One charter captain in Kona dissuaded me from going out for marlin saying that it is a very hit or miss affair. He said a Marlin trip should consist of no less than 3 days and preferably 5 days as it is trophy hunt. He set me up with a close-in variety trip that I could get on for $135.00 as a single. There were 5 other people on the boat 4 of who were very hung over and slept most of the day so they stayed out of the way. I had a blast catching fish all day using heavy spin gear. Caught sharks, a red snapper, and five or six other species that ripped the drags off the reels. Cost $600 per person for flight and about $100 a day for lodging plus car rental. The wife and I spent two weeks and there is lots to do on the Big Island, plus you will really be on the good side of the better half when you return.

[lutzy]

Costa Rica, west side, would be a great choice for marlin and sail fish. Never been there but used to work with a guy that went about every other year in January. He used to work out for about 2 to 3 weeks before because he would get exhausted because of the number of fish he would catch. For something a little less expensive I would suggest Extapa (spelling?) Mexico. I did it for $350 and that was for the entire boat, just my wife and I (she just went to take pics of me). I don’t like to take turns, this way all the fish were mine, although I wanted her to take one. I caught 3 sails in a half day, 4 hrs, trip all over 100lbs. Package trips to Extapa can be whatever you want. From cheep cheep to really nice all inclusive hotels, which is what we have done. Plus it is a great town with a great beach, we have been all over Mexico and it is one of our favorites. We have been there twice, both in Jan. Pm me if you want hotel info of where we have stayed or the boat we took (I will see if I can find the boat info).

[wahoo]

I just returned from an 11 day long range trip out of San Diego and fish tuna, wahoo, mahi(dorado), and yellowtail a lot. Marlin are incidental to me and a nuisance. (We probably hooked 30 or so and just drive away from them when they pack up.)

But, the cheapest way to catch Marlin and throw in some tuna is Cabo San Lucas. Plenty of packages. You can get a nice hotel with pool and all and catch fish. Cabo in January is usually littered with Striped marlin. There are Blues and a few blacks, but lots of stripers from 100-200 lbs. That is what a lot of people target. If you want tuna or anything else tell them plainly or they will just chase marlin. Also, make sure they know you want them released/tagged.

Not as many sails as Costa Rica for sure, but cheaper.

Good luck.

[traveler]

Valv;

I'll echo wahoos recommedation for Cabo. I just got back from yet another week in Cabo...I've been there about 15 times over the past 10 years, and am already planning on next Oct's trip.

Great striped marlin fishing put Cabo on the map, and bang for the buck, theres no place better.

Packages... not a big fan. They're OK for air/hotel, but I'd shy away from one including the fishing. There are a LOT of good charters in Cabo...and a good number of fair/poor ones. Get some good rec's of charters and set up the fishing yourself.

Timing your trip is pretty key to a lot of southern locations...Cabo is great for dorado/tuna/some marlin from June-Nov, but the striper bite usually gets really good from Nov. thru Jan-feb., depending on the year. Tuna are usually around, but I'd go in fall if they were my main quarry.

I think Sun Country still flys charters there Dec-April, look into that for sure. There are lots of good hotels walking distance from the marina/downtown in Cabo...it's a great place to go and not have to worry about driving, taxi's, etc...pretty much a walking town as long as you make sure you get a hotel in town.

Charters in Cabo rent by-the-boat, and many companies will try to find another fisherman/copule to share with you if you like. I've done a few shares over the years, but you need to make sure your preferences line up with whoever you share with...I much prefer to go it alone.

Average Charter prices run 500-700 per day (for the boat, usually up to 4 anglers)...cheap for a top marlin destination. I can recommend good ones...

[wahoo]

traveler outlines it super well. You might try Jeff Klassen--I think he still does business in Cabo. He is well known for his surf fishing for huge roosters, but also has boat contacts. He used to have a 26 ft Mako that I really enjoyed-no cruiser amenities, but lots of fun to fish from. Last time we atrgeted wahoo, but seeing all the striped marlin my 2 kids wanted to try for them. Caught 2 in short order. Also he made his own lures.

[traveler]

Jeff is still there, his shop is right next to the mar De Cortez hotel.

[harvey lee]

I have done very well for yellowfintuna, mahi-mahi- sailfish and striped marlin in Mazatlan. The month you go will depend on the fish in those waters. I always went in Feb for the fish I named above. For the big blues and black marlin, then one needs to go later in the winter like April or May so the guides have told me but then one gets into some HUGE marlin. I always rented the boat by myself and a buddy and I believe it was like $400 a day. Plus the license about $15.

