Good fish counts on post-storm Baja tuna and dorado

Mexico Fishing News, September 18, 2006

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Good post-storm John yellowfin tuna and dorado counts came in last week for sportfishing boats at Baja Sur locations from Cabo San Lucas northwards into the Sea of Cortez.

Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas at San Jose del Cabo reported on 62 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 495 yellowfin tuna, 350 skipjack, 95 dorado, 4 sailfish, 2 striped marlin, 7 dog snapper, 12 cabrilla and 30 miscellaneous bottom species. "The tuna were readily striking sardinas and it did not take long to fill a fish box," Brictson said. "When the fishing is that good you might as well come back in and have your catch put on ice so it can be in the best possible condition." The heavy tuna counts were mostly on fish of 20 to 30 pounds caught from La Fortuna to the Iman Bank area. CONTINUED BIG TUNA COUNTS FOR LA PLAYITA PANGAS.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Emerald Argonza of Matador Sportfishing reported on an offshore run Saturday by the 33-foot charter boat Matador, fishing around the Ensenada 238 spot and then further west for a catch with 4 anglers of: 2 skipjack on the troll, and 13 yellowtail of 15 to 20 pounds all on the same kelp paddy. "Many fish were also lost from the chaos and the rough sea conditions," Argonza said. Offshore water temperatures were cool on Saturday at 64 to 64 degrees. KELP PADDY YELLOWTAIL FOR THE MATADOR.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the boat Bad Dog out of Ensenada's Marina Coral reported on a run to the upper 500 spot Saturday for a catch of: 8 yellowtail and 1 dorado off a kelp paddy. Water conditions at the spot were clear blue at 67.9 degrees, with 3 to 4-foot seas.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sergio Susarrey of Sergio's Ensenada Sportfishing Center reported on 29 anglers fishing aboard the charter boats Ensenada Clipper, Shir-lee, and Cazador, with a catch of: 72 yellowtail, 2 bonito, 7 sandbass, 15 yellowfin tuna, 6 dorado, 53 rockcod, and 70 lingcod.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sammy Susarrey of Lily Fleet reported on a late week run to University Point by the charter boat Amigo, fishing with 4 anglers for a catch of: 4 yellowtail of 12 pounds, and 1 sandbass. The water temperature at University Point was 69.5 degrees. "We had excellent sardine and medium greenback mackerel baits," Susarrey said.

ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS

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ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Fernando Castro of Castro's Camp said he had 17 boats fishing during the week at Erendira for very good counts of barracuda, bonito, yellowtail, and all species of bottom fish, plus a few white seabass. "The white seabass were slow, but they were still biting," Castro said. "We have lots of bait in the water, so we hope they will return this week." Erendira water was clear blue at 60 to 63 degrees and seas were mostly calm under partly cloudy skies.

ERENDIRA, MEXICO: William Stout of Aliso Viejo followed up on his trip to Castro's Camp the previous week, saying that on Sept. 4, 2006, his group of 6 anglers fishing with Castro's Capt. Maurecio scored on 25 yellowtail plus a 24-pound lingcod. "It was the best yellowtail fishing day since I started going there 13 years ago," Stout said.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Sarai Garcia of Don Eddie's Landing said the excellent white seabass bite of the past few weeks took a 5-day powder, but then came back as a boat fishing south at Arroyo Hondo on Tuesday scored on 12 white seabass of 14 to 42 pounds.

