ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet reported no yellowtail landed but steady full limits or near limits of bottom fish all week long for his beach launched pangas fishing the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda. Anglers fishing on the Vonny I and Vonny III with Capts. Beto and Hector for red rockcod, bonita, salmon grouper, Johnny bass, and mixed species included Paul Antonian and his son Aren, Lester Ellet, Joe Rodriguez, Jay Johnson, Debrie Oslin, and Brian and Joanne Foley. Ensenada fishing area weather over the weekend was mostly sunny at 70 degrees, with light wind, ocean swells of 2 to 3 feet, and the water temperature at Punta Banda averaging 61 degrees. Villarino also noted that for the first time, Vonny's Fleet is accepting credit cards for fishing reservations with a 5 percent surcharge. Information: ivanvillarino@gmail.com.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Louis Meyers of Perris, Calif., reported on 2 outings at Ensenada, fishing with about 9 anglers on the Sergio's Ensenada Sportfishing Center charter boat Cazador for a catch of about 110 mixed rockcods and red rockcod plus some lingcod to about 10 pounds, and again on another charter boat with 4 anglers for a catch of about 20 bottom fish per rod plus a couple of 10-pound bonita hooked on the troll. Ensenada fishing area weather was calm with fog burning off by about 9:30 a.m. "If you like bottom fishing, now is a good time in Ensenada due to a lack of anglers in the middle of the week," Meyers said. "You can hook up on a good-sized boat at a very reasonable price. They really compete for your business. I had an offer of a 33 footer with live bait for 2 anglers for $200, and for $280 I could have gotten a 42 footer."

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Judy Ostberg of the boat Melody at Marina Coral reported on a trip Friday for fishing in 72-degree water around the 450 spot for a catch of: 10 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 18 pounds, plus 8 yellowtail of 12 to 14 pounds hooked at a kelp paddy on the way in. For the tuna, Ostberg said, "We had double, triple, and quadruple jig strikes, and 1 fish on bait. It was a great day. The ocean was mostly like glass with some wind waves on the return."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Marita Melville of Don Eddie's Landing reported on 2 outings by Capt. Juan Cook, fishing with clients aboard a private boat and the charter boat Sophia just outside the point, at Socorro, and at the 210 spot in 67-degree water for catches including 2 white seabass to 52 pounds, 3 white seabass lost, another 45-pound white seabass landed, and limits of mixed rockcod, lingcod, sheephead, and barracuda. "It has been windy here at times in San Quintin this past week but captains are still going out and coming back with good catches," Melville said. "The afternoon is when the wind started picking up."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported just a few anglers fishing in the San Quintin area, possibly due in part to unfavorable publicity from a recent incident in which a local charter fishing boat was boarded by the Mexican Navy, found to lack proper permits, and then sank as it was being towed to Ensenada. "We only had 10 boats out this week," Hillis said. "There were quite a few cancellations due to the Navy incident." The few boats fishing during the week landed some white seabass south at Socorro, a few yellowtail at the 240 spot, and lots of large barracuda, mixed rockcods, and lingcod. Anglers fishing out of Pedro's Pangas during the week with Capts. Juan and Miguel included the New Beginnings Church group from Garden Grove, Calif., with Charles Barling, Don Harbert, Randy Holden, Ron Lugo, and Rudy Stucki. "They caught limits of rockcod and lingcod and all the barracuda they could handle," Hillis said.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Hillis commented on the slow-down in sportfishing business at San Quintin following the Mexican Navy incident. "I have been in the panga business for 18 years, first in Mulege and now San Quintin," Hillis said. "My boats have been boarded by the federales maybe 15 times. Yes, they carry automatic weapons. They have a job to do. Something unusual happened that day. I was not there and I can't say what. All my paperwork is in order and all my captains are licensed. I hope this incident does not hurt Baja's reputation."

