YELLOWTAIL BITING IN ROUGH SEA CONDITIONS

Jan. 18, 2005, Pam Bolles, Baja Big Fish Company, Loreto, Mexico Fishing Report:

Over the weekend Loreto air temperatures were cold with early morning lows in the 40s due to cold air brought by north winds. The prevailing wind has changed direction since and is coming from the west since Sunday night. Loreto skies have also since cleared from the overcast we had last week. Highs are in the mid-70s.

Last week we had classic nortes, but since Monday morning the wind has shifted. These west winds are deceiving and they often bring warm air with them. Currently Loreto skies are crystal clear and full of stars and the west winds are moderate. West winds can become strong, gale force winds but will generally slow down as the sky lights up. Usually the seas are still fishable as the high mountains to our west will block their full effects.

While the seas were very rough throughout last week and on Sunday, they have since calmed with the change in wind direction.

The Yellowtail are eating again! Last week right after I posted that the fish were not feeding, they started to feed. Even with strong and deep swells and full-on north winds, Loreto fishing captains took their unsuspecting clients for the ride of their lives, 38 miles north to Pulpito. There they were rewarded with easy limits of 20-pound class yellowtail. The Yellowtail are taking live mackerel from 90-100 feet deep at Pulpito and in most other locations.

On Saturday the winds gave us a slight break but the swells were still too much to venture very far from Loreto, so Capt. Francisco Munoz brought his clients to La Cholla in hopes of yellowtail. There they brought in one and broke off on several. The swells were difficult to take for one not accustomed to them. As Francisco's client brought in the fish he also gave back some of his lunch to the sea.

Live mackerel are the ticket to getting Yellowtail and on windy evenings the bait union has a difficult time catching enough to sell, so be prepared to catch your own.

Inshore light tackle fishing is still very good at Loreto, and a viable option given the winds we've been getting, for roosterfish, Pargo, Cabrilla, barracuda, Bonita, Corvina, and sierra Mackerel.

Loreto fishing Sea Surface Water Temperature Range was 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.