Santa Rosalia into fall yellowtail rock 'n' roll fishing;

Dorado counts heavy at Huatulco

Mexico Fishing News, November 26, 2007

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

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SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Bruno south of Santa Rosalia reported an anticipated surge of very good fall yellowtail action on the Isla San Marcos bajos as tidal currents increased with the approaching full moon last the week. "Yellowtail fishing has been very, very good and the yellowtail this year seem larger than normal," Anderson said.

"Normal size yellowtail on the north end of the island are in the mid-20s, but not this year. Everyday, someone is catching a fish over 35 and a number of fish cut your line." Big yellowtail scored during the week by the San Lucas Cove fleet included Gary Schall's 38 pounder and a 42 pounder by Bill Westendorff. "The fishing is more difficult since the yellowtail are not on the deeper reefs in 190 to 250 feet of water but have taken up residence on the 110-foot reef.

We spent countless hours coming up with the name '110' for that reef," Anderson said. Santa Rosalia fishing area weather was unseasonably warm in the mid-80s, with water temperatures steady at 68 to 70 degrees and north winds holding off until the end of the week. "Friday morning after Thanksgiving was the first day that we had strong winds from the north but that may be a blessing as there are lots of sore muscles and broken gear everywhere," Anderson said. "Minimum line strength is at least 60-pound."

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Bill Westendorff of Durango, Colo., fished out of San Lucas Cove in the good yellowtail action on the north Isla San Marcos bajos and scored forkies that included his 42.8 pounder landed Wednesday after it hit a live mackerel bait near the bottom. "The weather has been great for fishing," Westendorff said. "Lots of big yellowtail are coming in on the 110 bajo. On Wednesday I counted 7 boats hooked up at one time and a couple of them had doubles." Bait was available outside San Lucas Cove.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet reported continued steady panga limits of mixed bottom fish, lingcod, Johnny bass, calico bass, and another quality yellowtail caught last week, this one a 24 pounder by angler Brian Billeck of San Diego who fished on the charter panga Vonny II with Capt. Vicente Flores. Other anglers fishing with Vonny's Fleet Capts. Beto and Genardo at the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda during the week included: Brian "Calico" Foley with calico bass limits on swimbaits, Ronald Ecclefield and Morgan Ecclefield of San Diego, Calif., and the Bonner family group, also from San Diego. Local Ensenada fishing area weather was partly cloudy at 70 degrees, with 2-foot ocean swells, light winds, and the water temperature at Punta Banda averaging 58 degrees.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported fewer than normal anglers present at San Quintin during the Thanksgiving holiday period, but boats bringing back full limits of rockcods, lingcod, whitefish, and mixed bottom fish. San Quintin fishing area weather was good all week until winds arrived on Saturday. Anglers fishing with Capts. Gato on the charter boat Tay-Marie and Capt. Miguel on the Pelicano included: Tom Saras and his group from Chatsworth, Calif., and Hector Limas and his family group from Cerritos, Calif.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: John Gilkerson of Cypress, Calif., reported on 2 days of fishing at San Quintin in mid-November aboard his boat A-SALT-WEAPON, finding limits of lingcod, very large red rockcod, mixed rockfish, and several big whitefish at the 240 spot, and several log barracuda but no white seabass during a session fishing the kelp south at Socorro. The road off Mex 1 into Bahia de San Quintin was muddy from recent rains. "A film crew in 2 heavy 18 wheelers from Sony Pictures had stayed at the Old Mill on their way back from filming in Cabo," Gilkerson said. "We found one of their trucks stuck pretty good in one of the deep mud holes." No signs of yellowtail or other surface activity were seen. San Quintin fishing area weather was calm to moderate, with some breeze, a long swell, some chop, and the water temperature at about 61 degrees.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Eduardo Villegas of La Bocana on the Baja central Pacific coast reported on a fishing session with Capt. Domingo Aguilar for excellent action about a mile outside the boca for more than 20 yellowtail of 18 to 35 pounds. Villegas said he and Aguilar fished in front of houses on the beach using live mackerel baits and 50-pound line. "Other fishermen enjoyed similar action," Villegas said. "They caught big fish at different locations very close to the coast at La Bocana." Baja near shore fishing weather was windless, with clear water at 70 degrees.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Shari Bondy of Baja Bed & Breakfast reported on a local surf fishing session by Ray Turner of British Colombia, accompanied by Capt. Juan Arce of Arce Bros. Sportfishing, for a first-ever corvina or croaker species called boca dulce, a couple of halibut, and another fish locally called "barbito." "Juan took him out to Los Choros as it was a nice calm day there and hooked on some mackerel bait for him," Bondy said. "Ray was like a kid jumping up and down with excitement and couldn't wait to cast out again. We laughed as he had to shoo off the seagulls from stealing his first fish! After he caught a few fish, he would say 'just one more cast' then catch another one, and thus it went until it got too dark to fish anymore." Bahia Asuncion beach fishing water was clear and over 70 degrees.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: John Ireland of East Cape's Rancho Leonero reported on a fishing cruise by his boat Luna Sea from San Diego around the Baja coast to La Paz the previous week, for wahoo to 80 pounds, dorado, yellowfin tuna, skipjack, and a mako shark, but Ireland said, "The fishing was not as good as we'd hoped and it slowed the further south we got. Most of our fish were taken on the north end of the Uncle Sam Bank."

