Cabo San Lucas fishing action on Pacific banks goes marlin happy

Mexico Fishing News, November 17, 2008

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: The fall striped marlin bite on Baja's Pacific side Cabo San Lucas banks turned in billfish counts limited mainly by client arm strength last week as double digits became common.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Durance Lowendick of Marlin Masters Sportfishing reported "red hot" striped marlin action at Cabo's Pacific-side Golden Gate Bank, with some 8-hour outings by the charter boats Marlin Master I and Marlin Master II producing more than 14 releases plus dorado and yellowfin tuna. "On multiple trips this week, I have released over 14 striped marlin plus dorado and tuna caught on the ride to and from the Golden Gate," Lowendick said. "It's hard to top this fishing action, but the Finger Bank is even hotter with 30 to 35 releases per day. We think this action will continue into next week and beyond."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Grant Hartman of the Baja Anglers fly fishing service at Cabo San Lucas commented on the excellent fall run for Pacific side striped marlin: "Chances are that if you fish for marlin the rest of your life, you will never see it this good again," Hartman said. "Most years, we work hard to get 2 to 3 shots a day. This year the teasers aren't in the water 5 minutes and you have another marlin up. Out on the banks, it's a real National Geographic scenario with marlin jumping all around the boat and herding the bait fish under the boat. The visual fishery is extraordinary."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic Sportfishing at Cabo San Lucas reported on 87 boats, with a catch including released fish of: 253 striped marlin, 3 sailfish, 5 yellowfin tuna, 146 dorado, and 12 wahoo, plus assorted pargos, needlefish, roosterfish, and sierra.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 14 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 58 striped marlin, 6 yellowfin tuna, and 25 dorado of 20 to 25 pounds. Top outings for the week included a new El Budster fleet one-day record of 12 striped marlin releases for the charter boat El Budster, fishing on Oct. 10, 2008, with angler Greg Malik and his group.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported consistent, very good striped marlin action during the week on the Pacific-side Golden Gate Bank as 109 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo, Fish Cabo I, and Tuna Time, produced a catch including released fish of: 296 striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 137 dorado, 13 yellowfin tuna, 5 huachinango, 1 wahoo, and 9 Humboldt giant squid.

"What an incredible Cabo San Lucas fishing period this has been for striped marlin," Edwards said. "The annual migration is unquestionably in full swing. Not even the full moon had much effect. The stripers just went right on biting. This fishing is likely to continue at Cabo San Lucas right through December."

The top boat for the fleet was the Gaviota VIII with Capt. Juan Dominguez and 42 striped marlin scored in 9 outings.

Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was mostly calm on both sides of the arch, with water temperatures at 79 to 81 degrees, as boats cast or drifted mackerel live baits for multiple hookups. Live bait for sale continued plentiful at the downtown Cabo San Lucas marina, and mackerel were also easily caught on the Pacific banks.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Ramon Druck of the local Cabo San Lucas charter sportfishing super panga Cheer's reported on 6 outings during the week, for a catch including released fish of: 2 striped marlin, 2 marlin hooked and lost, 2 wahoo of 15 to 19 pounds, 29 dorado of 6 to 25 pounds, and 5 roosterfish of 8 to 10 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Rick Cooper of Upland, Calif., reported on 4 outings with "Marlin Brando Charters" at Cabo San Lucas for a catch including released fish on the Pacific side of: 12 marlin, and 18 dorado. "The fish were caught drifting with a sinker dropped to 60 feet down," Cooper said.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the week ending Nov. 9, 2008, George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing at Cabo San Lucas reported some wind and moderately rough seas on the Pacific side, but seas moderating to about 3 to 5 feet later in the week, and at 1 to 3 feet on the Cortez side, with water temperatures at about 81 to 82 degrees. "Striped marlin remained stacked up like cord wood on the Golden Gate Bank," Landrum said. "Many top boats released 15 to 25 fish, stopping only because their anglers were worn out. Average boats still managed double digits. Dropping live mackerel down to just above bait balls, mostly at 180 feet, caught most of the fish. The better boats used circle hooks." Cabo San Lucas fishing boats also caught some sailfish and a few blue marlin."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the week ending Nov. 7, 2008, Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet Sportfishing at Cabo San Lucas reported a fleet record of 620 striped marlin landed, of which 615 were released. The Pisces Fleet charter boat Bottom Line also took the largest purse of $271,346 with yellowfin tuna of 143.6 and 101.6 pounds during the Western Outdoor News Tuna Jackpot Tournament. The top fish in the tournament was a 244-pound tuna, which won $70,380 for the boat Reel Rum.