"The white seabass were back at El Socorro, Rio Hondo, and in the usual places near San Quintin where this fish loves to be," Garcia said. Other boats had continued with good catches of red rockcod, lingcod, whitefish, yellowtail, and a 40-pound thresher shark. San Quintin weather at the end of the week was in the low-80s, with light winds and water temperatures at 64 to 66 degrees. WHITE SEABASS RETURN AFTER A DRY SPELL.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported 24 boats fishing out of San Quintin during the week, mostly around the 240 and 6 spots, for scattered yellowtail to 25 pounds and limits of bottom fish including rockcod and lingcod. Capt. Pato took the Skipjack on 1 outing south to Socorro, but found only 2 white seabass of 26 and 32 pounds, plus limits of sandbass and calico bass. "Large barracuda still have control of Socorro," Hillis said.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Gabriel Davila of Upland, Calif., and his group fished earlier with San Quintin sportfishing Capt. Jaime Garcia and missed on the white seabass but still did well on mixed species. "Friday we fished at Socorro," Davila said. "All the boats from the bay were there to try for the white seabass action that had been so good. No whites for anyone. Instead we stayed busy with excellent mixed bag action, 2 yellowtail, with a 30 pounder caught by Oscar Davila, and wide-open sandbass and calico bass, large barracuda, bonitos, and an assortment of rock fish." Davila fished with Oscar Davila of Chino, Calif., and Juan Eggli of Alhambra, Calif. San Quintin fishing area weather was excellent, with sunny skies and calm seas.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Celia Diaz of the nonprofit Binational Emergency Medical Care Committee in Chula Vista said 18 emergency evacuations for travelers in Mexico were coordinated during August, including a Baja angler who became ill while fishing at San Felipe and was picked up from his boat by the U.S. Coast Guard. Also noted was yet another highway incident involving an armed assailant, this one on the Ensenada toll road about 25 miles south of Rosarito on Sept. 9, 2006. A man reportedly stopped a U.S. driver and got out of a dark blue Toyota pickup with a pistol equipped with a silencer, Diaz said, but he fled when another vehicle approached. When the incident was reported to Mexican authorities, the near-victim was first asked if he had been drinking, and then was laughed at and told, "Well, that also happens in the United States."

The nonprofit Binational Emergency Medical Care Committee (BEMCC) provides emergency evacuation assistance from Mexico on a $30 tax deductible annual membership basis. Information and 24/7 hotline: 619-425-5080.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza issued a warning on Thursday that all Americans traveling in Mexico should exercise caution due to the alarming rise in violence along the border.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported big offshore swells from heavy tropical weather farther south, but otherwise good conditions at Magdalena Bay, with Pacific water temperatures at 80 degrees and dorado in close at the San Carlos entrada. "Large swells prevented most of the boats from going out to Thetis Bank," Graham said. "But dorado were found at the entrada." Magdalena Bay mangrove channel fishing included grouper caught north at Puerto Lopez Mateos and corvina plus spotted bay bass at Devil's Curve. Magdalena Bay weather was humid in the high-80s, with water temperatures of 64 to 78 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet said post-storm dorado fishing was "great right now" at Cabo San Lucas, as charter boats scored good catches of dorado at 15 to 60 pounds on the Pacific side up to Pozo de Cota and up to Destiladeras on the Cortez side. Good counts of yellowfin tuna at 20 to 30 pounds were also found around Punta Gorda and the Iman Bank. Billfish action was slow, with just 22 percent of charters releasing mostly striped marlin. "We were a bit surprised at the lack of blue marlin," Ehrenberg said. "No boat caught more than one billfish in a day." DORADO AND TUNA LEAD POST-STORM CABO FISH COUNTS.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of Cabo San Lucas said his boat Falcon is now being chartered out through Tracy Ehrenberg at Pisces Fleet, pisces@piscessportfishing.com.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 10 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 blue marlin of 450 pounds, 2 striped marlin, 32 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 25 pounds, 33 dorado of 20 to 45 pounds, and 1 amberjack of 20 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported 48 boats with a catch including released fish of: 11 striped marlin, 40 yellowfin tuna, 101 dorado, 2 wahoo, 4 roosterfish, 4 sierra, 2 pargo, 3 cabrilla, 12 skipjack, and 3 amberjack.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing said the weather effects at Cabo San Lucas of last week's distant Hurricane Lane were limited to cloudy skies and just a few sprinkles of rain. Some southerly swell and northwest winds brought confused seas to the Pacific side, but fishing on the Cortez side was mostly unaffected. Water temperatures at the middle of the week ranged from the high-70s up to 83 degrees on the Pacific side and up to about 84 degrees on the Cortez side. Live bait supplies at the Cabo marina remained limited, with most boats getting about 6 or 7 caballito.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 37 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 4 blue marlin, all under 300 pounds; 8 striped marlin; 1 sailfish; 52 yellowfin tuna; and 100 dorado. Cabo San Lucas weather was cloudy in the high-90s, with water temperatures at 84 degrees on the Pacific side and 88 degrees at the Gordo Banks on the Sea of Cortez side. Wind and rain were forecast for Saturday, as Hurricane Lane came ashore on the Mexican mainland near Mazatlan. FISH CABO AND GAVIOTA FLEET FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Axel Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on 47 East Cape charter fishing boats, with 153 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 250 yellowfin tuna, 2 blue marlin, 1 striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 111 dorado, 2 wahoo, 4 roosterfish, 4 snapper, 3 ladyfish, 8 squid, and 16 skipjack tuna.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero said East Cape fishing boats lost 1 day of action due to the passing of distant storm Lane, but the action stayed hot for yellowfin tuna of mostly 20 to 50 pounds caught south from Los Frailes to White Cliffs only about 3 to 4 miles out.

