SOME WIND AND RAIN LINGERS AT EAST CAPE AFTER STORM BLAS PASSES BY

July 17, 2004, John Ireland, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja fishing, Mexico:

Warm summer East Cape weather, with mornings in the low 70's and warm days to the mid 90's, with variable water temp 83-87 degrees.

Some wind and rain as Tropical Storm Blas passed by East Cape at midweek. A bit slower East Cape fishing this week, mostly weather related, with several days of rough seas. However, a good blue marlin bite (the best in years), combined with some huge pargo made for a good overall East Cape fishing week.

Billfish - blue marlin very active, it should be a good Bisbee tournament starting Aug. 4th. Fish taking mostly dark colored lures on the high spots, with the bite for this time of the season the best in years. Some striped marlin, very spread.

Dorado - lots of schooling fish inside, very close to shore, averaging 10lbs, taking mostly live bait. Big bulls to 50lbs outside, mixed in with marlin, taking trolled lures.

Yellowfin tuna - under porpoise, outside. Slower this week, with fish taking mostly live bait.

Inside - big pargo this week - a 60lb monster was taken. The roosterfish bite has slowed.

Fisherman of the Week - Byron George of Durham, CA, while fishing 3 days on a cruiser, took limits of dorado, and a 60lb pargo on 30lb line, the largest we've ever seen taken on rod and reel.