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Captain Jeff G Illingworth Int. Cell: ( 909 ) 261-5856
offshorehunter@hotmail.com P V: 011 52 (322) 221-0998
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S ALTWATER MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR YACHT
All Down The Line
All Down The Line
914 lb Black Marlin Corbetania, Puerto Vallarta
Yellowfin Tuna Off El Banco Puerto Vallarta
OFFSHORE TROLLING IN PUERTO VALLARTA
Another great day on the water with perfect conditions, not another boats in site and a wide open bite on big tuna........ IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER!
This day was awesome as all five anglers got a fish including one tuna over 300 lbs!!!!
We spent the morning dragging big skipjacks around but were unable to get a fish hooked up. In the early afternoon the tuna were exploding all around the outside of us and it was looking like time to float the balloon. We set up a 1/4 mile above the high spots and set out the balloon and a small bait on a fly line. No sooner did we get the fly line out
it got inhaled. This was a devil of a small fish that had no intention of coming into the boat. After an hour fight it was finally subdued to end up weighing under 100 lbs. Amazing little fish. Anyway back to the game. Heading up current and getting set up again we spend a 1/2 hr on the drift when we get bit on the balloon. It didn't look like a big fish on the strike but after 2 hrs we were thinking different. Then again some of us were thinking DEVIL FISH again! Coming up on the 2 1/2 hr mark we got a look at the fish and all confirmed it was a real one! In the next 20 minutes we were able to get her to gaff. This was the biggest tuna for us on the boat weighing in at 327 lbs on our certified scale. We topped the day off with a nice dorado and releasing 2 more tuna in the low 200 lb class.
I find it amazing how this sport-fishing throws in just the right amount of mystery and content to keep you coming back again and again.
Here is an example of a fish that we were all sure was a true beast but ended up being all of 100 lbs. This fish put up a fight that rivaled anything in the sea. After all was said and done I was a little disappointed, not in the size but that this tuna should have stayed down there to spawn and make more furious little creatures. Well it's a good sign and safe to say that we have a decent stock
of healthy fish living here.
Quote from or angler Jason
"THANK GOD THEY DON'T ALL FIGHT LIKE THAT"
This is a clip from the above mentioned DEVIL FISH!
I would guess this fish weighs about 90 lbs or so.
100 POUNDS OF PURE DEVIL FISH!!!
HOLY S%!T!!!!!!!!!
I have certainly tried to do my best to refrain from the NECESSARY expletives required but this one more than called for it! That is me down on the deck getting an in your face view of the situation at hand. I have seen several of these flying marlin in my years but this guy was as close as you will ever want to get!
On the strike this fish never took a run or jumped, it just sat down there planning it's attack I guess.
After 15 minutes I grabbed the light 200 lb leader and took a couple of wraps. I could feel the leader start to stretch to the point of SNAPPING! This guy would have no part of it what so ever!!! No sooner did the fish turn away was it went totally airborne, upside down and nearly landing in the boat.
After the smoke cleared we all looked around to be sure everyone was still with us.The fish had bounced off the stern and just sat there. I pulled it close to try and release him but what we discovered next was even more unbelievable..............
The fish impaled itself on the latch to the transom door...................... GAME OVER!
This was the debut run for the 35' Cabo "CHA-CHING"
out of Marina Vallarta. Arriving to a big crowd of boats
at El Banco we worked hard to catch the skipjacks that were needed for the big tuna. After an hour we finally pick one out of the mass of leery specimens.
I would say not much more than a 1/2 hour of dragging this bait around the area we got hooked up. This was a tough one due to being tail wrapped for most of the fight. In the hot midday sun and glassy conditions the endless circles and in and out of gear went on for three hours until we finally were able to get her to gaff range. This one weighed 296 lbs.
We set up again for bait which was easier than before getting three nice 5 pounders down. It wasn't long until we were on again. This one was another quality fish of 276 lbs. We ended the day with another tuna of 235 and releasing a blue marlin in the 400 lb range.
Believe me people, when this place turns on like it always does you WILL be hard pressed to find a fishery that beats this place in quality. But beware! these grounds take some time to learn. I have fished many spots that hold the same fish but here they just don't react as you think.
SO YOU HAD BETTER BE PREPARED!!!!!!!!
EL BANCO PUERTO VALLARTA
TROPIC STAR LODGE PANAMA
We could have used some nicer weather! but as good as the Marlin fishing was it made dodging
the water spouts a little less of a concern.........
BUT ONLY A LITTLE!!!!
Fishing the famous Zane Grey Reef and a spot just above the Columbian border we found some FAT Back Marlin and all the Dorado you could want.
Another productive spot was the FAMOUS Hannibal Bank area along with Cebeco and Coiba Islands for some great inshore fishing for big snapper.
SEINERS vs SPORTFISHERMAN
When is this going to end? After someone is killed by these guys!! This is an example of the greed involved in this commercial fishing industry.........
Pay close attention to this people because it's not going to get any better. The fact is that there is too much money involved in this for the governments to step in. The governments get a huge cut after all is said and done so why would they lift a finger to stop it. I'm not sure it can be done but it is worth a try.
NEW IGFA CALIFORNIA STATE RECORD SWORDFISH 452.5 LB. ABOARD THE "ESPADON"
Captain Jeff Illingworth and angler Dave Denholm
Not many feats in the world of sport-fishing can quite compare to this one.
Just to get a daytime SWORDFISH to even pay attention to your bait let alone take it and remain attached to
the end is an extreme accomplishment.