"All Rancho Leonero charter sportfishing boats making the trip are limiting out," Ireland said. Dorado were also biting well throughout the bay, with fish of 20 to 50 pounds caught within a couple of miles of the beach. Shore fishing was still hampered by cloudy storm runoff. East Cape weather was in the low-90s, with water temperatures of 86 to 89 degrees. TUNA LIMITS TO THE SOUTH.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport East Cape Diving service at Buena Vista said water temperatures on the Cabo Pulmo coral reef were at 86 degrees last week with excellent visibility of 100 feet plus. "Looks like we dodged Lane," Rayor said. "No wind, no rain, not even any surf from it." All East Cape resorts were back in operation after the previous week's storm John. Rayor said, "It does not appear that any damage was done to the Pulmo reefs. Two days after the storm the water was clear, blue and 87 degrees." Vista Sea Sport's charter fishing boat Jen Wren had 4 outings last week, with excellent results for yellowfin tuna limits, 1 very large bull dorado, and 1 triple-release striped marlin day.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said yellowfin tuna and billfish led East Cape sportfishing counts last week as storm Lane came up the Mexican mainland coast, veered east and missed Baja. On Saturday, Graham said, "This morning East Cape fishing conditions are cloudy but calm." Inshore fishing water was still clearing after recent heavy rains, but dorado were being found under debris. Beach fishing was still "sporadic at best" with a few needlefish near the hotels producing the best action. "Your best bet is to look for diving pelicans working the sardina schools from La Ribera to Punta Colorada," Graham said. East Cape weather was humid with thunderstorms at 90 degrees, with water temperatures of 74 to 90 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House said the area cleanup following storm John was progressing last week. "Insurance agents are descending on the East Cape by the hundreds," Moyers said. "Repair work should begin sometime around mid to late October. The wait is necessary in case we get another direct hit this season." East Cape sportfishing action was very good for yellowfin tuna and dorado as boats resumed fishing. "Looks like we picked up right where we left off," Moyers said.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International said La Paz was in a heavy party mood for the Mexican Independence Day weekend, but light rain from storm Lane was falling on Saturday morning and preparations were also being made for possible rough weather that never arrived. La Paz side fishing was excellent for dorado on both sides of Isla Espiritu Santo. "This was maybe one of the best weeks of fishing at La Paz this entire season," Roldan said. "We had an incredible number of 40 to 60 pound dorado, weighed on the scales." On the Las Arenas side, anglers scored on tuna of 20 to 40 pounds pulled from surface schools of "too many boiling fish." VERY GOOD DORADO FISHING OFF ISLA ESPIRITU SANTO.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing reported calm, cloudy weather in the mid-90s on the Las Arenas side over the weekend. Lots of debris was present in the main fishing areas between Ensenada de los Muertos and Punta Pescadero where dorado and tuna were caught. Boats also fished north of Isla Cerralvo and off Las Cruces for many dorado on trash lines. Live sardina and squid bait was in good supply in all fishing areas.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Chris Halliday of Huntington Beach reported on 3 days of fishing early in the week out of La Paz' Costa Baja Marina on the boat Meri Tyme, finding some pargo of about 20 pounds at Roca Montana at the south end of Isla Cerralvo, and then 1 marlin and 1 dorado off the south end of the island. "Overall the fishing was slow," Halliday said. "The water was still green with a lot of logs and junk from John. The marina is very protected and the boat sustained no damage. When I got down there almost everything had been cleaned up. The trees that had been knocked over had been propped back up and most of the mud and dirt had been cleaned out of the streets. When we were out fishing we had to keep a sharp eye out. There were logs and trees floating everywhere."

