ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet reported no home guard yellowtail for his Ensenada pangas fishing at Punta Banda last week, but plenty of bottom fish including lingcod, reds, and mixed rockcods, plus a pair Humboldt giant squid at 23 and 25 pounds for Garry Griffin of San Diego and Orville Richter of Minnesota who fished Tuesday with Capt. Beto on the Vonny I. On Monday, Jay Johnson of Ensenada fished on the Vonny I for a good day on bottom fish. Local Ensenada fishing area weather on Saturday was partly cloudy in the mid-70s, with 2 to 3-foot ocean swells and the water temperature at 58 degrees.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported just a few boats fishing out of San Quintin during the week. "Not much to report," Hillis said. "The few boats that did go out got rockcod, lingcod, and whitefish at the 15 and 240 spots."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: For the previous weekend, Julio Meza of San Quintin reported on an unusual run of several outings without catching yellowtail by his boat Santa Monica. "Today, I went fishing with my wife and my brother Daniel and kids, on one of the best weather days at San Quintin," Meza said. "We fished in flat, calm water, but no current and no fish. We did not find the yellowtail again this time after several trips. Something happened. The Humboldt squid are everywhere, huge up to 50 pounds. The squid make it difficult to drop jigs now. Maybe the moon phase is not right."

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said Magdalena Bay pangas were working one of the best California gray whale watching seasons in recent memory. "Both Puerto San Carlos and Puerto Lopez Mateos have had a steady steam of tourists from all parts of the globe seeking a whale photo op," Graham said. With few boats fishing, the Magdalena Bay mangrove channels produced good catches of pompano and corvina, plus a few snook and grouper near Devil's Curve. Offshore, some marlin and dorado were reported. Magdalena Bay weather was clear in the low-80s, with water temperatures at 65 to 72 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jorge Navarro of Pisces Fleet reported 60 percent of charters releasing billfish last week and 80 percent with all species combined. Of 58 marlin landed, 56 were released. "Tuna and dorado are very slow, with only 4 boats coming back with each species," Navarro said. "Panga fishing was really good, with a lot of sierra and roosterfish, as well as some yellowtail." Cabo San Lucas fishing vacation area water temperatures were at 70 to 72 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of the Cabo San Lucas charter boat Falcon said, "Striped marlin fishing was a bit tough this week and boats were scattered everywhere. One marlin was a good day. It was pretty easy to get shut out." The more productive fishing spots during the week included Pozo de Cota, the Golden Gate Bank, and the 1150 spot, but Connolly said, "Each spot seemed to be good for one day only, one and done." Some boats scored a dozen or more yellowfin tuna of 15 to 30 pounds while fishing 15 to 35 miles straight south of Cabo. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather had mostly light winds, with the water temperature at 70 to 74 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Grant Hartman of Baja Anglers reported good inshore fishing around Cabo San Lucas. "We are having a lot of fun catching sierra mackerel, small roosterfish, jacks, and cubera snappers on the fly and light spinning gear," Hartman said. "Offshore action has been striped marlin only, with very few dorado or yellowfin tuna around."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 14 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 8 striped marlin, 27 yellowfin tuna of 10 to 35 pounds, 3 dorado of 20 to 25 pounds pounds, and 3 sierra.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Ramon Druck of the Cabo San Lucas charter panga Cheer's reported on 3 half-day local outings during the week, fishing along the Pacific side beaches from Faro Viejo northward for a catch including released fish of: 39 sierra of 4 to 9 pounds, and 12 roosterfish of 6 to 8 pounds. Local Cabo San Lucas fishing water temperatures were at 69 to 71 degrees, with good weather and mostly calm sea conditions.

