ROOSTERFISH TO 45 POUNDS CAUGHT ON BEACHES AT EAST CAPE

July 16, 2005, Roy Baldwin, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja Sur, Mexico Fishing:

The East Cape vacation area had continued typical July weather, with warm mornings in the mid 70's and afternoon highs to the mid 90's, mostly sunny days, calm mornings, some afternoon SE breezes, and high clouds. East Cape fishing water continues to warm, with 84 degrees off Cerralvo and 80 degrees off Los Frailes. A strong striped marlin bite, coupled with the return of blue marlin highlighted the East Cape sportfishing week.

The billfish bite remains spread throughout the bay, with lots of striped marlin about 15 to 20 miles offshore. Fish are biting more aggressively, taking a mix of live bait, ballyhoo, and lures, and averaging more than 1 per boat. Some sailfish are mixed in, and on Friday one boat released 3 blue marlin.

Tuna fishing at East Cape bite moved outside this week, with tuna under porpoise about 30 miles off the lighthouse. Lighter line is getting more bites, with tuna averaging 20 lbs (largest 35 lbs) aggressively taking mostly hoochies and cedar plugs.

Dorado fishing has some nice fish to 40 lbs, very spread, taking mostly trolled marlin lures.

A few wahoo were caught this week, taking mostly bait.

Inside, the roosterfish bite remains steady, with fish to 45 lbs off East Cape beaches from Leonero to Las Barracas, taking live bait. Some nice pargo to 25 lbs were caught on the reefs off La Ribera, taking yo-yoed jigs and weighted live bait.