Pisces boats scoring striped marlin releases of 14 to 23 per day included La Brisa, Cabolero, Adriana, C Rod, and Bill Collector.

Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was mostly sunny, with 2 days of choppy seas and water temperatures to 83 degrees, as most boats fished from the lighthouse outwards and northwards to the Jaime and Golden Gate Banks.

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 2 days of windy weather in the local Ensenada fishing area, but panga fishing stayed good for calico bass of 3 to 4 pounds plus Mexico sportfishing limits of red rockcod, lingcod, and Johnny bass. "Back in good weather, Capt. Beto fished with Brian Foley on the rock outcroppings for calico bass and they also fished shallow with anchovy bait on dropper loops," Villarino said. Ensenada fishing area weather at midweek was calm and sunny in the low-70s, with ocean swells at 2 feet and the water temperature at Punta Banda averaging 59 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the Ensenada boat Bad Dog at Marina Coral reported on an offshore run to the area around the 213 spot for a catch in water temperatures of about 65.4 degrees of: 8 albacore, 5 skipjack tuna, 1 bigeye tuna of 43 pounds, 1 dorado, and 1 blue shark. Also fishing aboard the Bad Dog around numbers provided by Bob Vanian were Mike Kraus and Capt. Juan Lu.

"We arrived in the dark in flat seas and calm winds and began trolling midnight colored 7 Strand Pro Series lures," Ross said. "We got our first albacore at 0630. At 0815, Juan Lu hooked an albacore off a kelp paddy with a live mackerel at 31.41 117.54 and more single albacore jig strikes continued while fishing next to the sportfishing boat Sea Adventure 80.

"At 1150 a 7 Strand Green Machine snagged a nice 10-pound dorado for Mike Kraus.

"Alone in windswept whitecaps at 31.35 117.52 the daisy chain went off to provide me as angler a tough 43-pound 11-ounce bigeye tuna.

"I boxed in the area, but to no avail, and we headed back to Marina Coral in dense fog with all eyes glued to the radar."

ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS

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ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Gary Myers of Ramona, Calif., reported on a Baja fishing trip with his new wife Yulia to Castro's Camp south of Ensenada for a catch about 200 feet deep of lingcod, red rockcod, Johnny bass, 3 sheephead, and assorted mixed rockfishes. "One of the boats that went out to fish the deeper reefs did excellent, catching large bocaccio, reds, lings and even some smaller cow cod," Myers said.

Myers noted Baja road conditions during the drive south from the border: "The Mexican Army was very visible. We went through checkpoints on the outside of Tijuana and were inspected at the toll booths. We were searched coming home by the army and our cargo was inspected for drugs."

Baja coastal fishing weather was cool, but with mild afternoons.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Marita Melville of Don Eddie's Landing reported very few anglers at San Quintin during the week, but lots of yellowfin tuna still present. "The fish have been happy, since there are not many anglers out to catch them," Melville said.

Two groups fished out of Bahia de San Quintin aboard their own boats for Mexico fishing limits of yellowfin tuna to 24 pounds caught about 14 to 15 miles off the point in water at about 66 degrees.

"It was the first time fishing at San Quintin for both groups," Melville said. "Ben Alexander brought his boat Natalie Ann. "They had driven through San Quintin many times on their way to other towns. They wanted tuna and that's exactly what they caught. They were trolling with live bait and with green-and-black feathers." Also fishing in Alexander's group were Mark Kamei and Rick Boucher.

Katy and Norm Woodruff also brought their boat, Tin Man, and fished with San Quintin's Capt. Juan Cook for tuna limits, plus dorado, sheephead, and rockcods. "Kathy said that Capt. Juan is a great guide and really put them on the fish," Melville said.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas said, "We still have plenty of yellowfin tuna with a few albacore mixed in 12 to 15 miles off the point, but there have been only a few anglers in San Quintin."

