ENSENADA, MEXICO: Emerald Argonza of Matador Sportfishing at Ensenada said the charter boat Matador was on the water again after major renovations and a trip to north Isla Todos Santos produced a catch of 9 bonito, 16 barracuda, 2 yellowtail to 15 pounds, and 5 Humboldt giant squid with angler Marlo Liban of Tuguegarao City, Philippines, and his group. "Most fish were caught on jigs and also by trolling when the school moved," Argonza said. "Lots of fish were lost due to a the inexperience of the group but they still managed to fill their sacks. My kudos to Marlo's group for the team effort. The action was great until 11:30 a.m. when the guys decided to call it a day." Local Ensenada fishing conditions were cloudy and calm, with very little wind.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet reported another week of very good local Ensenada fishing for his beach-launched pangas at the tip of Punta Banda. "This week was excellent," Villarino said, as all pangas turned in mixed species Mexican sportfishing limits for bottom fish, lingcod, red rockcods, bonita, and steady yellowtail of 18 to 24 pounds. On Thursday, Art Fernandez of Eagle Spring, Calif., limited out and also hooked 2 yellowtail with Capt. Hector on the charter panga Vonny IV. Other anglers scoring limits and yellowtail with Capt. Hector and Capts. Vicente and Beto included Rick Eggleston and Anne White of Denver, Colo., Joe and Roger Smith of Rosarito, Baja California, and Ensenada local Brian Foley, who usually prefers fishing for calico bass. "Beto put him and his swim bait on top of a yellowtail boil, and Brian couldn't resist," Villarino said. "He got 4 yellowtail, all 20 to 24 pounds." Ensenada fishing area weather in the high-60s, with morning clouds, sunny afternoons, light winds, ocean swells at 3 feet, and water temperatures at Punta Banda averaging 60 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the sportfishing boat Bad Dog out of Ensenada's Marina Coral reported on a long fishing day from 4 a.m. to midnight that included trolling Rapala X-14 Magnum 30s for 4 bonito in 65.3-degree water at Isla Todos Santos, a 3-pound calico bass and a 2.75-pound sandbass trolled up outside the marina, and a long troll around the 238 spot 35 miles off Ensenada for no albacore, but a quadruple hookup on bonita in 69-degree water. Ross reported other Ensenada boats finding some albacore at various offshore locations. "I understand that albacore showed up on the 302 with a few boats catching a dozen each," Ross said. "A few were caught at the Upper 500, the 425, and the Hidden Bank as well."

During his long offshore troll, Ross said, "We spent the day and into the night trolling for albacore with 7-Strand tuna clone feathers in color carrot top. The albacore seemed to bite early with no twilight bite for us." Ross also noted that he is no longer contributing a weekly sportfishing column to the publication, Baja News.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross also commented on his recent report of Humboldt giant squid crowding game fish out of northern Pacific Baja waters, saying, "It is believed that the Humboldts have taken up residency permanently in the Ensenada area and have begun spawning. In a conversation with Ensenada commercial fisherman "Kiki's Panga" it has been learned that his business of catching blackgill, black cod, and thornyheads has come to an end. This termination began about a year ago when his set-line at 3,000 feet deep would bring up a mixed bag of Humboldt squid as a bycatch. As time moved on, the number of squid on the line increased until at this time, he believes that all the blackgill, black cod and thornyheads have been devoured by this voracious predator. Recently, my boat Bad Dog has only caught Humboldt squid on numerous drops in previously fertile 2,000, 1,500, 800, 700, and 600-foot locations where rockfish were previously caught. Fathometer trackings show squid hovering over spires as opposed to their normal cruising depths. On Saturday night at twilight 6 miles north of the 295-fathom spot, I metered 4 miles of Humboldt squids cruising at a steady depth of 150 feet. These predators will take out any fish population they can throw a tentacle around."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Marita Melville of Don Eddie's Landing at San Quintin said, "The yellowtail have arrived." Don Eddie's Landing Capt. Juan Cook fished 4 days with Denis Mantei, Stephen Mantei, and Gordon Janz of Canada for 18 yellowtail to 20 pounds plus steady Mexican limits of mixed bottom fish in calm seas and water temperatures averaging 61 degrees. "They were fishing at San Martin Island all 4 days," Melville said. "Each day they brought in limits and yellowtail. They were fishing by the squid beds. They hooked a lot of yellowtail and ended up landing about half of them. There were schools of yellowtail feeding on krill. It looks like a great week for fishing here in San Quintin." Fishing at the island also produced 3 halibut to 26 pounds.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas at San Quintin reported more boats fishing during the week, in good weather and calm seas, for a mix of halibut, yellowtail, very good general bottom fishing, and 2 white seabass of 25 and 30 pounds caught during a run south to Socorro by Capt. Hector. "We did have a few boats out this week," Hillis said. "There are lots of fish and we look forward to providing some great trips. Hector fishing on the Rommy found legal halibut and there is still yellowtail of 15 to 20 pounds at Isla San Martin."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Kelly Catian of San Quintin's K&M Offshore Sportfishing said he found good numbers of yellowtail at Isla San Martin, plus calico bass and halibut. "There are lots of yellowtail at San Martin, Catian said. "Most fish were caught on iron, plus some troll fish on small Rapalas, or on bait. The halibut are on the chew, as well as calicos and sandbass." Anglers fishing with K&M during the week included Chris Pierce, Austin McKeever, Dave Wilkerson, Jim Kasiah, Dan Rosales, Sid Ochoa, and Eddie Chagolla.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported Magdalena Bay fishing area weather in the low-100s, with clear skies, light winds, and water temperatures at 60 to 66 degrees. Fishing out of Mag Bay Outfitters at Puerto Lopez Mateos included Tom Anderson's group with halibut inside the bay and open Pacific action for 1 dorado, some grouper, and Mexico fishing limits of yellowfin tuna.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: For the previous week ending June 19, 2008, Graham said Bob Hoyt of Mag Bay Outfitters found a good tuna bite at the Puerto Lopez Mateos boca and southwards toward Cabo San Lazaro. Some marlin were also seen. The new boat landing at Puerto Lopez Mateos produced Mexico fishing limits of corvina for locals fishing from the recently completed dock.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the week ending June 25, 2008, Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet Sportfishing reported 54 percent of Cabo San Lucas charters releasing striped marlin, 21 percent landing dorado, just 9 percent with yellowfin tuna, and 69 percent with all game fish species combined. During the week a total of 84 striped marlin were landed, almost all being released, and 1 sailfish was also released. "We need to have higher sea temperatures for the fishing to improve at Cabo," Ehrenberg said. "Added to this was the full moon and a lack of live bait.

However, looking back to last year for this same time period, we see an exact repeat of these fishing conditions at Cabo San Lucas." Pisces boats fished a wide area from the San Jaime Bank on the Pacific side, around the cape, and up to San Jose del Cabo. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was sunny, with wind and chop on the Pacific side, water temperatures averaging 70 degrees, and live bait scarce.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 29 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo, Fish Cabo I, and Tuna Time, with a catch including released fish of: 12 striped marlin, all released, 3 dorado, 2 roosterfish, and 33 yellowfin tuna. The top boat during the week was the Fish Cabo with a 6-release day. "The overall fish catching at Cabo San Lucas has been fairly slow up to this point, but the change of the moon phase may have been of some help," Edwards said. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was clear in the high-90s, with water temperatures of 75 to 79 degrees from Cabo Falso around to the Cortez side at the Cabrillo Seamount. The best action was found on live bait south of the Hotel Finisterra on the Pacific side. Live bait supplies were variable.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 9 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 2 striped marlin, and 2 dorado of 30 pounds. "The boats saw a number of striped marlin, but none would hit the lures or go after live bait," Dillon said.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported Cabo San Lucas sportfishing area weather sunny in the mid-80s, with some afternoon winds, and water temperatures going back-and-forth from the Pacific to Cortez sides with a wide range of about 61 degrees to 77 degrees. "That is what the water temperatures have been doing as the California Current brings cold water and then weakens and the Sea of Cortez warm water pushes our way," Landrum said. Cabo San Lucas marlin fishing was up-and-down with varying water temperatures but generally slow. "At the end of the week you were lucky at Cabo to get a chance to throw bait," Landrum said. Inshore pangas caught sierra to 8 pounds, yellowtail to 10 pounds, and some scattered bonito, amberjack, and jack crevalle.