ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet said his pangas stayed on the beach Tuesday due to wind and rain in the Ensenada area but the rest of the week had good fishing for limits or near limits of mixed bottom species and up to 3 yellowtail per panga, including a 36 pounder on Friday caught by anglers Joe and Peter Amador with Capt. Beto Zamora on the panga Vonny I. Ensenada fishing area weather over the weekend was partly cloudy in the high-60s, with ocean swells of 2 to 3 feet at Punta Banda and the water temperature steady at 59 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Emerald Argonza of Matador Sportfishing said the 33-foot charter boat Matador was back in the water after maintenance and fished out of Marina Coral the previous weekend with 5 anglers south at Soledad Reef for a catch about 450 feet deep on anchovies and squid strips of: 17 red rockcod, 6 lingcod, 17 whitefish, 3 Johnny bass, 3 sugar bass, 2 bonito, 33 mixed rockfish, and 26 Humboldt giant squid. "About 1:30 p.m., the giant squid came and really got everybody fired up," Argonza said. "We all quickly switched to squid jigs and just hammered the squids weighing up to 35 pounds. It looks like a really good fishing season here in Ensenada this year."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Sportfishing articles, maps, and fishing report archives for San Quintin.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said the California gray whale watching season was over and local Magdalena Bay boats were back to fishing, but with spotty results. The San Carlos entrada produced a few bonito and small yellowtail. The Magdalena Bay mangrove esteros were slow, with strong tidal currents and only a few grouper, corvina, and spotted bay bass caught. Offshore boats pounding up the Baja coast toward the U.S. border reported little fishing action. Magdalena Bay weather was clear in the mid-80s, with water temperatures of 65 to 73 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet reported 77 percent of fleet boats releasing billfish during the week, 10 percent landing dorado, and 90 percent with all species combined. Only 1 boat during the week landed a yellowfin tuna. Multiple releases of 2 to 6 striped marlin were scored by the charter boats Rebecca, Falcon, Yahoo, and Tracy Ann. "Inshore, as is common for March, boats loaded up on sierra, or Spanish mackerel," Ehrenberg said. "One panga caught 42 sierra in a morning. The majority were put back and a few kept for the pan." Most boats fished the Sea of Cortez side. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was clear, with winds north of San Jose del Cabo and the water temperature averaging 70 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 41 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 40 striped marlin, 6 dorado, and 8 yellowfin tuna. "Most boats were fishing the Sea of Cortez side of Cabo San Lucas this week," Edwards said. "The billfish seemed to round the corner and make their presence better known in the Gordo Banks and Destiladeras fishing areas. Water temperatures continued to change by the day." The Fish Cabo I was high boat for the week with 10 striped marlin releases in 3 outings. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was mostly sunny at 90 degrees, with some wind on the Pacific side and water temperatures ranging from 68 degrees on the Pacific side to 72 degrees on the Sea of Cortez side.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Grant Hartman of Baja Anglers reported good inshore fishing for sierra of 6 to 8 pounds last week, plus some roosterfish of 6 to 15 pounds. Jacks to 30 pounds were present but spooky. "We have been hammering the sierra mackerel," Hartman said. "They are spread out all over on the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez. The sierra are hungry, feeding fish pounding flies and top water poppers with gusto." Other species caught included yellowtail, bluefin trevally, ladyfish, mixed snappers, and needlefish.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of the charter boat Falcon said he was down for maintenance part of the week. The Falcon fished on Saturday for 5 striped marlin released at the Golden Gate Bank with Capt. Manuel Romero. "The Jaime bank was also very good this week," Connolly said. "Two to 4 marlin scores were not rare on the Pacific side."

