CALM WATERS AND PLENTY OF TUNA AND DORADO
BLESS EAST CAPE WATERS THIS WEEK

Oct. 1-7, 2004, Chris Moyers, East Cape Smoke House, East Cape sportfishing status report, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Charters 355. Anglers 1,051. Total Fish 2,245. Count, including released fish: Blue Marlin 4. Striped Marlin 18. Sailfish 62. Dorado 650. Yellowfin Tuna 1,362. Wahoo 21. Yellowtail 6. Roosterfish 74.

East Cape water Temperature 81-88. Air Temperature HIGH 95 LOW 71. Seas Fri-Thurs: calm seas all day with the occasional mild chop developing in the p.m. Winds Fri-Thurs: calm in the a.m. with the occasional mild breeze.

The Yellowfin Tuna bite is just plain a heckuva lotta fun right now, and the Dorado bite continues to impress. As expected, the billfish bite is marginal at best with Sailfish leading the way, followed by Striped Marlin and ending with but a few Blue Marlin.

We continue to be blessed with an absence of any tropical storms or hurricanes within our immediate or potential vicinity. The past week saw East Cape air temps range between 71-95 so we're getting closer to perfect every day. Clearly, October brings the beginning of the less harsh atmospheric conditions such as heat and humidity.

Our amigos at Terrafin let us know that the water temp saw a range of 81-88. The moon is waning. Bait-wise, we've got the ever faithful mackerel and sardines.

The East Cape billfish bite is not all that great at present but anglers are still reporting limited success with an overall catch rate of about 8%. The Sailfish bite continues to lead the way with anglers reporting some fun to the north of Los Relices (35 miles), straight off Los Barriles (32-36 miles) as well as to the south off Rancho Leonero (20-25 miles).

The Striped Marlin bite was quite a bit less happening with hookups reported to the north off Punta Pescadero in the vicinity of the shark buoys, straight off Los Barriles (20-32 miles), as well as to the south off La Ribera (8-10 miles), Las Tachuelas (8-12 miles), and Cabo Pulmo (10-15 miles).

The Blue Marlin bite brought up the proverbial rear with limited success reported off Los Barriles (30-38 miles).

The East Cape Dorado bite continues to impress with an overall catch rate of about 62%. Most of the fish are in the 20 lb. class and continue to be caught close in to shore at various locales. There are however, some bigger fish being landed within the 30-40 lb. class. Anglers reported success to the north off Punta Pescadero at the shark buoys stops and Los Relices (33-36 miles), as well as to the south between the waters of Rancho Leonero (1-12 miles), La Ribera (1/2 mile), El Rincon (1/4 mile), Cabo Pulmo (1 mile), Los Frailes (1/4 mile), El Faro (1/4 mile), and Destiladeras (1/4-4 miles). Sardines, mackerel and hoochies reportedly did the trick there.

The Yellowfin Tuna are everywhere it seems as anglers are reporting some serious fun to the north in the vicinity of the 88 as well as straight off Los Barriles (30-36 miles). However, most action occurred close in to the south between the waters of La Ribera (2-7 miles), Los Cerritos (1-2 miles), Las Barracas (2-3 miles), Cabo Pulmo (1/2 -7 miles), Los Frailes (1-3 miles), and Destiladeras (2-6 miles). As always, mackerel, sardines, hoochies and cedar plugs were once again the drugs of choice among the pelagic species known as Yellowfinus Tunacomidas.

Rounding out the East Cape fishing report were 22 Wahoo landed to the north off Punta Perico (12 miles), as well as to the south off Cabo Pulmo (5-8 miles), and Destiladeras (2-5 miles).

Also caught were 74 Roosterfish landed inshore off Rancho Leonero and Punta Colorada, as well as 6 Yellowtail and 48 White Bonita.