JUST A SO-SO OFFSHORE AND INSHORE FISHING WEEK FOR LEONERO BOATS

April 2, 2005, John Ireland, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja fishing conditions, Mexico:

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. Two days of strong north wind on Thursday and Friday, settled back down on Saturday.

East Cape sportfishing area water temperatures are holding steady at 69-71 degrees.

It was a so-so fishing week at East Cape, with striped marlin and roosterfish active, a few dorado, but no tuna, as the midday winds are keeping the boats from venturing too far offshore. There is still plenty of good green mackerel bait.

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

Dorado fishing was slow again at East Cape, but some nice fish to 25 pounds were taken, about 10 miles out, spread throughout the bay, with flylined live bait on light line working best.

Inshore, roosterfish continue to bite aggressively, with some jacks mixed in, from Rancho Leonero south to the lighthouse, with fish 10-20 pounds taking mostly live mackerel. On the calm days, East Cape commercial hand-liners continue to take pargo on the reefs off La Ribera.