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 88 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing out of San Jose del Cabo's Puerto Los Cabos marina, with a catch including released fish of: 225 huachinango or true red snapper, 146 roosterfish released, 5 yellowfin tuna, 9 dorado, 6 striped marlin, 8 yellowtail, 23 amberjack, 15 pompano, 14 dog snapper, 33 yellow snapper, and 52 sierra. Good action for red snapper, or huachinango in Spanish, was found by La Playita pangas at the Inner Gordo Bank. "The huachinango were aggressive," Brictson said. "Mexico fishing limits were the rule and sizes ranged from 7 to 15 pounds." Inshore, roosterfish action was good for fish mostly of 5 to 10 pounds. "At least a couple of 50-pound class roosterfish were also released by angler Pat Walsh of Venice, Calif., while fishing with Capt. Tony Miranda on the super panga Hooker," Brictson said. "Offshore, fleets from East Cape reported better fishing for dorado and yellowfin tuna in cleaner and warmer water not as stirred up by southern currents as the fishing areas off Los Cabos." San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was breezy from the south, with dirty, greenish water widespread offshore, and water temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees, with the warmest water found northeast up the Baja coast at Los Frailes.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: John Migeot of Mission Viejo, Calif., reported on 2 panga runs out of Punta Palmilla with Capt. Ramon of Francisco's Fleet for a catch in very cold-feeling water temperatures with trip partner Danny Verrier of 10 roosterfish of 5 to 10 pounds, 1 jack crevalle, 1 amberjack of 30 pounds, 10 bonita, and 3 sierra. "The water was so cold at Chileno Bay that we could only snorkel for about 5 minutes," Migeot said. "When we got out, all the snorkelers from the excursion boats were standing on the beach wishing for warmer water. I've been going there for more than 20 years and have never seen the water that cold. Baja is always an adventure and this was another great one."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported very good inshore fishing for smaller roosterfish as windy conditions subsided during the week. "Inshore fishing was as good as it gets," Graham said, "also for jacks, pargo, and a few cabrilla." Spotty East Cape offshore fishing improved at midweek as yellowfin tuna schools were located off the Punta Arena lighthouse and dorado were hooked and lost on the fly just a few hundred yards off Punta Colorada. East Cape beach fishing produced mixed small roosterfish, jack crevalle, pompano, and a few ladyfish. "I was on the beach fishing early Thursday morning at Rincon and hung a nice jack in the high-teens on my third cast," Graham said. "The roosterfish nearby continued to feed while I landed him! It was one of the best weeks of fishing at East Cape this year." East Cape fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the low-100s, with water temperatures of 73 to 87 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the week ending June 20, 2008, Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts reported on 320 East Cape sportfishing boats from Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, and Punta Colorada, with a catch including released fish of: 380 yellowfin tuna, 160 roosterfish, 2 blue marlin, 84 striped marlin, 23 sailfish, 225 dorado, 1 wahoo, 39 cabrilla, 56 pargo, 14 triggerfish, 29 bonita, 15 pompano, 20 skipjack, 4 sierra, and 2 mako shark. East Cape fishing area weather was at 90 degrees, with water temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees. "The tuna finally made it up to the East Cape sportfishing area and we saw the numbers shoot right up," Dalmau said. "Almost 400 tuna were landed this week, with a few over 100 pounds."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the week ending June 19, 2008, Ana Lizeth Velazquez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on 79 boats, with 295 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 28 striped marlin, 70 dorado, 89 yellowfin tuna, 1 wahoo, 255 roosterfish, 3 snappers, 7 jack crevalle, 2 amberjack, 1 bonito, 3 yellowtail, 1 pompano, 14 triggerfish, 2 cabrilla, and 7 sierra. East Cape fishing area weather was in the mid-90s, with water temperatures at 75 to 85 degrees. "Offshore fishing was not as great as last week," Velazquez said. "Our fleet was going everywhere trying to locate the best water. Inshore fishing continues to show great numbers and great quality fish from in front of the hotel all the way to the Pulmo reef."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the week ending June 20, 2008, John Ireland of Rancho Leonero reported unseasonably cool weather in the East Cape fishing area, with highs in the mid-80s, but with rapidly warming water temperatures of 76 to 83 degrees. Hotel boats began finding yellowfin tuna including some fish of 30 to 40 pounds, swimming with porpoise about 15 to 20 miles off Cabo Pulmo. Dorado counts were down. Striped marlin moved further outside and were found 15 to 20 miles straight out from the hotel. Inshore fishing produced lots of 10 to 20-pound roosterfish plus pompano around the lighthouse.