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly relayed reports from Mag Bay Outfitters for lingering "fair" striped marlin counts coming from below the Boca de Soledad entrada at Puerto Lopez Mateos. "It's nothing like last month's double-digits, but it's enough to keep things interesting," Graham said. The Magdalena Bay mangrove channels produced good catches of pargo, grouper, and corvina, plus a few snook near Boca de Santo Domingo. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather offshore had winds to 18 knots, with the air temperature at 70 degrees, and water temperatures of 67 to 75 degrees.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Baja tin boat angler Bruce Pfenninger of Boise, Idaho, reported on a trip out of San Carlos, fishing Baja Catch-style aboard the 14-foot aluminum boat Baja Suzie south at the entrada with Jointed Rebel lures for scores of yellowtail to 20 pounds, plus big counts of barracuda, sierra, bonita, grouper, halibut, spotted bay bass, croaker, jacks, and assorted fish species. "We never fished the southern mangroves because the fishing was so good at the entrada," Pfenninger said. "I think we caught 18 species. On our first day of fishing we caught 45 fish in just over 3 hours, and then the fishing got good! We agreed it was the best 5 days of fishing we have ever seen in Baja with continuous double hookups all day long. Simply unbelievable!" Local Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was near perfect in the high-70s, with afternoon north wind and a wet ride back to San Carlos. "I discovered a copy of The Baja Catch in the Seattle Public Library," Pfenninger said. "I have since made over 25 trips to Mexico and have fished darn near every spot in the book." Also fishing on the trip was Steve Shayne of Boise.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Jamie Lawson of San Diego, Calif., said we was scheduled to fish out of Magdalena Bay aboard the 38-foot charter boat Viviana operated by David Jones of Fishermen's Fleet at La Paz. "He's taking small groups out for 3 or 4 days," Lawson said. "I'll be going out midweek for 4 days and 5 nights. I was on the boat when I was in La Paz in August. She was quite fishy."

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Jeff Petersen of Lopez Sportsman's Lodge at Puerto Lopez Mateos said a boat house was being constructed on the lodge's grounds next to the new town launch ramp. The building will be the maintenance center for the lodge's 32-foot offshore-inshore catamaran, Baja Californian, with a 300-mile range and 10-passenger load capacity. "There is a flushing toilet installed in the wheel house," Petersen said. "She carries a solar powered freezer and a generator, VHF, color depth sounder, color GPS chart plotter, and radar." The Baja Californian is equipped for fishing, with downriggers and a 115-gallon bait tank. Charter rates for up to 7 guests and a crew of 2 to 3 average $700, plus metered fuel and bait. The Baja Californian's top speed is 43 m.p.h., Petersen said.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of the Pisces Fleet charter boat Falcon at Cabo San Lucas said the spectacular striped marlin action at the Golden Gate bank faded away at the end of week, but 18 stripers were released during a run farther north to the Finger Bank on Friday. "At the Golden gate bank the bait stayed deeper and the marlin left, just like that," Connolly said. "Some blame the moon phase. I will buy that. The birds were gone and memories of all those feeding marlin from previous weeks were all that was left." The Falcon fished 3 days for 4 or 5 marlin releases per day off San Cristobal and Cabo Falso, plus good dorado counts on a dead seal. "It drifted about 6 miles a day and was inside the Gate about 4 miles the last time we visited it," Connolly said. On Friday's trip north to the Finger Bank for 18 marlin releases and 3 dorado landed, Connolly said, "It was some kind of miracle. Our passengers had never been on the ocean before. Halfway home one of them asked me, 'Mike, would you consider this an average day, or a good day, or what?'"

