LORETO CAPTAIN--Jesus Murillo Osuna of Arturo's Sportfishing with his son Chuy. Photo courtesy Jeff Petersen.

SPORTFISHING CAPT. JESUS "EL CUATE" MURILLO OSUNA

March 10, 2005, Jeff Petersen, Interview of Loreto Fishing Capt. Jesus "El Cuate" Murillo Osuna:

Capt. Jesus Murillo Osuna, of Arturo´s Sportfishing in Loreto:

"I began fishing with my father when I was 8 years old. I am now 40. Dad was a commercial fisherman, fishing shark. We used a boat similar to a canoe and with a sail. At this time, while going to school, I only went out with dad on weekends.

At 16, I first used a fishing pole, taught by the maestro Alfredo Ramirez. I worked with Alfredo 13 years. After these 13 years, I started with Arturo Susarrey, now 10 years. He is a good person and a good boss.

My biggest event with my father was a large 22 foot long shark. I was 10 years old. My father and brother had to kill it with a lance.

Five years ago, along with Capitan "Tolpa" and 3 other fishermen, we caught a blue marlin in the morning. It was beautiful. At times it was near the boat. You could see how big it was. After a 16 hour battle, it broke the line at 1 a.m.

My family is big. I have 9 sisters and 2 brothers.

Presently Loreto fishing is good. We caught 13 jurel, or yellowtail, yesterday at Pulpito on the surface with live bait and with irons between 200 and 250 feet.

We catch pargo in the late afternoon along with cabrilla close to rocky points near San Quisimundis. There are pargo colmillon, or dog snapper, to 20 pounds. We use live bait with a small weight, about 4 ounces. We are fishing Rapalas for these fish as well.

One week ago, I saw 3 marlin and 1 sailfish at San Bruno reef North of Isla Coronado and near Punta Lobo at Isla Carmen. There is lots of sargasso already. Calamari are already here, but still young. Caught or purchased, it is good for huachinango.

During Easter, we will make many trips just to visit and enjoy the islands. Loreto is beautiful with good fishing. Cabrilla, jurel, and pargo are excellent in March, April and May. June and July we will have Dorado, Marlin and Sailfish. Camping will be arranged as you wish with the capitan taking care of it all. When you call at Arturo´s the telephone number from the United States is 011-52-613-135-0766.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Loreto and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Loreto may be found at Mexfish.com's main Loreto page.