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said reports from Mag Bay Outfitters at Puerto Lopez Mateos indicated limits of grouper, some snook, and several large corvina caught in the mangrove channels. Open Pacific fishing off Magdalena Bay produced some dorado including larger bulls, plenty of small yellowtail, and some sierra. Magdalena Bay fishing area water temperatures reached 78.5 degrees at the offshore Thetis Bank as clients moved away from overabundant bonito on the high spot to find dorado. One southbound yacht reported wahoo, marlin, and dorado on the Ridge high spots. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was clear at 90 degrees, with water temperatures averaging 64 to 76 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 36 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 112 dorado to 12 to 30 pounds, 1 blue marlin, 57 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 1 mako shark, 4 wahoo, 11 yellowfin tuna, and 2 roosterfish. "There was a surge in the dorado counts this week," Edwards said. "This should start to affect black marlin and blue marlin action for the upcoming Cabo San Lucas tournaments next month." Top outings for the week included the Fish Cabo with a 6-striped marlin release day, and the Gaviota IV with 7 stripers in 2 days. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was mostly sunny in the mid-90s, with good sea conditions and water temperatures averaging 80 to 81 degrees on the Pacific side banks and 86 to 87 degrees at the Gordo Banks on the Sea of Cortez side. The week's best fishing was found with live bait at the Golden Gate Bank and the 95 spot.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 7 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: dorado limits including 43 dorado of 20 to 30 pounds, 1 blue marlin of about 250 pounds lost, 3 striped marlin, and 1 outing at the Golden Gate Bank for yellowfin tuna limits at 20 to 40 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported on 55 charter boats fishing during the week, with a catch including released fish of: 150-plus dorado, 2 blue marlin, 75 striped marlin, 75 yellowfin tuna, 2 wahoo, 20 pargo, 5 mako shark, and 2 cabrilla.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Grant Hartman of Cabo's Baja Anglers fly fishing guide service reported good dorado action close to home during the week. "There were dorado almost anywhere you fished, but the 2 best spots were the lighthouse and Golden Gate Bank," Hartman said. "Under one bunch of debris we found at least 30 fish hanging around, and all of them were really nice fish! We have been getting dorado up to 40 pounds. I haven't seen it this good in ages." Anglers landing dorado on fly fishing tackle included Dan Dreyer of Payson, Ariz., who was guided by Hartman aboard the charter boat Flying Fish IV with Capt. Arturo Ozuna.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet Sportfishing reported 99 percent of charters releasing mixed billfish, with a combined catch including released fish of: 149 striped marlin, 11 blue marlin, and 10 sailfish. All but 2 billfish were released. Dorado were caught by 85 percent of Pisces boats and yellowfin tuna of 20 to 50 pounds by 19 percent. "It was nice to see a big jump on blue marlin this week," Ehrenberg said. "Weights on blue marlin are beginning to increase a little now, with fish ranging from 180 to 350 pounds.
The Golden Gate Bank is still the mainstay of the action." Top Pisces outings during the week included the Yahoo with a 12-striped marlin release day and Andriana with 4 blue marlin in 2 days.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the previous week Ehrenberg commented on the high billfish release count. "The number of billfish caught was an 8-year record for Pisces Fleet," Ehrenberg said. "In 6 days, 234 billfish were released, and this was with Cabo San Lucas charter sportfishing activity below normal. The number of striped marlin being caught is definitely unusual. We can't remember when this many stripers have been caught in summer." Dorado were caught by 66 percent of Pisces Fleet boats, and yellowfin tuna by 17 percent, including several fish in the 100-pound class and 2 tuna over 200 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Ramon Druck of the Cabo San Lucas charter super panga Cheer's reported on a local outing Friday with 3 anglers for a catch of 8 dorado along the Pacific side beaches including 4 fish of 15 to 20 pounds. Fishing farther offshore about 4 to 5 miles outside Faro Viejo produced 8 bonita of 4 to 6 pounds. Local Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was good, with light wind and water temperatures of 79 to 80 degrees. Fishing aboard the Cheer's were California anglers Robert Smallwood, Michael Boone, and Barry Melne.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported some light rain at Cabo San Lucas on Sunday, with some long swell from the northwest and the water temperature averaging 81 to 85 degrees on the Pacific side and 85 to 88 degrees on the Cortez side. A 4-day outing aboard the charter boat Fly Hooker produced action including: 1 striped marlin released, 1 blue marlin released, 2 blue marlin missed, 1 sailfish released, 1 sailfish missed, 1 black marlin released, and 1 black marlin of 265 pounds kept after it became tail-wrapped.