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet Sportfishing reported on boats fishing through Thursday with continued excellent striped marlin counts centered on the Golden Gate Bank and a total of 378 stripers landed and released. "Some boats continued further up to the Finger Bank, but in all honesty the number of marlin at the Golden Gate was about all most people could take," Ehrenberg said. The top outing for the week was turned in by the charter boat Ni Modo with 32 marlin released in 1 day. Good numbers of small dorado averaging 15 pounds were also caught by Pisces boats, but just 14 percent landed yellowfin tuna, mostly of 10 to 20 pounds. Inshore fishing produced skipjack, roosterfish, sierra, and needlefish in sluggish action. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was sunny, with wind toward the end of the week and water temperatures averaging 72 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Ramon Druck of the Cabo San Lucas charter sportfishing super panga Cheer's reported on 4 outings during the week with a total of 4 anglers, for a catch including released fish of: 20 yellowfin tuna of 10 to 15 pounds, 2 dorado of 8 and 10 pounds, 8 skipjack of 4 to 5 pounds, 15 sierra of 3 to 4 pounds, and 1 sailfish lost. Anglers fishing aboard the Cheer's included Bill Lynd fishing fly tackle 3 days solo, and Catherine Lorsa, Brenda Hatchinson, and Jim Bangs, all of Canada. The Cheer's fished out to about 3 miles on both the Pacific and Sea of Cortez sides, finding water temperatures of 76 to 77 degrees and some wind by Wednesday. Three days of fishing at the end of the week were canceled due to wind.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 59 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo San Lucas charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 123 striped marlin, 4 wahoo, 1 mako shark, 39 yellowfin tuna, and 96 dorado. The week's count included 2 days at the Finger Bank by the Fish Cabo I for 36 striped marlin releases. "It was another week of fast and furious billfish action on the Pacific side of Baja," Edwards said. "The marlin continue to filter in to the lower Baja banks." Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was generally good on the Pacific side banks, with water temperatures averaging 77 degrees. Live bait was plentiful and easy to replenish on the fishing grounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 16 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 10 striped marlin, 19 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 25 pounds, and 47 dorado of 20 to 40 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported on 75 boats, with a catch including released fish of: 78 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 165 yellowfin tuna, 61 dorado, 37 bonito, 6 wahoo, 10 skipjack, 15 pargo, 24 sierra, 3 amberjack, and 2 parrotfish.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 116 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 1,245 yellowfin tuna of mostly 10 to 20 pounds, 44 wahoo, 92 dorado, 4 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 1 mako shark, 64 pargo, 22 cabrilla, 32 triggerfish, 48 sierra, and 7 amberjack. The San Jose del Cabo fishing area was busy with vacationers, with weather becoming windy and sea conditions sloppy at the end of the week, but calming again by Sunday. Local Los Cabos fishing area water temperatures averaged 80 degrees. Yellowfin tuna action continued to be centered at La Fortuna and Iman with live sardina bait becoming scattered at the Puerto Los Cabos marina and La Playita pangas running to buy bait from the Punta Palmilla carnaderos. "It was worth the time obtaining live sardinas because this was the bait of choice for excellent tuna action," Brictson said. Tuna counts included a few fish in the 30-pound class and 1 tuna at 59 pounds. Wahoo counts slowed on the approaching full moon.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Bob Lewis of San Jose del Cabo launched his boat Dos Gueros at the new Puerto Los Cabos marina ramp on Monday and reported wide-open 15 to 20-pound yellowfin tuna about 3 to 4 miles off Punta Palmilla. "I shut down and threw a handful of bait, and tuna exploded all around us," Lewis said. "For the next hour-and-a-half we basically jack-poled 15 to 20-pound yellowfin tuna into the boat." Leaping dorado were also around the boat but would not hit a bait. Another run farther out on Wednesday for wahoo was unsuccessful due to excess tuna in the water, Lewis said. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was near-perfect, with cooler air temperatures in the high-80s, and flat calm water at about 81 degrees. "It feels like the season is changing a bit now with shorter days and some cooler breezes, but for this moment the fishing is wide-open down here," Lewis said.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero at the south end of Bahia de Palmas said sea conditions were flat at 78 to 79 degrees with almost no north wind. Fishing was consistent for yellowfin tuna limits close to shore just outside the Cabo Pulmo marine park, but with few anglers in the East Cape area and the hotel sending out just 2 or 3 boats per day. Inshore fishing was good for seasonable sierra and an active pargo bite. Few East Cape sportfishing boats ran outside for billfish spread out 2 to 10 miles offshore. Dorado were scattered at 8 to 10 pounds and 2 or 3 per boat.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported East Cape fishing area weather clear in the mid-70s, with water temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees and fewer lines in the water over the Thanksgiving holiday period. Baja On The Fly guide Lance Petersen reported generally good beach fishing conditions.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: East Cape tin boat angler Torrance Eddy reported an unusual mackerel-like fish caught south of Punta Pescadero by local panguero Elias Aguilar of Los Barriles. "The horizontal yellow stripe is not dissimilar to that of a yellowtail," Eddy said. "But the head and eye, among other things, are all wrong, and the yellow stripe is more pronounced."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Simon Cazaly of the Vista Sea Sport East Cape diving service estimated visibility at 120 to 150 feet at Cabo Pulmo last week. "I could just see forever!" Cazaly said. East Cape diving water temperatures cooled to 77 to 79 degrees at depth as sea life sightings included green moray eel, big schools of yellow snapper, groups of bat rays, masses of dog snapper, leopard grouper, stone scorpionfish, and very large schools of bigeye jack. Vista Sea Sport Capt. Juan Diego Romero also encountered a pod of 5 humpback whales during a return trip to Buena Vista. "We rounded off a great day watching these magnificent beasts for well over an hour as they slowly made their way north," Cazaly said.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said his pangas at Las Arenas had good weather most of the week, but with wind arriving on Friday, as boats concentrated around Punta Perico for good numbers of 15 to 25-pound yellowfin tuna plus steady dorado. "Because of the wind, we weren't able to fish at Isla Cerralvo where there are good numbers of wahoo," Hernandez said. "We are getting bait close to Punta Perico and there is no problem finding good quantities."

