MEXICAN TUNA LIMITS CAUGHT BY BOATS FISHING TO THE SOUTH OF EAST CAPE

Sept. 17, 2006, John Ireland, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja Sur, Mexico:

The East Cape sportfishing area had warmer water temperatures of 86-89 degrees this week, with dirty green water inside with lots of debris in the water. Air temperatures were in the low 90's, very pleasant.

East Cape has exceptional fishing right now. When Hurricane Lane was predicted to pass close to us, we couldn't get our fishermen guests to leave. We did lose 1 day of fishing due to rough seas, but we're back to normal operations now. We have very fishy conditions, with lots of tuna biting south, dorado very spread throughout the bay, and tailing marlin are outside. Larger and better quality fish are being caught, with most boats limiting out on tuna and dorado.

The wide-open yellowfin tuna bite of the last several weeks continues unabated at East Cape, with quality fish 20-50 pounds and a few fish to 80 pounds aggressively taking live bait, hoochies and cedar plugs, from Los Frailes to White Cliffs, 3-4 miles offshore. All Rancho Leonero charter sportfishing boats making the trip are limiting out. Some boats looking for marlin are finding tuna under pods of porpoise outside.

Dorado are in a much improved bite, with fish of 20-50 pounds spread throughout the bay, close in, within a couple miles of the beach. With all the storm debris in the water, the expected jump in the inshore bite has started, with most boats limiting out. Live sardinas are working best.

In Marlin fishing, there are lots of fish out there, but no pressure as most boats are going south chasing tuna, or close in loading up with quality dorado.

Inshore fishing saw the dirty water starting to clear. As the water improves, action for roosterfish, pargo and jacks should return to normal.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from East Cape and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for East Cape may be found at Mexfish.com's main East Cape page.