FISHING BOATS CONCENTRATING ON WHALE WATCHING

Feb. 5, 2005, Gary Graham, Baja On The Fly, Magdalena Bay, Mexico Fishing Report:

Whales dominated the scene at both Puerto San Carlos and Lopez Mateos this week at Magdalena Bay.

The few sportfishing pangas that ventured out to the entrada found scratchy fishing, yielding only fair results including a few small yellowtail, grouper and barracuda. Up at Puerto Lopez Mateos, the annual celebration of the whales, Festival Ballena Gris, will be held Feb. 12.

The event will include the crowning of a Queen of the Festival and the celebration of what many locals are calling the best whale-watching season in several years. The esteros continued the same pattern of slow fishing influenced by poor weather reinforced by strong winds. Water temperature 69-75. Air temperature 62-69.

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