EAST CAPE BILLFISH CATCH IS MOSTLY FOR STRIPED MARLIN THIS WEEK

Jan. 7, 2006, Roy Baldwin, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico fishing :

Unseasonably mild weather continues at East Cape, with cool mornings in the mid 50's and very warm afternoon highs near 85, mostly nice days, 2 days of north wind at midweek, and slightly warmer water temperatures of 69-71 degrees.

The mild weather has brought out a few more happy fishermen. The bite has moved north, with the center of action about 20-24 miles due north of Rancho Leonero, with striped marlin and dorado aggressively biting.

Billfish, mostly striped marlin, are concentrated north in a strip about 5-10 miles out, from Punta Pescadero to near Isla Cerralvo. The marlin are biting bait and lures aggressively, with a wide open bite most days.

Big yellowfin tuna are within casting distance from shore near the lighthouse, with sierra off most area beaches. Everyone's catching fish. Roving schools of fish of 50-80 pounds, are pushing bait up on the beach at the lighthouse. Fishing from shore is resulting in lots of spooled reels and broken hearts. Hungry fish are aggressively biting live mackerel, cedar plugs and marlin lures, many within 50 yards of shore.

The strong dorado bite continues, 2-3 per boat, with lots of dorado of 10-25 pounds spread north from the buoys off Punta Pescadero to near Isla Cerralvo, with fish taking live mackerel, strip bait, hoochies and lures.

Inside, sierra are off most East Cape area beaches, from Rancho Leonero south to Las Barracas, taking mostly hoochies. There is no pressure as most East Cape sportfishing boats are chasing dorado and marlin north.