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International said the summer's ongoing yellowfin tuna bite on the Las Arenas side continued last week as pangas fishing out of Ensenada de los Muertos scored on tuna of 10 to 30 pounds, plus more wahoo at the south end of Isla Cerralvo. "It was another great late season week of fishing," Roldan said. Dorado were steady on the La Paz side in some windy weather.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Ken Thomas of Loomis, Calif., reported very good yellowfin tuna action at both ends of Isla Cerralvo plus 2 wahoo of 50 pounds at the north end while fishing with his brother Greg Thomas and Capt. Yo Yo of La Ventana south of La Paz. "We had 1 wahoo throw the hook at the boat," Thomas said. "Both wahoo were caught on 12-inch Rapalas. The tuna were around 25 pounds, up to 50 pounds, and eating everything in sight. We caught them on live bait, dead bait, iron, and my favorite topwater plugs. Anyone at La Ventana or El Sargento will know who Yo Yo is.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Don Bear of Loreto relayed a report for the previous weekend from his neighbor Charlie Licha who fished with Loreto Capt. Alvaro Murillo along the north side of Isla Coronado for a catch of 11 yellowtail of 15 to 30 pounds plus 2 large barracuda. "They were back at the marina before noon," Bear said. "According to Charlie, 'it was like the old days' in Loreto." Licha fished with jurelito baits bought from the carnaderos and weighted with 1-ounce sinkers. Loreto fishing area weather was good in the low-80s, with flat seas.

LORETO, MEXICO: Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company said fishing for large yellowtail was good to the north at San Bruno and better at Punta Pulpito, in unseasonably good weather and sea conditions.

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Tony Reyes of Tony Reyes Fishing Tours reported on a 6-day Midriff Islands fishing trip by the panga mothership Jose Andres, returning to San Felipe on Nov. 14, 2007, with a catch of: 91 yellowtail of 8 to 16 pounds, 32 cabrilla of 10 to 18 pounds, 23 pargos of 6 to 10 pounds, 57 spotted bay bass, 1 curvina of 25 pounds, 43 white sea bass of 8 to 16 pounds, 195 sierra of 6 to 14 pounds, and 3 sharks of 12 to 20 pounds.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Catalina Meders of the Title Company Bookstore at San Felipe said fall weather was in the 70s, with enough wind to disrupt Friday's Fine Art Association show. "The artists put up a valiant struggle to keep their exhibits from blowing away and many brave souls did venture up to PLaya de Oro to check it out," Meders said, "but the sand was blowing so hard it was getting into everyone's eyes and also sandblasting the art works. I actually had sand behind the glass on some of my paintings." Friday's weather was calm again as Thanksgiving holiday visitors departed for home. "I just got a call from my husband Ed who is stuck in a '120-mile parking lot' just outside of Indio," Meders said. "He said people are having to wait half-an-hour or more at the gas stations, and all the fast food parking lots are crammed full. At 6 a.m. this morning, it took him over an hour to get through the border."

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO) FISHING REPORTS

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ROCKY POINT, MEXICO: For the previous weekend, Mike Auditore of Phoenix, Ariz., reported on an offshore run by his boat Gato Blanco, fishing with Lloyd and Paul Robinette for a catch of: 5 halibut to 25 pounds, 6 red snapper to 10 pounds, 2 yellowtail to 20 pounds, 1 white seabass of 15 pounds, and 1 black sea bass of 100 pounds. "By the time we made it to the reef there were already 9 boats all around place," Auditore said. "I decided to drop anchor, and we each dropped down a live mackerel on the bottom hook and squid on the top hook. I got slammed right away." Offshore Rocky Point fishing area weather was calm, with the water temperature in the mid-70s.

ROCKY POINT, MEXICO: Shawn Gustafson of Chandler, Ariz., reported on a run 51 miles out of Rocky Point the previous Friday aboard his boat Murphy Girl, fishing with Jon Kay and Art Pina in 74-degree water for very steady action and a catch of: 6 yellowtail to 15 pounds, 2 red snapper to 15 pounds, 1 leopard grouper of 15 pounds, 1 dorado of 4 pounds, 14 goldspotted bass to 8 pounds, 1 halibut of 35 pounds, 2 squid to 25 pounds, and 1 ocean whitefish of 5 pounds. Bait was hard to find after leaving Safe Marina, Gustafson said, so the fishing was with iron jigs on the drift. "The wind caused us to drift quickly across the rock pile, so it was one drop, drift, then motor back," Gustafson said. "We had a mostly wide-open bite on the iron jigs all day long. It was a great experience and very addicting. It was the first time I'd ever caught anything on an iron jig, but it won't be the last."

ROCKY POINT, MEXICO: Art Pina of Tucson, Ariz., reported on a repeat trip with the same group the following day aboard his boat Big Daddy, fishing in glass flat sea conditions, again with jigs, for a catch of: grouper to 15 pounds, 3 yellowtail of 15 to 17 pounds, snappers of 10 to 15 pounds, and halibut of 30 to 35 pounds. A whale shark was also observed in 72 to 74-degree water on the return trip to Rocky Point. "A whale shark got to within 10 feet of the boat, a very nice way to end the day," Pina said. "We will try again on the 30th; the tides should be minimal."

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: John Hilderbrand of Jon Jen Charters at San Carlos reported on a midweek run 28 miles out by the charter boat JonJen II, finding mixed blue and striped marlin in pods of 2 or 3 fish and a release count of 3 blue marlin and 1 striped marlin. "Capt. Abel said it could have been a 10-marlin day because they where done by 11:30 and came in," Hilderbrand said. "The billfish were coming through 2 or 3 at a time."