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of Loreto's Hotel Oasis said despite heavy rain and wind from recent storm John, with phone service and roads temporarily cut, the hotel did not suffer any damage. During the week, 14 pangas fished for limits of 36 dorado of 15 to 40 pounds, in clear, calm weather, with the water temperature at 82 to 86 degrees. Fishing areas during the week included Loreto waters northeast of Isla Coronado and at San Bruno.

LORETO, MEXICO: Don Bear of Loreto relayed a "dorado limits" fishing report from Steve Spies of Glendora, who fished at Loreto 3 days early in the week with partner Joe d'Angelo and Loreto super panga Capt. Paulino Martinez. "We released all the small dorado," Spies said. "We caught and kept our limit each day. Each day the dorado were larger and more abundant." On their best day, Wednesday, Spies said 25 dorado and 1 sailfish were released after being hooked on sardina baits. Only a few boats were fishing at Loreto. "The city was nearly empty with very few boats going out," Spies said. "I saw 4 Wednesday.

MULEGE FISHING REPORTS

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MULEGE, MEXICO: Diana Johnson of Mulege's historic Hotel Serenidad said sport boats were fishing again after the recent massive damage from storm John. Sportfishing boats were being allowed to fish at Mulege on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2006, despite rumors of a local closure.

"There is no official SAGARPA closure for sportfishing," Johnson said. "People went fishing today. The closure is for clamming. Up to today, there is no restriction on sportfishing." Johnson said recent storm John brought the highest flood waters to Mulege since the huge storm of 1959 that silted in the river and is thought by some to have pushed out the local population of giant black snook.

During recent storm John, the Hotel Serenidad was flooded about 1 foot deep and had some damage but was scheduled to reopen in a few weeks, Johnson said. Email was working at: hotelserenidad@prodigy.net.mx. In 1959, Johnson said the main town square of Mulege was flooded 4 feet deep, but recent storm John flooded the same area only 1 foot deep. "But in 1959 we had no houses on the river as we do now," Johnson said. "That is why we do have a lot of damage this time. The best help that people can give to Mulege right now is to come and visit us."

MULEGE, MEXICO: Gary Thomas and his wife flew to their place at the Hotel Serenidad last week and reported super wide-open dorado fishing for fish over 20 pounds even as the town of Mulege recovered from the tremendous flood damage caused by storm John. "Fishing was off the chart," Thomas said. "We took Capt. Alex from the Hotel Serenidad out. In 3 hours we caught between 15 and 20 dorado, keeping the largest 12 to help feed some of the homeless shelters." Mulege fishing water was at 83 degrees about 10 miles out. Thomas said Capt. Alex confirmed there was no ban on boating and sportfishing in the area. "He said that that is completely erroneous," Thomas said. Heavy debris was in the water and caution was recommended for boats. The Hotel Serenidad airstrip was fully operational and in excellent condition. WIDE-OPEN DORADO FISHING AS TOWN RECOVERS FROM HURRICANE JOHN.

MULEGE, MEXICO: Patsi Hodges of Bahia Concepcion fished out of Bahia Coyote on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006, and confirmed the high concentration of good-sized dorado present on debris in Mulege waters. During one session on one trash line, 5 dorado of 20 to 30 pounds were landed and another 5 were lost. "We found a huge mess of garbage," Hodges said. "Under this mess and around the edges were big dorado. We had a lot of happy friends when we got back to the beach." Mulege fishing water was flat all day at 85 to 87 degrees. FISHING FOR QUALITY DORADO ON TRASH LINES.

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

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SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos said Santa Rosali a area weather was hot and humid in the high-90s, but with cooler evenings signaling the approach of fall. One fishing run to Isla Tortuga with Kanzler's son Michael and Daniel Lopez produced 3 yellowtail of 23 to 25 pounds, 4 leopard grouper, 1 sawtail grouper, and 1 baqueta of 30 pounds, all caught on mackerel and caballito baits found off San Lucas Cove.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: At San Lucas Cove, Syd Lyndsay said much Baja livestock was washed into the sea during storm John. "The director of the gypsum mine on San Marcus Island lost over 200 sheep from his ranch in Mulege," Lindsay said. "Along with other livestock from many other ranches it has contaminated the inshore water and there is a warning out not to eat the local seafood. Medical personal are going house to house checking on the people and giving advice on health and water storage and so on. People will rebuild and wait for the next one, next year, next decade, next century, who knows? But it will come.

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

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Harry Beckous of Huntington Beach and his group fished 3 days over the Labor Day weekend with Igor Galvan of Bahia de los Angeles, finding very good action for a catch of: 15 white seabass, 16 yellowtail, 2 dorado, 2 hammerhead shark, 4 whitefish, 3 sheephead, and 3 barracuda. On Saturday, stormy weather reached L.A. Bay, but Beckous fished again at Isla Smith during a window of calm winds on Sunday for 10 yellowtail of 12 to 20 pounds in 4 hours. "Needless to say it was an incredibly fun weekend," Beckous said. GOOD FISHING FOR WHITE SEABASS AND YELLOWTAIL.

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Catalina Meders of the Title Company Bookstore at San Felipe said the town had "many, many" visitors for the Mexican Independence Day weekend celebration and the weather was about perfect at 82 degrees with blue skies and no wind. Upcoming events included the San Felipe Shrimp Festival and the town's annual Snowbird Festival. "October will be here soon and already our winter visitors are starting to arrive," Meders said. "With so much construction going on, San Felipe is a constant hive of activity just about all year-round.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said on Saturday that the passage of Hurricane Lane off the coast of Mazatlan brought plenty of rain and wind but no damage to the area. "I just got off the phone with the Aries Fleet office," Edwards said on Saturday. "It was pretty windy this morning about 4 a.m. and it rained all night and the seas are very rough outside the harbor, but that's it. The main part of the hurricane hit north of Mazatlan. They think they will be back to fishing by tomorrow morning." During the week Aries Fleet at Marina el Cid reported only 9 offshore boats fishing, for a catch including released fish of: 4 sailfish, 3 dorado, and 1 yellowfin tuna. Three inshore super pangas caught 21 dorado.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Osuna of Marla's Sportfishing reported a good week prior to Hurricane Lane for the Puerto Vallarta charter boats Arca de Noe, Marla II, and Marla II for yellowfin tuna estimated at 130, 150, 260, and 352 pounds, plus steady catches of rainbow runner, jacks, pargos, sailfish, and wahoo. Fishing was in a water temperature of 87 degrees at El Banco and Roca Corbeteña. "This week had terrific fishing," Osuna said. "Too bad we had Hurricane Lane pass close to Puerto Vallarta and the harbor master closed the port for the weekend. We hope after all this bad weather the big boys will be more aggressive around cow town." TUNA ACTION IMPROVES BEFORE ROUGH WEATHER.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Marisela Hernandez of Chelita Sportfishing reported on 6 outings at El Banco, Roca Corbeteña, and inshore at "Los Abnegados," by the charter boat Chelita, with a catch including released fish of: 1 yellowfin tuna estimated by a taxidermist at about 350 pounds, 4 yellowfin tuna of about 150 pounds, 1 yellowfin tuna of about 50 pounds, 1 small dorado, 2 sailfish, 1 pargo of about 50 pounds, some needlefish, many rainbow runners, and 1 black marlin of about 175 pounds.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Gomez of the charter super panga Dhamar said he fished last week with Capt. Alonso on the Marla's charter boat Arca de Noe. On a run to Roca Corbeteña, the boat landed 1 wahoo of 45 pounds and 8 rainbow runner for clients. Another outing on Thursday produced only 1 strike, but it was a good one, Gomez said, as he was aboard when Marla's yellowfin tuna taped at 352 pounds was landed at El Banco. Friday fishing was slow for tuna, as many dolphin were present in rough sea conditions. The port of Puerto Vallarta was closed on Saturday. Gomez said his super panga Dhamar has openings in September but is becoming heavily booked for October. Rates were $450 for Roca Corbeteña and $550 for El Banco, with a 2-angler limit preferred.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Quinonez of PV Marlin Sportfishing reported on an overnight fishing trip to El Banco and Roca Corbeteña by the charter boat Lorena, fishing with angler Darryl LaRocque for tough tuna action in dense porpoise, heavy pargo to 60 pounds, nonstop rainbow runner, and a fun night-fishing session for mixed species. "I love the overnight fishing trips," Quinonez said. "We call it fish until you drop. You do 2 days of fishing and all night if you have it in you." OVERNIGHT FUN FISHING AT ROCA CORBETEÑA.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said the port of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo was closed by weather 4 days last week. "Tropical Storm Lane formed only 60 miles out in front of us," Kunze said. "We really do not know how the fishing is right now. We did not get any wind at all. However, I have recorded 9.75 inches of rain since this last Monday, Sept. 11, 2006, which is almost twice the rain we got from John." Ixtapa fishing area weather was calm on Saturday, with water temperatures of 78 to 87 degrees.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said very few anglers were present at Ixtapa during the week. The charter boat Dos Hermanos II reported on 1 inshore run for 2 roosterfish, 1 green jack, and 1 African pompano. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo weather was cloudy with rain squalls, in the low-90s, with a westerly swell and water temperatures at 82 to 83 degrees.

HUATULCO FISHING REPORTS

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HUATULCO, MEXICO: Eric Weissman of Explore Fly Fishing reported water temperatures of about 90 degrees at his Puerto Escondido and San Agustinillo fishing areas near Huatulco, with variable swells from tropical storms to the north but waters "very fishable." Debris was washing into the ocean from recent rains and fish species caught near shore on trash lines included jacks, roosterfish, tuna, skipjack, black skipjack, dorado, and sailfish. "There will be a good sailfish and dorado fest in October and November with all the rain debris washing out," Weissman said. FISHING FOR MIXED SPECIES ON RAIN RUNOFF TRASH LINES.

CANCUN FISHING REPORTS

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CANCUN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 5 short fishing trips by the El Cid Caribe fleet at Puerto Morelos near Cancun, with a catch including released fish of: 1 sailfish, 1 king mackerel, 3 dog snapper, and 9 barracuda. "Cancun fishing is seemingly unaffected by any of the hardcore weather in the Atlantic at this time," Edwards said, "with only light surface breezes and water temperatures ranging from 83 to 87 degrees." Boats fished on a 4-degree water temperature break about 5 miles north of Marina el Cid.

MEXICO COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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MEXICO: Hurricane Lane moved up Mexico's Pacific coast last week and looked at first as though it might hit the East Cape area of Baja California, before veering east on Saturday and coming ashore about 80 miles north of Mazatlan with torrential rain and sustained winds near 125 m.p.h., and then dissipating quickly as it moved inland. Possible rainfall accumulations of 6 to 25 inches were forecast.

MEXICO: David Burns, owner with his wife Myriam Loaeza Gonzalez of the El Manglar Restaurant in the almost unknown Mexican tourist town of Tecolutla near Veracruz on Mexico's Atlantic coast, reported generally slow fishing in the area for king mackerel, locally called "peto," red snapper or huachinango, and rubia, another species of snapper. Local pangueros were fishing commercially for shrimp just 100 meters off the beach and the commercial panga Esmeralda also brought in 60 kilos of huachinango plus 40 kilos of another fish called "basugo." "We only get around 60 northern North American and European tourists a year," Burns said of the town of Tecolutla, "but well over 100,000 Mexicans." Burns said he would give information on charter boats to anglers interested in trying the area, senorburnsy@hotmail.com, phone 011-52-766-846-0515. "The majority of the charters would be with a commercial fisherman as captain and guide," he said. FISHING AT THE ATLANTIC COAST MEXICAN TOWN OF TECOLUTLA.

San Jose del Cabo Photo 1 San Jose del Cabo Photo 2

SAN JOSE DOGTOOTH--A member of Allen Louie's group accounted for this 40-pound dogtooth snapper last week while fishing at La Fortuna near San Jose del Cabo with Gordo Banks Pangas' Capt. Tony on the charter super panga Ginny. At right, Lyn Stark and her friend fished with Gordo Banks Pangas and had a blast catching 9 yellowfin tuna to 30 pounds. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

Castro's Camp Photo 1

CASTRO'S CAMP FILLETS--Anglers, from left, Patrick Keith and Janica Stalo of Imperial Beach, and James Caldwell and Eric Graff of San Diego, with a nice table of fish caught at Erendira south of Ensenada with Castro's Camp sportfishing Capt. Jorge Arballo Castro on the charter boat Castro 2. PHOTO COURTESY TERE CASTRO.

San Quintin Photo 1

QUINTIN CROAKERS RETURN--White seabass at San Quintin disappeared for 5 days over the full moon, but came back with a big catch on Tuesday for these anglers fishing out of Don Eddie's Landing. From left are, Roger Heath, Don Eddie's Landing Capt. Pancho Berrellesa, and Mark Metten. PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAI GARCIA.

Baja Photo 1

MISSED BAJA--Hurricane Lane struck the Mexican coast north of Mazatlan with torrential rain and sustained winds well over 100 m.p.h., and then quickly dissipated. IMAGE COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER.

East Cape Photo 1

SUSHI GALORE--Anglers, from left, Togo Hazard, Hal Sadler, Norm Presley and William Frey fished out of East Cape's Buena Vista Beach Resort with Capt. Vicente Cosio and got into the heavy post-John bite with up to 40 yellowfin tuna per day. PHOTO COURTESY OF AXEL VALDEZ.

La Paz Photo 1

BAJA GOLD RUSH--Anglers fishing out of La Paz last week got into a very nice run of big dorado on debris following storm John. Here's a lineup of quality bulls caught with Tailhunter International. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

Loreto Photo 1

AFTER THE STORM--Anglers Bob Talber, left, and Mike Conte fished out of Loreto's Hotel Oasis Saturday about 20 miles northeast of Isla Coronado for limits of dorado in settling waters following storm John. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTY ZAPATA.

Mulege Flood Photo 1

HIGH WATER AT MULEGE--Flooding from Baja's recent Hurricane John came to within a few feet of the Mex 1 roadway at Mulege. Diana Johnson of Mulege's historic Hotel Serenidad said water was 1 foot deep in the town square, topped in memory only by the unnamed storm of 1959 that flooded the square to a depth of 4 feet. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOBBY LUJAN.

Isla Tortuga Baqueta Photo 1

TORTUGA BAQUETA--Daniel Lopez hoists a nice 30-pound baqueta caught deep at Isla Tortuga off Santa Rosalia last week with Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE KANZLER.

Bahia de los Angeles Photo 1

DORADO AT L.A. BAY--Harry Beckous and his group fished 3 days with Capt. Igor Galvan of Bahia de los Angeles for a good catch of white seabass, yellowtail, mixed species, and 2 dorado caught south of the bay off Bahia de las Animas. PHOTO COURTESY OF HARRY BECKOUS.

Bahia de los Angeles Photo 2

GOLD COMING IN--Well-known Bahia de los Angeles sportfishing guide Capt. Igor Galvan gets the gancho ready on a nice dorado for Harry Beckous and his group. PHOTO COURTESY OF HARRY BECKOUS.

Puerto Vallarta Fishing Photo 1

COWS COME HOME--Some cow class yellowfin tuna were caught last week at Puerto Vallarta. Here's a 260 pounder caught by angler Mark Gist, right, of Fountain Valley, Calif., with Capt. Scott Osuna of the Marla's Sportfishing charter boat Marla III. PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY OSUNA.

Puerto Vallarta Fishing Photo 2

VALLARTA COW CHEW--A few nice cow-class yellowfin tuna were caught at Puerto Vallarta last week. Here's a biggie landed on the charter boat Chelita. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARISELA HERNANDEZ.

Tocolutla, Veracruz Photo 1 Tocolutla, Veracruz Photo 2 Tocolutla, Veracruz Photo 3

OFF THE BEATEN PATH--David Burns, here with his wife Myriam Loaeza Gonzalez at their Restaurant El Manglar in Tecolutla, Veracruz, Mexico, reports on sportfishing in this Atlantic side tourist town that is still undiscovered by norteamericanos. ""We only get around 60 northern North American and European tourists a year but well over 100,000 Mexicans," Burns said. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID BURNS.

Rocky Point Photo 1

BEAUTIFUL SEAS--A shrimp trawler off Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico, heads for the Baja side of the Sea of Cortez at sunset, over the New Year's holiday 2005. PHOTO COURTESY OF CURT GRANT.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES