7 days in Mazatlan

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/2015/04/2015-mazatlan-day-0.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/04/2015-mazatlan-day-1.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/04/2015-mazatlan-day-2.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/04/2015-mazatlan-day-3.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/04/2015-mazatlan-day-4.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/04/2015-mazatlan-day-5.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/04/2015-mazatlan-day-6.html

http://muskiebaitadventures.blogspot.ca/2015/04/2015-mazatlan-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...


























Posts: 407

Date Joined: 12/03/10

Good report

Thu, 2015-05-14 08:27

 Some nice photos 

Madmerv's picture

Posts: 672

Date Joined: 24/01/15

Species 462

Thu, 2015-05-14 09:26

 Man the fact that you actually kept track of that many species has blown me away.

The fact that you have caught that many species has blown me away.

Actually i think that is called obssesive compulsive disorder...Lol

Good job and great Pics.

Merv

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 Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !

Posts: 139

Date Joined: 23/11/10

Definitely OCD.

Thu, 2015-05-14 12:22

Definitely OCD.

Auslobster's picture

Posts: 1901

Date Joined: 03/05/08

I will not sleep...

Thu, 2015-05-14 12:38

...until I get me a Rivulated Mutton Hamlet.

Posts: 49

Date Joined: 18/03/12

Couldn't believe the giant trevally*...

Sun, 2015-05-17 23:43

 ...caught off the jetty at Mazatlan. The kids were using wheelnuts as sinkers!  We were there during a particularly dangerous time, when the drug cartels were at war.  We learned later that the US had it listed as a no-go zone... and cruiseships no longer docked there.  * I assumed these fish were trevally, but they ressembled two of your photos, particularly the Beaubrummel.  Live bait, caught in throw nets, were the only bait these monsters would take... .

Posts: 139

Date Joined: 23/11/10

I'm not aware of and GT's in

Tue, 2015-05-19 08:45

I'm not aware of and GT's in Mazatlan. There are Pacific Crevalle Jack and they commomly grow to 30lbs.

I gotta say...you have some steel balls going to the region when the cartels were ruling the city. I'm not remotely that brave LOL.