LOCAL FISHING BOATS KEPT ASHORE BY WINDY WEATHER

Dec. 25, 2004, Pam Bolles, Baja Big Fish Company, Loreto, Mexico Fishing Report:

We've had about a week of strong winds and there hasn't been very much fishing going on at Loreto. Out of the past ten days Loreto vacation area winds blew for eight of them. Today Loreto is in a strong norte pattern. Unfortunately I think it will be with us for about 5 to 10 days. The fact that we have a full moon at night amplifies the winds from the West and Northwest during the night. Usually the Christmas and New Year holiday is the coldest at Loreto, temperature-wise. Early morning lows are in the low-50s and afternoon highs are in the high-70s.

Even though most days are windy, once we set into a steady norte pattern and once the bright moon dims some, we know that there's still a few hours in the morning available for fishing at Loreto. Loreto windy fishing periods will eventually be interrupted by a period of calm and you'll be able to get a full day in. If its a nice day, take advantage of it since they may be rare this time of year.

The yellowtail off Punta Pulpito have been a "sure thing" for several weeks now. The biggest challenge is getting up there and back. If you don't mind braving cold air, swell and a cold shower now and then this Loreto fishing trip will be right up your alley. If you have mackerel you'll be dialed in. They're biting in the middle of the water column, about 90 or so feet down.

Another population of Yellowtail is swimming and feeding good right off nearby Isla Coronado. On Tuesday afternoon Captain Andres Cota of Loreto stopped by the shop to show me a few of the Yellowtail that he'd caught. Nice fish, the largest looked to be around 40 pounds. He said that the water was rough beyond the island that day, and Tuesday was one of the calmer days this week!

Most Loreto folks fishing conventional are focused on the Yellowtail, but there are still some late season dorado to be had inshore. Use live sardinas to get their attention and once they are within 100 feet of the boat cast a live one to them and get ready. Expect 8-20 pound fish. Look for them along the Loreto shorelines between the islands and the peninsula on the north and south sides of town. Some places are between Isla Coronado and Punta Colorado, Puerto Escondido to Ensenada Blanca, Punta Baja, Bahia Salinas.

For inshore fishing Loreto's for pargo, cabrilla and sierra mackerel, troll live mackerel or sardinas along the shorelines. Use the same technique with Rapala type lures. I also like Yo Zuri crystal minnows. Keep about 100 feet to 200 yards off the shoreline, depending on the bottom structure. The Pargo and Cabrilla are very frequent now and can be found when fishing over any reef. The Sierra Mackerel are starting to show up, slowly. The Pargo and Cabrilla will be from 2 to over 20 pounds.

Roosterfish have been numerous along all of our Loreto shorelines since October and they're still here. In fact, if you want to specifically target them right now we can get you on them. Fishing along the shoreline from in front of the Loreto marina to Isla Coronado you'll encounter roosterfish from 5 to over 20 pounds. The size increases the further away from town you get. Off the launch ramp at Nopolo they are large and actively feeding. If you have live sardinas you're dialed in. The Loreto water surface temperature range is 71 to 79 degrees.

(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.