Two more local outings on the Sea of Cortez side off the Hotel Marquis Los Cabos produced a catch including released fish of: 38 sierra of 4 to 8 pounds, and 1 roosterfish of 5 pounds. Anglers fishing aboard the Cheer's during the week included: Jim Fagerlie, Nya Fagerlie, Gake Winston, Alan Trask, Dick Morrisson, Jeff Harlow, Theresa Buenger, Al Trask, Charlie Trask, and Mario Domenis.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 39 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 26 striped marlin, 12 yellowfin tuna, 4 dorado, 3 mako shark, and 1 wahoo. "Ever-changing water temperatures and the full moon made Cabo San Lucas a real challenge as the fishing area one day didn't exist the next," Edwards said. "Live bait was the hot ticket, but some fish were still being taken on the mackerel-colored artificials." Most boats fished close to Cabo San Lucas, around Cabo Falso on the Pacific side and out to about 4 miles. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was mostly good in the high 80s, with water temperatures ranging from 69 degrees at the Golden Gate Bank on the Pacific side to 72 degrees at the Gordo Banks on the Sea of Cortez side "with everything changing, daily," Edwards said.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 58 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 1 yellowfin tuna, 68 dorado, 22 roosterfish, 260 mixed pargo species, 6 yellowtail, 2 striped marlin, 205 sierra, 2 hammerhead shark, 38 Mexican bonito, 28 amberjack, 66 cabrilla, 16 pompano, 15 surgeonfish, and 72 triggerfish. "There were reports of red crabs floating up to the surface," Brictson said. "It is the season for huachinango and with the appearance of these red crabs the action on these true red snapper could break loose at any time." San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was good in the mid-80s, with water temperatures warming at 70 to 74 degrees. LOS CABOS AREA PANGA FISHING REPORT.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: San Jose del Cabo species fishing specialist John Snow reported on a tidal pool bailing session that produced some assorted blennies and a front row seat for an encounter between a large octopus and a Sally Lightfoot crab. "A very large octopus changes from black to tan with white spots, and envelops the Sally Lightfoot," Snow said. "Two clouds of black ink and, poof, they were both gone." Snow noted that the octopus was later collected for observation after it also attacked his shoe. BAJA TIDE POOL LIFE OBSERVATIONS.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said small roosterfish provided beach fishing action last week, but seasonal winter winds limited offshore boats to a few billfish and occasional dorado. "The Baja winter pattern continued this week," Graham said, "with a few great days and wind on others. Winds continue to scatter the small bait fish along the shore. The jacks seemed to have disappeared, but were replaced by small groups of 'young and dumb' roosterfish quite willing to bite almost anything. In a couple of months they will become much more selective." Some pompano were also seen near shore, but were not biting. Local commercial Mexican fishermen caught pargo just off the beaches. East Cape fishing area weather was in the high-80s, with water temperatures at 65 to 72 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the week ending March 1, 2007, Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 29 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 83 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 2 striped marlin, 14 dorado, and 31 sierra. East Cape fishing area weather was at 80 degrees, calm in the mornings with wind and chop in the afternoons, and the water temperature was at 65 to 73 degrees. "The fishing was pretty slow this week as the winds really picked up nicely for the wind surfers," Moyers said. "Most East Cape fishing boats were coming home early in the afternoon. The billfish bite was relegated solely to a couple of striped marlin, if you can believe that. The sierra were landed inshore off El Rincon and Punta Pescadero."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport diving service at East Cape said seasonal winds calmed at the end of the week and diving conditions improved. "The water has been flat and calm and East Cape weather has been gorgeous," Rayor said on Saturday. "This has made for comfortable boat rides and exciting viewings of humpback whales and a swim with a whale shark. It's early in the season for whale sharks at East Cape." East Cape diving conditions at the Cabo Pulmo coral reef had mild currents, 30 to 40-foot visibility, and water temperatures at depth of 72 to 73 degrees. Sea life sightings included schools of bigeye jacks, giant grouper, sea turtles, snappers, and reef fish. "It's good diving and only going to get better," Rayor said.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Lucas Cove reported yellowtail fishing on the Isla San Marcos bajos breaking open on Saturday after a slow period during weak tidal currents. "San Marcos Mike Kanzler told me years ago that the tide movement was one of the most important things in yellowtail fishing," Anderson said. "I am convinced that he was absolutely right." Santa Rosalia Mexican commercial fishing pangas were loading up on 2,000 to 2,500 pounds of Humboldt giant squid per outing. Heavy sea life concentrations in the Santa Rosalia area included pilot whales, sperm whales, and dolphin. YELLOWTAIL FISHING ON TIDAL CURRENTS.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos returned from a trip to the U.S. and found good weather but slow action in the Santa Rosalia area for 3 yellowtail in 2 outings. "I need to get ready for the real fishing season, April, May and June," Kanzler said. "All hell will be busting loose for sure." Santa Rosalia fishing area weather was in the 80s, with water temperatures at 62 to 64 degrees. SLOWER YELLOWTAIL ACTION FOR LOCAL BOATS.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Sportfishing articles, maps, and fishing report archives for San Carlos.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said Mazatlan offshore fishing continued slow last week as 31 Aries Fleet boats out of Marina El Cid reported a catch including released fish of: 5 striped marlin, and 1 dorado. Twelve Aries Fleet inshore super pangas had a catch of: 12 jack crevalle, 9 palometas, 114 pargo, 33 laras, and limits of mojarra. "Seasonal water temperature fluctuations and full moon conditions added to the offshore fishing dilemmas for anglers and crews," Edwards said. "It was truly a long week for the boats that fished offshore waters." Mazatlan fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 72 degrees inshore, 70 degrees 10 miles out, and 72.5 degrees 14 miles out.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Sportfishing articles, maps, and fishing report archives for Puerto Vallarta.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said Ixtapa Zihuatanejo sportfishing boats averaged about 1 sailfish per outing and the fleet also caught a combined 4 or 5 blue marlin per day. Commercial Mexican fishermen reported yellowfin tuna, sailfish, and marlin located about 40 miles out. "The 80-degree blue water is just off the beach," Kunze said. "However, most of the action appears to be a long boat ride off shore." Capt. Adan of the charter boat Gitana II landed blue marlin for anglers John Erickson and John Torres. Inshore, jack crevalle were still plentiful and active. "Now is the time for the light line and fly rod enthusiast to hit the water," Kunze said. "You will be exhausted before noon." Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the high-80s, with water temperatures at 80 to 84 degrees.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 15 outings by the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo charter boats Bloody Hook, Secuestro de Amor, Gran Jefe, Leydy, and La Bamba, with a catch including released fish of: 1 blue marlin of 260 pounds, 18 sailfish, 3 marlin, 1 dorado, 5 shark, and some bonito. "Changing water temperatures significantly slowed the sailfish bite as several of our skippers reported sighting multiple fish but found them very reluctant," Edwards said. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo weather was sunny in the high-80s, with water temperatures at 77 degrees inshore and 80 degrees offshore.

HUATULCO, MEXICO: Sportfishing articles, maps, and fishing report archives for Huatulco.