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 35 Aries Fleet offshore charter boats fishing out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 38 sailfish, 38 yellowfin tuna, and 37 dorado. Eight inshore super pangas had a catch of: 2 roosterfish, 1 jack crevalle, 31 pargo, 18 triggerfish, 19 loras, 21 baqueta, and 37 mojarra. Mazatlan fishing area weather was sunny in the low-80s, with cooler water temperatures at 75 degrees inshore and 78 to 79 degrees offshore. Offshore boats fished 24 to 35 miles southwest of Mazatlan, using feathers for tuna running with porpoise and rigged baits for sailfish.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Mike Borden of the La Paz-based boat Fish Magnet reported generally slow fishing off Puerto Vallarta, but with some good roosterfish action found at Isla Isabel.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Malcolm Smith of Palm Desert, Calif., reported on 4 days of fishing out of Puerto Vallarta with Marla's Sportfishing, finding slow action for: 1 dog snapper of about 75 pounds, 1 sailfish, 1 blue marlin released at about 200 pounds, and another blue marlin of about 400 pounds released by Capt. Alonso Osuna. "There were a few dorado, but not large," Smith said.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stan Sato of Lakewood, Calif., reported a first-ever cow class yellowfin tuna at 330 pounds landed at Roca Corbeteña on Oct. 31, 2007, with Capt. Danny Osuna aboard the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Marla. "Danny and his brothers run a first-rate operation," Sato said. Also fishing aboard the Marla were Sato's brother Shawn, and Jim and Mike Markus. The 3-day session aboard the Marla also produced all-you-want dorado to 30 pounds, a few rainbow runner, and a 400-pound black marlin. On 2 fishing days, the tuna were present but slow to bite. "A lot of show but not much go on the tuna the first and third days," Sato said.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stanley Gabruk of Master Baiter's Sportfishing & Tackle said the Puerto Vallarta charter boat High Maintenance was again being booked. "High Maintenance is once again part of the Master Baiter’s fishing fleet," Gabruk said. "It’s being rented through the Marina Master Baiter’s exclusively." Information: letsfish@mbsportsfishing.com.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said fish counts slowed down last week despite good fishing conditions, with calm seas, clear skies, and blue 84-degree water just a couple of miles off the beach. The Ixtapa sportfishing fleet averaged a combined 1 blue marlin per day brought in, plus a few dorado and about 1 to 2 sailfish per boat. Roosterfish action continued along the beaches running north. "Roosterfish are still a fairly long boat ride," Kunze said. "A home owner at Saladitas, a little over an hour boat ride from Zihuatanejo, said there were huge schools of bait in front of his house and about 20 big roosters herding them. A surfer at the Ranch, another half-hour north of Saladitas, said bait was actually trying to hide under the surfboards and huge roosters were dashing in and out trying to get at the bait." An inshore fishing trip south to Puerto Vicente Guerrero produced just 5 roosterfish raised and 3 jack crevalle hooked "after a long day" of casting poppers. Ixtapa fishing area weather was in the mid-90s, with water temperatures of 80 to 84 degrees.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said cooler water temperatures and slower dorado and sailfish action were found by independent sportfishing captains last week. Several boats reported yellowfin tuna of 20 to 25 pounds located outside the 25-mile mark. Two combined fishing days by Capts. Temo and Candelario produced a catch including released fish of: 3 sailfish, 3 yellowfin tuna, and 4 dorado. Two outings in slow inshore action produced 5 roosterfish plus several bonito and sierra for the charter boats Dos Hermanos and Dos Hermanos I. Ixtapa fishing area weather was calm, with light breezes and water temperatures at 83 degrees inshore and 85 degrees offshore.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Paul Phillips of the Fintastic Total Tag & Release Tournament said a fishing trip aboard the charter boat Gringo Loco with Capt. Luis Maciel produced a first-ever sailfish for Judi Cybulski of Oklahoma. "She tried for one several times," Phillips said. "There's nothing like number one. Unfortunately they couldn't revive the fish." The day aboard the Gringo Loco also produced a big dorado and a sailfish release for Cybulski's husband Jeff.

HUATULCO FISHING REPORTS

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HUATULCO, MEXICO: Eric Weissman of Explore Fly Fishing said local captains at his San Agustinillo and Puerto Escondido fishing locations near Huatulco were landing good numbers of large dorado, including 2 dorado over 70 pounds. Weissman said, "My guides are catching 7 to 30 dorado a day in the 15 to 60-pound range. A local fisherman out of Puerto Angel took an 80-pound dorado considered to be the largest in the area's history." Huatulco fishing area weather was sunny in the high-80s, with water temperatures at about 85 degrees.

MEXICO COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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MEXICO: Mike Steele, reporting as acting president of the 50-member San Diego Fishing Club, Home of the Outcasts, said club members would suspend their overland trips to fish northern Baja California locations due to concerns about personal security. "None of our club members will be traveling in the near future to Ensenada, Castro's, Camalu, San Quintin, or Bahia de los Angeles until Mexico can assure they have their security under control," Steele said. "We have already canceled several trips and have postponed any future trips indefinitely until we can be assured of safe travel."