Yellowtail were also biting actively at the 6 and 240 spots, and 2 white seabass of about 35 pounds were caught by boats fishing south at Socorro. "We are sending boats a littler further south this week to see what is brought in," Hillis said. "We hope this is the first of some great white seabass action."

San Quintin fishing area weather was cooler but free of winds, with morning fogs burning off by about 8:30 a.m.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: John Migeot of Mission Viejo, Calif., reported Mexico sportfishing limits of yellowfin tuna from football size to over 30 pounds caught on Halloween during a run out of Don Eddie's Landing with Capt. Juan Cook and trip partners Danny Verrier and David Cook.

"Most of the other boats caught 5 or 6 tuna," Migeot said. "I think we were the only boat to limit that day. Juan Cook definitely knows his stuff. The tuna are thinning out and we had to work very hard for our fish.

"Almost all of our fish were caught on the troll with X-Rap deep divers, mostly in the blue and silver medium size.

"The fish were located southwest of the point, maybe 5 miles past the 240 spot. We topped off the day with a fabulous meal at Jardines Restaurant."

Offshore San Quintin fishing area water temperatures averaged 69 degrees.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Les Heil of Baja Bocana Bed & Breakfast reported several days of windy weather off the Baja coast at La Bocana, but an offshore trip producing a catch of 22 yellowfin tuna and 2 wahoo of 30 and 90 pounds. Yellowtail were also very abundant near shore. "Yellowtail can be had to 100 fish a day, but nobody is fishing for them except the local pangueros," Heil said. "All the Americans want is the wahoo, and they are getting them, including the Royal Polaris from San Diego that fished here the other day."

Heil also noted a special rate now available at Baja Bocana Bed & Breakfast. "If you stay 6 days, you get the 7th day for free," he said. Information, Bajablancales.googlepages.com.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported active marlin plus dorado and some wahoo caught by Magdalena Bay boats fishing out of Boca de Soledad at Puerto Lopez Mateos. "Grumpy seas prevented most Magdalena Bay fishing boats from getting out early in the week," Graham said. "But when the seas subsided the marlin party cranked right back up." Fishing inside the Magdalena Bay mangrove channels was only fair, but with several roosterfish reported caught by fly tackle anglers fishing at Boca Santo Domingo. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 78 to 79 degrees.

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 148 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing out of San Jose del Cabo's Puerto Los Cabos marina, with a catch including released fish of: 405 dorado, 312 yellowfin tuna, 12 rainbow runner, 8 wahoo, , 7 striped marlin, 1 black marlin, 3 sailfish, 75 bonito, 9 amberjack, 11 cabrilla, 64 red snapper, and 58 triggerfish.

Los Cabos fishing area weather was seasonably cooler, but with water temperatures warmer than normal at about 80 to 82 degrees.

Sardina bait fish were scarce off San Jose del Cabo as bait pangas searched around the Puerto Los Cabos marina. "Charter fishing boats have had to endure waits of up to an hour to buy live sardinas," Brictson said. "Then they backtracked towards the Iman Bank where the yellowfin tuna were biting well on the live bait early in the morning. But it took quite a bit of chum to get them up on the surface, and once the bait supply ended, the tuna disappeared." Trolling lures off San Jose del Cabo produced scattered action for dorado or a rare wahoo.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: San Jose del Cabo species fishing specialist John Snow reported on 3 surf fishing sessions and 4 outings on the panga Salome for a count of 119 fish caught of 55 species including 6 new species, the peacock razorfish, glasseye snapper, scissortail chromis, black-axillary mojarra, darkspot mojarra, and white remora. "The trip was weak from a sportfishing perspective but the species count was incredibly large," Snow said.

Beach species observations while fishing at San Jose del Cabo or visiting Mexican pangueros at Todos Santos included: spotted sand bass, Pacific mole crab, sally lightfoot crab, star studded grouper, black-axillary mojarra, dark spot mojarra, white remora, red scorpionfish, red snapper, bullet tuna , rough swim crab, longfin croaker, yellowfin croaker, mojarra grunt, yellowstripe grunt, giant hawkfish, Mexican hogfish, sergeant major, Mexican night sergeant, gafftopsail pompano, spotfin pufferfish, yellowside triggerfish, banded wrasse , and sunset wrasse.

Panga species observations included: balloonfish, Mexican barracuda, flag cabrilla, scissortail chromis, Pacific creolefish, dorado, Panamic graysby, giant hawkfish, green jack, jack mackerel, Pacific moonfish, flat needlefish, Pacific needlefish, greater sand perch, African pompano, longnose pufferfish, peacock razorfish, longfin salema, bigeye scad, Peruvian scorpionfish, barred serrano, blue and gold snapper, mullet snapper, goldeneye tilefish, ocean tilefish, finescale triggerfish, orangeside triggerfish, black skipjack tuna, and yellowfin tuna.

Snow also noted an unusual encounter with an official enforcing Mexico fisheries regulations while paddling a kayak at San Jose del Cabo's Puerto Los Cabos marina:

"On November 5th, we made a traditional launch, leaving the docks at 5:50 a.m.," Snow said. "As always, while we waited for the bait guys, El Capitano hauled me around in the main channel of the marina and I went sabiki rig fishing trying to catch either new species or live bait. As the daylight arrived, I noted a guy paddling a kayak fairly close to us and it was obvious that the kayak was disproportionally small and he had no experience in paddling a kayak. After about 20 minutes the guy finally paddled over and said in perfect English, "No fishing here, have a nice day."

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported consistent winter-style north winds in the East Cape fishing area, with local charter boats finding slower action for some yellowfin tuna to over 50 pounds, scattered striped marlin and sailfish, and spotty dorado. "Some East Cape fishing boats have relocated to San Jose del Cabo or Cabo San Lucas," Graham said. "With few boats going out here, finding the fish can be difficult. If you find floating debris there are usually a few dorado under it. Last week, a floating dead whale produced a serious dorado bite."

Beach fishing in some wind and waves produced a few smaller roosterfish, jacks, and some sierra.

East Cape fishing area weather was mostly cloudy in the mid-80s, with water temperatures of 76 to 80 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the week ending Nov. 6, 2008, Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 139 charter boats from combined fleets including Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, Punta Colorada, Buena Vista Beach Resort, Rancho Leonero, and Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort, with 413 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 1 blue marlin, 11 striped marlin, 13 sailfish, 451 dorado, 66 and yellowfin tuna. East Cape fishing area weather was at 90, with north winds and water temperatures of 79 to 87 degrees. Overall fishing was slower except for an increase in dorado caught north off Punta Pescadero and Isla Cerralvo, straight off Los Barriles, and also southward off Punta Colorada and Punta Arena.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the previous week ending Oct. 30, 2008, Moyers reported on 163 boats, with 471 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 3 blue marlin, 6 striped marlin, 33 sailfish, 134 dorado, 199 yellowfin tuna, and 3 wahoo. Commenting on the unseasonably slow fishing at East Cape this fall, Moyers said, "I have been doing the fish report since 2001, and the stats indicate that we should expect a bit more from October. October is typically the greatest month of the year overall at East Cape. What that means for us right here and now is that we are in the midst of a crappy October!"

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Jorge Bergin of La Ribera noted Mexican fisheries officials at East Cape distributing brochures explaining the Conspesca sportfishing bag limits using a ten-point system for various fish species. "Our local guy gets the use of a 27-foot boat at Rancho Leonero," Bergin said. "He drives 2 federal fish cops, from La Paz, I guess, through the bay 3 days a week, checking all boats for papers, equipment, and limits. He sells fishing licenses now, right here on our beach. If we are lucky, the money will stay here for this fishery."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Hans van den Berg of Holland reported on his 13th trip to East Cape, beach fishing out of Hotel Punta Colorada with his friend Kees Broekhuizen from Oct. 12th to Oct. 31st for catches including ladyfish, sierra, jack crevalle, croaker, roosterfish, greenjack, needlefish, cubera snapper, and pargo. "The first two days we couldn´t fish because of Hurricane Norbert," Van den Berg said. "After that we had a good time fishing. Relaxing is always good in Mexico. We had a wonderful time again at Hotel Punta Colorada." Catches while fishing with U.S. friends Mark and Helen Escalle included a 106-centimeter needlefish hooked by Broekhuizen.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the week ending Nov. 11, 2008, John Ireland of East Cape's Rancho Leonero reported slower overall fishing in cooling fall weather but with unseasonably warm water temperatures of 83 to 86 degrees.

