EAST CAPE FISHING BOATS MAKING LONG RUNS TO THE GORDO BANKS FOR TUNA

Sept. 24, 2005, Roy Baldwin, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja, Mexico Fishing:

East Cape had dry, hot fishing weather for September, with mornings near 80 degrees and afternoon highs cresting 100, calm blue seas, some afternoon southeast breezes, and warm water temperatures at 87-89 degrees. Fishing at East Cape was nearly a carbon copy of last week, marked by a strong billfish bite and lots of giant squid off La Ribera providing great tuna and dorado bait.

The billfish bite remained active this week, with a mix of blue marlin, striped marlin and sailfish, concentrated north about 10 miles straight out from Leonero. It was a steady bite, with the best results for stripers and sails coming from teasing the fish up with lures, then throwing live mackerel on the tailers. Blue marlin were mixed in, taking mostly trolled lures.

Tuna were located a long boat ride to the Gordo Banks, where the tuna bite is hot, with lots of larger fish of 30-60 pounds, taking squid, hoochies and cedar plugs. Smaller tuna are closer in off La Ribera,

There were fewer dorado at East Cape this week, mostly south, from the lighthouse to Cabo Pulmo, taking trolled lures and chunk squid.

A few wahoo came in this week, taken mostly on dark colored lures.

Inside, the East Cape roosterfish bite continues, with fish to 40 pounds off the beaches from La Ribera to Las Barracas, taking live mullet. Lots of giant squid are mixed with pargo and some amberjack on the reefs off La Ribera.