Loreto's dorado summer won't quit, Steady fishing for Ixtapa boats

Mexico Fishing News, August 21, 2006

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Don Bear of Loreto said this summer's excellent dorado season continued for his boat last week. An outing Saturday with Giovanni Petroni of Florence, Italy, and Capt. Paulino Martinez scored on 14 dorado of about 15 pounds, plus 1 sailfish, in very fast action on a floating log a few miles out from Punta Almeja.

"Giovanni is a dedicated fly fisherman, and the rest of the dorado ate both live sardinas and mackerel," Bear said. "The sailfish was Giovannni's first ever. It hit a mackerel." Loreto seas were calm all day, with water temperatures at 83 to 85 degrees. About 20 combined charter pangas and private boats were fishing per day. Local pangueros also reported wall-to-wall dorado and billfish on Friday.

LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of the Hotel Oasis reported Loreto sportfishing area weather over the weekend in the low-90s, with calm seas and heavy-duty dorado action continuing for hotel boats off Isla Coronado and Baja de las Boyas, and sailfish north at San Bruno. "Anglers said it takes 30 minutes to get big dorado inside the boat," Zapata said. "By 9 a.m., we have limits." Rick and Ryan Runyan of Porterville, Calif., fished 2 days at Bajo de las Boyas for 10 dorado of 12 to 44 pounds, plus a sailfish.