MEXICO: Other Baja anglers reported decisions to stop driving in Mexico due to crime and safety concerns. One said, "No more driving the Baja peninsula anymore. Very sad. Baja will have to wait until the Mexican government cleans up the crime problems."

MEXICO: Jeff Petersen of Lopez Sportsman's Lodge at Magdalena Bay reported on the personal Baja offshore fishing lure selection of angler Bill Erhardt, who fishes at both Loreto and Magdalena Bay aboard his trailer boat Soledad. "These are the favorite lures fished by Bill Erhardt, as he chases wahoo, marlin, and tuna," Petersen said. "Bill fishes exclusively with lures rather than bait, saying, 'With over 100 marlin catches on the Loreto side, I'm confident they all survived the release. With a lure, they're either hooked in the bill or the mouth. I remove the lure, revive them, and they're on their way. It's easy to remove without trauma to the fish. With live bait, so often the fish swallow the hook resulting in death or injury to the fish.'" BAJA ANGLER BILL ERHARDT'S PERSONAL LURE PICKS.

Santa Rosalia Mexico Yellowtail Fishing Photo 1

SANTA ROSALIA YELLOWTAIL--Last week's fishing off Santa Rosalia for yellowtail in calm seas was about as good as it gets for Danny "Piojo Loco" Chiquete and his son who fished the Isla San Marcos bajos aboard Mike Kanzler's boat. At right, Marika Anderson hooked up to a big one with husband Jim Anderson aboard their Moosea Boat out of San Bruno. Marika ended up limiting on yellowtail with a catch that included 2 fish over 35 pounds. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIM ANDERSON.

San Lucas Cove Mexico Yellowtail Fishing Photo 1

SAN LUCAS COVE GRANDE--Bill Westendorf fished Santa Rosalia's hot yellowtail bite out of San Lucas Cove last week and scored 4 yellowtail with boat trip partner John Bogert, including this quality forkie at 42.8 pounds. It hit a live mackerel fished deep on the Isla San Marcos 110 yellowtail bajo. PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL WESTENDORF.

Ensenada Mexico Yellowtail Fishing Photo 1

ENSENADA PANGA YELLOWTAIL--Brian Billeck of San Diego fished at Ensenada with panga skipper Vicente Flores of Vonny's Fleet and took a nice assortment of bottom fish plus this 24-pound fall season yellowtail on the troll Saturday morning. PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.

La Bocana Baja Mexico Yellowtail Fishing Photo 1

BAJA PACIFIC YELLOWTAIL--Eduardo Villegas, right, of La Bocana on the Baja central Pacific coast fished just outside the boca with Capt. Domingo Aguilar, left, for excellent yellowtail action that produced 20 forkies of 18 to 35 pounds. They fished with live mackerel baits on 50-pound line. PHOTO COURTESY OF EDUARDO VILLEGAS.

Bahia Asuncion Mexico Surf Fishing Photo 1

ASUNCION BEACH FISHING--Capt. Juan Arce, left, of Arce Bros. Sportfishing and Ray Turner of British Columbia with a corvina or croaker species called "boca dulce" caught during an evening beach fishing session at Bahia Asuncion on Baja's central Pacific coast that also produced halibut and another fish locally called "barbita." PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARI BONDY.

Bahia Asuncion Mexico Dia de Revolucion Photo 1

MEXICO REVOLUTIONARIES--A bandolero and his assistants help the town of Bahia Asuncion celebrate Dia de Revolución on Nov. 20th. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARI BONDY.

Puerto Lopez Mateos Mexico Waterfront Photo 1

BAJA CALIFORNIAN HOME--Jeff Petersen of Lopez Sportsman's Lodge at Magdalena Bay shows the lodge's construction site where a boat house and office are being built for the Baja Californian, a 32-foot twin hulled charter boat that will fish both inshore and offshore. This site is just a few yards from the new launch ramp at Puerto Lopez Mateos. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF PETERSEN.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico Fly Fishing Photo 1 Cabo San Lucas Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1

CABO ON THE FLY--Bill Lynd fished the Cabo San Lucas Pacific side beaches 3 days last week for catches of skipjack, bonito, roosterfish, yellowfin tuna, and these fall season sierra with Capt. Ramon Druck aboard the charter panga Cheer's. At right, Catherine Lorsa with a local Cabo San Lucas dorado aboard the Cheer's. PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAMON DRUCK.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico Marlin Fishing Photo 1

FATHER-DAUGHTER MARLIN--Michelle White and her dad Chuck White with a striped marlin released during a mid-November family outing aboard the Cabo San Lucas charter boat Cabo Magic. PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI GARCIA.

