EL FUERTE SPORT FISHING REPORT

Aug. 3, 2004, Ty Miller, El Fuerte Sportfishing, Puerto Escondido, Loreto, Mexico Fishing:

It's slim pickens on the dorado down at this end, but the carp (striped marlin) are working as a great filler for now. From the looks of it it's a carbon copy dorado the Loreto fishing season from last year with the majority of dorado hanging off the backside of Isla Coronado and out. Yes, a few decent fish but most are nursery fish in the 4 to 12 pound range that we don't even think about bringing to gaff.

It's tough to see a lot of people fishing the panga fleets and watching the captains kill these small fish, especially the females that are carrying eggs. On the other hand, you have to make your clients happy that have come down here to score. So it's a tough call.

If you don't know already, we here at El Fuerte Sportfishing WILL NOT kill a female dorado under 20 pounds unless she has been hooked bad and bleeding. And we only keep bull dorado from 15 pounds and up. I'm sure from other Loreto fishing reports, you have seen how bad it's been down here and it's not easy convincing paying customers to release these small fish. That's my two cents on that. Just please remember that the nursery is our future, so please practice catch and release on the little ones.

The carp (striped marlin) are going off just a few miles off of Punta Baja on a straight line to the North end of Isla Monserate. Carp are taking the pitched live baits and also blowing up into the spread on the troll eating up the plastics (any color!) Other than that, the fishing off the backside of Isla Carmen is very quiet with dorado being a no show for quite some time now.

So, is it just going to be a late Loreto sportfishing season on the larger dorado or are they going to swing back around on their way south a little bit later? Who knows. We are just going to have to wait it out. I do know one thing, though. It's time to get the big gear out and some peanuts and go looking for some big mama blue and black marlin. These monsters should be coming up the line soon on the outside or as close as the canyon off of the Los Gatos area. We did bring an incredible amount of smaller blue dogs to the boat earlier in the season but they were little guys in the 150 to 250 pound class. It was a blast because these dogs can move out, especially on light tackle.

Bait has been a no-brainer, either right inside Playa Juncalito for perfect size macks or over at Harry's Hole for the same. Bite is between 6:00 and 7:00 am.

We are finishing up the Loreto fishing season here at the end of the month. Then it's time to take a short break for a few weeks. Then we fire up again. Sure would be nice if the yellowfin came around to help out. I did run out to the ridge with some clients recently but nobody home except some really nice yellowtail and pargo in 140 feet in 85 degree water - go figure!

Air Temp. 93. Water Temp. 85. Winds Light. Sea State Calm.

(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.