LORETO, MEXICO: Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company said quality dorado were caught in many locations including the 50 spot, Bajo de las Boyas, Mercenarios, San Bruno, and nearby Isla Coronado. "Dorado fishing off Loreto right now is world class," Bolles said. "The Loreto sportfishing area has been very fortunate this year. Please remember that 2 dorado per person per day is the legal limit." Roosterfish to about 30 pounds were also striking for fly tackle anglers on Islas Carmen and Coronado. Loreto water temperatures were at 74 to 85 degrees. GOOD LORETO DORADO SEASON CONTINUES.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sammy Susarrey of Lily Fleet reported on a Saturday run by the charter boat Tamara, fishing with 5 anglers outside the Ensenada 295 spot for an excellent catch of 27 dorado and 2 bonito. "It was a very good day," Susarrey said. "We had a 73-degree water temperature. Most of the fish were on kelp paddies." On Friday the Tamara fished at the 295 spot for a catch of: 10 yellowtail of 15 pounds, and 2 dorado of 20 pounds. Most fish were caught in kelp paddies in clear blue water at 72 degrees. Yellowfin tuna of 12 pounds were also seen at the 238 spot but would not bite. Charter master for the Friday trip was Daniel Lopez.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet said his Punta Banda pangas did well all week on bonito, mixed bottom fish species, lingcod, and calico bass, with some limits caught on the Vonny I with Capt. Beto and Vonny III with Capt. Hector. Ensenada local fishing area weather on Saturday was mostly cloudy, sunny in the afternoon, in the mid-70s, with light breezes, 3-foot ocean swells, and Punta Banda water temperatures at 66 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sergio Susarrey of Sergio's Ensenada Sportfishing Center reported on 62 anglers fishing aboard the charter boats Ensenada Clipper, Shir-lee, Quest, and Clipper II, with a catch of: 17 yellowtail, 110 bonito, 8 barracuda, 6 calico bass, 19 yellowfin tuna, 22 dorado, 25 lingcod, 20 rockcod, 5 whitefish, and 15 salmon grouper.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Tyler Sterling of Spring Valley reported a shortbilled spearfish caught on July 31, 2006, at GPS numbers 32.13.05 117.21.22 northwest of Ensenada that measured 6 feet 8 inches long and weighed 112 pounds. The fish was caught by Sterling aboard his boat Lorilynn in deep purple water at 74 degrees. The current IGFA all-tackle record for a shortbilled spearfish is 74 pounds 11 ounces. Sterling said the fish hit a yellow-blue cedar plug and his 7-year-old son Travis helped by stopping the boat. It was not submitted for a record.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Sarai Garcia of Don Eddie's Landing said the number of anglers in San Quintin tripled last week and boats and hotels on the bay were fully booked. "The number of private boats also increased considerably," Garcia said. "The hotels in San Quintin and Colonia Cardenas were also full to capacity." Yellowtaill and bottom fish continued very good, and some dorado and white seabass were caught. San Quintin weather was cooler with wind in the high-70s and water temperatures at 68 to 71 degrees. SAN QUINTIN FULL HOUSE FISHING.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Garcia also announced the official rules of the Labor Day Fishing Tournament to be held out of Don Eddie's Landing on Sept. 2, 2006. Rooms and boats were very scarce in San Quintin for the tournament period. Information: 011-52-616-165-6061, doneddie@hotmail.com. OFFICIAL DON EDDIE'S TOURNAMENT RULES.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported on 20 boats fishing out of San Quintin for the week, for just a few small tuna and dorado, but most boats doing well at Isla San Martin for yellowtail and calico bass, or south at Socorro for yellowtail and white seabass. Anglers fishing during the week included Doug Minor and his daughter Leah, and Chuck Tate, who fished at Socorro on the charter boat Garron with Capt. Chava and caught 7 yellowtail to 30 pounds, 7 white seabass to 40 pounds, a big bucket of sandbass, and unlimited barracuda.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Juanchys Aguilar of La Bocana on the semi-remote Baja Pacific coast reported very good yellowtail action 3 miles southwest of the boca, with schools of 16 to 20-pound fish present. "Sportfishing boats hooked at least 35 yellowtail each on Thursday and Friday," Aguilar said. On Thursday, Capt. Martin Aguilar fished alone with red feathers and iron about 5 miles south of Roca Ballena and caught 25 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 20 pounds. On Friday, anglers Derek Anderson and James Chandler of San Diego fished with Aguilar on his boat Karol for a catch of: 18 yellowtail of 16 to 20 pounds, 12 bonito, 3 calico bass, and 2 grouper inside Laguna la Bocana. Other sport anglers with Capt. Francisco Espinoza caught 44 yellowtail and 22 bonito about a mile off Roca Ballena. Capt. Francisco Zuñiga landed a 185-pound black sea bass at the Gringa Bank and also reported good numbers of yellowfin tuna at the Polaris Bank. La Bocana had clear offshore water at 67 degrees, but with lots of northwest wind and some clouds.