La Paz Mexico Wahoo Fishing Photo 2

TORTUGA WAHOO--Chris Talley and Cristina Larrosa of El Segundo, Calif., fished aboard a Tortuga Sportfishing panga south of La Paz last week for a great mixed catch of tuna, dorado, and this wahoo landed with Tortuga's Capt. Rigo Lucero. PHOTO COURTESY OF GERARDO HERNANDEZ.

La Paz Mexico Wahoo Fishing Photo 1

LA VENTANA VILLAGE--Ken Thomas and his brother Greg Thomas fished out of La Ventana village south of La Paz with local panguero Capt. Yo Yo for good action on yellowfin tuna averaging about 25 pounds and 2 of these wahoo landed out of 3 hookups at the north end of Isla Cerralvo. PHOTO COURTESY OF KEN THOMAS.

La Paz Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1

LA PAZ GOLDIES--Ella Bodle and her family fished on pangas several days out of La Paz with Tailhunter International for good action on yellowfin tuna and these late-season dorado. Tailhunter's Capt. Jacobo helps Ella show off her Cortez goldie. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

Rocky Point Mexico Fishing Photo 1

ROCKY BOTTOM ACTION--Mike Auditore, center, ran his boat Gato Blanco out of Rocky Point for a great mixed catch of halibut, red snapper, yellowtail, white seabass, and this 100-pound class black sea bass with trip partners Lloyd Robinette, left, and Paul Robinette. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE AUDITORE.

Rocky Point Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1 Rocky Point Mexico Fish Barrel Photo 1

WAY NORTH DODO--Shawn Gustafson's trip to the 51-mile reef south of Rocky Point at the extreme north end of the Sea of Cortez produced yellowtail, cabrilla, red snapper, halibut, and this November dorado in 74-degree water. At right, that's not a 5-gallon fish bucket, but a 50-gallon drum holding part of Shawn Gustafson's catch out of Rocky Point aboard his boat Murphy Girl. Gustafson's mid-November fish count at the north end of the Sea of Cortez included these red snapper and yellowtail plus leopard grouper, halibut to 35 pounds, and a surprise peanut dorado. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAWN GUSTAFSON.

Rocky Point Mexico Fishing Photo 3

ROCKY REEF ACTION--Art Pina of Tucson, Ariz., made 2 offshore reef fishing runs out of Rocky Point, aboard his boat Big Daddy and aboard Shawn Gustafson's boat Murphy Girl, for good action on these yellowtail and red snapper plus cabrilla, halibut, squid, whitefish, and a late-season dorado. PHOTO COURTESY OF ART PINA.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Giant Tuna Fishing Photo 1

PUERTO VALLARTA 330--Stan Sato, center, celebrates his 330-pound Puerto Vallarta yellowfin tuna, landed Oct. 31, 2007, at Roca Corbeteña aboard the charter boat Marla with Capt. Danny Osuna. With Sato are trip partners Jim and Mike Markus. Sato's brother Shawn took the picture. PHOTO COURTESY OF STAN SATO.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Sailfish Photo 1

PUERTO VALLARTA SAILFISH--Stan Gabruk of Master Baiter's Sportfishing & Tackle at Puerto Vallarta reported this first-ever sailfish released by angler Tyler Brielmayer, left, aboard the charter boat Terminal Blues at Roca Corbeteña. The day's catch also included a black marlin and 3 dorado. At right is Terminal Blues first mate Marcos. PHOTO COURTESY OF STAN GABRUK.

Zihuatanejo Mexico Sailfish Photo 1

CAPTAIN'S REWARD--Zihuatanejo sportfishing Capt. Luis Maciel of the charter panga Gringo Loco collects a thank you from angler Judi Cybulski of Oklahoma who scored her first-ever billfish, which unfortunately couldn't be revived for release during a recent outing. Cybulski's husband Jeff also got a sailfish that was released. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAUL PHILLIPS.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES