YELLOWFIN TUNA ROMP FOR FISHING BOATS AT EAST CAPE

Sept. 16-22, 2005, Chris Moyers, East Cape Smoke House, East Cape, Baja Sur fishing, Mexico:

For combined East Cape sportfishing fleets including Hotel Palmas de Cortez, Hotel Playa del Sol, Rancho Leonero, Hotel Buena Vista, and Hotel Rancho Buena Vista: Charters 412; Anglers 1,195; Total Fish 1,589; Fish/Charter 3.86; Fish/Angler 1.33. Catch including released fish: Blue Marlin 41; Striped Marlin 57; Sailfish 75; Dorado 397; Yellowfin Tuna 942; Pargo 41; Wahoo 36. Water Temperature 81-89. Seas calm in the a.m. with slight seas developing in the p.m.

East Cape's yellowfin tuna bite is amazing, the Dorado are finally here and there's still some decent billfish numbers coming in. As we close out the fishing month of September, we're getting geared up for some serious tournament action with the Lynn Rose East Cape Classic due Oct. 12-16, and Pete Gray's Let's Talk Hookup happening Oct. 20-24.

Last week saw air temps range between 76-100, and a water temperature range of 81-89. The Eastern Pacific saw a number of storms: Jova, Kenneth, Max, and currently Norma. However, our little fishing haven on the East Cape was never threatened as most storms are well to the south and are simply heading westward out into the Pacific.

Bait-wise we've got mackerel at East Cape, plenty of calamari, as well as limited caballito. The squid are located inshore about 1 mile off of Los Barriles and Buena Vista. As such, anglers are heading out first thing in the morning and making bait. Once done, the crews are chunking the squid and chumming once they find the fish. It's working real well for Yellowfin and Dorado at present.

The billfish bite is actually pretty decent with a catch rate of about 14 percent. The Sailfish bite led the way. Next came the Striped Marlin. Bringing up the billfish rear were the Blues. Mackerel, caballito, and various lures did the trick regarding all species of billfish this past week.

The East Cape Dorado bite can finally be classified as a "bite"! The bad news is that the poundage is not great with most fish coming in at 10-20 pounds. Mackerel, squid, and hoochies reportedly did the trick.

The Yellowfin Tuna bite is really happening right. Most fish are coming in at the 20-30 pound class but there are plenty of Yellowfin coming in at the 50-60 pound class as well. Mackerel and squid are reportedly working well but some anglers are reporting decent action on hoochies and feathers too.

Rounding out the report were 41 Pargo caught inshore to the north off Cerro Verde, as well as to the south off La Ribera.