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Tyler Thorsen of Corpus Christy, Texas, and his group made a week-long Baja shore fishing trip into Punta Maria, on the remote Baja Pacific coast north of Punta Santa Rosalillita. Top catches during the trip included halibut to 18 pounds, plus calico bass, surf perch, sheephead caught on fiddler crab bait, cabezon, and croaker. "In 6.5 days of fishing with 6 people, probably 30 or so halibut were caught," Thorsen said, "with most under 4 pounds, including the little tiny guys just bigger than the Krocodiles." PUNTA MARIA BAJA SHORE FISHING TRIP.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Celia Diaz of the nonprofit Binational Emergency Medical Care Committee (BEMCC) in Chula Vista said 84 evacuations were made for injured or ill Americans in Mexico from April through August 15, 2006, including 54 evacuations in August alone. Evacuations performed with the coordination of U.S. and Mexican authorities included victims of car accidents, premature births, attempted suicides, crime, and various illnesses. In one case, Diaz said, "A young man vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, fell from a second floor balcony and I sent a volunteer pilot to pick him up because he did not have medical insurance to pay for the evacuation." The BEMCC operates on $30 tax deductible annual membership basis. Information and 24/7 hotline: 619-425-5080.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported on several days of fishing offshore of Magdalena Bay, finding lots of frigate birds and fish to look at south of the Thetis Bank but no biters. "We found marlin every day, but unfortunately they seemed to have lockjaw and would barely come into the pattern," Graham said. Fishing in the Magdalena Bay mangrove channels was excellent for leopard grouper and spotted bay bass with fly fishing angler Richard Negley Gill of San Antonio, Texas. Graham also noted that the 4th annual Puerto Lopez Mateos sea turtle conservation festival was held on Saturday, with the participation of Baja California Sur Governor Narciso Agundez. Magdalena Bay weather was partly cloudy in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 64 to 78 degrees. MAGDALENA BAY FLY FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported Cabo San Lucas water temperatures at 84 degrees on the Pacific side Golden Gate Bank, and up to 91 degrees on the Cortez side. "I am having a hard time believing that we are still catching striped marlin here since our surface temperatures are so high, but there has been a striped marlin strike on every trip I have made this past week," Landrum said. Blue marlin were fairly consistent about 20 miles southeast as many boats targeted the hot yellowfin tuna bite north of San Jose del Cabo. "Tuna to 100 pounds were hooked on small hooks tied directly to 40-pound line," Landrum said. "Steady chumming with live sardinas brought the fish up from 100 to 150 feet of water. Once you got past the bonita bite the chances of hooking up, not the chances of landing one, went way up."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jorge Navarro of Pisces Fleet reported 47 percent of fleet boats releasing billfish last week, 32 percent landing yellowfin tuna, 16 percent with dorado, and 74 percent catching all species combined. "We had some good catches this week, even though it was a bit slow," Navarro said. Top catches for the week included a spearfish by the charter boat Rebecca, and a triple on blue marlin by anglers Myrna Levinson and Daniel Linden fishing Wednesday on the charter boat C-Rod.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported on 70 Cabo San Lucas charter boats, with a catch including released fish of: 11 blue marlin, 19 striped marlin, 9 sailfish, 51 yellowfin tuna, 43 dorado, 10 skipjack, 10 bonita, and 10 boats skunked.