COMMERCIAL MEXICAN FISHERMEN CATCHING
PARGO WITH HANDLINES AT LA RIBERA

March 26, 2005, John Ireland, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja, Mexico Fishing:

Happy Easter! East Cape had warm spring fishing weather, with cool mornings in the 60's and afternoon highs near 80, with mostly clear, sunny days and calm mornings with afternoon breezes. There were 2 days of wind at midweek. Fishing water temperatures are stable at 69-72 degrees. Marlin, dorado, tuna and roosterfish all active in the East Cape fishing vacation area, and there is still lots of good green mackerel live bait.

Striped Marlin fishing at East Cape is concentrated in 2 areas, about 5 miles off Punta Pescadero, and south 10 miles offshore from La Ribera to the lighthouse, with fish taking exclusively live mackerel, either slow-trolled or cast on tailing marlin.

East Cape Tuna fishing is a long boat ride away, about 40 miles straight out from Leonero, with of fish 10-20 pounds under large schools of porpoise, taking mostly live bait.

It was a slow fishing week again for dorado, but some nicer fish to 30 pounds were taken, about 10 miles out, spread throughout the bay, with flylined live bait on light line working best.

Inside, roosterfish continue to bite aggressively, with some jacks mixed in, from La Ribera south to Las Baracas, with fish 10-20 pounds taking mostly live mackerel. Commercial Mexican hand-liners continue to take pargo on the reefs off La Ribera.