FISHING FOR DORADO AND TUNA SPLIT ON PACIFIC AND CORTEZ SIDES

Oct. 20, 2006, Cortez Yacht Charters, Larry Edwards, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Yellowfin tuna and dorado were the highlight of the catches this week for Cabo San Lucas charter fishing boats, but it depended which side of the Baja peninsula you fished.

Fishing on the Pacific of Cabo San Lucas was for dorado and the Sea of Cortez side was for yellowfin tuna. The numbers of fish caught were pretty good.

The largest fish caught by Gaviota Fleet for the week was a 400 pound blue marlin, taken by angler Robert Self, fishing aboard the charter boat "Gaviota V".

Bill Campbell, fishing aboard the boat "Gaviota X" released a smaller blue marlin, about 200 pounds, and he also captured the only wahoo, a 29.4 pound dinner delicacy.

Overall Cabo fish counts for Gaviota Fleet, reporting for 61 fishing days, reflected 330 dorado, 3 blue marlin, 2 released, 1 sailfish released, 16 stripers, 15 released, 1 wahoo, and 42 yellowfin tuna.

The charter sportfishing boats "Fish Cabo" and "Fish Cabo I", reporting for 13 fishing days, reflected 6 stripers released 31 dorado and 57 yellowfin tuna, with much of the tuna in the 30-40 pound class.

Cabo San Lucas weather was great, mostly sunny, with 73 degree nights to 94 degree daytime highs.

Cabo sea conditions were also great, with water temperatures at 84 degrees at the Golden Gate Bank and 85 at the Gorda Banks, some northwest winds on the Pacific side, and surface wind chop, but plenty fishable.

The Pacific side of Cabo seemed to carry the most billfish and dorado and the Sea of Cortez side carried the yellowfin tuna. It was an angler's choice when leaving the dock.

The 3 blue marlin from Gaviota Fleet were all taken on artificial lures, as well as a few of the stripers.

Cabo San Lucas dorado were pretty eager to bite on the lures, too, as well as live bait, strip baits, etc.

The yellowfin tuna were best caught on live sardinas when they were available, otherwise on a myriad of different colors of tuna feathers. The live bait supply was good, mostly caballitos.

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