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 11 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 1 striped marling, 70 yellowfin tuna of 20 to 70 pounds, 12 dorado of 20 to 25 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 32 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 1 black marlin, 2 blue marlin, 11 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 16 dorado, and 76 yellowfin tuna. Most tuna caught were school-sized but some fish in the 100-pound class were landed with sardina baits off Destiladeras on the Cortez side. Cabo weather was clear in the high-90s, with water temperatures up to 87 degrees on the Gordo Banks. CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Noe Ramon Druck of the Cabo charter super panga Cheer's reported on 2 half-day outings on the Pacific side, fishing from the beach out to about 2 miles for a catch of: 12 dorado of 8 to 20 pounds, 6 barrilete, and 6 bonito. Pacific side inshore sea conditions were good with calm seas and a water temperature of about 86 degrees. CABO SUPER PANGA FISHING.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas said the wide-open yellowfin tuna bite at the Iman Bank continued and might have even improved last week. The unlimited tuna averaged about 30 pounds, but many larger fish to over 100 pounds were lost on lighter tackle. "But the yellowfin tuna have not been line shy and are striking on 60 to 80-pound leaders without hesitation," Brictson said. Brictson reported on 88 La Playita fleet pangas, with a catch of: 640 yellowfin tuna, 76 dorado, 95 skipjack, 2 striped marlin, 9 sailfish, 42 pargo, and 8 amberjack. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was mostly calm, with water temperatures of 85 to nearly 90 degrees. IMAN BANK WIDE-OPEN TUNA.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Species fishing specialist John Snow of San Jose del Cabo reported on 6 surf fishing sessions and 4 outings on the panga Salome with Capt. Pata for a total of 25 fish species caught or observed, including 1 new species, the keeltail needlefish. "It was a wild, very unusual week dominated by the visiting 'big boys,'" Snow said. In addition to his normal deep fishing with small hooks for a variety of species, Snow's major game fish catches for the trip included yellowfin tuna, amberjack, dorado, and sailfish.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Adam Ramirez of Santa Barbara and his wife Deise fished 2 days out of Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort at East Cape, and then a day with Gordo Banks Pangas at La Playita, getting twice into the wide-open yellowfin tuna action off San Jose del Cabo. "On Saturday, we made the 2-hour trip to an area near the Gordo Banks for a completely wide-open and ridiculous tune bite," Ramirez said. "On Wednesday, we fished for tuna again out of San Jose del Cabo. Not 3 minutes had passed when we saw large tuna crashing. We caught 2 twin tuna to 46 pounds. Everyone had easy limits." EXCELLENT TUNA ACTION AT SAN JOSE DEL CABO.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported great striped marlin action with fly fishing anglers getting multiple shots on marlin plus some dorado in the pattern. Lots of football yellowfin tuna were also hitting south of Los Frailes. On East Cape beaches, fly rodders got some shots at jacks and roosterfish, including some roosters in the "Bubba" class. "The best action will be where the sardina are being pushed in close to the shore by feeding fish," Graham said. "Watch for the diving pelicans. In the afternoon when the boats are unloading at the hotels and dumping their leftover bait, the action can be good as well." East Cape weather was calm over the weekend, in the low-90s, with water temperatures at 74 to 89 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Frank Springer of Butte Falls, Ore., reported a huge blue marlin estimated at 700 to 800 pounds broken off just below the boat as he fished on the Palmas de Cortez charter cruiser El Borracho last week off Cabo Pulmo together with Bill Karr of Western Outdoor News, Kate Springer, and Jase Gallito Deemer. The big marlin hit a dorado feather and died after a 3-hour fight on 50-pound line and "a $53 Ugly Stick" rod, Springer said, and when the worn line finally broke through "the great fish settled back into the dark." BIG BLUE MARLIN FIGHT OFF CABO PULMO.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Marisol Verdugo of Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort said about 2 or 3 fleet boats fished per day last week, for average catches of about 8 to 12 yellowfin tuna, including some up to 60 pounds, 1 or 2 dorado to 40 pounds, and very good action on marlin and sailfish, including some triple and quadruple release days.