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: 5 striped marlin, 1 dorado of 20 pounds, 1 mako shark of 40 pounds, and 8 sierra.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 56 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 295 mixed pargo or snapper species, 8 striped marlin, 86 sierra, 33 cabrilla, 3 mako shark, 11 dorado, 15 amberjack, 14 bonito, 10 pompano, 8 surgeonfish, 14 roosterfish, and 2 wahoo. "Last week the red crabs attracted red snapper to the surface, but this week the action was more spread out," Brictson said. "The most consistent bite was for yellow snapper of 4 to 8 pounds close to shore off Cardon while drifting with sardinas in about 50 feet of water. Migrating whales were still present and several commercial shrimp trawlers were in the area. "If you were able to make the right connection there were some good deals on freshly caught shrimp available," Brictson said. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was stable with some north winds to 15 m.p.h., and the water temperature at 68 to 71 degrees. Brictson noted the Marina Los Cabos construction project and the very crowded beach conditions for pangas launching at La Playita. "Semana Santa is coming up," Brictson said. "It's always a serious challenge to try and work on the beach with all the local crowds. This year will be tougher than ever with the construction limiting beach access and parking."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Axel Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on 26 East Cape boats, with 75 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 1 broadbill swordfish, 29 striped marlin, 7 dorado, 42 yellowfin tuna, 5 roosterfish, 1 shark, 4 triggerfish, and 1 sierra. "Our boats are finding tuna under porpoise all over the bay," Valdez said. "Some went up to the 88 Bank and found good fishing up there." East Cape fishing area weather was in the low-80s, with water temperatures of 70 to 73 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said good early season beach casting opportunities for roosterfish of 1 to 15 pounds and schooling jack crevalle were shut down last week as north winds returned to the East Cape area. "The wind cranked back up," Graham said. "Water conditions went from clean and fairly warm to off-color and cooler as waves pounded the beach." Offshore fishing included a showing of striped marlin for boats running far south and yellowfin tuna found under porpoise throughout East Cape's Bahia de Palmas. East Cape fishing area weather over the weekend was clear in the low-80s, with water temperatures of 65 to 78 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Simon Cazaly of the Vista Sea Sport East Cape diving service said high winds limited diving operations at the Cabo Pulmo coral reef, with the water temperature at depth holding at 70 degrees and visibility at 30 to 35 feet. "We haven't done a lot of diving this week due to high winds from the north," Cazaly said. Sea life sightings at El Cantil and Islote included Pacific creolefish, cownosed rays, and humpback whales. "The humpbacks are sometimes breaching right out of the water and stunning everyone with their grace and beauty," Cazaly said.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Syd Lindsay of San Lucas Cove said few sport boats were fishing last week following the Mulege yellowtail tournament. "Early morning low tides have put some boats in the sand, plus there is just a general slowing of fish taken," Lindsay said. "April and May have always been very good here and we expect no different this year. However one should wait until after the Easter vacation, which produces extra heavy traffic from the north and a lack of camping spaces in most campgrounds, but not at San Lucas Cove. We have plenty of room." Lindsay noted that camping rates at San Lucas Cove were at $8 per day, $42 per week, $120 per month, and $1,000 to $1,200 per year."

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

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 52 offshore outings by Aries Fleet out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, for a catch including released fish of: 2 sailfish, 18 striped marlin, 1 mako shark, and 3 dorado. Fifteen inshore super pangas had a catch of: more than 87 cabrilla, 28 pargo, 55 mojarra, and limits of triggerfish. "Mazatlan skippers are still seeing some swordfish, Edwards said, "but they have been unable to get them to bite and one could guess they were full of squid. The offshore bite has been difficult. Only 38 percent of the boats are landing billfish." Mazatlan fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the high-80s, with light breezes and the water temperature at 71 degrees inshore and 74 degrees offshore. Offshore boats fished in all directions.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of the Cabo San Lucas charter boat Falcon reported on a trip to Lake Baccarac north of Mazatlan for excellent largemouth bass fishing. "It was fabulous," Connolly said. "A hundred bass a day per boat, with 2 guys, easily. About 25 percent good fish over 4 pounds, up to 8 pounds, and we had 4 over 10 pounds. One each. We caught about half of the fish on top water plugs like Zara Spooks."