2017 Puerto Vallarta Trip – Marla Sportfishing Charters 1-5 December 2017
Fishermen – Mike Pate, Alan Tani, Mark Thomann, Dave Hoffman
Dec 1 - Day One - Left home (Albany, GA) at 4:30 AM. Arrived ATL Marriot parking at 7:30, shuttle to airport by 8:15. Flt left at 10:00. Direct flt was full but OK. Arrived PVR 1 pm (CST). No problems and no lines at Customs and Immigration. We were all supposed to meet at the Oxxo convenience store near the terminal entrance at 3 PM. Very warm and humid, I drank several beers while I waited. No cell service for my phone. Mark Thomann arrived about 3 PM. Waited another hour for Alan Tani and Dave Hoffman. C and I was backed up. Scott Osuna picked us up about 4:30 for the 30 minute drive to the marina. Stopped at a Mega supermarket/liquor store and got 4 bottles of tequila and a dozen limes. Loaded gear on boat. Ate a nice dinner (I had tuna steak) and drank LOTS of tequila at a marina restaurant. Left at dusk, boat ran all night to Tres Maria's South island. About 80 miles.
Dec 2 – Day 2 – Up at 4:30 AM. We caught 9 YFT school tuna, total weight about 500 lbs. Biggest two 80 lbs. I caught 2 YFT's, a 60 and a 50. I lost 2 fish, all my fault on one of them. I set the drag too tight and too early. Alan cleaned the fish, 140 bags of 1.5-2 lb tuna steaks. Food on the boat was great. Roberto is a good cook. Dave caught a nice Mahi, Roberto made ceviche. A lot less tequila was consumed this evening. And we all went to bed very early.
Good crew, brothers Scotty and Roberto, plus Antonio and Scotty jr. Marla IV is a 36' Blackfin. Great tackle. Makiera reels, Seeker rods. Plus Alan bought his usual great stuff. After dinner, started motoring to the west side of the North Island. About a 4 hour trip at 10 knots.
Dec 3 – Day 3 – up at 3 AM, my internal clock is still on EST. I lost a nice one before dawn. Went into low gear too early and he made a run for the boat. Rookie mistake. Alan caught a 215, then I caught an 85. Dave lost one, then Mark caught a huge 270. All this before 2 PM. But Scotty jr washed the lunch dishes in the bait well and killed all the bait. Bummer!!!! Trolled the rest of the afternoon and evening to the South end of middle island to sabiki up some bait after dark. No hits on the troll. With a full moon and clear skies, the crew said catching live squid would be very difficult, so we didn't even try. I ate sushi for 1st time. Not impressed, but tequila helped wash it down. Damn they like hot food down here. Almost out of Zantac by the end of day 3. Motored the 25 miles back to the North Island to overnight.
Dec 4 – Day 4 – Up at 3:30 AM. Extremely slow day. No wind and little current. Got cabbies from a panga before dawn. They didn't survive very long in the live well for some reason. Hoping to catch a nice tuna for Dave and myself soon so we can go bottom fish for pargo. No such luck. Fished for tuna all day. Nada. After dinner, headed back toward PV, trolling for about 2 hours. Nothing hit. Stopped for an hour or two on the NE side of middle island to bottom fish. I hooked a decent bottom fish on a jig tipped with live bait but got tangled in the other lines and lost him. Don't think anyone else even got bit. Put up the tackle and headed back to PV. So for half the trip, we didn't put a fish in the boat. But still ended up catching over 1,000 lbs of tuna.
Dec 5 – Day 5 – Up at 3 AM. Arrived at dock about 4:30 AM. Unloaded everything, packed fish into coolers. I only brought a 12 pack insulated cooler, so I took home only 15 pounds of fish. Ate breakfast at an open air kiosk at the marina. Got a shuttle bus back to the airport, arrived about 10 AM. Breezed through check-in and security. My flt was at 12:40. Mark and I sat and waited on Alan and Dave for almost 2 hours. Alan and Dave got hung up in check-in with all their fish, never even saw them to say goodbye before my flight left. Had to change planes in Mexico City. Arrived ATL at 7:45 PM. No problems with Customs and Immigration. Shuttle to the Marriott, on the road by 8:45. Rained most of the way home. Home by 11:30 PM.
