RARE PANGA-CAUGHT DORADO WHILE FISHING AT POPOTLA

Sept. 27, 2006, Robert Rodriguez, Popotla, Baja California, Mexico:

I fished 2 days on a panga at Popotla, on the Baja coast near Rosarito Beach. Along with several whitefish and red rockcod, I caught a 10-pound dorado on September 24, 2006, 5 miles off the Rosarito Beach coast. The dorado was caught out in open water with a sling jig. The dorado is said to be the second one ever caught locally from a panga.

The captain of the "Keta" panga I fished on is Javier. Javier and his brother Pepe run sportfishing pangas out of Popotla on weekends. Popotla is a small fishing village next to the Fox Studios just outside of Rosarito Beach, Mexico.

Javier and his brother Pepe are Baja commercial fishermen that are the local fishing experts. Pangas are available on a first come basis on the morning of your trip.

Pepe and Javier prefer not to take appointments and work on the first come basis. They are usually at the launch area at 6:00 a.m. and will not leave until they have at least 3 customers. They charge a flat $45 per person which is the going rate and they supply the bait and transportation only. Their last name is Martinez and they can supply up to 4 pangas.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Baja and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Baja California may be found at Mexfish.com's main Baja page.