"The yellowfin tuna are still outside under the porpoise but they are very picky biters," Ireland said. "Anglers are seeing lots of jumping tuna in the 50 to 100-pound class, but they are catching very few. The billfish are very spread out, but most East Cape anglers fishing outside are releasing at least one billfish per day. There were lots of smaller dorado in the 5 to 20-pound range south off Los Frailes and also under a dead whale found about 10 miles off shore." Inshore fishing produced good action of roosterfish.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz reported plenty of north winds during the week that prevented his pangas on the Las Arenas side from running out to fishing locations such as Isla Cerralvo, and also made catching bait difficult. Pangas also missed fishing for dorado at nearby locations such as Boca del Alamo, south of Ensenada de los Muertos, due to rough seas, and were limited to smaller snapper species very close to the shelter of Punta Perico. Hernandez also noted more information about Tortuga Sportfishing available at his new website, Tortugalapaz.com.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International reported mixed bag fishing for his charter pangas, with catches including wahoo at the north end of Isla Cerralvo, scattered dorado on both the La Paz and Las Arenas sides, and inshore cabrilla, sierra, jacks, and pargos showing up in the fish boxes. "There's been a lot of variety as air temperatures have dropped down into the 80s, and it's also a bit breezy these days," Roldan said. "You can have a pick bite all day or run into a big smack and get into a frenzy. Inshore fishing is getting more promising."

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES (L.A. BAY) FISHING REPORTS

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Abraham Vazquez of Camp Gecko at the south end of Bahia de los Angeles village reported windy, cooler Sea of Cortez Midriff weather in the mid-70s, lower humidity, and water temperatures at 74 to 76 degrees. "The winds have been from the north or west," Vazquez said. "Fishing has been close to impossible." Whale sharks were still present inside the bay, and lots of birds and dolphin were present outside. The village was quiet, with few visitors. "Not much happening," Vazquez said.

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Catalina Meders of the Title Company Bookstore at San Felipe reported near-perfect fall weather in the 80s with some afternoon winds, and the monthly spectacular northern Sea of Cortez tidal range on the full moon period. The annual San Felipe Shrimp Festival had a lighter than usual turnout. "The economy is taking its toll everywhere," Meders said. "Gearing up for the Baja 1000 which will swing by San Felipe on the 20th, there are already a few prerunners showing up dressed in their strange alien-like costumes. And of course on the 17th we have the big parade for Dia de La Revolucion, always an opportunity to really understand just how many schools there are in San Felipe."

Meders also noted locals having problems with making change for the large bills dispensed by ATM machines. "Many visitors to San Felipe are wondering why the ATM machines give out such large bills," Meders said. "They told me they would buy many more items at the vending stands but knew that nobody would have the change. The bigger restaurants would be able to change these bills, but the little street vendors have to rely so much on impulse shopping and things are already so bad for them this year."

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Bryan Replogle of San Carlos reported yellowfin tuna of 25 to 70 pounds present offshore plus dorado of mixed sizes and some black marlin and striped marlin. "There are also loads of sierras and bonita out there with some small yellowtail coming in along the coastline," Replogle said. "There is still great yellowtail fishing at the island, weather permitting."

Nine boats fished in the recent Hurricane Shootout tournament at San Carlos, with the winner qualifying for the Los Cabos International tournament in May, and a 1-day catch in some rough conditions of 7 billfish and 6 weighable dorado. "Winter is settling in," Replogle said.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 60 Aries Fleet offshore charter boats out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 3 striped marlin, 4 blue marlin, 86 sailfish, 4 yellowfin tuna, and 42 dorado. Five inshore super pangas had a catch of: 8 red snapper, 3 dorado, 4 jack crevalle, 1 mako shark, 1 yellowfin tuna, and near Mexico sportfishing limits of triggerfish and snappers. "The Mazatlan fishing area came to life abruptly over the past week," Edwards said. "While the full moon did have an effect, the improvement in fishing was good enough to withstand it."