Trip Critique – Obviously the bait dying was the low point of the trip. We were on a good pattern and catching good fish before that happened. And didn't catch a single fish afterward.
Weather was great. Mid 80's for a high, maybe 70 for a low. Mostly clear skies, low winds and relatively calm seas. The Pacific was truly pacific.
Only change I would make to the boat is thicker mattresses on the bunks, and some cushioned seating at the stern. You do a lot of standing and sitting while waiting for the bite.
Good crew, good boat, good friends, and a good time overall. Dave and I both missed out on a 200+, but there is always "next time". Thanks for the invite, Alan.
I've already planned a return trip for 2018.
Mike Pate
12/8/2017
Congrats Mike!
Nice report Peaches.
PS, you're such a fish hog!
Quote from: stoked4fishin on December 09, 2017, 02:38:50 AM
Congrats Mike!
Thanks, Jeff. You coming on the 8 day next year?
MP
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 02:59:39 AM
Nice report Peaches.
PS, you're such a fish hog!
Yeah, right! I caught about 200#'s this trip and you caught over 400#'s. In the last month you've got a super cow and two more that were darn close. I've never even caught a "triple digit". So who's the fish hog!
GA Mike
You going again in January? Redemption awaits! Just make sure Pepita stays away from the bait.
I figure I got a 30, 40, 60, 80 and 270 so about 480#. You would've been right there too if you weren't such a farmer... Peaches!
yeah, there was one guy ahead of mike that i had asked before and he already booked his flight. we'll have to figure something else out!
Scotty said March was looking open. I'm not doing anything in March!
So how did doing the dishes in the well kill all the bait? Did a chunk of food clog something?
Have you guys ever fished "stick baits" for tuna? Basically you take a fresh dead bait fish and rig it to look like a live fish. First, you crack it's spine. Some guys will use a tool to remove the spine. Then you put an egg sinker in it's mouth. Take some 10lb fluorocarbon line and sew his mouth shut with a needle. Then sew it's gill plates shut. Then run a shortened wooden BBQ skewer along the spine. I like to score the skewer so it breaks easily when the fish hits. The tail should be allowed to pulsate back and forth in the current. Then you bridle rig the hook in front of the dorsal fin. Looks exactly like a live fish. Works best if you are fishing in some current. It's a good technique to have in your bag of tricks in case the bait dies, you can't make bait, or the squid are really bad. You can do it with a small bait fish like a mackerel or a large bottom fish. Whatever they are eating. The stick bait takes a lot of trial and error but I'm convinced it works almost as good as a live bait. Sometimes it actually works better if they are hungry and don't want to work for it. You'll know that you have it perfected when you are checking the baits and for a split second you think it's a real fish ;D.
Where are the pictures of all the fish?
we're not really sure. i think it was from the kid using lots of dishwashing soap. one thing for sure, they were alive one hour and all dead the next! and so was the bite!!!!!!
pictures are on another post, but i'll put them up here pretty soon!!!!!
He was washing an electric skillet right in front of the bait tank and might've got soap or something in there that killed them. This was just before they died. However, after they died I didn't see any sign of any contamination. They treat the bait tank pretty cavalierly for my taste. Bait is sacred! I will say that there was nothing that would convict anyone in court but the bait seemed fine before he cleaned up and no one else got in there before it all died.
The boat's pictures are on the No Tuna No Chinga post on BloodyDecks. https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/no-tuna-no-chinga.673152/#post-4473211
Sounds like a giant conspiracy, lol.
I think you guys need to do a mythbusters experiment to rule it out.
Saw the pics. You guys killed it. Congrats.
Maybe I need to starting spending my winters down in Mexico.......................
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 04:40:15 AM
Scotty said March was looking open. I'm not doing anything in March!
Me neither. How's the March fishing down there, fish hog?
Mike
Yo no se, amigo. We can certainly find out. It's still long range season out of San Diego.
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 04:55:41 PM
Yo no se, amigo. We can certainly find out. It's still long range season out of San Diego.
Heck, let's see about putting together a Spring trip. My preference would be as early in March as possible. But I'm flexible. And cheap and easy too!
You want to get with Danny and see what's available, or should I take the lead? I'm sure we can round up two more fishermen in fairly short order.
Don't throw me in that briar patch!!!