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Simon Cazaly of East Cape's Vista Sea Sport diving service said water temperatures on the Cabo Pulmo coral reef warmed to about 70 degrees, with visibility variable at 20 to 30 feet and good quantities of leopard grouper, golden phase leopard grouper, yellow snapper, and burrito grunt observed at the dive spot known as El Bajo. "At El Cantil I was also astonished at the numbers of Panamic green morays," Cazaly said. "They were literally everywhere, sometimes as many as 6 all swimming freely around each other. And massive numbers of bigeye jacks have been darkening the waters above both dive sites." At the Las Casitas dive site, many diamond stingrays were resting on the bottom, accompanied by batrays, bull's-eye rays, and Cortez stingrays. "Las Casitas means little houses, so called because of the large boulders with easily accessible caverns that contain some beautiful sea fans and soft corals," Cazaly said. "Graybar grunts school around these boulders and today we saw several sierra mackerel as well as bumphead parrotfish and numerous other colorful reef fish."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mike Nelson of Puyallup, Wash., reported on half-a-day of fishing out of Los Barriles by his group with Capt. Jorge on the Hotel Palmas de Cortez charter boat Tio Tico, trolling plugs in a light chop about 18 miles south of the Punta Arena lighthouse for a catch of: 1 dorado of 25 pounds, and later, 3 roosterfish of 8 to 10 pounds caught inshore. "We also came upon a whale," Nelson said. "It breached a few times and then disappeared. About 30 minutes later we saw 2 separate schools of dolphins and then 2 dorado fining on top of the water. Our deckhand came down and chummed the dorado and we hooked one within seconds. The crew rarely sat still. Things were slow but the crew kept trying different stuff, color of plug, fresh bait, etc."

"We stayed at a casa on the beach just south of the Las Palmas Hotel," Nelson added. "We booked our trip at the hotel. If this guy ever loses his job at the hotel he would do well selling used cars! Bait was a bit of an issue as the bait boats were having a difficult time netting the bait. We finished the trip fishing for roosters south of the lighthouse." Also fishing in Nelson's group were Bridget Irwin of Puyallup, and Dennis and Julie Ireland of Bend, Ore.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Rob Hixson of La Jolla, Calif., reported slow fishing during his annual fathers-and-sons group trip to East Cape, with 18 anglers fishing 3 days aboard 4 boats for a catch of: 3 marlin released, 4 dorado, 7 small tuna, and 1 amberjack, plus good action on 37 roosterfish released inshore. "The only highlight was rooster fishing if you could get sardinas and a small boat," Hixson said. "The Mexican government needs to stop the seiners and long liners from killing off this important fish tourism area. The tuna area was about 30 miles out and south. The boats that went north got nothing. All the tuna were only about 10 pounders." Fishing aboard the boats Rampage, Pure Magic, and 2 hotel cruisers from Rancho Buena Vista were: Paul and Jackson Dougherty, Larry and Larry Andrews, Mac and Carver Hanger, Denis and Eric Tarakjian, Jonathan and Jake Scheff, Len and Trent Lauer, Cory and Duncan Brown, Chris and Alex Foster, and Rob and James Hixson. The trip's top count was for 32 roosterfish released by Larry Andrews and Larry Andrews Jr. aboard the boat Christina.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Migeot of Mission Viejo, Calif., reported on the East Cape segment of his Baja Sur trip with Danny Verrier, fishing with live bait and Rapalas 2 days on pangas out of Hotel Punta Colorada for a catch including released fish of: 1 marlin, 2 dorado of 40 and 45 pounds, 1 sierra, 1 yellowfin tuna of 20 pounds, and "all the rooster we wanted, right in front of La Ribera." "The water was cool and it mostly windy," Migeot said. "It looks like it could break wide-open any day now."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Werner Hradecky of San Diego, Calif., reported on fishing aboard his boat Bad Company with anglers Mark, Denny, and Mike Redman for a catch about 1.5 miles off Punta Arena in flat 80-degree water of: 1 dorado of about 35 pounds, 1 marlin lost, 1 jack crevalle, and about 10 small roosterfish of 4 to 7 pounds caught near the lighthouse. "Lots of fun on light tackle," Hradecky said. "It was quite a slow week with the full moon. The tuna were running offshore but you had to go 31 miles and they were pretty small, mostly 12 to 15 pounders." Mike Redman, added, "In addition, many sea turtles were sighted, including pairs mating."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Marisol Verdugo of Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort said the week's fishing results included a blue marlin weighed on a certified scale at 375 pounds landed by Dave Palacios and his son fishing aboard the resort cruiser Ronny. "A really nice fish!" Verdugo said. "Tuna have also been biting since Thursday and we have nice dorados."

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos reported Santa Rosalia fishing area weather at 90 degrees, with relative humidity at about 50 percent, southeast winds to about 17 knots, water temperatures at 71 to 73 degrees with green color inshore and 75 to 78 degrees with better color offshore, and generally slow fishing. "I'm not sure if the fishing is going to be good this season," Kanzler said. "It's not one of the best to remember. I didn't see any paddies on my offshore run and I covered about 20 miles. Nada." Yellowtail counts ranged from zero to a couple of fish. "Dorado and billfish are here and there, but cooler water has given them lockjaw," Kanzler said. Boats fishing in the Punta Chivato dorado tournament found 3 fish over 30 pounds, but mostly a few scattered pockets of 8 to 10 pounders. General sea life, bird, and bait fish concentrations were good during a run to Isla San Marcos with Jeff Vogel of Punta Chivato and Las Vegas, Nev., and his fishing partner Bruce. "Only one thing was missing, and that would be the fish," Kanzler said. "Nothing was happening at any of the bajo spots, and there were no commercial panga fishermen either. One fish was caught by Jeff on a heavy iron cast into a boil. It was the only action we saw for the day."

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Bryan Replogle of San Carlos-Guaymas reported on 3 outings, with very slow action the first 2 days, but a good count about 6 miles short of Isla Tortuga on the third day for a catch including released fish of: 4 dorado of 20 to 30 pounds, 1 dorado lost, 1 sailfish, and 1 marlin. "The second trip on a friend's boat saw the slowest day that I can remember with only one bite," Replogle said. "But it is looking like the bite is improving again. There is still lots of bait in the water."

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Larry Gibbons of Tucson, Ariz., reported on 5 outings during the week by the San Carlos boat No Le Hace with Capt. Juan Tirado for steady dorado action and a catch including released fish of: 1 dorado caught south of Isla Tortuga, lots of dorado of 15 to 35 pounds on weed lines between Isla Tortuga and Isla San Marcos, 6 more dorado between the islands, and 3 dorado to 40 pounds caught south of Isla San Pedro Nolasco. Also fishing aboard the No Le Hace were Ed Taczanowsky and Edward Taczanowsky.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 19 Aries Fleet offshore charter boats out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 73 dorado of 12 to 20 pounds. Five inshore super pangas had a catch of: 16 dorado, 14 pargo, 55 mojarra, and 12 triggerfish. "It was another week of difficult fishing for Mazatlan," Edwards said. "For the first time since I've been reporting for the Mazatlan fishing area, no billfish were reported. The dorado are currently the focus for the offshore boats. The inshore super pangas have ventured off shore and have managed a few dorado for their anglers in addition to the regular inshore bottom fish." Mazatlan fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the low-90s, with calm seas and stable water temperatures at 84 degrees.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Tadeo Hernandez of Flota Bibi Fleet reported on an outing by the charter boat Mahi Dreamer with Capt. Tony and anglers Daniel Moreno and Emiliano Peña and their fathers for a catch along the coast about 10 miles north of: 38 triggerfish and 1 sierra mackerel.

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 fishing was slowed by the full moon, even though overall conditions were good with clear blue water just a mile off the beach. "The Ixtapa Zihuatanejo sportfishing fleet is averaging about 1 sailfish per boat," Kunze said. "This will definitely pick up in the coming week." Fewer blue marlin were brought to the Zihuatanejo dock and no yellowfin tuna were reported. Roosterfish action inshore continued good as local boats scored 6 to 8 roosterfish per day plus lots of black skipjack, and a few sierra and jack crevalle.

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