Mazatlan fishing area weather was mostly sunny in the high-80s, with calm seas and water temperatures averaging 85 to 86 degrees offshore, and 83 degrees closer in, as offshore boats fished mostly 20 to 25 miles west and northwest. Blue marlin were caught on live bonito baits, and striped marlin mostly on rigged baits.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stan Gabruk of Master Baiters Sportfishing & Tackle at Puerto Vallarta reported yellowfin tuna of 30 to 120 pounds plus blue and black marlin at Roca Corbetena and a tuna in the 250-pound class caught at El Banco by Capt. Richard Iztek, who trolled a skipjack bait 80 feet deep with a downrigger. "He told me he could see the tuna with his electronics," Gabruk said. "They were 80 feet down so he rigged up the downrigger for a short while and had the hookup of the day."

At Punta Mita along the Mexican mainland coast north of Puerto Vallarta, boats caught dorado, and to the south of town at Cabo Corrientes, a trip by the charter panga Mi Jenny with Capt. Chema produced a 350-pound class black marlin. "He went just south of Cabo Corrientes to a location called Chimo," Gabruk said. "He used a goggle-eye bait, just 2 miles off shore. They were the only ones fishing the area and it paid off in sore arms and big smiles for angler Roger Meaden of England."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said blue water was only about 8 miles outside Bahia Zihuatanejo, but local fishing action was abruptly slower on the full moon. "Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing boats had been averaging about 2 sailfish and an occasional dorado," Kunze said. "Yesterday, 10 charter boats only caught 2 sailfish."

Ixtapa fishing area weather was rain free and clear as diminishing river runoff helped clear inshore waters. "This will help the inshore fishery as the water clears up from the rivers dumping their silt-laden outflow into the ocean," Kunze said. "But the clear skies also make the affects of the full moon more pronounced."

Capt. Santiago on the charter panga Gitana reported good counts of medium-sized jack crevalle of 4 to 10 pounds, occasional roosterfish, and black skipjack caught inshore.

Ixtapa fishing area weather was humid in the high-80s, with water temperatures of 80 to 84 degrees.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported slower action in the Zihuatanejo fishing area with clear water but little bird or bait activity. Capt. Temo Verboonen reported sierra, bonito, and jack crevalle providing action for light tackle anglers. "The roosterfish bite moved to between the rocks between Zihuatanejo and Playa Larga," Edwards said. "This has been the hotspot for the week and the roosterfish bite is expected to jump back on course as the full moon darkens."

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the mid-90s, with calm seas, deep blue water, and water temperatures of 84 to 85 degrees.

CANCUN FISHING REPORTS

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CANCUN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 5 outings by the El Cid Caribe sportfishing fleet at Puerto Morelos near Cancun, with a catch including released fish of: 7 Atlantic barracuda, 6 king mackerel, 10 mutton snapper, 1 grouper, and 4 triggerfish. Fishing was a bit slower over the full moon, with few anglers present at Cancun. "The Cancun fishing area has remained very slow for anglers," Edwards said. "I would suppose that has something to do with our overall depressed economy."

Cancun fishing area weather was partly cloudy at 90 degrees, with light winds, clear water, and water temperatures even at 82 degrees.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico fishing photo 1

CABO FLY MARLIN--Karen Williams and her husband Mark fished 3 days with Grant Hartman, right, of the Baja Anglers fly fishing guide service at Cabo San Lucas for catches in very good action that included both of their first-ever striped marlin on fly fishing tackle, and a total of 8 marlin, 1 sailfish, and several dorado. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRANT HARTMAN.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico fishing photo 2

MAGIC MARLIN SEASON--The Cabo San Lucas charter boat Cabo Magic got into this fall's super striped marlin action with a 3-day catch including released fish for Howard and Jeff Krasnow of Houston, Texas, of: 13 marlin, 1 sailfish, 4 dorado, and 7 roosterfish. PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI GARCIA.

Ensenada, Mexico fishing photo 1

MEXICO FISHING LIMITS--Brian Foley, left, of Ensenada scored mixed bottom fish limits while panga fishing with Capt. Beto of Vonny's Fleet. Included in the catch were red rockcod, olive rockfish, calico bass, and these nice lingcod, all caught with plastics and anchovy baits dropped to the bottom. PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.

Ensenada, Mexico fishing photo 2

Ensenada, Mexico bigeye tuna liver photo 1

BIGEYE LUCKY--Steve Ross' offshore run aboard his Ensenada boat Bad Dog produced albacore, skipjack tuna, dorado, and blue shark, plus this uncommonly caught bigeye tuna, confirmed by inspection of its liver edge striations. PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEVE ROSS.

Baja California, Mexico fishing photo 1

Baja California, Mexico fishing photo 2

Baja California, Mexico fishing photo 3

CASTRO'S CAMP FISHING--Yulia Myers, upper photo, and her new husband Gary found good bottom fish action during their recent trip to Castro's Camp south of Ensenada. They fished about 200 feet deep for a mix of lingcod, rockfish, rockcods, and 3 sheephead. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GARY MYERS.

San Quintin, Mexico fishing photo 1

HALLOWEEN TUNA--John Migeot, left, and David Cook got their Mexico fishing limits of yellowfin tuna during a Halloween fishing trip at San Quintin with Capt. Juan Cook of Don Eddie's Landing. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN MIGEOT.

San Quintin, Mexico fishing photo 2

San Quintin, Mexico fishing photo 3

QUINTIN STILL DOIN' TUNA---With few anglers present to enjoy it, San Quintin was still kicking out Mexican limits of yellowfin tuna last week. Shown with some Baja coastal ahi caught while fishing aboard their own boats out of Don Eddie's Landing at San Quintin are, upper photo, Katy and Norm Woodruff, who fished with Capt. Juan Cook guiding, and lower photo from left, Ben Alexander, Mark Kamei, and Rick Boucher. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARITA MELVILLE.

San Jose del Cabo, Mexico fishing photo 1

NICE AHI TRIO--Jeff and Julie Hauser of California landed 3 beautiful yellowfin tuna of 60 to 65 pounds while fishing with Gordo Banks Pangas out of San Jose del Cabo. They drifted baits on the Inner Gordo Bank with Capt. Jesus Pino aboard the charter panga Katie. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

Los Cabos, Mexico fishing photo 1

Los Cabos, Mexico fishing photo 2

Los Cabos, Mexico fishing photo 3

Los Cabos, Mexico fishing photo 4

SAN JOSE DEL CABO FISH SPECIES--San Jose del Cabo species fishing specialist John Snow scored 6 new personal species during panga and surf fishing at Los Cabos and during a trip to visit the Mexican commercial pangueros of Todos Santos of the Baja Pacific coast. New species observed included, from top, the black-axillary mojarra, peacock razorfish, and the white remora, shown with its suction plate detailed. The other new species also observed during Snow's trip were the glasseye snapper, scissortail chromis, darkspot mojarra. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN SNOW.

East Cape, Mexico fishing photo 1

East Cape, Mexico fishing photo 2

BAJA BEACH FISHING--Hans van den Berg of Holland made his 13th trip to East Cape's Hotel Punta Colorada for a couple of weeks of beach fishing and catches including a roosterfish, upper photo, shown by Van den Berg, and a needlefish shown by trip partner Kees Broekhuizen. PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANS VAN DEN BERG.

La Paz, Mexico fishing photo 1

LATE SEASON DORADO--School-sized dorado were still available last week near the Baja coastline for the La Paz panga sportfishing fleet, as winter-style winds in cooling weather prevented boats from running far off shore, and this late-season mahi was photographed as it jumped for a Tortuga Sportfishing panga during fishing on the Las Arenas side. PHOTO COURTESY OF GERARDO HERNANDEZ.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico fishing photo 1

WRONG WAY TROPHY MARLIN--This 350-pound class black marlin was caught at Puerto Vallarta last week aboard the Master Baiters Sportfishing & Tackle charter panga Mi Jenny while fishing not at the El Banco or Roca Corbetena offshore hotspots, but south of town near the coast at Cabo Corrientes. Said Master Baiters Sportfishing and Tackle's Stan Gabruk, "There were many fish in the area and they were fishing solo." PHOTO COURTESY OF STAN GABRUK.

Mexico fishing regulations 1

Mexico fishing regulations 2

GETTING THE WORD OUT--Mexican fisheries officials at East Cape have been distributing brochures that explain sportfishing bag limits, with various maximums for billfish, dorado, and other species determined by a 10-point system. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JORGE BERGIN.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES