TARGETED DORADO NOT FOUND IN OFFSHORE FISHING AT ENSENADA

July 31, 2004, Barry Stangl, Marina Coral, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico Fishing:

I just got back from three days at Hotel Marina Coral in Ensenada. I fished with my 21 foot Boston Whaler 7/28-7/30. Most of the action was out towards the 238/295, and most Ensenada fishing boats were coming back with 1 or 2 Dorado as well as good yellowtail catches. I did see some small yellowfin (10-12 pounds) brought back to the Coral and the same boat said they saw 5 bluefin caught. I saw a few yellowtail in the 25-30 lb. class, but most were 10-20 lbs.

Thursday 7/29 was windy and many of the kelp patties were blown south and difficult to find.

Despite all of the Dorado being caught, I didn't get one. The boats on both sides of my slip showed 20 lb. Dolphinfish. The trick was finding the right kelp patty. I did manage to find a kelp patty (it was more like a strand) that was infested with yellowtail in 10-20 lb. class. About 17 nm southwest of Punta Banda on friday morning.

After catching a handful, I went searching for elusive Dorado. While fishing my kelp patty, a boat on channel 72 reported being 3 miles west of the 238 and catching 4 Dorado and 1 yellowtail on the first Kelp patty of Friday morning (7/30). Best bet was to get out early in the morning before the wind makes it to difficult to find the patties.

I caught my yellowtail in 68.5 deg. water. Most of the Yellowfin and Dorado were caught in 71 deg. Water. The water temp on the 238 was 69.5 on Friday 7/30.