I have a friend that goes to Cabo and he said the fishing is the best. He also said it is not cheap compared to other locations. He ended up going out with a local and it took 2 days to find one as the guides were all booked when he has been there. Might want to look in advance for cabo just to be safe.

[traveler]

Booking in advance is certainly a good idea...especially at prime times, and it lets you do some research here at home to find a charter that comes well recommended.

I fished Maz a few times before drifting over to Cabo...I really like Mazatlan but day in day out the fishing just doesn't compare to Cabo. It is a little cheaper though.

But I don't agree with your friends thinking on Cabo being more expensive...not in comparison to anyplace that offers the same, or better, marlin fishing. That means places like Puerto Valharta (big tuna), Panama, Costa Rica, Hawaii...all quite a bit more expensive when you factor in air, hotel, and price of charters. Even Florida is far more expensive...you can get there cheap, but the boats are way expensive.

Hey, I wouldn't keep going back to Cabo if there was a better option...

[harvey lee]

I guess everyone has their own opinion.

[Skeeter21i]

Cabo is great but there is more to that part of Baja than Cabo. Los Barriles is about an hour from the Cabo airport on the east side of the peninsula on the Sea of Cortez. We have been going there the last five years or so. It is off the beaten path and everything is reasonably priced. We have had great fishing there and the ones that don't fish like being able to walk to everything in town, rent ATV's right there, etc.. We have been staying at Palmas de Cortez the last few years.

[traveler]

Skeeter, always think about trying the east cape, but just haven't been able to drag myself away from Cabo yet! I get the impression that the seasons up that way are more specific?

Have you fished there at different times of year, or do you keep hitting the same time frame? Also, most of what I hear from up thaT way has been about meat fish...how have you done on marlin up there?

Harvey, of course they are, but prices aren't opinion:)

[Skeeter21i]

Traveler, the east cape is great but it can be season specific like you said. I've been down there both fall and spring. We have done excellent on sails and marlin both spring and fall with multiple fish per person each day but would have to say fall is better and more consistent for billfish. We've had early spring trips that were crazy with everything: tuna, dorado and marlin and other spring trips where the marlin weren't as cooperative. Just like everywhere else in the spring, water temps and weather conditions play a role. Some friends of mine were down there last month and did great on everything. I've never been there in the winter months but the general rule is marlin fishing is pretty slow then. We always stay at Palmas de Cortez when we go down there. It is a nice and quiet place that has a good fleet of boats and everything in town is walkable for anyone not fishing during the day.

[traveler]

Skeeter: are you fishing cruisers or pangas? Doing the Van Wormer package deals. Or??

[Skeeter21i]

Traveler, I've only fished out of the cruisers but others have gone out in pangas. Van Wormer has a Minneapolis booking agent/connection and have booked that way. Have taken advantage of some of their lodging discounts from time to time but haven't really done one of their actual stay so many nights/fish so many days packages. Buddies of mine that went down last month stayed at their other resort (Playa Del Sol) and really liked it there as well.

[alwaysonthemove]

Something else to consider is FLAT FISHING. I love fishing but sitting on a boat trolling around the ocean can get kinda boring. I started flat fishing in the Carribean (Belize, Cozumel) with my wife and we would rather do that any day. Fee's are way less chances of catching fish 100%. Best thing is that it is you fishing not the captain. Also the multiple species that you catch is great. We have caught Barracuda, Bonefish, Small Sailfish, Grouper, and many many more.

I think it is better and funner cause it is just like Bass fishing you drift the edges or flats and just cast and cast till you hook into one.

[traveler]

Alwaysonthemove; Sounds like fun for sure! I always thought I'd end up doing flats, tarpon, etc...before the offshore stuff, but it didn't work out that way (not that I'm conplaining!)

I'm sure I'll get around to it...

Did you do any fly fishing?

[wahoo]

I have fished Cabo 6 or 7 times, East Cape (Playa Del Sol, Martin Verdugo, etc.) many times, fish San Diego long range (to Cabo or further) a LOT, and La Paz for 20 years-many times. My favorite is La Paz, but wouldn't recommend it in winter.

The key is what do you want? Marlin, tuna, lots of action, etc. A bit like fishing pike in MN. Are you willing to put in time for a large fish--or will you be tired after a while and just want action? You can catch a lot of 2-5 lbs northerns, but do you want a 40" plus?

The beauty of a marlin jumping, or sail, is terrific. But, having done that I like the pull of 200 plus tuna or the speed of wahoo over a marlin. Still, a misdirected marlin grabbing my bait/lure treats me to the awe of what a fish is. Cabo will give you Marlin in late Dec/Jan. Mazatlan offers more sails, etc. as does Costa Rica. I guess all advice given here has been very valid. Advice from people who want to help you and, frankly (or at least me) live through you vicariously is terrific. Every person loves fishing--so the opinions are not bad--rather pretty good.