Mike
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 04:40:15 AM
Scotty said March was looking open. I'm not doing anything in March!
I just got on a last-minute 3 day on the Marla IV leaving NEXT WEEK. I'll talk to Danny and Roberto about March openings.
GA Mike
early march is the fred hall show in long beach. it goes from march 7 to 11. i would be available after that. mike, if i can swing it, i will go on the condition that you and your wife take the trip from georgia to visit us here in california. my wife needs to meet you and the mrs. so that she start placing names to the faces of all these crazy people i fish with!
Quote from: Wally15 on December 10, 2017, 03:17:49 PM
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 04:40:15 AM
Scotty said March was looking open. I'm not doing anything in March!
I just got on a last-minute 3 day on the Marla IV leaving NEXT WEEK. I'll talk to Danny and Roberto about March openings.
GA Mike
go get 'em!!!!!!
Mike, thanks for your posting about the trip. You guys really made us feel like we were along on the trip.
Going again right away? Can we spell A-D-D-I-C-T-I-O-N???
And you really need a bigger insulated bag. Like you, not everyone likes sushi and sashimi. My wife will only eat breaded California halibut, White Sea Bass, and wahoo. Our daughter likes fish, but only thoroughly cooked.
Good luck and looking forward to your future Marla postings.
Quote from: Wally15 on December 10, 2017, 03:17:49 PM
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 04:40:15 AM
Scotty said March was looking open. I'm not doing anything in March!
I just got on a last-minute 3 day on the Marla IV leaving NEXT WEEK. I'll talk to Danny and Roberto about March openings.
GA Mike
Way to scratch that itch! Oh, and stay in high until it settles down this time!
Quote from: alantani on December 10, 2017, 06:25:47 PM
early march is the fred hall show in long beach. it goes from march 7 to 11. i would be available after that. mike, if i can swing it, i will go on the condition that you and your wife take the trip from georgia to visit us here in california. my wife needs to meet you and the mrs. so that she start placing names to the faces of all these crazy people i fish with!
I'll see what Danny has available the last half of March. Fish hog Mark has already expressed an interest in a March trip. I'll check with the S-I-L and see if he'll be the 4th.
And I've already talked to Anne about a trip to CA to visit you and Joy. Need to work out a timetable. We're already planning a 10 day to the West Country of England (Wilts and Devon) in May to visit the people I worked with back in the late 90's. No fishing involved, but lots of single malt and 6X bitters on the menu.
I didn't realize you'd gone fishing with my wife ;D
GA Mike
was talking to ben at dinner last night. we've got to get some tequila and salt on the way into town. you might consider the same. i think the mega mart will have that. gotta find squid as well!
Quote from: alantani on December 11, 2017, 05:38:20 PM
was talking to ben at dinner last night. we've got to get some tequila and salt on the way into town. you might consider the same. i think the mega mart will have that. gotta find squid as well!
don't forget lemon or lime it kicks the flavor ;D and hope you all have a blast!!!
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 04:40:15 AM
Scotty said March was looking open. I'm not doing anything in March!
I would be in for a trip in March.
Quote from: Lingwrangler on December 11, 2017, 06:37:44 PM
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 04:40:15 AM
Scotty said March was looking open. I'm not doing anything in March!
I would be in for a trip in March.
brendan, late march is open, but i'm not sure i can get a hall pass. if there is room, you definitely should go!
Quote from: alantani on December 11, 2017, 10:06:00 PM
Quote from: Lingwrangler on December 11, 2017, 06:37:44 PM
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 04:40:15 AM
Scotty said March was looking open. I'm not doing anything in March!
I would be in for a trip in March.
brendan, late march is open, but i'm not sure i can get a hall pass. if there is room, you definitely should go!
What can she be bribed with? How about as much premium mozzarella as she can stand and I cover your flight down and back? Either way, I'm in!
Quote from: Lingwrangler on December 13, 2017, 05:02:53 AM
Quote from: alantani on December 11, 2017, 10:06:00 PM
Quote from: Lingwrangler on December 11, 2017, 06:37:44 PM
Quote from: MarkT on December 09, 2017, 04:40:15 AM
Scotty said March was looking open. I'm not doing anything in March!
I would be in for a trip in March.
brendan, late march is open, but i'm not sure i can get a hall pass. if there is room, you definitely should go!