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero reported clearing inshore water, and offshore water clear blue at 87 to 90 degrees. Yellowfin tuna limits for all boats continued, plus good numbers of striped marlin and some dorado. The tuna, of 20 to 40 pounds, were found from Cabo Pulmo southwards about 3 to 4 miles out, with "all boats making the long boat ride limiting out," Ireland said. East Cape fishing area weather was humid in the low-90s, with dead calm mornings and some afternoon southeast breezes. The Rancho Leonero cruiser Oso Negro won the La Ribera Tournament with a 280-pound blue marlin for anglers Ian Flanagan, Gene France and Bill McCarty of San Diego, who had a 4-day catch including released fish of: 11 marlin, 5 sailfish, 4 dorado, 2 yellowfin tuna, and various pargo and other reef fish.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Axel Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported a catch including released fish of: 23 striped marlin, 12 sailfish, 38 dorado, 211 yellowfin tuna, 19 pargo, 1 amberjack, 28 skipjack, 26 roosterfish, and 1 rainbow runner.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport East Cape diving service at Buena Vista said water temperatures at depth were at 85 degrees on the Cabo Pulmo coral reef, with spectacular conditions and almost unlimited visibility. "Now is one of the few times a year that we are able to see completely across the outer reef," Rayor said. Sea life sightings included whale sharks, huge grouper, snappers, and free swimming moral eels. Rayor also said his grandsons Jake Litwin, 10, and Nicholas Litwin, 6, both caught their first-ever marlin on Monday, with his assistance, aboard Rayor's boat Jenwren. "We were fishing about 25 miles off shore straight out in front of Buena Vista," Rayor said. "Jake's was a blue marlin estimated at 200 pounds, and Nicholas' was a striper we released that was about 90 pounds."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista reported on an outing with his beach launched aluminum boat, fishing mostly with Jointed Rebel lures for a 45-minute catch of: a 3-pound barred pargo, 1 triggerfish, 1 ladyfish, and 1 needlefish, plus a dorado that came unbuttoned during the troll home from Rancho Leonero. "I love my boat," Eddy said. "I am less fatigued than from my smaller boat because I can move around comfortably." Eddy also noted a new boat landing method shown to him by local pangueros, bringing it up the beach sideways in moderate swell conditions. REBEL LURE FISHING AND SIDEWAYS BOAT LANDING.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the period ending Aug. 10, 2006, Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 436 charter boats from combined fleets including Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, Punta Colorada, Buena Vista Beach Resort, Rancho Leonero, and Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort, with 1,308 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 7 blue marlin, 225 striped marlin, 22 sailfish, 420 dorado, 1,158 yellowfin tuna, 23 pargo, 2 wahoo, 4 cabrilla, 32 roosterfish, and 50 triggerfish. East Cape sportfishing area weather was mostly calm with afternoon wind chop, in the low-90s, with water temperatures of 77 to 90 degrees.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International said some very large dorado in the 60 to 70-pound class were caught along the west side of Isla Espiritu Santo and north of the island, but the overall bite was sluggish due to plentiful squid in the water. "There's definitely a lot of dorado around, but they often wouldn't eat as we found many had a lot of squid in their stomachs," Roldan said. "It could be a long lethargic day that suddenly erupts when a big dorado hits." On the Las Arenas side, a brief spell of 40-pound yellowfin tuna breezed through the area, some dorado were present on trash lines, and inshore anglers landed roosterfish and pargo on light tackle. On Sunday, the tuna returned to the Las Arenas side, Roldan said, as his boats scored on 3 to 6 fish each at 10 to 30 pounds.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said Las Arenas side waters were calming at 80 to 88 degrees over the weekend, and his pangas found better action for dorado to about 30 pounds off Las Cruces and south at Boca del Alamo. Striped marlin were in all directions, including outside at the 88 Bank. Plenty of mackerel and sardina bait was available for all pangas. La Paz weather was in the high-90s, with improving conditions. LAS ARENAS SIDE REPORT.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Sergio Shimomoto of La Paz reported a very large black snook of 45 pounds speared in La Paz Bay in July. "I broke the world record for black snook for the International Underwater Spearfishing Association, a 49.6-pound snook at Magdalena Bay," Shimomoto said. "Another guy beat me with a 50.5 pounder. I got a 40-pound snook in the channel between the La Paz Malecon and El Mogote in May 2006, at about 20 to 25 feet of depth. After that I got another one in June, 45 pounds."

