FISH UNCOOPERATIVE DURING BOAT CRUISE TO ISLA CERRALVO

July 12, 2004, Russ Fritz, Slow Fishing at Isla Cerralvo, Mexico:

We didn't get home from our Isla Cerralvo trip until last evening. The trip was great, but the fishing was poor around the island. I guess you can't have all good reports and keep it honest. Anyway, we washed our lures for over 100 miles, with only one marlin strike, and no hook-up.

We saw a few tailers, but evidently they weren't hungry. There are millions of flying fish now, so I suppose they are gorging on them.

The water is warm, 82 to 88 deg. and the wind has been blowing from the South East at about 15 to 20 mph every afternoon. Plenty of marlin, dorado, and tuna are being cought by the hotel boats, but they are going up to 70 miles to find the tuna. That makes for a long boat ride. Most of the marlin / dorado action seems to be either off Punta Pescadora or Cabo Pulmo and the light house.

This was in my 25' Grady White, the Morning Star. We went from La Ribera, where we had somewhat of a fiasco launching, north past Punta Pescador, and on to the Isla Cerralvo.

We spent the night anchored in the lee and were on the wahoo grounds about 0530. Our best Mauraders and Rapalas couldn't entice one wahoo, so we worked the shark bouys and our way out to the 88 spot and beyond. From there we turned south and worked our way home, bucking a 15 to 20 mph wind and chop. All the radio chatter was about some blue marlin off Las Barracas and Punta Arena light.

We are preparing for a 7 day trip from La Ribera to Loreto and back in the Morning Star. We will troll most of the way, stop and snorkle at the islands, and anchor in coves for the night. This morning it is ominously dark and overcast with no visiable horizon, so we will take our departure cue from the weather. I have survived several violent Chubascos in the past, so am in no hurry to repeat that adventure.

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