The Nuevo Vallarta fishing report starts off with some major changes this month. First is the cooling weather and some water temperature changes In the bay and offshore. We had incredible fishing temperatures in November to fish off of. The temperatures were around 78 degrees. Since the temperatures had dropped a few degrees inshore and offshore fishing. We have had to rethink our fishing places and plans.  Such as switching lures, running different baits, and changing some of the fishing spots we like in the winter months.  The water never gets really cold here in the Bay of Nuevo Vallarta or offshore. But it does have an effect on our fishing and the way that we fish during the winter months. Let’s take a look at some inshore action first.

For the inshore fishing, there will still be mahi-mahi around, yellowtail, roosterfish, Spanish mackerel, snapper and the fantastic eating California Bonita. The best way to catch these is on the troll. If we are lucky enough, we find them schooling and can use some pitch baits or different jigs we have for casting. We will start seeing large schools of the yellowtail here and they are usually caught on live bait. If you catch them surfacing here on top of the water on some of the bait balls that are moving in for the winter months they’ll bite on anything. We should start seeing some more roosterfish with some snapper over on the South Shore in a couple of coves where we catch fish in the winter months. This is typically done with live bait or some pitch baits. It’s not uncommon this time of the year to start seeing schools of snapper inside the Bay and just offshore. If you’re looking for a fun time this winter and don’t wanna spend all day on a boat choose one of our four or six-hour trips and you’ll have the time of your life here in Nuevo Vallarta. Around Christmas time everyone thinks folks are around the fireplace with grandma, but I guarantee you a lot of them are gonna be down here on the beach with us or offshore fishing.

The offshore fishing will change as the water cools down some of the larger marlin and tunas will move further offshore. They will be replaced by the striped Marlin. These fish love the cooler water and of course, the tuna we catch will be working around on the thermoclines. You can find tuna schooling sometimes, but not as much as in the Fall. One of our favorite trips is 8 hours going out for a big game fish like sailfish, striped Marlin, and Mahi- Mahi. If the action is not there we can always revert back and come into some of the places that are producing great action inside the Bay and catch a boatload of fish for our clients.

During the winter months, the best type of fishing offshore is trolling using skip baits with some high-speed lures along with sewn-up baits like goggle eye or mullet. When we know there’s a large concentration of Marlin or tuna around, we’d love to fish with the 5 to 10 lbs live baits. Three rules of fishing offshore live bait, live bait, and of course, live bait.

Some sailfish action right here.

As I said inside the Bay the water had dropped a little bit cooler so you’re looking at some 75 to 76 deg. Here inside the bay in most places. Offshore fishing is seeing a little warmer water at 78 deg. Most places have fantastic water clarity. The wind is laid down and is pretty flat for most of the trips that we’ve been doing. If you’re coming down for the weekend and just want to check the latest conditions feel free to give me captain Pete a call on our toll-free line. 800 4306048. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions about fishing or any other water-related sports or upcoming weather conditions.

Merry Fishmas and hope to see everyone out there on the water here in Nuevo Vallarta fishing.

Capt. Pete  and crews

Take a look at our sister city Puerto Vallarta fishing report