DESPITE GOOD REPORTS, SLOW EAST CAPE FISHING
PRODUCES JUST TWO SMALL FISH FOR TWO DAYS OF EFFORT

Aug. 5, 2004, Jerry Fukui, Slow East Cape fishing at Baja California Sur, Mexico:

After reading the reports coming out of the East Cape I was excited and filled with apprehension fantasizing double hookups and full ice chests.

We tried outside for the marlin, inside for the dorado and roosters and came away with a 10# dorado and 1 small rooster for 2 days. Not exactly worth bragging about. It wasn't just us but the whole fleet seemed to have a very difficult time finding anything that would bite. Every guest I spoke to lamented about how slow the fishing was, with some getting zipped and others fairing a little better than we did, but not much so.

To my surprise, when I returned home I read the posted reports from the resorts and they we're all positive! Full limits of dorado? Hardly! I know it's wise business judgment to write a positive report, but to embellish it to the point of causing false hope is misleading.

We fished at on July 30 and 31 from one of their cruisers. On the 30th we fished north probably between 10 to 15 miles and had one short biter and a two tailers. Tried to bait them but they would not take. Finally came inshore within 2-3 miles of shore and caught the small dorado. Nothing else.

On Saturday, the 31st, we tried fishing south towards the end of the bay and caught the rooster. Inside was very dirty and green. Went around the point to the lighthouse and the water cleaned up considerably, but not one biter. I think all fish were taking a siesta. There were other boats in the area and later on I found out they caught a rooster or two. We, on the other hand went outside again and trolled for 3 hours without even a peep! Came back inshore to look for the dodos and found absolutely nothing. Did get a few bites from a toothy critter, probably a pargo.