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Axel Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on 20 outings during 4 days of a weather shortened week, with 65 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 126 dorado, 114 tuna, 2 blue marlin, 8 striped marlin, 1 roosterfish, 4 snapper, and 5 sierra. East Cape fishing area weather was in the high-90s, with water temperatures at 81 to 84 degrees. Fleet boats found action very close to the hotels. "September is the month that we locals like because the fishing is so close and good," Valdez said. "We are fishing 5 to 10 miles out. You can go further if you like, but there's no point in it." Valdez commented on some opinions that Mexico's recently passed Shark Norma 029 would increase commercial fishing close to shore. "So much for the million hooks in the Sea of Cortez due to Norm029. We have not seen any commercial boats coming to fish our waters since June 27th," he said.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: East Cape tin boat angler Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista reported very hot weather during fishing for 5 dorado of small to over 15 pounds hooked while trolling a Rapala CD14 and 2 jointed Rebel Fastrac lures. "I left the beach at about 7 a.m. and joined the 20 or so boats catching tuna about 3 miles out," Eddy said. "But the tuna were only feeding on live bait. Even Fastracs failed to attract their interest. I headed out to Punta Pescadero and trolled around the reef there without success. On the way in, I caught 3 dorado with the Rapala. The Fastracs hooked two 6 pounders. It was very hot and no matter what direction I traveled, the wind went in the same direction, resulting in effectively little or no breeze. Anyway, the Rapala is my new favorite lure. I have never caught 5 dorado in one day before."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 99 charter boats from combined fleets including Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, Buena Vista Beach Resort, Rancho Leonero, and Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort, with 287 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 324 dorado, 461 yellowfin tuna, 9 blue marlin, 63 striped marlin, 10 sailfish, and 3 wahoo. East Cape fishing area weather was in the high-80s, with some afternoon wind and water temperatures of 81 to 87 degrees. "As is typical this time of year there weren't many boats in the water but the fish numbers were certainly encouraging," Moyers said. "Hurricane Ivo turned out to be nothing more than some slight winds. As of this date, there are no storms brewing in the Eastern Pacific. Things will definitely be picking up down here in southern Baja in October." Live bait available at East Cape included sardina, mackerel, and caballito. East Cape sportfishing boats stayed close to home and fished in all directions from Punta Pescadero in the north to Punta Colorada in the south.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Jeff deBrown of The Reel Baja fly fishing guide service reported some mixed weather at the end of the week, but continued very good fly fishing action on the beaches for small roosterfish, a few pompano, and good sized jack crevalle. "Most of the action is taking place along the beach just south of Rancho Leonero where the Las Cuevas arroyo comes in," deBrown said. "If you want to catch a roosterfish from the beach, this area is your best bet at the moment." Offshore boats had outstanding action for tuna and dorado plus marlin and sailfish. "The tuna and dorado seem to be everywhere," deBrown said. "The excellent bite continued out in front of Buena Vista, in front of La Ribera, and down to Cabo Pulmo." East Cape weather was at 90 degrees, with water temperatures of 74 to 83 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported good fishing during the week that included a wide-open session on yellowfin tuna a couple of miles off the hotels, sailfish loitering less than 2 miles off Punta Pescadero, and dorado plentiful on easy-to-spot storm debris. On the beaches, Baja On The Fly guide Lance Peterson found schools of gafftopsail pompano plus "schoolie" sized jack crevalle, roosterfish, and ladyfish. "A smaller fly and light tippet were needed to get the grabs from the pompano," Peterson said. East Cape fishing area weather was party cloudy in the high-80s, with water temperatures of 77 to 85 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts reported on 160 East Cape charter fishing boats from Hotels Palmas de Cortez and Playa del Sol, with a catch including released fish of: 536 dorado, 800 yellowfin tuna, 17 blue marlin, 155 striped marlin, 8 sailfish, 10 roosterfish, 7 wahoo, 18 pargo, 24 bonita, and 14 skipjack. East Cape fishing area weather was in the high-90s, with water temperatures of 78 to 85 degrees. "Lots of bait is available, making for great fishing conditions," Dalmau said. "The tuna and dorado numbers continue to be eye-popping. We have the makings for an October to remember." Van Wormer Resorts' Hotel Punta Colorada was scheduled to reopen for the season in a few days.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Simon Cazaly of the Vista Sea Sport East Cape diving service said water temperatures at depth during the week ranged from the high-70s to the low-80s, with visibility of at least 80 to 100 feet. "A fantastic diving week with blue seas and warm temperatures," Cazaly said. "While diving at Islote in the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park we were able to see the whole of the island. A zebra moray eel snaking through the coral heads on the south wall brushed its nose and body against my fingers as it went on its way." Other sea life sightings during the week included sea lions, octopus, giant damselfish, eagle rays, bigeye jack, guitarfish, lobsters, green moray eel, nudibranchs, leopard grouper, golden grouper, Panamic porkfish, and yellow snapper.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Sportfishing articles, maps, and fishing report archives for Santa Rosalia.