NOT MANY HOOKS IN THE WATER THIS SPORTFISHING WEEK AT EAST CAPE

Nov. 12-18, 2004, Chris Moyers, East Cape Smoke House, East Cape, Mexico Fishing Reports:

Charters 50. Anglers 145. Total Fish 269. Fish/Charter 5.38. Fish/Angler 1.86. Striped Marlin 3. Sailfish 11. Dorado 221. Yellowfin Tuna 34. Water Temperature 74-79. Air Temperature 85.

Last week East Cape saw some rougher afternoon seas which prohibited many anglers from venturing to the south. As such, most East Cape fishing boat charters headed north towards Punta Pescadero and beyond. The seas were not necessarily accompanied by anything more than mild winds. The winds will come later.

There aren't many hooks in the water right about now. Another East Cape fishing season is winding down. East Cape fishing's not half bad, at least if you like catching dorado. Both the Billfish and Yellowfin counts have fallen off pretty good, however.

East Cape water temp is cooling off as well and Terrafin informed us that we saw a pretty uniform temp range of 74-79.

The East Cape billfish bite was virtually nonexistent this past week with an overall catch rate falling to about 10%. The Sailfish bite led the way with several landings reported to the north off Punta Pescadero (13 miles, and in the vicinity of the shark buoy stops). The few Striped Marlin landings were also reported to the north off Punta Pescadero (15 miles, and in the vicinity of the shark buoy stops). Mackerel and various lures did the trick there.

The East Cape Dorado bite continues to impress with an overall catch rate well above 100%. The bad news, there's not much in terms of poundage coming in right now as most Dodos are in the 10-20 lb. class. Again, heavy afternoon seas at East Cape forced anglers to head north and many landings were reported off Punta Pescadero at the shark buoy stops, as well as off Cerro Verde (7-10 miles). Mackerel, sardines and hoochies were the drugs of choice among the pelagic species known as Doraditos Asadaitos.

The East Cape Yellowfin bite really fell off this past week with an overall catch rate down to about 23%, but environmental factors prevented many anglers from venturing into the tuna containing waters. Again, not much poundage coming in at present with most fish in the football class. Those anglers that did manage to venture south reported some hookups off Cabo Pulmo (13-15 miles). Others reported some action to the north off Los Relices (12-16 miles). Mackerel, sardines and cedar plugs remained the drugs of choice among the pelagic species known as Yellowfinus Tunacomidas.