STEADY BILLFISH AND FEW DORADO CAUGHT BY LOCAL FISHING BOATS

July 31, 2004, Don Bear, Loreto, Mexico Fishing:

Dorado fishing the past week has been very slow, but a relatively steady billfish bite has provided some compensation.

On Tuesday Kent Baker of Escondido and I joined Paulino Martinez, catching 1 striped marlin and losing 3 other solid billfish strikes/ hookups.

On Friday & Saturday, Betsy & Frank Woolrich and Mike Maxwell of Escondido along with Ken Myers of La Mesa fished with Paulino and me, catching 3 dorado and 1 sailfish. We lost at least 10 other strikes/hookups.

All 3 days we fished in a broad area north of Islas Coronado and Carmen about 25-35 miles from Loreto. Mackerel and sardines accounted equally for our strikes. The sea in Loreto's fishing areas has been relatively calm all week, except for yesterday, when it was rough all day. Loreto weather has been sunny, hot and humid.

Regarding the Loreto bait situation: mackerel have been selling out very early (by 6 a.m.) the last couple of days, but we were able to get a few (about 10) each day - on Friday off the SE corner of Coronado, and yesterday about 1-2 miles straight out from Loreto. Sardines have been available at a small bait receiver about a quarter of a mile out from the Oasis, although yesterday they flooded into the marina where Paulino netted more than enough in two tosses of his castnet.

Notes on other Loreto pangueros and days I did not personally fish:

On Monday Paulino guided his customers to 2 dorados and 2 striped marlin north of Pta. Lobos. His brother Francisco went to San Bruno and came home empty.

On Tuesday Loreto panguero "Chanto" took his fishermen to Pta. Pulpito for 3 yellowtail, then to Mercenarios for 3 dorado.

On Wednesday Paulino went to San Juanico, where his fishermen caught 1 dorado and 2 cabrilla; Alejo Murillo caught 4 dorado only a few miles NE of Is. Coronado.

On Friday Alejo caught 6 dorado in roughly the same location; Kent and Ted Baker along with Skeet Simmons, fishing on Kent's boat, caught 1 marlin and 2 dorados. Yesterday the same group caught 1 dorado; Alejo also caught just 1 dorado.

Loreto water temperatures have been 82-85 degrees, with lower temperatures occurring later in the week. Launching in the a.m. has been very difficult due to the extremely low tides, and many days saw long lines to get access to the launch ramp.

Everyone is hoping the coming week brings an improved dorado presence.

(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.