TUNA AND DORADO ACTION SPOTTY IN LOWER WATER TEMPERATURES

Oct. 14, 2006, John Ireland, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The last couple of days saw a small dip in the water temperature at East Cape, to 85-88 degrees, but that didn't slow down the bite, with blue water outside and clean water inside. East Cape air temperatures are around 90 degrees, with some afternoon breezes.

The overall fishing remains strong, with a hot marlin bite close in and more dorado being caught.

Marlin are close in, about 2 miles off the beach at La Ribera. Lots of striped marlin are present, with a few sailfish mixed in. The billfish are taking mostly live mackerel baits, with an overall average catch of about 2 releases per boat.

The yellowfin tuna have moved way to the south, a long boat ride to the Gordo Banks. It's an iffy bite, with some charter boats limiting out, while others get zip. The tuna are about 20-40 pounds, taking mostly live bait.

Dorado are concentrated from the Punta Arena lighthouse to Cabo Pulmo, about 4 miles out. The dorado (also mahi-mahi or dolphinfish) are mostly 15-30 pounds, taking mostly live sardinas. It's a hit-or-miss situation, with some boats taking 3-5 fish per day, while others in the same area getting nothing.

Roosterfish, pargo and amberjack are biting off East Cape sportfishing area beaches, with lots of good sardinas and mackerel bait in the water. Pargo and amberjack are biting on the reefs off La Ribera, with roosterfish of 10-20 pounds biting well from La Ribera to the lighthouse.

Terry English and friends of Windsor, Colorado, while fishing 3 days on Rancho Leonero cruisers, took or released limits of striped marlin and dorado, as well as numerous tuna.

(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.