* * * * FULLTHROTLLE Fishing * * * *

ECUADOR SEA SURFACE TEMP

Best Time to Fish: April through January

MOON PHASE CALENDAR TIDES

SEASONAL CHANGES IN EASTERN PACIFIC CURRENTS IMPACTING ECUADOR

SEASONAL CHANGES IN EASTERN PACIFIC CURRENTS IMPACTING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

The main ocean currents effecting the deep waters off of Ecuador are the cold Counter Equatorial Current from the west, the cold Peruvian Current from the southeast, the South Equatorial Current from the east, and the warm North Equatorial Counter Current. The Peruvian Current, is a cold ocean current that flows north along the coasts of Chile and Peru. At the Gulf of Guayaquil the main current veers to the west; a branch continues northward where it also turns westward to merge with the main current near the Galápagos Islands.

GAMEFISH CALENDAR

* GOOD ** BEST

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

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NOV

DEC

OFFSHORE:In the western hemisphere, Ecuador is a chart topper for hot striped marlin action. Fishing here is done by sight. Anglers look for tailing stripey's and then troll baits across their path, hoping to entice a strike.
The cool water supplied by the Peruvian Current provides an unlimited supply of baitfish, such as pilchards, mackerel, and others. This in turn makes the waters off Salinas the favorite feeding grounds for stripped marlin, sailfish, blue and black marlin, big eye tuna, dolphin and a lot of other species.
A major influence for such prodigious action is the interaction of the Peruvian Current and the Equatorial Current. These two currents meet along the Ecuadorian coast producing strong eddies that tend to trap baitfish and thus attract lots of big game fish, especially striped marlin.
Other marlin are also present, though not in the same numbers as striped. Black marlin can be had inshore and blues in the deeper offshore waters. Both species tend to be sizable in these bait rich waters.
Heavyweight bigeye tuna along with sailfish and dolphin provide another great angling opportunity for trollers.

INSHORE:

WEATHER: CONDITIONS SEA TEMPERATURE MARINE WEATHER OCEAN WEATHER IMAGERY

LINKS:

TRAVEL:

Entry Requirements:
A passport and return/onward ticket are required to obtain an entry permit valid for 90 days.

Vaccinations: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers older than 1 year of age arriving from a yellow fever infected area.
Altitude Sickness (AMS): Extreme variations in altitude occur in this country. Risk of altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness-AMS) is present for tourists arriving in Quito (altitude 3,000 meters) and other high-altitude destinations. Travelers to high altitudes should consider prophylaxis with acetazolamide (Diamox), as well as gradual ascent if going to higher altitudes. The best treatment for AMS, is immediate descent to a lower altitude.

Dengue Fever: The greatest risk of infection occurs in the coastal urban areas, especially in Guayas, Loja, and Esmeraldas Provinces, but dengue is also endemic in urban and rural areas throughout this country. The Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue, bite primarily during the daytime

Malaria: This disease occurs countrywide in coastal and rural areas below 2,000 meters elevation;
overall risk may be elevated in the northern lowlands on both sides of the Andes. Travelers visiting only Quito, the central highland tourist areas (including Cotopaxi volcano), Cuenca, Guayaquil city, or the Galapagos Islands are not at risk and do not require prophylaxis. In malarious areas, risk may be increased February through August. The coastal provinces of Esmeraldas, Guayas (including Guayaquil), and Manabi account for two-thirds of all officially reported malaria, followed by Los Rios, Pinchincha, and Napo Provinces. Other provinces with malaria include El Oro, Morona-Santiago, Pastaza, Sucumbios, and Zamora-Chinchipe. Countrywide, 65%-70% of malaria is vivax, 30% to 35% is falciparum, but falciparum causes up to 70% of malaria in Manabi Province. Chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum likely occurs in all malarious areas.
• Prophylaxis with atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), mefloquine (Lariam), or doxycycline is recommended.
• All travelers should take measures to prevent evening and nighttime mosquito bites.

Onchocerciasis: This disease occurs along river systems in Esmeraldas Province (northwestern Ecuador). Infection rates up to 95% are reported among some Amerindian communities in the Santiago River basin. Outbreaks are reported spreading from Esmeraldas Province to other parts of the country. All travelers to rural areas with fast-flowing rivers should take measures to prevent insect (blackfly) bites.

Paragonimiasis (lung fluke disease): This may be one of the most prevalent and least recognizable public health problems in Ecuador. Nearly one-half of Ecuador’s rural population is estimated to be infected. Risk may be elevated in the northern and western coastal areas including Esmeraldas and Manabi Provinces. All travelers should avoid eating uncooked crustacea, especially raw freshwater crabs and crayfish, which harbor the infective cercariae.

Travelers' Diarrhea: High risk. Contaminated water is a major problem throughout Ecuador. Even the two largest cities, Quito and Guayaquil, do not have reliable sources of safe, potable water. Travelers should follow food and drink precautions. A quinolone antibiotic is recommended for the treatment of diarrhea. Diarrhea not responding to antibiotic treatment may be due to a parasitic disease such as giardiasis, amebiasis, or cryptosporidiosis.

Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem in this country. Travelers planning an extended stay should have a predeparture TB skin test (PPD test) and be re-rested after leaving this country.

Typhoid Fever: Typhoid vaccine is recommended. Focal outbreaks occur throughout the country. Large outbreaks have occurred in Quito. Because the typhoid vaccines are only 60% to 70% effective, safe food and drink selection remain important.

Yellow Fever: This disease is currently active in this country. Provinces reporting yellow fever activity include Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Sucumbios, and Zamora-Chinchipe. Vaccination is recommended for travel outside urban areas. This country is in the Yellow Fever Endemic Zone. Although yellow fever vaccination is not required for entry into this country if arriving from the United States or Canada, it may be required for ongoing travel to other countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, or Asia.