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

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SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Guillermo Alvarez of the La Paz-based Center for Marine Protection reported a commercial shrimp boat and 2 pangas detained on July 27, 2006, by the Mexican Navy detachment at Santa Rosalia. The shrimp boat Salada I was caught fishing illegally for dorado 10 nautical miles off Cabo Virgines. About 7 tons of dorado were found on the boat, Alvarez said. The boat's fishing license permitted it to fish only for squid.

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES (L.A. BAY) FISHING REPORTS

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Alejandro Rosas of Tijuana said 27 anglers fished 2 days in excellent conditions on 9 pangas during the third annual Villa Vitta benefit fishing tournament at Bahia de los Angeles. The winning team of Alfonso Martinez, Elias Castro, and Oscar Benson caught 84 pounds of fish to take first place, and the largest fish of the tournament was a 32-pound grouper caught by Martinez. They fished on the panga La Unica with Capt. Fermin Ocampo. Rosas also noted that at a good-sized dorado escaped at Isla Angel de la Guarda when it jumped out of the ice chest and then completely out of the boat. DORADO RELEASES ITSELF FROM ICE CHEST (!).

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Tom Ward of the Longfin Tackle Store reported on 6-day Midriff Islands trips by the Tony Reyes Fishing Tours panga motherships Jose Andres with charter master Larry Kelly, and Tony Reyes with charter master Roy Lay, returning to San Felipe on Aug. 17, 2006, with a mixed catch of yellowtail, red snapper, sheephead, spotted bay bass, cabrilla, grouper, and 138 dorado to 20 pounds. Punta Trinidad produced a lot of dorado, Ward said, in Midriff water temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Tom Boggess of Flagstaff, Ariz., and his family fished on their boat Flagstaff out of San Carlos last week, for a catch by Shelton, 12, Bennett, 9, Davis, 6, and Katie, 4, of some skipjack and a small pompano. "Mexico was hot, humid, and the bite was slow," Boggess said.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 29 offshore and inshore fishing days by Aries Fleet out of Mazatlan's Marina el Cid, for a catch including released fish of: 2 blue marlin of 300 pounds, 20 sailfish, 48 dorado, 28 yellowfin tuna, 2 shark, and 17 skipjack. Mazatlan weather was mostly cloudy and humid in the mid-90s, with light breezes and stable water temperatures of 87 to 88 degrees. Offshore boats fished about 18 to 28 miles southwest. Inshore boats fished live bait for dorado on buoys.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Tadeo Hernandez of Flota Bibi Fleet said his boats fished mostly 10 to 33 miles northwards of the lighthouse. Ten outings produced a catch including released fish of: 6 sailfish to 64 pounds, 3 yellowfin tuna, 1 shortfin mako shark, and 4 bonitas. Mullet and ballyhoo baits worked best.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Job Othoniel of ifishmexico.com said he had 10 anglers fishing for largemouth bass at Lake El Salto. "Usually October, November, December, and January offer the best top water action of the year, and fresh weather, but all year long is good bass fishing," Othoniel said.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Mark Rein of Phoenix reported on 2 very slow days of fishing at Roca Corbeteña, El Banco, and Islas Marietas on his Puerto Vallarta boat Big Kahuna, with just a single rainbow runner to show for it. After fishing on Friday and Saturday without luck, Rein said, "What's up with the Puerto Vallarta fish lately? It seems you either get lucky and are the one that catches the cow d'jour or it is slow." 1 RAINBOW RUNNER FOR A 2-DAY OUTING.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Erik Landesfeind and Rachel Baker fished 2 days on the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Chappy One, finding good action for dog snapper at El Banco after the yellowfin tuna proved uncooperative, plus a pair of late-day sailfish at the Islas Marietas and El Morro area at the north end of the bay. Landesfeind said they ended up fishing on the Chappy One after their original trip on the boat Pacifico was canceled due to a booking error. "I would like to thank Manny of the Pacifico, fishpacifico.com, for his professional handling of his error," Landesfeind said, "a real rarity in this industry." FISHING ABOARD THE CHARTER BOAT CHAPPY ONE.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Earlier, Kil Song of New Jersey fished 2 days on the charter boat Pacifico with Capt. Manny Ocaranza and angler "Kojika San" of Japan, for a catch by the Japanese angler of: a big blue marlin the first day, and a yellowfin tuna of about 240 pounds the second day. "I feel Kojika San brings luck wherever he goes," Song said. "In June he got a 75-pound black drum out of south New Jersey on his first trying, while my best black drum is still a 70 pounder although I have tried them in Virginia and Delaware for many years." BACK TO BACK TROPHIES ON THE BOAT PACIFICO.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said fishing at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo was very good both inshore and offshore, although few anglers were present in the area. The charter boats Gran Jefe, Bloody Hook, and Dos Hermanos I reported on a combined 12 outings, with a catch including released fish of: 16 sailfish, 5 dorado, 1 amberjack, 28 jack crevalle, 1 marlin lost, 6 roosterfish, many bonitos, and 8 needlefish. Ixtapa fishing area weather was cloudy and humid in the low-90s, with calm seas and blue water 10 miles out at 90 degrees.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said blue water was as close as 2 miles from shore, as local boats averaged about 1 or 2 sailfish per day. Inshore boats continued to do well. "The jack crevalle and roosterfish action is continuing on its good pace," Kunze said, "with about 4 roosters a day, and 6 of the jacks.

HUATULCO FISHING REPORTS

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HUATULCO, MEXICO: Eric Weissman of Explore Fly Fishing reported from his operation at Puerto Escondido near Huatulco that water temperatures were in the high-80s, with variable sunny weather including some thunderstorms. Rivers were pumping rain runoff sediment and debris, but clear blue water was 1 mile out with dorado, sailfish, and large schools of 10 to 30-pound yellowfin tuna present. "The sea has been beautiful and there are fish around," Weissman said. "Today a small schoolie yellowfin tuna was chased and mouthed by a large marlin close to the boat but we didn’t hook it. Just as well, since I was using a 12 WT. Tomorrow we are going inshore for roosters and jacks in the surf.