What do you and the wife want? Every season everywhere changes what is good. I am in Australia in March--not the best time--but that is when I am there.

Bottom line is fishing is a great escape--so find what you truly want--it is there for less than you think.

[dobiel]

Best chances for huge fish at a relatively inexpensive price is going to be Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Amazing structure and a plethora of excellent captains to charter, all with the best top of the line tackle and electronics. Decent inshore bite all season long and a chance at some cow Yellowfin Tunas along with Black and Blue Marlin seasonally. Prices range from around $400/day for inshore and around $700-$1100 for offshore depending on boat size. Finding a decent, clean hotel for $350-500/ week is no problem. After last year's experience down there it's gonna be our "go to" budget fishing vacation destination from here on out. Do some research for yourself and check out the saltwater boards and you'll realize that there are a ton of great reports that come out of PV all season long.

[traveler]

Dobiel; Who did you fish with in PV?

I don't disagree...for a shot at really big fish, PV is probably a great bet.

I'm still kind of hooked on Cabo with the odds of having so many shots at nice sized striped marlin, but I think I'm getting ready to "kick the Cabo habit" and try a couple new locations...PV is first on my list...a big blue or black would be great, and one of those cow tuna would not only be a hoot, but a bunch of great eating too!

[2thepointsetters]

Guys, I would like to surprise Mrs Vignati and plan a saltwater fishing trip this winter, it's going to be my Xmas present. Tuna, marlin, etc.

For the past 6 years I wanted to catch a sailfish or marlin. I fished Mazatlan twice and three times in Miami. I never had much luck fishing in either place.

I have done a lot of research and this winter I am going to Quepos Costa Rica. The rooms are reasonable and I have 2 days offshore booked for a little over $1000. One day on a private boat and the other day we are splitting with another couple. Some of best sail and marlin fishing in the world is by Coasta Rica and Panama.

[traveler]

2thepoint; Come back on here and let us know how you do please. I had a trip to CR lined up a few years back but the guy I was going with bailed and it was too pricey for just me. I'd done a lot of research too...CR looks like a great place to visit, and I really liked the idea of great inshore fishing available, roosters, etc.. (seasonally) as well as the offshre bite being very good. We'd settled on Carrillo (sp?) for our destination, up north of Quepos. I'd still like to go one of these years. from what I hear the general bite in CR isn't quite what it used to be (surprise) but I'm sure it's still pretty darn good, and quite a bit easier to set up a trip there then to Panama, which is still pretty much a package deal from what I know.

Still, overall, If just catching a marlin is the goal, Cabo is virtually gaurenteed:)

[dobiel]

Traveler, we fished inshore with Danny Gomez on the Dhamar(La Cruz de Huanacaxtle) and offshore with Oscar Navarro(out of Punta de Mita). I highly suggest you stay somewhere on the north end of the bay like La Cruz or Punta Mita. Much closer to the fishing grounds and saves tons of boat travel time leaving you more time with baits in the water. Not to mention it's much more beautiful up there in my opinion. Those guys have been just slamming the Cows and Marlin this fall. Even though I usually save my vacations for the winter when the bites are a little tougher, I'm about ready to change it up to some fall action because the bite is just that much better and the chances for trophy class fish are very probable. Plus I'm gonna have to get my a$$ down to Cabo here sooner or later because I know that it's one of the best Striped Marlin destinations. Those PV YFT are some tough characters, though. I'm hooked and can't wait to have another crack at a big one.

Got a trip of a lifetime booked in January for Panama Sportfishing Lodge. I can't wait!

[dobiel]

2thepoint, you'll have a great chance at getting a Sail down in Quepos. We stayed in Quepos two years ago and raised 3 and got one to the boat on a very tough bite. If the pelagic action sucks down there I highly suggest doing some bottom fishing or jigging for some Grouper or Cubera Snapper. Those are some tough characters and are pretty plentiful down there from what I hear.

[traveler]

dobiel; Punta De Mita it is when I eventually get down there. Sounds like thats the jumpoff spot for most of the serious cow fishers. Fall for sure. Whats your biggest tuna to date? I got a 156 last Sept. in Cabo, but i know thats just an average fish in PV when the big ones start going.

Panama...I'm WAY jealous. Too rich for my blood, unfortunaly:( Let me know if/when you decide to head to Cabo. hard to beat the striper action when it's hot...figure on Nov. thru Jan. for your best bet.