FISH-PER-ANGLER NUMBERS DROP AS SEASON
WINDS DOWN FOR CHARTER FISHING BOATS AT EAST CAPE

Oct. 10-Nov. 4, 2004, Chris Moyers, East Cape Smoke House, East Cape, Mexico Fishing Reports:

Charters 153. Anglers 444. Total Fish 713. Fish/Charter 4.66. Fish/Angler 1.61. Striped Marlin 11. Sailfish 38. Dorado 256. Yellowfin Tuna 346. Pargo 19. Roosterfish 1. East Cape Water Temperature 78-83. Air Temperature 90-66.

Although the fish-per numbers indicate a drop in East Cape fishing action, there's still some good fishing to be enjoyed!

East Cape Yellowfin Tuna are still running and the Dorado remained consistent. The respective bites are pretty close to shore so anglers didn't have to go to far out. Billfish action continues to slow down.

We're starting to see East Cape fishing temperatures cool off. Air temps saw a range of 66-90 degrees, so it's close to perfect down here right now in that regard.

The wind picked up a bit on Mon-Tues, so that likely had something to do with the drop in the all important fish-per numbers. East Cape water temp saw a range of 77-83 over the past week, so we're definitely cooling off there as well. Bait-wise, East Cape has the ever-present mackerel and sardines. This season has definitely been a good sardine and mackerel year.

We're winding down the season down here on the East Cape. We expect a somewhat busy November. After that, we'll wind things down the first half of December, then we'll close for a couple off weeks for the holidays, and then start it all off again in January when we'll start things off slow and gradually work ourselves into a fishing frenzy in late Spring and lasting until November. Such is the cycle of life on the East Cape.

East Cape billfish action is marginal at best right now with an overall catch rate among all species of about 11%. For the first time in what seems like a long while, here were no Blue Marlin to report.

Sailfish continued to carry the day with limited action to the north off Punta Pescadero (10-15 miles), straight off Los Barriles (25-30 miles), as well as to the south off La Ribera (8-15 miles), and Destiladeras (5-10 miles). A mere several East Cape Striped Marlin were reportedly landed to the north off Punta Pescadero (12-15 miles and in the vicinity of the shark buoy stops), and to the south off Bajo San Luis (6-8 miles). Mackerel and lures did the trick there.

The East Cape Dorado bite remained active this week, up in comparison to the previous week with an overall catch rate of about 58%, with many in the 35-45 lb. class. Anglers reported success mostly to the south off La Ribera (1/4-4 miles), Punta Arena (1/4 mile), Cabo Pulmo (1/4-5 miles), and Bajo San Luis (6-8 miles). Sardines, mackerel and hoochies reportedly did the trick there.

East Cape Yellowfin was pretty good this past week, despite the fact that the overall catch rate was down to about 78%. The problem was that the toads are getting fewer and farther between as most of the Tuna being landed are in the football range. Anglers are reporting action mostly to the south between the waters of La Ribera (4-6 miles), Las Barracas (6-10 miles), Cabo Pulmo (6-10 miles), and Bajo San Luis (1/2-5 miles).

Several Wahoo were caught this week, including 3 nice ones landed in one day by Bryan Webb and amigos, of So. Cal! Bryan and his amigos reported their catches on a black and purple marauder, to the south off Bajo San Luis (2-4 miles), and Destiladeras (3-5 miles). Rounding out the report were 34 White Bonita landed off La Ribera (2-5 miles), 19 Pargo landed of La Ribera (1/4 mile), and 1 mutant Roosterfish landed off Bajo San Luis (1 mile).