VALLE DE DOMINGO FISHING TOURNAMENT

Loreto, Mexico Fishing, Pam Bolles, Baja Big Fish Company, Sept. 4, 2004:

Judging from today's tournament results, there are a lot of billfish off Loreto's shores. Today is the first of a two day tournament held by the Valle de Santo Domingo Hunting, Shooting and Fishing Club. Valle de Santo Domingo is north of Ciudad Insurgentes on the other side of the Baja peninsula. It is the northern extension of the large agricultural area around Ciudad Constitution, 2 hours West of Loreto. Local folks from Los Cabos, La Paz, El Valle and Loreto participate in this 12th annual event.

We showed up at about 2:00 p.m. I would guess that at least 75% of Loreto fishing boats brought in a billfish. I saw Sailfish from just under 100 pounds to over 130 pounds brought in. I believe this tournament has a billfish division but I'll have to look further into it to be sure.

Loreto Marlin were Stripers from just under 100 pounds to over 170 pounds. The billfish were coming in from the eastern side of Isla Carmen from Punta Lobos to Punta Perico. These guys were all trolling live mackerel to get them. Everyone I interviewed said that Loreto water was very rough and they got rained on.

I watched the rain showers over Isla Carmen and Isla Coronado and also to the south past Puerto Escondido yesterday and today from my home. I intended to participate in this tournament and think I would have made good contender, but I decided to opt out because of the weather. I guess I'm not "gung-ho" enough to get wet and beat up for a nothing to write home about sized dorado.

Loreto sportfishing area dorado were small from what I saw. Most of the fish were between 10 and 15 pounds. A few almost pushed 20 pounds. The smaller fish were coming from the buoy at the San Bruno sea mount. The larger fish came from Punta Perico. The largest of the day looked so huge that I overestimated its weight visually, and usually I guess more closely. My guess was 40 pounds, perhaps because all of the other fish were so small. Its official weight was 36 pounds.

The winning fish of the day weighed in at 36 pounds. 4 September, 2004

Up until today I hadn't had very much to report. Even the clouds were boring. Then on Tuesday we watched Tropical Storm Howard steer its way toward Loreto. It was upgraded to a Hurricane on Wednesday then on Thursday it was rated a category 4 hurricane. This morning it was downgraded to a tropical storm again and looks like we'll only get rain from it.

Yesterday Howard was a category one hurricane

While it was raining and being windy and rough, I have been working on the latest project, loretocaptains.com Its a new website dedicated to the captains of Loreto. Please feel free to take a look but keep in mind it is still under construction and changes will be made constantly. It will be an ever-growing project as you will see.

Loreto Inshore & Structure Fishing: Loreto Roosterfish numbers were very thick before the full moon phase. Since the moon has dimmed our weather has deteriorated. Once the effects of TS Howard diminish, this fishing should pick right back up again. Look for them starting right off the beach off the small island off Isla Coronado. They're also along the shoreline next to that little island and they continue to the northern limits of town. Right off Loreto's shoreline they'll be at the marina and a couple hundred yards out. They can be seen feeding throughout the day.

Larger Loreto Roosterfish can be found along the shoreline from San Bruno then from Punta Terra Firma to the north end of town. They'll be in water from less than a foot to over 40 feet. You'll see them crashing bait at the surface, look for pelicans diving as a good sign they're there.

Punta Baja is home to some very nice Cabrilla and Pargo that you can get in the deep holes. These fish won't be affected by the full moon because they're so deep. Use live Mackerel with 8oz. of lead to get them down. There are fish from 20 to over 80 pounds there.

We also know that there are plenty of triggerfish in many locations as yesterday much of the day was spent getting these as captains ducked out of the rough weather.

Loreto Beaches/Shorelines: No report on beach fishing.

Bait: Few mackerel for sale because of the foul weather, but they are doing the best they can to keep up with demand. One more tournament day so be ready to buy early or catch your own. Squid are still available to jig up. Look for the group of boats about two miles off the marina in line with La Cholla.

Loreto sardina have been plentiful inside and around the outside walls of the marina. Prime time for the sardina is about seven in the morning, unless there's cloud cover.

(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.