Loreto Mexico Fishing Photo 1

QUALITY PLUS QUANTITY--Loreto's excellent summer dorado run of 2006 continued last week, with quick limits and lots of quality fish, including this load caught on Friday by Rick and Ryan Runyan with the Hotel Oasis' Capt. Francisco Martinez. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTY ZAPATA.

Baja Mexico Fishing Photo 1

RECORD CLASS SPEARFISH--Tyler Sterling of Spring Valley with a 6 foot 8 inch, 112-pound shortbilled spearfish caught off the Baja coast on his boat Lorilynn. Sterling didn't submit the fish, but the current IGFA all-tackle record is 74 pounds 11 ounces. PHOTO COURTESY OF TYLER STERLING.

Baja Mexico Fishing Photo 2 Baja Mexico Fishing Photo 3

BAJA BEACH HALIBUT--Dan Close, left, with a nice halibut that was caught with the assistance of Tom Fitch, right, who dove into the suds to help land the fish at Punta Maria, on the remote Baja coast north of Santa Rosalillita. At right another good one near camp. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TYLER THORSEN.

San Quintin Mexico Fishing Photo 1

QUINTIN YELLOWTAILS STEADY--Boats and hotels were fully booked last week as anglers flocked to San Quintin for steady action on yellowtail and bottom fish, plus some white seabass and dorado. Here's Kevin Jones with a nice forkie caught out of Don Eddie's Landing. PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAI GARCIA.

Baja Mexico Fishing Photo 3 Baja Mexico Fishing Photo 4

CORVINA BIGGIE--Gilberto Osuna fished about 3 miles southeast of Punta Abreojos on the Baja Pacific coast, at a beach called Los Huesos, and hooked this big shortfin corvina with a 1-ounce Krocodile. It was 1 of 9 caught during the day. PHOTO COURTESY OF JUANCHYS AGUILAR.

PACIFIC SIDE BAQUETA (right)--Derek Arneson with a good-sized baqueta, also called gulf coney and estacol or estacudo in Spanish, caught at the Polaris Bank about 20 miles northwest of La Bocana on the Baja Pacific coast. The baqueta was caught by Javier Lopez of La Bocana. PHOTO COURTESY OF JUANCHYS AGUILAR.

Magdalena Bay Mexico Fishing Photo 1

SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION--A big Magdalena Bay crowd of about 1,500 people turned out for the fourth annual sea turtle festival held at Puerto Lopez Mateos on Saturday. The following morning, graduate student Hoyt Peckham assisted by Baja California Sur Governor Narciso Agúndez and the Proyecto Caguama released a sonic beacon tagged sea turtle back into the wild. The purpose of the annual event is to further awareness of marine conservation and the protection of Mexico's endangered sea turtle population. Said Magdalena Bay's Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly, "The problems are many, but this group is working hard within the local fishing community to bring awareness and help change patterns that are deep-rooted among the inhabitants here." PHOTO COURTESY OF GARY GRAHAM.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 1

JIGGING UP HUACHINANGO--Deise Ramirez and her husband Adam Ramirez fished on a Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort panga with Capt. Alfredo and they landed a pair of these nice red snapper, or huachinango, plus an amberjack while jigging off East Cape's Rancho Leonero. PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM RAMIREZ.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 2

WORKING A BIG BLUE--Western Outdoor News staffer Bill Karr photographs Frank Springer in action has he battles an estimated 700 to 800-pound blue marlin aboard the East Cape charter boat El Borracho last week. The big fish died deep and broke off on 50-pound tackle after a 3-hour fight. PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE SPRINGER.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 3

