OLDER THAN HE LOOKS--Loreto's Capt. Ismael "Mayequi" Murillo Ramirez began taking sportfishing clients out with the famous Flying Sportsmen Lodge and then the Hotel Oasis in 1978. Photo courtesy Jeff Petersen.

LORETO HISTORY--Loreto's Capt. Ismael "Mayequi" Murillo Ramirez (left) on his first day of fishing at the Hotel Oasis in 1978. On the right is Mayequi's first client, Ray Westburg. Photo courtesy Jeff Petersen.

LORETO'S SPORTFISHING CAPT. ISHMAEL "MAYEQUI" MURILLO RAMIREZ

April 6, 2005, Jeff Petersen, Interview with Loreto, Mexico Sportfishing Captain Ismael "Mayequi" Murillo Ramirez:

Capitan Mayequi's wife Josefa brought along a photo album of years of fishing with various clients. They were particularly fond of one photo of Mayequi´s first day fishing with the Hotel Oasis in 1978. Capt. Mayequi's telephone number at home from the States is 011-52-613-135-0504. He is no stranger to the Hotel Oasis. A simple request of the hotel for "Mayequi" may put him at the helm for you. Here is his story:

Capt. Ismael "Mayequi" Murillo Ramirez of Loreto, Mexico:

"My family owned the land where the Hotel Oasis stands now. That was 50 years ago. All my family lived and worked for many years on Carmen Island.

"When I began fishing at Loreto with my father at 15, at the time we used no motors, only oars and sails. Using the oars and sails for power, we fished from Pulpito to Agua Verde, and outside the islands.

"In summertime, we fished Isla Carmen, wintertime Coronado and north. In those days we camped 15 to 20 days. Some of the days we used to prepare and dry shark. We would then sell our fish to markets from Guaymas to Mexico City.

"We did use nets and cimbras. With cimbras, we would catch bait and prepare for fishing the following day. Following these times of commercial fishing, sportfishing began with the Flying Sportsman Lodge. The Hotel Oasis followed. I made only a few trips with the Flying Sportsman Lodge, but began sportfishing in earnest with the Hotel Oasis in 1978. I continue to fish with clients from that hotel to this day.

"The business of sportfishing is changing in recent years. There exist more American businesses making arrangements for visits to Loreto, using a few capitans. There are many capitans who know many things about the water, and are anxious to fish with our American clients. My current panga, Frynee, is a La Paz style skiff. I have a new super panga ready for this new season. Americans like the super pangas for their room and security.

"February and March are traditionally good fishing for jurel or yellowtail. In March and April, the dog snappers are here. In May, the cabrilla, pargo and jurel are egging. Jurel start on the bottom in November. In March they come to the surface and return to the bottom as the water heats up. Last week, with a lot of wind at Loreto, there was little opportunity for fishing. Twenty pangas fishing San Bruno reef returned with 20 jurel. You are invited to fish at Loreto and you will be well attended to. We pack your lunches, fillet your fish and freeze them for you. Poles, hooks and other supplies are available."

(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.