WINTER YELLOWTAIL FOUND 60 TO 200 FEET DEEP

Jan. 6, 2005, Pam Bolles, Baja Big Fish Company, Loreto, Mexico Fishing Report:

If you'll be fishing in Loreto soon expect the highs to be in the mid-70s, if the skies are clear and slightly lower if there is cloud cover. Loreto has been chilly lately, and with cloud cover, winds, humidity, the air temperatures feel even colder than they are. Early morning lows have been getting down to the high-40s. Loreto also had several nights with rain.

Even though many Loreto fishing days are windy this time of year, once we set into a steady norte pattern, like we seem to be in right now, we'll know that there's still a few hours in the morning available to fish.

There are more yellowtail now, all around Loreto. There are big ones and medium sized ones feeding deep in the water column, 90 to 200-plus feet deep. Fishing for them is off Isla Coronado's east side and also in the deep water smack in the center of the channel that separates the island from the Point called Colorado. That's where Captain Francisco's 50+ pounder came from last year.

More Loreto areas to fish for Yellowtail with good success are Punta Perico, Isla Carmen's easternmost point, and Punta Pulpito, north and halfway to Mulege. They are 90-200 feet down, depending over which bajo you are fishing.

This is the last you'll be hearing of Dorado fishing at Loreto until the late spring. They've finally left our area for the winter. In Loreto inshore fishing there are roosterfish, pargo, cabrilla, barracuda, bonito, corvina, sierra mackerel. Keep about 100 feet to 200 yards off the shoreline, depending on the bottom structure. These fish will spot the bait or lure, and come up and grab it. 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 shorelines since October and they're still here. Along the shoreline from in front of the Loreto marina to Isla Coronado you'll encounter Roosterfish from 5 to over 20 pounds.

This is a great time of year to take a half day fishing trip at Loreto. Currently the half day trips are best suited for light tackle angling and using sardinas as chum or bait. Heavy tackle for Yellowtail is best suited to the full day trips because of logistics in getting bait and sometimes having to "wait out" the fish until they are ready to feed.

Loreto's Sea Water Surface Temperature Range is 72-64 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.