LORETO BIGGIE--Jim Gray with a 35-pound plus yellowtail caught at Loreto, while fishing with partner Bill Sumner, and Capt. Ismael Murillo (left). Photo courtesy Bill Sumner.

PANGA FISHING WITH CAPT. ISMAEL MURILLO

June 13, 2005, Bill Sumner, Loreto, Mexico Fishing Report:

I had a small group for this year's annual June Loreto fishing trip, including myself, Jim Gray from New York, Tex Pegan of Newport Beach, and R.J. Ransom of Las Vegas.

I am happy to report that things are just breaking open after a slow start to the summer season in Loreto.

We fished two pangas Friday, June 10th, through Sunday, June 12th with captains Ismael Murillo and his nephew Luciano. We caught a wide variety of fish in varied sea conditions including one glass perfect day, one really rough and choppy day, and day of just so-so surface conditions.

Water temperatures are still cooler than normal but warming steadily. Fishing summary and highlights are as follows:

Bait was sketchy. The bait sellers had mostly smallish caballitos, few or no mackerel. Folks should come prepared to make bait.

Big yellowtail are still around, just off Isla Coronado where the pangas go for bait. The yellowtail that our group caught were all in the 30 to 45 pound bracket, absolute bruisers. My back ached all day from just one yellowtail battle.

Sailfish and Marlin were abundant. On the first day of fishing, my panga alone caught and released six sails and lost one other sail. We also baited but missed the hookups on three different marlin. The billfish were located in an area from a mile east of Punta Lobos, along the current line northeast of the back side of Carmen Island, over Bajo Cinquenta and continuing northeast for several miles. If you like sailfish, my personal favorite, I recommend that you get to Loreto fast. If the weather and surface conditions cooperate, it doesn't get any better than this.

Dorado had been scarce and far off shore, but that is now changing. On our last day, Sunday, we found big Dorado under frigate birds northeast of town as close as 20 to 25 miles out. We found all big fish, no schoolies, singles or a male and a female together. All were quality fish averaging 25-40 pounds.

(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.