As luck was on our side this day we managed to make this an all time capture. This was the 9th SWORDIE of
Dave Denholm's lengthy fishing career. This fish was hooked on a large Mackerel at 10:40 AM on September
the 30th 2004 while fishing the 267/499 area. Capture time was 2:45 minutes on stand up gear.
Although not the largest ever captured in Southern California waters it was the largest SWORDIE in 35+ years.
This fish was cast on by Mr. Denholm using a SHIMANO TLD 50 with IGFA 80 lb. DACRON main line and 400
lb flouro carbon wind on leader made by yours truly and a MUSTAD 11/0 7699 HOOK. The ROD was custom
built to the criteria of the prestige's AVALON TUNA CLUB.
FOR SALE 76' NORDLUND SPORT-YACHT
LOS SUENOS and GOLFITO COSTA RICA
After an 8 month stretch of exploring the Los Suenos and Golfito area of Costa Rica we finally took some time to look at all the great photos that we were lucky to have taken. I wish I could post them all. In time they will all make there way onto my site. Here are a few for now that I took during a couple days with some friends.
WEB SITE DESIGNED AND HOSTED BY CAPTAIN JEFF ILLINGWORTH
We were pulling three live skipjacks around the high spot when we got our bite. It was another perfect day with light wind and seas. The area was full of life as well as full of other boats in close proximity. When the right short rigger slammed open we knew it was going to be game on! As Hunter fed the bait to the fish my concern was the six boats including a small charter boat off our left transom and several divers to the right. As Hunter locked up the drag the fish took off like a rocket nearly missing the boat to the left and almost skewering the divers which immediately flew from the water and into their boat. I spoke to the guys later that evening at the scales and they said all they heard was an explosion on the surface and came up to see a big fish on a freight train charge directly at them. Anyway as the uncertainty of fishing goes it was our plan to RELEASE the fish, but an hour into the fight the fish had ran itself into the bottom and was pinned up against the high spot in 100' of water. With a strong current holding her up against the wall of the pinnacle it was a struggle as our only option was to move the boat up current and get the strongest guy on the rod to haul her up. That was our man Mike Oliver who spent the next 1/2 hour grinding against a four knot current and 900+ lbs of dead Black Marlin weight.
COBETANIA PUERTO VALLARTA
Just another EPIC adventure aboard the "NOTORIOUS" while fishing at Corbetania.
The day stared off with heavy rain and lightning and some reservation about even leaving the marina but that soon turned into something special. Our friend Dale got the entire boat for himself for the day and what a day/night it was. After getting to the rock (CORBETANIA) we picked up some nice bait and did the usual routine of rig them and send them out. The fishing was as slow as it could get with little signs of life and almost no current. We spent the day catching skippies with light gear that took the edge off along with several cold cervesas of course. It was getting close to dark when we started to see the bait really come up way inside the reef. We worked our way over and started hooking up some 15 pound yellowfin. During that time my plan was to set out the balloon with a cavallito in hopes of getting a big tuna. At that moment Dale hooked up a snapper that later weighed 58 pounds. During the excitement of the big snapper I saw the balloon get nailed with a big splash but missed the bait. I kept my eyes on it to get another glimpse of a tuna flying through the air and getting the hook! It was hard to believe we were finally hooked up and by now it was completely dark. It was a little eery as the rock was no more that 100 yards from the boat with the fish in every direction. After the hour mark we started to get close when the fish went crazy behind the boat and literally jumped like a marlin. We were all sure it was a tuna but the hook up was in such low light that I started to doubt weather it was a tuna at all. Marlin? shark? tuna? Anyway, an hour and a half into it we get the fish close to the boat and see it's a nice tuna. Steve grabs the leader while Ruben gets the gaff in the fish. Finally !!!!! At this time it's 10.30 PM and we are 2 hours out.
To make a long story and long day/night of fishing shorter we finally wrapped things up at 4:00 AM. It just goes to show that our never give up routine had paid off.......... AGAIN!
MAG BAY FISHING NOVEMBER 2009 ABORD THE "JERAMAR"
As good as the fishing can get at the "world famous" Mag Bay we were a little unfortunate this year as the Striped Marlin were hard to find. We were fortunate enough to find at least a Striper or two per day as well as some Blue Marlin, Tuna and lots of Dorado. We started off in early November working the 100 Fathom line out in front of the Entrada up to the Thetis and down South to the Pinnacle Rock area. In the 20+ days of fishing we watched the bite slowly increase to seeing multiple Marlin per day. One notable catch was a 250 pound Blue Marlin that was hooked by two anglers while dropping back live Mackerel. The fish was greedy and ate both baits landing two 8/0 circle hooks in each corner of the jaw. Thanks again to the owners,family and friends of the "JERAMAR" for a fun month of fishing and not to go without mentioning the incredible food throughout the entire trip.
This was just another awesome adventure to a place that is not often fished. The Island chain of REVILLAGIGEDO are over 300 nautical miles offshore of Puerto Vallarta. The Islands have
recently been declared a reserve by the Mexican Government but there is one particular island of Roca Partida that lies 60 from the largest island of Socorro. With Socorro being patrolled by the Mexican Navy we decided to head out and take a look! With no boats to be seen and keeping a close eye on every sweep of the radar we were able to manage three days of incredible fishing. With the waters infested with "BRONZE WHALER SHARKS" we were able to manage a dozen yellow fin up to 200 lbs, Marlin, Dorado and a couple dozen Wahoo for our efforts. It was however a little challenging as these sharks were VERY aggressive and would eat our catch all the way down to the hook. On the last day boating a fish was near impossible. The sharks would follow the boat and were able to get more than half of our hook ups....... I guess taking a swim was not a good idea!
FISHING THE SHARK INFESTED "ROCA PARTIDA"
