RANCHO LEONERO'S WEEKLY BAJA FISHING REPORT

Aug. 21, 2004, John Ireland, Rancho Leonero, East Cape fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Mild weather continues, with mornings in the low 70's and afternoon highs around 90, with warm water temp 86-88 deg, and some afternoon SE breezes. Very good East Cape fishing, with yellowfin tuna, dorado, sailfish, striped marlin and blue marlin all biting.

The tuna and dorado bite is so close and strong that most boats are returning by noon with limits. With the great East Cape dorado and tuna fishing, there's light pressure on the billfish.

Billfish - sailfish have invaded East Cape in force, with most boats targeting billfish releasing 3-4 per day per boat. Some smaller blue marlin and striped marlin mixed in with the sails.

East Cape Dorado - schooling fish inside, about 1-3 miles offshore from La Ribera to the lighthouse, averaging 5-15 bs, taking mostly live bait and hoochies, limits for all. Big bulls to 50 lbs outside, taking bait and trolled lures.

East Cape Yellowfin Tuna - close in, mixed in with dorado, 1-3 miles offshore, from La Ribera on the Baja coast to the Punta Arena lighthouse, with fish 10-60 lbs taking live bait, hoochies and cedar plugs. All boats limiting out.

Inside - roosterfish and pargo. Very light East Cape fishing pressure with most boats loading up on tuna and dorado.

East Cape Fisherman of the Week - Zack Zacharias of Leucadia, CA, while fishing 4 days in a cruiser, took limits of tuna to 25 lbs and dorado to 30 lbs; and released several sailfish and striped marlin.