Blue marlin at 438-pounds wins Los Cabos Tourney

Mexico Fishing News, October 23, 2006

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR CABO SAN LUCAS

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet reported a 438-pound blue marlin caught Wednesday by the Pisces charter boat Tracy Ann that took first place in last week's Los Cabos Billfish Tournament and won $451,350 in prize money for angler Jukka Hassel of Finland.

During the tournament, the Tracy Ann fished in slow big billfish conditions at Cabo San Lucas with Capt. Ricardo Agundez, standing in for well-known regular boat captain Julio Castro who was ill, and first mate Ernesto Alonso.

"After the first day of this year's tournament, no qualifying fish over 300 pounds came to the scale," Ehrenberg said. "Organizers were thrilled that not one underweight fish was brought in and recognized anglers and crews for their conscientious judgment."

A yellowfin tuna of 310 pounds was caught on the first day of the tournament and another tuna in the 350-pound class was reported landed on a Cabo boat by Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas at San Jose del Cabo. PISCES FLEET 438-POUND BLUE MARLIN WINS LOS CABOS BILLFISH TOURNAMENT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the week ending Oct. 12, 2006, Ehrenberg reported 36 percent of Pisces Fleet charters releasing billfish, for a total of 41 striped marlin, sailfish, and blue marlin, 89 percent landing dorado, 18 percent with yellowfin tuna, and a couple of wahoo also landed.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported Cabo weather in the high-80s and noted the possible passage of Tropical Storm Paul during next week's Bisbee's Black & Blue Tournament. "Forecasts call for it to be 200 miles to the southwest on Tuesday morning and continuing in our direction," Landrum said.

Billfish were present in fair numbers around the tip of Baja but few large fish were caught during the week. "We had the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament this week," Landrum said. "There were 3 qualifying marlin caught over 300 pounds, all caught first day."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported on 115 charter boats, with a catch including released fish of: 109 yellowfin tuna, 196 dorado, 1 blue marlin, 15 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 2 skipjack, 22 roosterfish, 1 sierra, and 7 boats with no luck.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing said he fished at Cabo on Tuesday and Wednesday for good results on tuna and dorado. Dillon reported on 18 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 lost, 8 striped marlin, 4 sailfish, 39 yellowfin tuna of 20 to 30 pounds, 50-plus dorado of 15 to 40 pounds, and 1 Humboldt giant squid of 40 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 74 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 362 dorado, 3 blue marlin, 1 sailfish, 22 striped marlin, 1 wahoo, and 99 yellowfin tuna. Dorado were caught mostly on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas and yellowfin tuna on the Cortez side. Cabo weather was in the mid-90s, with some wind chop and stable water temperatures of 84 to 85 degrees around the tip of Baja. FISHING FOR DORADO AND TUNA SPLIT ON PACIFIC AND CORTEZ SIDES.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Grant Hartman of Baja Anglers said Cabo San Lucas fly fishing was good for dorado and yellowfin tuna. "The dorado action is located up on the Pacific side," Hartman said. "We are catching anywhere from 3 to 30 schooling dorado up to 15 pounds in a day’s outing." Hartman noted that Baja Anglers has changed its email address to info@baja-anglers.com.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR ENSENADA

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet said his pangas fishing at Ensenada's Punta Banda caught steady bottom fish including some limits, some yellowtail at the middle of the week, and a few bonita. Also in the catch was a 90-pound bull shark landed by the panga Vonny III with Capt. Hector and anglers Walter Korbler, Evon Thomas, and Jerry Gutierrez, who also caught 4 yellowtail for the day.

Ensenada weather was cloudy in the mid-60s, with light winds, 2-foot ocean swells, and water temperatures at 62 degrees. VONNY'S FLEET PANGAS CATCH YELLOWTAIL, BOTTOM FISH, AND A 90-POUND BULL SHARK.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Judy Ostberg of the boat Melody out of Ensenada's Marina Coral said she fished with 3 anglers northwest of the lower 500 spot on Saturday for 9 yellowtail of 10 to 12 pounds on kelp paddies, plus 1 hookup that could not be stopped. "Either a shark or marlin," Ostberg said. "We leave Saturday for Cabo San Lucas to fish the Western Outdoor News Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot. Go team 39!" Ensenada offshore weather had some heavy patches of early morning fog, clearing by about 8 a.m., and water temperatures of 68 to 72 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Antonio Sanchez of Tijuana fished locally at Ensenada the previous weekend on the charter boat J Red II out of Gordo's Sportfishing and reported 8 bonito of about 7 pounds caught while trolling green-yellow and Mexican flag feathers at Punta Banda and 1 rockcod caught at San Miguel Reef.

