Summer yellowtail run for central Baja coastal fishing boats

Mexico Fishing News, August 24, 2009

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR BAJA COASTAL AREAS

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Shari Bondy of Baja Bed & Breakfast at Bahia Asuncion reported good numbers of yellowtail caught in central Baja Pacific coastal fishing as local outings produced Mexican sportfishing limits of yellowtail at 25 to 35 pounds for Capt. Juan Arce of Arce Bros. Sportfishing.

"The purple MirrOlure was the most popular lure," Bondy said. "Purple Rapalas yielded fish too. They had fish every 2 minutes, with double hookups." One outing by Arce produced 15 yellowtail, 13 cabrilla, and 2 sheephead for 3 anglers." Baja coastal fishing weather was calm and clear in the 80s.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Quinn Carney of Corona, Calif., reported good bottom fishing out of Castro's Camp at Erendira south of Ensenada on the Baja northern Pacific coast for himself, his brother Chester visiting from Japan, and his son Peter. "We started off the morning with non-stop quality bottom fish and more lingcod than I can remember," Carney said. "There wasn't much happening top water, so we spent the day on the bottom and bagged 2 coolers full."

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Also at Erendira, Dario Rodriguez reported on an outing by his group with Capt. Jorge at Castro's Camp for a catch of whitefish, 2 sheephead, mixed rockcods, 2 lingcod, and a yellowtail hooked by the captain on a chrome Krocodile.

"The water temp was cold with lots of morning clouds which shut down the top water action," Rodriguez said. "We fished mainly with whole sardines and cut squid, but also tossed around an array of plastics and irons."

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR ENSENADA

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet reported continued good local fishing for his charter pangas at Ensenada's Punta Banda, with steady action for bonita on the locally-made aluminum jigs, calico bass on plastics tossed to the rocks, Mexican sportfishing limits of assorted bottom fish, and an 18-pound white seabass landed by Brian Foley on Wednesday aboard the panga Vonny I. Other anglers fishing during the week included Jay Johnson of Ensenada.

Ensenada fishing area weather was in the mid-70s, with morning fog, afternoon sun, light westerly breezes, ocean swells at 2 to 3 feet, and the local water temperature at Punta Banda averaging 60 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the boat Bad Dog running out of Ensenada's Marina Coral reported on an offshore run to fish around the 238 spot for a catch of: 3 albacore of 13.1 to 30.0 pounds, 3 yellowfin tuna to 21.3 pounds, 3 dorado to 14.1 pounds, and 3 skipjack at about 15 pounds. Water temperatures were even at 68.3 degrees. Ross said, "976BITE's numbers lead us to the volume of fish. There were many fish clouding the meter and live bait balls everywhere at 200 feet."

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN QUINTIN

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Jorge Rosales of the CICESE marine research center at Ensenada reported on a sportfishing survey trip to San Quintin on Aug. 15, 2009, with 10 of 18 boats going out for the day met at the dock and a fish count recorded of: 2 yellowtail to 25 pounds, 5 barracuda, 85 vermilion rockfish to 7.5 pounds, 79 brown rockfish, 4 Humboldt giant squid plus many releases, 14 ocean whitefish, 11 sheephead, 12 starry rockfish, 9 bocaccio, 1 thresher shark at 45 pounds, 1 mako shark at 9 pounds, and a few mixed flag rockfish, treefish, sculpin, greenspotted rockfish, copper rockfish, and speckled rockfish. San Quintin fishing area weather was sunny and fair, with the water temperature at 60 degrees.

San Quintin charter boats surveyed included: Fany, Fany II, Fany III, Fany IV, Fany V, Paloma, Calamar, La Pinta, Gorron, and 1 privately owned boat.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR CABO SAN LUCAS

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 33 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo, Fish Cabo I, and Tuna Time, with a catch including released fish of: 30 striped marlin, 23 yellowfin tuna, and 49 dorado. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the low-100s, with water temperatures stable at 85 to 86 degrees, as the best action was found on the Pacific-side Jaime and Golden Gate Banks. "This is fairly unusual," Edwards said. "The Sea of Cortez side has historically been the best area during August."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 8 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 4 striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 8 yellowfin tuna of 20 to 25 pounds, 1 yellowfin tuna of 125 pounds, 32 dorado of 15 to 35 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the Cabo San Lucas fishing week ending Aug. 12, 2009, Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet Sportfishing reported 40 percent of charters releasing billfish, including 9 striped marlin, 1 blue marlin, and 4 sailfish. Sixty percent of Pisces Fleet boats caught yellowfin tuna of 20 to 110 pounds, totaling 196 fish. Forty-five percent of boats landed dorado of 15 to 60 pounds. Miscellaneous catches included 1 wahoo at 50 pounds, a few bonita, and 1 needlefish. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was partly cloudy and hot, with moderate seas and water temperatures averaging 86 degrees.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN JOSE DEL CABO

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 49 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing out of San Jose del Cabo's Puerto Los Cabos marina, with a catch including released fish of: 174 dorado, 92 yellowfin tuna of mostly 60 to 80 pounds, 20 bonito, 16 sailfish, 12 amberjack, 9 cabrilla, 8 rainbow runner, 8 hammerhead shark, 8 huachinango, 8 roosterfish, 4 dog snapper, 4 striped marlin, 3 wahoo, 2 grouper, and 1 blue marlin. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was hot and mostly cloudless, as local fire departments controlled a wildfire that burned a large area at the San Jose del Cabo estuary. "Embers from thousands of burning palm trees forced boat owners to move their vessels as the flames reached a height of 100 feet at times and lasted until midnight," Brictson said.

Yellowfin tuna sightings off San Jose del Cabo were promissing. "There were much larger yellowfin tuna in the area," Brictson said. "They could seen feeding on the surface and they would come up to chummed sardinas, but they were also finicky."

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR EAST CAPE

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the East Cape fishing week ending Aug. 20, 2009, Felipe Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on 65 boats, with 107 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 227 dorado, 43 yellowfin tuna, 35 snappers, 19 roosterfish, 15 bonito, 11 sailfish, 10 ladyfish, 10 pompano, 6 cabrilla, 6 jack crevalle, 5 wahoo, 4 striped marlin, 3 triggerfish, 2 amberjack, 1 blue marlin, and 1 parrotfish. East Cape fishing area weather was in the 100s, with water temperatures of 82 to 88 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the East Cape fishing week ending Aug. 20, 2009, Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 194 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 578 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 436 dorado, 303 yellowfin tuna, 3 blue marlin, 18 sailfish, 12 wahoo, and 2 striped marlin. East Cape fishing area weather was at 100 degrees, with water temperatures of 80 to 93 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the previous week ending Aug. 13, 2009, Moyers reported on 176 charter boats from the same fleets, with 526 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 206 yellowfin tuna, 200 dorado, 21 sailfish, 17 wahoo, 14 striped marlin, and 6 blue marlin. East Cape fishing area water temperatures were at 82 to 90 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Simon Cazaly of the Vista Sea Sport diving service at East Cape reported bottom temperatures on the Cabo Pulmo coral reef at 84 degrees, with visibility at over 120 feet. "I used a wet suit once this week, and that was a mistake," Cazaly said. Sea life sightings during East Cape dive trips included tiger shark, bull shark, leopard grouper, green moray eels, Pacific creolefish, octopus, burrito grunts, Panamic porkfish, yellow snapper, and a pod of killer whales, or orcas.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LA PAZ

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz reported good weather conditions in the 90s without wind for his charter pangas fishing around Ensenada de los Muertos and the Las Arenas side shark buoys. Lucky anglers caught some wahoo plus scattered dorado and smaller yellowfin tuna. Sailfish and marlin were seen jumping but were not targeted. "Our anglers tried our entire fishing area, but with little to show for it, except for the wahoo caught south of Isla Cerralvo," Hernandez said.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International reported an early week bite on wahoo to 50 pounds for his pangas fishing on the Las Arenas side south of La Paz. "Guys were getting 2 to 5 bites and putting 1 or 2 into the boat," Roldan said. "Yellowfin tuna of 10 to 25 pounds popped up as well."

On the La Paz side, Tailhunter boats were still catching dorado outside Isla Espirtu Santo and southwards to Las Cruces.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LORETO

LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of Loreto's Hotel Oasis reported on 18 panga outings with fly fishing anglers and 12 panga outings with conventional tackle for a combined catch including released fish of: 12 dorado of 20 to 42 pounds, 12 roosterfish of 8 to 25 pounds, 2 sierra of 4 pounds, and 4 sailfish. Loreto fishing area weather was mostly calm, as pangas fished around Isla Danzante, Baja de las Boyas, and Bajo San Bruno.

MULEGE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MULEGE

MULEGE, MEXICO: Ed Epifani of Punta Chivato reported "migrating species in our area nonexistent right now." Radio reports from Loreto were also for slow fishing. "The northern migration was hit very hard by seiners and longliners in the Mulege area," Epifani said. "The fall season is sometimes better. We will see what is left." During an outing on Aug. 16, 2009, Epifani reported a dorado of 18 pounds caught at south Isla Santa Inez in water at 87.8 degrees.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MAZATLAN

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 22 Aries Fleet offshore charter boats out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 2 blue marlin at 225 pounds, 30 dorado, 11 sailfish, and 22 yellowfin tuna plus larger tuna lost. Five inshore super pangas had a catch of: 58 dorado landed at the shark buoys. Mazatlan fishing area weather was mostly cloudy in the low-90s, with calm, clear water and stable water temperatures at 87 to 88 degrees. The blue marlin were caught at the buoys on slow-trolled skipjack baits. Yellowfin tuna to 120 pounds were caught 35 miles out as they swam with porpoise.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said 86-degree blue water was tight against the beach at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo as charter boats averaged about 2 sailfish per outing, plus a few scattered dorado. Inshore fishing was very good for roosterfish plus jack crevalle up and down the coast.

Kunze noted very few anglers present in the area. "I can't believe it," he said. "We are putting only 1 or 2 boats on the water per day. We should have 15 to 20 boats a day at this time of year." Ixtapa fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the mid-90s, with water temperatures averaging about 88 degrees.

CANCUN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR CANCUN

CANCUN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 6 outings by the El Cid Caribe sportfishing fleet at Puerto Morelos near Cancun, with a catch including released fish of: 3 peto or king mackerel, 1 sailfish, 2 bonito, 2 Spanish mackerel, 3 red snapper, 1 triggerfish, and 26 Atlantic barracuda. Cancun fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the mid-90s, with good humidity, light breezes, and stable water temperatures at 85 to 86 degrees.

1 Fishing at Castro's Camp, Baja California

BAJA BOTTOM FISHING--Quinn Carney's trip to fish out of Castro's Camp, south of Ensenada on the Pacific Baja coast, produced some great action for his group on mixed bottom fish. PHOTOS COURTESY OF QUINN CARNEY.

CASTRO'S CAMP TRIP--Dario Rodriguez, second from left, and his group fished out of Castro's Camp south of Ensenada with Capt. Jorge, right rear. PHOTO COURTESY OF DARIO RODRIGUEZ.

White seabass caught at Ensenada

ENSENADA WHITE SEABASS--Brian "Calico" Foley of Ensenada went out panga fishing with Vonny's Fleet and landed this nice white seabass plus his Mexico sportfishing limit of mixed bottom fish and, what else, calico bass. PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.

Sheephead caught during San Quintin sportfishing catch survey

SAN QUINTIN FISH COUNT--Bertha Aguirre with a nice sheephead recorded during a fish and sportfishing boat count taken at San Quintin by Jorge Rosales' team from the CICESE marine research center at Ensenada. PHOTO COURTESY OF JORGE ROSALES.

Yellowfin tuna caught at San Jose del Cabo

TOUGH DAY'S WORK--Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas at San Jose del Cabo went out fishing at the Iman Bank and ran into these yellowfin tuna. He quit cranking after landing 4 tuna on 40-pound line. "We had tuna boiling all around the boat," Brictson said. "We could have caught more, but too much work on 40-pound line." PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

Dorado caught at La Paz

FIRST-EVER FISH--Rebecca Waverly of Oxnard, Calif., started her fishing career off right with a nice dorado caught at La Paz with Capt. Ramiro of Tailhunter International. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

Wahoo caught at La Paz

LA PAZ WAHOO GUYS--Pangas fishing La Paz' Las Arenas side found some good wahoo action last week south of Isla Cerralvo. Showing off their catch after an outing with Tortuga Sportfishing are Ralph Moreno, Dave Lievanos, and Richard Hunter, all of Tustin, Calif. PHOTO COURTESY OF GERARDO HERNANDEZ.

Dorado caught at Loreto

LATE SUMMER AT LORETO--Dorado were still biting last week at Loreto's Bajo de las Boyas, about 35 miles north of town, as Joe Harris, left, and Andrew Harris landed this nice rack of dodos with panga Capt. Francisco Martinez out of the Hotel Oasis. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTY ZAPATA.

Record roosterfish caught at Zihuatanejo

WORLD RECORD SUBMISSION--Sarah Henry Langley of British Colombia landed this 12-pound 1.3-ounce roosterfish at Puerto Vicente Guerrero south of Zihuatanejo while fishing with 8-kilo fly tackle. The catch, made with local guide Ed Kunze, was submitted for an IGFA class record. The current women's record is 11 pounds 8 ounces. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED KUNZE.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES