7 days in Mazatlan

[MuskieBait]

The trip took place from April 18 to April 26, 2015. We had 7 days in total and we spent most of our waking hours fishing and eating. At the beginning of the trip, I spent a few evenings grading Grade 10 Science ISU's. It was exhausting to say the least to mark assignments after a whole day of fishing. But even through that, I caught 33 new species in the 7 days...with many missed opportunities and heartbreaks. I will return to Mexico as soon as possible...this was just the first blood drawn...

As usual, these are the links to my blog posts.

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-0.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-1.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-2.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-3.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-4.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-5.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-6.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/...day-7.html

This was my first ever species from Mexico...

Flathead Sea Catfish (Notarius planiceps) - Species #430



Raucous Grunt (Haemulopsis leuciscus) - Species #431



Yellowstripe Grunt (Haemulopsis axillaris) - Species #432



Striped Weakfish (Cynoscion reticulates) - Species #433



Spotted Rose Snapper (Lutjanus guttatus) - Species #434



Green Jack (Caranx caballus) - Species #435



Beaubrummel (Stegastes flavilatus) - Species #436



Rivulated Mutton Hamlet (Alphestes multiguttatus) - Species #437



Burrito Grunt (Anisotremus interruptus) - Species #438



Starry Grouper (Epinephelus labriformis) - Species #439



Mexican Barracuda (Sphyraena ensis) - Species #440



Yellowspotted Grunt (Haemulon flaviguttatum) - Species #441



Brassy Grunt (Microlepidotus brevipinnis) - Species #442 (Standard length vs. body depth = 2.4)



Finescale Triggerfish (Balistes polylepis) - Species #443



Yet to be identified catfish - Species #444



At the end of my first fishing day, I caught my 16th new species from Mexico...the Pacific Dog Snapper.

Pacific Dog Snapper (Lutjanus novemfasciatus) - Species #445



Pacific Mutton Hamlet (Alphestes immaculatus) - Species #446



Dow's Mojarra (Eucinostomus dowii) - Species #447



This was a species that I caught but no one else did...

Pacific Sleeper (Gobiomorus maculatus) - Species #448



Largemouth Blenny (Labrisomus xanti) - Species #449



Chameleon Wrasse (Halichoeres dispilus) - Species #450



Panamic Sergeant Major (Abudefduf troschelii) - Species #451



My favourite fish of the entire trip...because I've been trying for years to catch one from Hawaii and especially in Florida...

Longfin Yellowtail (Seriola rivoliana) - Species #452 (aka Almaco Jack)



Orangeside Triggerfish (Sufflamen verres) - Species #453



Pacific Graysby (Cephalopholis panamensis) - Species #454



Yellow Snapper (Lutjanus argentiventris) - Species #455



Pacific Crevalle Jack (Caranx caninus) - Species #456



Shortjaw Leatherjacket (Oligoplites refulgens) - Species #457



Pacific Red Snapper (Lutjanus peru) - Species #458



Cortez Rainbow Wrasse (Thalassoma lucasanum) - Species #459



Panamic Frillfin (Bathygobius ramosus) - Species #460



Cortez Damselfish (Stegastes rectifraenum) - Species #461



And the last fish of the trip...

Mexican Night Sergeant (Abudefduf declivifrons) - Species #462



And here's A LOT of food porn...

[Eli]

This rocks..
ROcKs LiKE MOTORHEAD..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxyC5zKcTjM

[OldTimer]

It sure does rock! Good stuff MB! Outstanding variety.

The Starry Grouper I find quite striking.

What was your total count of fish landed (both new to you, and previously logged)?

"Pound for pound" - did the 2 Jacks give you the best tussle?

[MuskieBait]

(05-12-2015 01:51 PM)OldTimer Wrote:  It sure does rock! Good stuff MB! Outstanding variety.

The Starry Grouper I find quite striking.

What was your total count of fish landed (both new to you, and previously logged)?

"Pound for pound" - did the 2 Jacks give you the best tussle?

In terms of species, I haven't fish in the Eastern Central Pacific before...so all the species I encountered were new (total 33 new species).

In terms of the number of fish caught, I would say easily 40+ fish landed on an average day bottom fishing. There were a couple of so-so day on the boat and the white wash day offshore...but overall, the catching was very good. On the best day of bottom fishing, it was constant action from snapper and triggerfish, plus everything thing else.

The two jacks were great...but the Green Jack, pound for pound, was amazing! If they grow to 20lbs, no one would be fishing for anything else but them. The were snapping 10lb leader on the sabiki a few times (granted, we were bottom fishing and the leader could very well had been frayed by the reef or worn out by the triggerfish).

[Fossil Fish]

All nice looking fish, but I'm particularly taken with the rainbow wrasse -and maybe the ribs.

[OldTimer]

good one

.............. I like the ribs too................ smile

[GailBait]

The Cortez Rainbow Wrasse is the best fish for me.

I hope to go to Mexico next winter maybe - do you need a licence to fish there in the ocean?

[MuskieBait]

If you are fishing from boats, you need to purchase a license. If you are fishing from shore, you do not need a license.