Two other anglers aboard the J Red II caught 8 bonito, 6 rockcod, and 1 lingcod. Ensenada weather was partly cloudy, with good sea conditions and the water temperature at 63 degrees. The J Red II was crewed by Capt. Armando and mate Alfredo "Chino" Ocegueda.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the boat Bad Dog at Marina Coral fished offshore Saturday south of the 450 spot and reported easy limits of kelp paddy yellowtail with anglers Gail Ross and Capt. Juan Lu-Sepulveda. The fishing water off Ensenada was blue at 67 degrees, with a 1-foot swell.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Erasmo "J.R." Carrizales Jr. of Ensenada, general manager of Ensenada Sportfishing Works, said he has 24-foot and 42-foot charter boats available from their office at the downtown marina next to Sergio's. Information: 011-52-646-156-5151, info@ensenadasportfishingworks.com.

ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR ERENDIRA

ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Fernando Castro of Castro's Camp said Erendira weather was good all week except for some swell on Friday and over the weekend that did not stop boats from fishing. Castro's Camp sent 24 boats out during the week for continued heavy counts of red rockcod, whitefish, lingcod, and bass. Good concentrations of bait fish continued in the fishing area, and water temperatures were at 66 to 67 degrees.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN QUINTIN

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported just a few boats fishing out of San Quintin during the week. "Most boats that headed to Socorro only had 1 or 2 white seabass per boat, but they also got limits of sandbass and barracuda," Hillis said. San Quintin boats fishing at the 240 spot and Isla San Martin brought in a few yellowtail and limits of large bonita and large rockcod and lingcod. San Quintin weather was good, with just a few sprinkles during the storms that hit Southern California.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR BAJA COASTAL AREAS

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Juanchys Aguilar of La Bocana on the Baja central Pacific coast said he fished Monday and Saturday on his panga Karol with anglers including Gilberto Castro of Tijuana and Marck and Syndi Belard of Phoenix for very good medium-sized and some large yellowtail action totaling 65 fish. The yellowtail were caught about 6 miles south of La Bocana in 35 feet of water. An outing to Magdalena Bay aboard John Arrieta's 40-foot boat Triple Time was diverted by weather and reports of slow fishing to a bajo about 32 miles from La Bocana, but Aguilar said the fishing there was also slow in rough conditions for some tuna, dorado, and sandbass. La Bocana local waters were clear at 80 degrees. "We're hoping for good fishing for the next tournament here at La Bocana on Oct. 29th," Aguilar said. "We are getting black seabass, grouper, and good yellowtail."

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Andrew Moss of Temecula reported on 4 days of Baja coastal fishing out of Hotel Punta Colorada at East Cape, at La Paz, and also on the beach of Las Arenas where a rental car was temporarily stuck at a shore casting spot. Overall, Moss' group, including Chris Vail and Jeff Reid, fished from the Gordo Banks north to Isla Espiritu Santo for a catch including yellowfin tuna, striped marlin, skipjack, dorado, ladyfish, needlefish, and goatfish. MIXED BEACH AND BOAT FISHING TRIP FROM SAN JOSE DEL CABO TO LA PAZ.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Matt Roy of Leucadia, Calif., and fishing partner Greg Tyson of San Clemente, Calif., made an annual Baja run down to the Punta Rosarito location described in the sportfishing guidebook The Baja Catch, for a catch including dozens of halibut to 5 pounds and sandbass to 3 pounds, about 6 yellowfin croaker, and 2 shortfin corvina to over 4 pounds. All fish were released except for some halibut for dinner. Roy and Tyson fished from shore using 8-pound line and rubber. "The water was wonderful, nearing 70 degrees and full of bait fish and crashing pelicans," Roy said. "The high tides brought in the corvina. The weather was ideal with typical hard onshores throughout the day without rain."

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MAGDALENA BAY

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Bill Erhardt of Loreto trailered his boat Soledad to the Pacific side of Baja and trolled the offshore banks solo 2 days out of Puerto Lopez Mateos, finding some wind and swell, clear blue water at 80 to 81 degrees, and a catch of 18 yellowfin tuna from small to 25 pounds, a couple of small dorado, and 1 wahoo. Erhardt saw no other sportfishing boats off Magdalena Bay, other than 3 San Diego long range boats. "I saw no marlin either day and had no marlin strikes," he said. SOLO SMALL BOAT FISHING ON BAJA'S REMOTE PACIFIC BANKS.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said early results from the annual fall fish pileup offshore of Magdalena Bay were "not up to the usual Mag Bay standards" as sportfishing boats reported plenty of dorado outside the San Carlos entrada but fewer fish around the Thetis Bank. Yellowfin tuna and skipjack tuna were consistent off Puerto Lopez Mateos to the north and the Magdalena Bay mangrove channels produced pargo and grouper. Magdalena Bay weather was partly cloudy in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 74 to 84 degrees.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN JOSE DEL CABO

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported yellowfin tuna action slower last week, but about 7 tuna per panga still being accounted for, plus 2 tuna over 300 pounds landed off San Jose del Cabo by Cabo San Lucas cruisers. "These tuna were hooked right alongside pangas based at La Playita," Brictson said. "Perhaps this will be the area that produces the big tuna for the upcoming Western Outdoor News Tuna Tournament." Brictson reported on 205 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 1,440 yellowfin tuna, 74 dorado, 3 striped marlin, 9 sailfish, 6 wahoo, 155 various pargo, 3 roosterfish, 15 sierra, 18 cabrilla, and 760 various types of skipjack. TWO GORILLA TUNA OVER 300 POUNDS LANDED BY LOS CABOS BOATS.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Jack Davidson of Torrance, Calif., reported on 4 days of panga fishing out of Punta Palmilla about 2 miles off La Playita for a catch of 20 yellowfin tuna of 20 to 35 pounds. Fishing with Davidson were Jon Rupley and Wendy Wynant of Placerville, Calif.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Jack Simpson of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Tim Griffin fished 3 days on La Playita pangas for good action on many yellowfin tuna, 5 pargo, 1 sierra, 1 rainbow runner, 1 Panamic graysby, 2 yellow surgeon fish, 1 finescale triggerfish, and 2 orangeside triggerfish. "The tuna fishing was wide-open in front of La Playita in San Jose del Cabo," Simpson said. "You only had to motor out about a mile. We landed 12, 25-pound tuna in 1 hour and 15 minutes." SUPER-HOT TUNA FISHING A MILE OFF LA PLAYITA BEACH.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Species fishing specialist John Snow of San Jose del Cabo reported a strong week of surf fishing with 43 fish caught of 9 species. Four outings with Capt. Pata on the panga Salome produced 31 yellowfin tuna from 1 to 5 miles out, plus 18 other fish. Overall, 28 fish species were caught, including 3 new ones, the sharpsnout grunt, azure parrotfish, and 1 unknown species.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR EAST CAPE

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts reported on 389 East Cape charter fishing boats from Hotels Palmas De Cortez, Playa Del Sol, and Punta Colorada, with 960 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 612 yellowfin tuna, 93 dorado, 6 blue marlin, 30 striped marlin, 30 sailfish, 33 roosterfish, 4 wahoo, 20 sierra, 2 cabrilla, 3 pompano, 63 pargo, 42 bonita, 1 yellowtail, 15 needlefish, and 62 triggerfish." The tuna were about 2 hours out from hotels," Dalmau said. "Billfish were being caught 2 to 30 miles out."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero reported cooling East Cape fishing area water temperatures at 83 to 85 degrees, with air temperatures at 90 degrees and some days of north wind. "The falling water temperature has taken a toll on the bite," Ireland said. "It was an off week for dorado. The marlin bite shut down earlier in the week. Tuna have moved all the way down to the Gordo Banks. Most boats are going south to chase tuna."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said, "East Cape has begun to cool down. Strong north winds for the past several days chewed up the beach. Inshore action continued for pompano, jack crevalle, ladyfish, roosters, and sierra from Buena Vista to the lighthouse. Most of the billfish action was soaking baits down deep which is not good for the fly guys. There are plenty of yellowfin tuna down below Los Frailes, almost a long-range trip in the opinion of most."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Don Bear of Loreto and his group fished 2 days at midweek on the cruisers Amante and Tres Amigos out of Hotel Punta Colorada, finding good conditions on Wednesday but "windy and nasty" seas on Thursday "virtually shutting down the fishing." The group's combined catch for 4 boat-days of fishing including released fish was: 18 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 20 pounds, 1 skipjack tuna, 3 dorado including 2 keepers to 12 pounds, 1 needlefish, several barrilete, and 2 frigate mackerel. "Bait in all cases was small sardinas, except the dorado came on hoochies and cedar plugs." Bear said. "We had to go all the way to La Playita at San Jose del Cabo for the tuna. Everything else was caught between Cabo Pulmo and La Ribera." Fishing with Bear were Fabrizio Marangoni, Mario Curci, and Knute Weichmann, all of Thousand Oaks, Calif.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Henry Howard of Westwood, Calif., and his father Alfred Howard fished in Buena Vista Beach Resort's 2006 Chuy's Billfish Release Tournament in early October, and Howard reported a 5-striped marlin release day that helped to nail down first place on the charter boat Eclipse with well-known East Cape sportfishing Capt. Jesus Araiza and mate Mauricio Cota. "Jesus himself belongs in the category of living legends," Howard said, "but more than that, he was the one who really turned my head around regarding gaffing these magnificent fish and turned me into a lifelong catch-and-release fisherman." CHUY'S BUENA VISTA BEACH RESORT BILLFISH RELEASE TOURNAMENT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Ash Pickering of the Vista Sea Sport diving service at Buena Vista said north winds churned up the water at Cabo Pulmo last week dropping visibility to about 40 to 50 feet. Sea life sightings included sea turtles, rays, grouper, snappers, porkfish, eels, parrotfish, schools of pufferfish, and a large variety of juvenile fish.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LA PAZ

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of La Paz' Tortuga Sportfishing said north winds at the end of the week stopped his pangas from fishing for the big dorado to 40 pounds located off Las Cruces, but some smaller dorado plus sierra were caught at more southern locations including El Sargento, Punta Perico, and Ensenada de los Muertos. Earlier in the week, some yellowfin tuna to 25 pounds were also caught off the south end of Isla Cerralvo. TORTUGA'S PANGAS SWITCH TO SOUTHERN FISHING LOCATIONS DUE TO NORTH WINDS.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of La Paz' Tailhunter International said, "The seasons are changing as winds and lower temperatures arrived this week, but the fishing held up nicely." Fewer yellowfin tuna were caught on the Las Arenas side, as boats switched to roosterfish, pargo, and dorado. On the La Paz side, boats fished in some rough water but caught dorado limits most days on fish of 25 to 50 pounds.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Betty Hill-Crofoot of La Paz reported good-sized bull dorado caught Saturday by her boat WICO off the south end of Isla Espiritu Santo. "We ran ten miles out from Marina Palmira to Playa Bonanza, a section off Isla Espiritu Santo," Hill-Crofoot said. "I landed a beauty that weighed out at 40 pounds and a second one at 35 pounds. We were back at dockside at 11 a.m."

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jerry Davis of San Diego and his group fished 3 days earlier in October on the La Paz side with Baja Pirates Sportfishing for a steady catch of about 8 dorado per day, including about 2 fish of 40 to 50 pounds per day. "The bite was all dorado," Davis said. "The fishing grounds was mainly off the southeast end of Isla Espiritu Santo." Davis noted a baggage weight limit surprise at the airport in La Paz as his group was limited to a total of about 55 pounds of checked baggage per person, or half the weight originally promised by the booking agent. "Most of us were broke and had to rearrange our bags and hand-carry a lot of items on board in plastic bags," Davis said. STEADY DORADO FISHING AT SOUTHEAST CORNER OF ISLA ESPIRITU SANTO.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LORETO

LORETO, MEXICO: Bill Erhardt of Loreto fished with his daughter Catherine on Saturday north at Bajo Mercenarios for a catch in 84-degree water of about 8 dorado to 15 pounds released. No billfish were found on the bajo and all the dorado here females, compared to a week earlier when they were all bulls. Erhardt also said he knew of no yellowfin tuna reported by Loreto boats for about the past 10 days.

LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of Loreto's Hotel Oasis said the season's first north winds blew during the week. Although only 4 pangas fished out of the hotel during the week, they caught 18 dorado of 15 to 30 pounds while fishing with mackerel baits at buoys north of San Bruno. Anglers fishing with Loreto Capts. Martín Perpuly, Poncho Susarrey, Servando Davis, and Francisco Martínez included Jordan, Justin, Joanne and Ken Mellquist, Ted Brady, Ernie Stevenson, Curt Hardick, and Don Mechling.

LORETO, MEXICO: For the previous week, Arturo Susarrey of Arturo's Sportfishing reported Loreto weather changing into a windier pattern, but boats still able to fish for dorado of 20 to 25 pounds caught mostly at buoys about 20 to 25 miles north of town. "There is no reason to go explore some place else if this is a good spot," Susarrey said. Commercial fishermen reported yellowtail of 12 to 15 pounds caught on cut squid north at San Nicolas.

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SANTA ROSALIA

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Lucas Cove reported cooling water temperatures at 79 to 80 degrees in the Santa Rosalia fishing area, and dorado just about gone. "Dorado have vacated the area," Anderson said. "A couple were caught this week between San Marcos Island and Tortuga Island but they have really thinned out." A run out to Isla Tortuga with Jeff Masters of Alaska and his sons Collin and Doran produced good-sized sailfish for all anglers. "Jeff's sailfish was the largest I have ever seen," Anderson said. "It was 9 feet 10-1/2 inches from the fork of the tail to the bill." DORADO MISSING BUT BIG SAILFISH CAUGHT WHILE FISHING AT ISLA TORTUGA.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos said the season's first serious north winds blew last week, but he did make a run to Isla Tortuga for a 10-pound leopard grouper, 1 sailfish missed, and another lost at the boat, while fishing with his son Michael, Chris Lorens of San Lucas, and Loren's son E.G. Lorens of Grand Lake, Colo. Santa Rosalia fishing area weather was windy at 80 degrees, with water temperatures of 80 to 82 degrees and visibility at 60 feet offshore and 30 feet inshore. COMING SEASON'S FIRST NORTH WINDS BLOW FOR LOCAL FISHING BOATS.

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN FELIPE

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Catalina Meders of San Felipe's Title Company Bookstore said Saturday morning weather was clear, still, humid and hot at 92 degrees. Current developments on the shore of the bay included some multistory condos and a Cuban-style night club at the Hotel Las Misiones. Meders also noted that 3 men whose boat sank off San Felipe were all safe after spending 2 days on remote Consag Rock about 18 miles out. TOWN DEVELOPMENTS AND 3 BOATERS SAFE AFTER SINKING NEAR CONSAG ROCK.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN CARLOS

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Craig Collins of Rio Rico, Ariz., reported on his Saturday outing on the San Carlos charter boat Catch-22 Rubina, fishing 22 to 28 miles out for very good striped marlin action including 19 hookups and 4 marlin brought to the boat and released with Capt. Fernando Almada and anglers Alejandro and Fernando Liogon. "We left wishing October was a 6-week month," Collins said, "but knowing the change of the season is almost on us." VERY GOOD STRIPED MARLIN FISHING FOR 19 HOOKUPS AND 4 RELEASES.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Fernando Almada of Catch-22 Sportfishing reported good billfish action during the week as the charter boat Catch-22 Rubina released 4 marlin, and the Catch-22 Pez Vela and Catch-22 Suerte released 2 marlin each. "The previous weekend we had many multiple hookups and Rubina got a quadruple hookup on marlin that ended up in a successful triple release," Almada said.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MAZATLAN

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Tadeo Hernandez of Mazatlan's Flota Bibi Fleet reported on 7 offshore and inshore charter fishing boats, with a catch including released fish of: 1 sailfish, 4 dorado, 21 skipjack tuna, bonita, palometas of 4 to 7 pounds, sierra, triggerfish, grunts, and a species of snapper locally called "berrugatas." "Mullet, shrimp heads, and squid have been the best bait this week," Hernandez said. Mazatlan fishing area weather was humid and cloudy in the 80s.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 45 Aries Fleet offshore boats fishing out of Mazatlan's Marina el Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 4 blue marlin, 3 striped marlin, 18 sailfish, 12 yellowfin tuna, and 40 dorado. Nine inshore super pangas had a catch of: 10 corvina, 18 red snapper, 10 sierra, 1 dorado, 47 triggerfish, 20 grunts, 1 palometa, 40 pargo, 6 jack crevalle, 20 jack mackerel, and 1 roosterfish. Mazatlan weather was partly cloudy at 90 degrees, with water temperatures at 84 degrees inshore and 86 degrees offshore. Aries Fleet offshore boats fished about 25 to 30 miles southwest of Marina el Cid.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Pepe's Fleet Sportfishing at Mazatlan said his offshore boats caught about 23 dorado to 38 pounds during the week, plus 2 marlin of 190 and 290 pounds, and 1 sailfish. Local bottom fishing boats caught red snapper, pompano, and sierra.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR PUERTO VALLARTA

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Quinonez of PV Marlin Sportfishing reported on 4 outings at El Banco and Roca Corbeteña by the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Lorena, for a catch including released fish of: 7 sailfish, 1 blue marlin of 350 pounds, 5 dorado, and 2 black marlin of 525 and 585 pounds. "We couldn’t revive the second marlin," Quinonez said, "but nothing goes to waste down here. The tuna have still been slow. Some boats are going out later and staying later, or going out at 2 a.m. for the early bite. The porpoise are still a big problem. It’s hard to keep a skipjack in the water when they are around."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Osuna of Marla's Sportfishing reported a good week of fishing at El Banco for his Puerto Vallarta charter boats Marla II, Marla III, and Arca de Noe, with a total of 22 yellowfin tuna of 100 to 280 pounds landed, plus lots of rainbow runner, pargo, and 11 sailfish releases. Few blue marlin or black marlin were seen during the week. The charter super panga Dhamar with Capt. Danny Gomez also had a good week on sailfish, dorado, and roosterfish. Puerto Vallarta weather had some rough seas during the week, with winds from both the south and north, and the water temperature at 86 degrees. FISHING BY MARLA'S FLEET FOR BIG TUNA, RAINBOW RUNNER, PARGO, AND SAILFISH.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: For the previous week, Manny Ocaranza of the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Pacifico reported on 3 offshore outings at El Banco and Roca Corbeteña, with a catch including released fish of: 2 sailfish, several dorado to 45 pounds, 2 small to medium yellowfin tuna, and 3 tuna of 80, 120, and 140 pounds.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Robert Retmier of Corona, Calif., reported on his Oct. 10, 2006, catch of a yellowfin tuna taped at 259.8 pounds with Capt. Danny Osuna of the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Marla II while fishing with his wife Johnna Retmier at El Banco on the afternoon of their 20th wedding anniversary. "Capt. Danny Osuna did an outstanding job, worked his butt off all day, and in the end it paid off," Retmier said. BIG COW TUNA WEDDING ANNIVERSARY PRESENT CAUGHT AT EL BANCO.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said offshore sailfish catches were steady at about 2 fish per boat day and dorado to about 25 pounds were also caught by some boats. Tropical rains caused river runoff that clouded inshore waters and shut down the roosterfish bite. "Adopho on the panga Dos Hermanos feels that in 3 days we will be back into great action for roosterfish," Kunze said. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area weather was cloudy and rainy in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 78 to 87 degrees. TROPICAL RAINS MUDDY INSHORE FISHING WATERS AND SLOW ROOSTERFISH ACTION.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported very few anglers present at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. Six offshore and inshore outings had a catch including released fish of: 3 sailfish, 7 roosterfish, and 2 jack crevalle. Ixtapa fishing area weather was mostly cloudy in the low-90s, with showers in the mountains, and water temperatures at 81 to 82 degrees. Inshore waters were cloudy due to rain runoff.

CANCUN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR CANCUN

CANCUN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported continued slow fishing with very few anglers present in the Cancun area. The El Cid Caribe fleet at Puerto Morelos near Cancun sent boats out for 3 short outings, with a catch of: 4 red snapper, 3 sierra, and 6 barracuda. Edwards said, "El Cid Caribe fleet manager Mario Anzoategui says he's anxiously awaiting next month as the season begins to change and the numbers of trips will increase." Cancun fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the mid-90s, with calm seas and water temperatures even at 86 degrees.

MEXICO COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MEXICO COASTAL AREAS

MEXICO: Bob "Calico Bob" Selvin of Westwood, Calif., charter mastered an inflatable skiff mothership trip by the charter boat Pacific Dawn with Capt. Pat Cavanaugh, fishing 2 days with 8 anglers off the Mexican Pacific coast at Isla Geronimo and the Sacramento Reef area for a catch including 65 white seabass of 15 to 25 pounds, plus an estimated count of over 700 calico bass released, bonito to 12 pounds, whitefish to 10 pounds, and many barracuda. VERY GOOD CALICO BASS AND WHITE SEABASS FISHING NEAR ISLA SAN GERONIMO.

MEXICO: Conal True, director of the endangered species totoaba breeding program of the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California at Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, said that the laboratory's totoaba broodstock had a successful spawn this summer and about 9,000 juveniles were 50 days old. "This is just about double what we have ever had from one spawn," True said. New broodstock totoaba captured this year were also doing well and were expected to spawn in 2007. The new broodstock fish were captured south of San Felipe under permits authorizing special research trips by the Tony Reyes Fishing Tours panga mothership Jose Andres.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico Fishing Photo 1

LOS CABOS MONEY MARLIN--This 438-pound blue marlin took first place and $451,350 in prize money for angler Jukka Hassel of Finland and Pisces Fleet's charter boat Tracy Ann during last week's Los Cabos Billfish Tournament. Celebrating the catch are, back row from left, Martin Kockritz, Markku Ahomaa, Timo Helle, Jukka Hassel, and Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet helping to hold the Finnish flag. In the front row are: Tracy Ann first mate, Ernesto Alonso, Capt. Ricardo Agundez who stood in for regular captain Julio Castro who was ill on Wednesday, and Mario "Pisces" Bañaga. PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACY EHRENBERG.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico Fishing Photo 2

RELEASED IT--Anglers Gary May and Frick Hickman celebrate Hickman's first-ever marlin release earlier this month aboard the Cabo San Lucas charter boat Cabo Magic with Capt. Hector and first mate Jesus. PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI GARCIA.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico Fishing Photo 3

DORADO FLY GUY--Fly fishing angler Dan Dreyer of Baja Anglers with one of many dorado caught on the fly at Cabo San Lucas early in the month during an outing with Capt. Alex on the charter boat Flying Fish 2. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRANT HARTMAN.

Ensenada Mexico Fishing Photo 1

PUNTA BANDA BULL SHARK--Tuesday's catch by Vonny's Fleet pangas fishing at Ensenada's Punta Banda included bottom fish, yellowtail, and this 90-pound bull shark caught by anglers on the Vonny III with Capt. Hector. PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.

Baja California Mexico Fishing Photo 1

PUNTA ROSARITO HALIBUT--Greg Tyson, shown, and Matt Roy fished the surf at Punta Rosarito on the Baja central Pacific coast for good action on halibut, sandbass, croakers, and a couple of shortfin corvina to over 4 pounds. At right, Tyson with a good one in the Punta Rosarito surf. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATT ROY.

Baja California Mexico Fishing Photo 3

EAST CAPE ROAD TRIP--During a drive north along Baja's Sea of Cortez coast, Jeff Reid rigs up while Chris Vale fishes the beach off Punta Arena de la Ventana between La Paz and East Cape. Their Baja rental car was eventually freed from the sand and returned to it's owner unscathed. At right, a trio of nice dorado caught out of La Paz during the trip, by anglers, Andrew Moss, Chris Vail, and Jeff Reid of San Diego. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDREW MOSS.

Baja California Mexico Fishing Photo 5

LA BOCANA FORKIE--Gilberto Castro of Tijuana fished last week with Capt. Juanchys Aguilar on the panga Karoll out of the Baja central Pacific coast town of La Bocana and their catch of 36 yellowtail in about 20 feet of water included this beauty. At right, Marck and Syndi Belard of Phoenix with another big yellowtail caught last week with Capt. Juanchys. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUANCHYS AGUILAR.

San Jose del Cabo Mexico Fishing Photo 1

TUNA FOR ALL--Frank Harbin of Salinas, Calif., fished the Outer Gordo Bank off San Jose del Cabo last week with Gordo Banks Pangas for a catch including this 66-pound yellowfin tuna hooked on a trolled skipjack bait. At right, a kawakawa tuna caught by Gordo Banks Pangas' Capt. Jesus Pino. The rare tuna was hooked in a school of yellowfin tuna about a mile off La Salina. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

San Jose del Cabo Mexico Fishing Photo 3

LOS CABOS MIXED SPECIES--Jack Simpson had 3 days of good mixed species fishing on La Playita fleet pangas at the tip of Baja, including yellowfin tuna, rainbow runners, and 5 snappers including this barred pargo caught on chunked tuna bait. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK SIMPSON.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 1

SIERRA FULL PLATTER--East Cape's Jorge Bergin, left, and Dick Yeglesian of Lake Tahoe, with a table full of sierra caught on Bergin's panga Marlynda while fishing tight to the beach at La Ribera last week. PHOTO COURTESY OF JORGE BERGIN.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 2

ABOARD THE ECLIPSE--Henry Howard, left, had a 5 striped marlin release day aboard the East Cape charter boat Eclipse with Capt. Jesus Araiza out of Buena Vista Beach Resort to help him win the hotel's recent Chuy's Billfish Release Tournament for the third time. Here's a marlin about to be released with the help of the Eclipse's first mate Mauricio Cota. At right, an East Cape striped marlin comes in for a release aboard the Eclipse. PHOTOS COURTESY OF HENRY HOWARD.

La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 1 La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 2

LA PAZ DORADO DAYS--Jerry Davis of San Diego with a nice dorado caught north of La Paz at Isla Espiritu Santo with Baja Pirates Fleet. Davis' group averaged about 8 dorado per panga during 3 days of fishing at the island. PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY DAVIS.

