BILLFISH AND YELLOWFIN TUNA CAUGHT BY SPORTFISHING BOATS AT EAST CAPE

Oct. 28-Nov. 3, 2005, Chris Moyers, East Cape Smoke House, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico Fishing:

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 281; Anglers 812; Total Fish 455; Fish/Charter 1.62; Fish/Angler .56. Catch including released fish: Blue Marlin 16; Striped Marlin 90; Sailfish 97; Dorado 70; Yellowfin Tuna 181; Wahoo 1. Water Temperature 78-85; Air Temperature 93-68; Seas calm in the a.m. with slight seas developing in the p.m.

The fishing at East Cape once again fell off a bit. However, the good news is that there was and is some really good fishing for billfish and Yellowfin Tuna. The Dorado bite was still considered dismal by East Cape sportfishing standards. Once the wind stopped blowing, the billfish bite and especially the Yellowfin bite was back up nicely.

East Cape had some beautiful fishing days with air temps ranging between 68-93. The water temp this past week saw a range of about 78-85, with the cooler water down south off Los Frailes and on the inside of Isla Cerralvo.

We had some winds adversely affect the fishing for part of the week.

Bait-wise, we've got squid inshore, which anglers are having a lot of success with. East Cape fishing charters are just heading out about 1-2 miles from shore, jigging for a bit, and then heading out and having success with cut squid. We've also got mackerel and caballito.

This past week saw an overall catch rate among all species of billfish of about 25 percent. Sailfish are once again on top of the leader board.

Striped Marlin are once again sandwiched between the Sailfish and Blue Marlin bites. Most Striper action reportedly occurred to the south between the waters of Rancho Leonero, La Ribera, Punta Colorada, Punta Arena, Los Cerritos, and Cabo Pulmo.

The Dorado bite sucks. Anglers reported limited Dodo action to the north off Cerro Verde, Punta Pescadero, and out in the vicinity of the 88.

Despite the winds, anglers managed to generate an overall catch rate for Yellowfin Tuna of about 22 percent. Anglers reported Tuna action to the north off Punta pescadero, as well as out toward the 88.