SCHOOLING DORADO ARE CONCENTRATED
5 TO 8 MILES OFF THE PUNTA ARENA LIGHTHOUSE

Sept. 25, 2004, Roy Baldwin, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja California Sur fishing, Mexico:

Pleasant East Cape fishing weather all week, with cooler mornings in the upper 60's and afternoon highs about 90, with calm, warm, blue water around 87 deg. The wide-open tuna and dorado bite continues, with limits for all anglers. Lots of sailfish with the occasional blue marlin, and more wahoo this week.

Billfish - lots of sailfish, with a few striped marlin and some larger blue marlin to 400 lbs, spread throughout the bay, from Leonero south to Cabo Pulmo, from 10-15 miles out, with live mackerel presented to tailing fish and trolled squid colored lures working best.

Dorado - the strong East Cape bite continues, with schooling fish concentrated 5-8 miles off the lighthouse at Punta Arena, with fish from 10-40bs, taking mostly live sardinas, mackerel and hoochies, limits for all. Big bulls to 45lbs outside, taking trolled lures.

Yellowfin Tuna - larger fish (to 80lbs) this week, with, free-swimming schools of tuna averaging 25lbs taking live bait, hoochies and cedar plugs. Most boats limiting out, with tuna from Leonero to Cabo Pulmo, about 5 miles out. By week's end the East Cape bite moved south of Los Frailes, with those making the longer boat ride being rewarded with larger fish.

Wahoo - a number of wahoo to 50 lbs came in this week, located between the lighthouse and Cabo Pulmo, about 1 mile off the beach. Purple marauders working best.

Inside - some pargo and amberjack mixed in with hungry roosterfish, cruising off most area beaches, from Leonero to the lighthouse. Slow trolled live sardinas and caballitos working best.

East Cape Fisherman of the Week - Jerome Ranft of Crockett, CA, while fishing 3 days in a cruiser, released 4 sailfish and 1 blue marlin (all in 1 day), while taking limits of dorado to 40lbs and tuna to 70lbs each day.