AT ISLA ESPIRITU SANTO (right)--Betty Hill-Crofoot of La Paz and her husband Tad Crofoot fished Saturday off the south end of Isla Espirtu Santo on their boat WICO and scored on 2 dorado of 35 and 40 pounds before returning to the dock at Marina Palmilla by 11 a.m. PHOTO COURTESY OF BETTY HILL-CROFOOT.

La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 3

STILL DORADO SEASON--Seasonal north winds were blowing on the Sea of Cortez last week, but anglers, from left, Gary Moskiewitz, Marty McCune, and Brian Cyr of Long Beach, Calif., fished at La Paz with Tailhunter International and caught these quality bull dorado at the southeast corner of Isla Espiritu Santo. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 4 La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 5

LA PAZ DORADO--Jim Wisda and his wife Diane Wisda of Tucson, Ariz., fished out of La Paz with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Jorge Lucero for a catch including this quality 42-pound bull dorado. At right, 4 very young sea turtles make a dash for the safety of the water after hatching in the sand at Ensenada de los Muertos last week. They were photographed at their moment of truth by Tortuga Sportfishing's Dos Hernandez. PHOTO COURTESY OF GERARDO HERNANDEZ.

Loreto Mexico Fishing Photo 1

LAS BOYAS DORADO--The Mellquist family, from left, Jordan, Joanne, Justin, and Ken, fished on a panga out of Loreto's Hotel Oasis last week and scored this great catch of dorado in about an hour-and-a-half at the "Las Boyas" spot north of San Bruno with Capt. Francisco Martinez. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTY ZAPATA.

Santa Rosalia Mexico Fishing Photo 1

ISLA TORTUGA CABRILLA--E.G. Lorens of Grand Lake, Colo., fished at Isla Tortuga off Santa Rosalia last week with Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos for a catch including a couple of sailfish lost and this nice 10-pound cabrilla, or leopard grouper, hooked with a live bigeye bait on a dropper loop rig. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE KANZLER.

San Carlos Mexico Fishing Photo 1

GOOD MARLIN DAY--Craig Collins of Rio Rico, Ariz., with 1 of 19 striped marlin hookups by the San Carlos charter boat Catch-22 Rubina, fishing Saturday about 22 to 28 miles out on headings of 175 to 180 degrees. Four marlin were brought to the boat and released for the day. PHOTO COURTESY OF FERNANDO ALMADA.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 1

MARLA II COW--Capt. Danny Osuna, left, of the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Marla II, with anglers Erick Ellis and Jim Bee of Colorado Springs, Colo., and a 260-pound cow class yellowfin tuna caught last week at El Banco. At right, Marla Sportfishing's charter boat Marla III with Capt. Alonso Osuna and a 280 pounder caught by angler Larry Wolf. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANNY OSUNA.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 3

TWENTY-YEAR TUNA--Robert Retmier waited 20 years for his dream catch, a yellowfin tuna over 100 pounds, and finally got this beautiful fish taped at 259.8 pounds with Capt. Danny Osuna of the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Marla II. Retmier fished with his wife Johnna Retmier on their 20th wedding anniversary, Oct. 10, 2006. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT RETMIER.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 4

WAITING THEM OUT--Manny Ocaranza, left, of the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Pacifico, with angler David Tang of Arizona and a 120-pound yellowfin tuna caught late at Roca Corbeteña. "We didn't get back in the marina until 9:30 that night," Ocaranza said, "but I wanted to make sure we had a productive day." During the outing, the Pacific also scored on tuna of 80 and 140 pounds. PHOTO COURTESY OF MANNY OCARANZA.

Mexico Fishing Photo 1

HUNDREDS OF CALICOS--Jim Petrella of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., and and an 8-angler group charter mastered by Bob Selvin fished on inflatable boats near Isla San Geronimo off the Baja Pacific coast during a trip by the boat Pacific Dawn with Capt. Pat Cavanaugh. Their catch included 65 white seabass and an estimated 700-plus of these calico bass released. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB SELVIN.

Mexico Fishing Photo 2 Mexico Fishing Photo 4

BIG TOTOABA SPAWN--Ensenada totoaba laboratory director Conal True announced last week that his broodstock fish had a big spawn this summer and about 9,000 juvenile specimens of the endangered fish had grown to length of about 1.5 to 2.0 inches in their first 50 days of life. The lab also successfully collected new broodstock fish south of San Felipe which are expected to spawn next year. PHOTOS COURTESY OF CONAL TRUE.