CALM SEAS YIELD A FEW DORADO FOR DON BEAR'S BOAT

July 24, 2004, Don Bear, Loreto, Mexico Fishing Report:

Dorado fishing at Loreto was very slow during most of the week; the fish just seemed to disappear. But matters began to improve on Friday and yesterday, with most Loreto pangas coming in with 0-2 fish. Everyone is hoping that that small improvement indicates better days are ahead.

Paulino Martinez and I fished yesterday (Saturday) and caught 7 dorado, including 3 released. They were small: 7-15 lbs. We lost 3 or 4 additional strikes, usually on mackerel, which the smaller fish take longer to swallow.

All 7 were caught in 2 stops, one of which was near a commercial net boat hauling its net 31 miles from Loreto on a 40-degree heading--well outside the Parque. The other was in a current line 28 miles from Loreto on a 36-degree heading. Both sardinas and mackerel were successful baits.

Loreto water temperature was an unseasonably low 83 degrees, but there was good clarity. (The water closer in to Isla Coronado was warmer - a little over 86 degrees.) There was a light chop. Loreto weather was cooler than normal with a slight breeze. For late July, it was actually pleasant on the water.

Other Loreto pangueros:

On Friday:

Javier Martinez came in with 2 dorados.

Chopi Murillo guided his fly fishermen to 1 striped marlin and 2 dorados.

On Saturday:

Antonio Martinez came home empty.

Manuel Martinez brought in 2 dorados.

Alejo Murillo came in with 1 dorado.

As you can see, it's far from wide-open dorado fishing right now. Today is much hotter and more humid that yesterday, and the water is dead calm and glassy right now.

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