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: John Hilderbrand of Jon Jon Charters said few anglers fished out of San Carlos during the past 2 weeks, as action was up-and-down. "The fishing has been good at times but slow other times," Hilderbrand said. An outing aboard the San Carlos charter boat Jonjen the previous Friday produced 1 dorado hookups unbuttoned during a day of trolling with up to 8 lines, plus a tuna and black marlin broken off. "The fishing is good with billfish and dorado so we are looking forward to the tournament the first of October," Hilderbrand said. The Jonjen was fishing again after receiving a rebuilt motor and maintenance on the steering.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 15 Aries Fleet offshore charter boats out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 2 blue marlin, 15 sailfish, 41 dorado into the 30-pound class, and 1 yellowfin tuna. Five inshore super pangas had a catch of: full limits of dorado, 25 pargo, 1 permit, and 35 mojarra. "The dorado bite at the buoys continues to produce easy limit fishing along with numerous releases for the super pangas," Edwards said. "The offshore dorado bite is picking up momentum and is providing bigger fish. The number of charters has slowed a little due to the time of year, but the catch results continue to reflect excellent fishing." Mazatlan fishing area weather was partly cloudy at 90 degrees, with flat seas, light tropical breezes, and stable water temperatures at 85 to 86 degrees. Offshore boats fished 21 to 28 miles southwest of Marina el Cid using rigged baits for sailfish and dorado, and artificials for blue marlin. Inshore dorado were still "snapping at most anything that goes in the water."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Michael Sisko of San Diego reported on 3 days of good yellowfin tuna action last week at El Banco off Puerto Vallarta with his brother Daniel Sisko aboard the charter boat Marla with Capt. Danny Osuna for a catch including: 1 cow yellowfin tuna taped at 84 inches by 59 inches for an estimated at 365 pounds, 2 more tuna estimated by Osuna at 180 and 240 pounds, and an estimated 400-pound black marlin released. "The Osuna brothers are seasoned warriors of big offshore tuna, tamers of El Banco, fun as hell to fish with, and hardworking to boot," Sisko said. "The trip produced fish by the mastery of Danny and his hard working mates."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stan Vath of Oxnard, Calif., and the boat Tinknocker reported on an outing aboard the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Pacifico on Thursday with Capt. Manny Ocaranza and crew of Abel, Luis, and Mitchell for a catch at El Banco of: 9 yellowfin tuna of 20 to 163 pounds. About 12 boats were fishing at El Banco. "We left the dock at Marina Vallarta at 3 a.m. and picked up 60 caballitos from the bait guy and started our trek to the bank," Vath said. "We arrived around 7 a.m. with only a couple of boats present. The fishing was a little on the slow side by Puerto Vallarta standards. The big baits were not effective which was disappointing, but that's fishing. By the chatter on the radio we did very well. The Pacifico is a great ride and a fish killing machine. I'll be back."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stan Gabruk of Master Baiter's Sportfishing & Tackle reported on a run to El Banco by the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Sirena for catches including a yellowfin tuna at 345 pounds and an estimated 525-pound black marlin released. The cow class tuna hit a live skipjack bait for angler Mark Schwabb and was landed after a 3-hour fight.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Bob Huston of Pasadena, Calif., announced the second annual Cystic Fibrosis Foundation "Hook The Cure" benefit fishing tournament to be held at Puerto Vallarta on Oct. 25-28, 2007. Last year's tournament, with about 20 boats fishing 2 days, raised $155,000 to benefit research on treatment for children with cystic fibrosis. "Cystic fibrosis is the #1 genetic killer of children and young adults in the United States," Huston said. "The life expectancy has grown from 4 to now over 36 years." Huston said about $315,000 in donations was hoped for during the 2007 event, which includes billfish release, tuna, and dorado categories, as well as options for golf and spa sessions during an all-inclusive stay at Puerto Vallarta's Villa Premiere Hotel. Tournament winners will receive invitations to complete in the 2008 I.G.F.A. Rolex Offshore World Championship fishing tournament. Information: Gary Green, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, ggreen@cff.org; www.hookthecure.com.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area sailfish action was slower on the full moon as most of the 4 or 5 combined fleet boats going out daily concentrated on good roosterfish action close to shore. Blue water at 83 degrees was about 12 miles out, but offshore boats were stopping often to fish for dorado in weed lines about 6 to 8 miles out. "They are averaging about 2 or 3 of these tasty dorado between 16 and 33 pounds," Kunze said. Inshore water averaging about 86 degrees had good concentrations of bait and roosterfish against the beaches, plus good numbers of jack crevalle in the mix. "There is no defined area for the concentrations of roosterfish," Kunze said. "They are all up and down the coast." Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area weather was partly cloudy and humid in the low-90s, with light breezes and water temperatures of 80 to 84 degrees.

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