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Osuna of Marla's Sportfishing said few anglers were in the Puerto Vallarta area last week. "This is our slow season so we are working on our new boat and the new engines to get ready for June and the beginning of our tuna season," Osuna said. "We took our new Blackfin to our village, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, a small fishing village 12 miles north of Puerto Vallarta." During the fishing week, the charter boat Marla III found slow offshore conditions, but good action inshore for jack crevalle and roosterfish to 50 pounds. The Marla II fished at Roca Corbeteña early in the week with anglers Doug Pugh, Bob Pugh, and Kevin Crane, for dog snapper, bluefin trevally, yellow snapper, and a yellowfin tuna. The Arca de Noe had a group of free divers during the week, in green water and poor visibility, for 1 dorado speared. "The early week had great fishing for all the locals," Osuna said, "but the bite slowed down a lot. The water temp dropped down a lot." Puerto Vallarta fishing area weather had light northwest breezes and the water temperature dropping during the week in some areas from 77 degrees to as low as 70 degrees.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Quinonez of PV Marlin Sportfishing reported on 2 outings by the charter boat Lorena for a catch including released fish of: 3 sailfish, and 4 dorado of 20 to 30 pounds. "All billfish were released," Quinonez said. "Some Puerto Vallarta boats have been running to Roca Corbeteña for some smaller school tuna. This is a good sign. Last year we did not see any tuna until almost September." Quinonez noted that PV Marlin is now an IGFA approved weigh station. "We had a lady last year fishing with us that caught an 84-pound dorado on 30-pound line," Quinonez said. "We get a lot of yellowfin tuna over 300 pounds down here every year, but we never get any recognition. This will soon change." Puerto Vallarta offshore fishing waters were calm at 77 degrees.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Josh Temple of Prime Time Adventures reported a drop in offshore water temperatures from as high as 80.5 degrees the previous week to about 77 degrees last week, but continued good far offshore action for yellowfin tuna to 140 pounds. "We lost a fish after a 2-hour battle that was pushing 250 pounds, a darn good sign of things to come for this big fish season," Temple said. "For those anglers willing to get outside and look around the 1,000-fathom curve there have been some exceptional days of tuna fishing to be had when spinner and black porpoise are located. Most fish coming off the porpoise are 30 to 80 pounds, but there are some larger surprises out there mixed in with the schoolies." Dorado action was slower as illegal commercial longliners moved into Puerto Vallarta waters. "Luckily the local navy was out chasing them away the other day, so hopefully our great dorado bite will continue once those pirates leave," Temple said. Billfish action was spotty, but good catches of 20 to 40-pound wahoo were made at Roca Corbeteña for 2 days.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Gomez of Dhamar Sportfishing and the charter panga Dhamar said he fished on the 46-foot boat Sincuidado last week, making a run to Roca Corbeteña for a catch of just 1 dorado of 35 pounds on one outing, and a 60-pound roosterfish and 30-pound amberjack on another outing for anglers Mike and Breten Lange. "At Corbeteña there are a lot of tunas from 60 to 150 pounds, but they are not biting," Gomez said.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Kurt Hjort of Esperanza Sportfishing said, "Huge amounts of bait have appeared. At times it is a little tough to get the fish to switch to hooked baits. Dorado are out 5 to 15 miles from Punta Mita to the north, on palapa buoys and trolling. The area is also producing sailfish and some striped marlin." Inshore fishing produced roosterfish of 20 to 30 pounds and jack crevalle to 25 pounds. Puerto Vallarta fishing area weather was stable in the low-80s. "As long as our water stays the way it is, our spring transition into the big fish season may start early this year," Hjort said.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 11 offshore outings by the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo charter boats Dos Hermanos, Dos Hermanos II, and Bloody Hook, with a catch including released fish of: 5 black marlin including a 400-pounder, 3 blue marlin, 2 striped marlin, and 16 sailfish. Inshore fishing produced bonito, sierra, and jack crevalle, but no roosterfish were reported. "The marlin bite continues to get better along with a stronger showing of sailfish," Edwards said. "Cold green water is present along the beaches. The cooler temperatures are making it difficult on some days to catch live bonitos, the favorite bait for the big blues and blacks."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said overall offshore action was slower last week, with blue water 10 to 15 miles out, 84-degree water 18 to 20 miles out, and 80-degree water about 40 miles out. "This explains why most sailfish are being taken between 18 and 20 miles, with the tuna and blue marlin coming from the 40 to 45-mile mark," Kunze said. Capt. Adolpho of the charter panga Dos Hermanos reported an outing with 4 sailfish releases, but very slow inshore fishing. "Adolpho is one of our absolute best roosterfish and jack crevalle captains," Kunze said. "If he says it is slow, do not waste your time trying for them." Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the mid-80s with light northwest breezes.

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