What can she be bribed with? How about as much premium mozzarella as she can stand and I cover your flight down and back? Either way, I'm in!
OK. Unless I hear differently within the next 24 hours, I'm going to call Danny and lock in the 19-23 March charter on the M4. Mark, Brendan, and I will be "definites", and Joy's husband will be a maybe. I'm sure we can scrounge up a 4th if Alan's family commitments keep him home.
I don't want to lose that slot by procrastinating until January. Speak now, or forever......
Mike
in......... ;D
brendan, want to be my travel buddy for puerto vallarta? i should be able to get us a 2-for-1 companion flight on alaska airlines. i already have your passport info to book a flight.
Quote from: alantani on December 20, 2017, 06:41:11 PM
brendan, want to be my travel buddy for puerto vallarta? i should be able to get us a 2-for-1 companion flight on alaska airlines. i already have your passport info to book a flight.
It's a done deal. Got confirmation from Danny that the Mar 19-23 trip on the Marla IV is OURS and the deposit has been sent. We just need to let him know what time everybody will be at the Oxxo at PVR so they can pick us up.
It takes a whole lot of this to hurt me!
Brendan, he just wants a travel buddy to help him tote all his STUFF! ;D
Merry Christmas
Miguelito
i found a united flight that departs SFO and arrives in PV at 2pm. brendan, if you want to, go ahead and book the flights. you should have all the info you need. plan on staying over at my house on sunday and friday nights.
I'll start looking for a flight to arrive the afternoon of the 19th, coming back on the afternoon of the 23rd.
Good luck guys. Dominick
I'll stay back and keep working. You guys go slay them, I'm planning a trip down there soon.
I booked a direct flight on Delta from LAX that arrives at 2:38 on Monday and leaves at 3:35 on Friday afternoon.
Quote from: MarkT on December 21, 2017, 03:09:19 PM
I booked a direct flight on Delta from LAX that arrives at 2:38 on Monday and leaves at 3:35 on Friday afternoon.
I'll probably take the Delta flight out of Jacksonville that arrives PVR at 12:10 and departs at 1 PM the 23rd. It's actually cheaper, and less hassle with traffic and TSA, for me to drive to JAX and take a JAX-ATL-PVR flight than it is to drive to ATL and take the same direct flight. Go figure!
I'll keep a cold barley pop waiting for you at the Oxxo!
GA Miguelito
brendan just booked a pair of flights for us on united, arriving 2pm on the 19th. hopefully it won't take an hour and a half to get through customs again!
Hey Mike
The timing may not work for me, as the October is end of the year for me at work. Still trying to figure something out though.
Now that we have worked out the details of our Cedros trip in September, I need to focus on the PV trip coming up in 5 weeks (19-23 March)
Note: we probably ought to start a new topic for this trip.
Here's what I have arranged so far.
I'm arrive in PVR at 12:10 PM on Delta 397
I'll bring about 250 vacuum bags. That should be enough for everybody.
I'll only bring one 50 qt cooler. I still have plenty of tuna in the freezer from my 2 December trips. If we catch some pargo or calico, I'd like to bring some of those back. The wife likes those; tuna, not so much. I need some of you "chefs" to give me some pointers on searing tuna steaks.
I'm not bringing any tackle. Alan is bringing me a new blue Mak 20 reel to christen on a cow (hopefully).
A quick stop at the Mega Mart for a little Don Julio and I'm good to go.
I paid a $700 deposit, or $175 each. Alan and I have reconciled his part of the deposit.
My flight on the 23rd departs at 1:00 PM. Delta 398
Darn. I have 4 Pacific fishing trips planned for 2018. I ought to go ahead and move out West.
GA Miguelito
Reading this thread makes me feel I'm going too. Thanks guys!
For searing yellowfin try this:
Set up the burner for a turkey fryer outside and get a large cast iron skillet. Turn the burner on high and leave the skillet on it for about 15 minutes to get it hot.
Melt a cube of butter and dip the tuna steaks in it so there's a thick coat on it, then dredge it in your favorite blackening spice mix. You should have a thick crust of spice on it. Drop them in the skillet, stand back a bit because it might flame up.
Cook about a minute or 2 (depending on thickness) a side so it's rare like a steak
Some good eating right there!