Ecuador
Manta
The action has been pretty steady. So far the season has been decent but has not reached its potential as last year. All through the month of September boats have been averaging 2 to 5 raised of mainly blue marlin. A few big blues estimated 600 to 800 lbs have come into the spreads. September 9, a boat named strike went out and caught 1 blue and lost 2 more. September 10 had 4 boats out. Each boat reported raising at least 3 marlin, mainly blues. 2 boats caught 2 blues, 1 boat caught 1 and another lost 3. Water was 76 F. On September 11, 3 boats went out with one boat reporting 4 raises and releasing 2 blues around 300#. Another boat raised 4 blues had 3 bite and lost all of them including a blue that spooled a 50#. Fish was estimated to be quite large though I did not get an estimate from them. The seas were decent and conditions remained quite nice to fish. Don’t hesitate to book your next trip to Manta now.
Galapagos Islands
San Cristobal
The last two weeks have been quite windy and no boats have been out marlin fishing with anglers. Boats carrying passengers between Santa Cruz and San Cristobal have started to report tailing striped marlin on their runs. Waters are around 69 F according to various captains. 34 ft Big Fish had some engine maintenance and had to run some hours on the engines and took advantage to do some fish not far from port.
Captain Fernando Yepez reported September 9 and 10 choppy seas about 4 to 6 with wind about 15 knots. Trolling near the island of San Cristobal he reported catching numerous big eye tunas in the 30 to 60 lb range as well as some wahoo 25 to 50 lbs. A few groupers in the 10 to 20 lbs were caught on the West side of San Cristobal jigging off the reefs. September is usually a slower month in Galapagos as winds still tend to be strong, waters are cold and few anglers are travelling.
However, October is just around the corner and waters should start warming and bait will begin to migrate as well as the marlin. Expect improved reports as we begin to fish more and more.
