Puerto Vallarta April 18: Roosters, Jacks, and Dorado Going Crazy Today

Hey amigos, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to fishing guru right here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, hittin' you with the fresh report for April 18, 2026. Dawn's breakin' hot today—sunrise around 6:20 AM, sunset 'bout 7:00 PM, givin' us a solid 12.5 hours of prime light. Weather's classic spring vibes: 82°F highs, light trades at 5-10 knots from the west, mostly sunny with a slim chance of afternoon pop-up showers—perfect for gettin' on the water early. Tides are runnin' mellow, low coefficient around 35-40 per Tides4Fishing charts, meanin' smaller swings but steady currents. Low tide hit 'bout 4 AM, high comin' mid-mornin' 'round 10 AM, then droppin' again by evenin'. Fish are feedin' strong on the incoming—solunar peaks say major bites from 7-9 AM and 7-9 PM. Action's been fire lately! Locals and charters reportin' limits on **roosterfish** up to 40 pounds, **jack crevalle** slammin' everything, **pargo** (snapper) thick in 50-80 feet, plus dorado offshore and sails tearin' it up on trolled lines. Mahi-mahi schools pushin' close to shore, and bottom bouncers pullin' 20-30 fish days—mix of huachinango, cabrilla, and occasional yellowtail. Recent counts mirror Channel Islands vibes with rockfish hauls, but here it's our Pacific pelagics goin' nuts. Best lures? Yo-zuri crystal minnows or rapala X-raps in sardine or mackerel patterns for roosters and jacks—twitch 'em fast near rocks. For offshore, cedar plugs or islander lures on 20-30 lb fluoro. Live bait kings it: **sardines** or **mullet** on circle hooks for everything; shrimp for inshore snappers. Fly guys, throw deceivers or clousers in chartreuse. Hit these **hot spots**: Marina Vallarta jetties for early roosters—cast right at first light. Or cruise to Los Arcos for pargo and jacks in the arches—anchor up and drop liveys. Banderas Bay edges offshore for dorado chasin' bait balls. Stay safe, wear your PFD, and respect the release on billfish. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for daily updates! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.