PROUD GRANDDAD--Mark Rayor of East Cape's Vista Sea Sport diving service and his grandsons Jake Litwin, 10, and Nicholas Litwin, 6, celebrate the boys' first-ever marlin catches (with some help from grandpa), aboard Rayor's boat Jenwren. Nicholas caught a striper, and Jake landed the estimated 200-pound blue marlin in the picture. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK RAYOR.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 4

READY FOR ACTION--Torrance Eddy's East Cape "tin boat" ready to launch into calm seas last week for a morning of mixed bag fishing with Jointed Rebels. PHOTO COURTESY OF TORRANCE EDDY.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 5

TUNA TO THE SOUTH--Yellowfin tuna action has been wide-open for East Cape boats making the long run south. Here's a great day's catch of tuna and dorado made earlier this month on Russ Fritz' panga Soplado by his son Dan Fritz, left, grandson Yonni Mendoza, and daughter-in-law Sonya Fritz, right. PHOTO COURTESY OF RUSS FRITZ.

La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 1

CERRALVO GOLDFISH--Ed Roach of Atascadero, Calif., fished off the El Toldo area of Isla Cerralvo on La Paz' Las Arenas side with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Rigo Lucero, where he landed this nice dorado, or "golden" fish in Spanish. PHOTO COURTESY OF GERARDO HERNANDEZ.

La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 2

CABRILLA HUMONGUS--Ryan Rogers of San Diego took this huge cabrilla, or leopard grouper, off Cerralvo Island north of Las Arenas on a sardine bait while fishing with La Paz' Tailhunter International. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 3

IN THE BAY--Sergio Shimomoto of La Paz with a 40-pound black snook speared in Bahia de la Paz in May 2006. Experienced free diver Shimomoto also speared a 45 pounder in July and a 49.6 pounder in Magdalena Bay that held the record for a few months. PHOTO COURTESY OF SERGIO SHIMOMOTO.

Mexico Fishing Photo 1

ILLEGAL DORADO FISHING--The commercial boat Salada I was apprehended by the Mexican Navy about 10 nautical miles off Cabo Virgines, near Santa Rosalia, with 7 tons of illegally caught dorado aboard. PHOTO COURTESY OF GUILLERMO ALVAREZ.

Bahia de los Angeles Mexico Fishing Photo 1

VILLA VITTA TOURNAMENT--The winning anglers in the recent Villa Vitta fishing tournament at Bahia de los Angeles included Alfonso Martinez, Elias Castro, and Oscar Benson. They caught 84 pounds of fish in 2 days with Capt. Fermin Ocampo. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEJANDRO ROSAS.

San Carlos Mexico Fishing Photo 1

SAN CARLOS SKIPPIES--Tom Boggess' kids, Shelton, 12, Bennett, 9, Davis, 6, and Katie, 4, with some black skipjack caught during an outing at San Carlos, Sonora, on their family boat Flagstaff. At right, Davis, with a San Carlos juvenile pompano. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOM BOGGESS.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 1

EL BANCO CUBERA SNAPPER--Rachel Baker fished with Erik Landesfeind on the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Chappy One and she landed this nice cubera snapper, or dog snapper, at El Banco on a flylined skipjack bait. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIK LANDESFEIND.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 2

HEAVY DUTY BLUE MARLIN--This big blue marlin was landed on the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Pacifico last week by anglers, from left, Kil Song of New Jersey, and "Kojika San" and "Akira San" of Japan. The big fish bled during the fight and could not be released. PHOTO COURTESY OF KIL SONG.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 3

SAVED THE DAY--Randy Raskin's surprise rainbow runner was the only fish caught during a 2-day outing out of Puerto Vallarta last week by Mark Rein's boat Big Kahuna. "A nice rainbow runner to save the day," said Rein. "Kind of, which was also a new species for the boat." PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK REIN.

Loreto Mexico Fishing Photo 2

LORETO BAIT GUYS--A baitseller's panga is caught about 200 yards off the downtown Loreto marina by photographer Mitchell Rose, using ASA 100 film and a handheld 180mm lens. PHOTO COURTESY OF MITCHELL ROSE.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES