BILLFISH FILLING IN DURING SLOW DORADO SEASON

July 3, 2005, Pam Bolles, Baja Big Fish Company, Loreto, Mexico Fishing Report:

Over the past two weeks the Loreto vacation area has had a lot of billfish. Both Sailfish and Marlin have been caught in good numbers. Most anglers that are hoping for Dorado have been hooking up on the billfish instead.

On 29 June, Captain Victor Manuel Villelejos with his client Patrick Troccolo watched in awe as an estimated 800 pound blue marlin jumped all around their super panga. The fish was only about a panga length away from the boat as it jumped. After a few minutes it dove under never to be seen again. They did catch and release several Marlin and Sailfish over three days of fishing.

Usually in July, Loreto is the place to be for dorado fishing, but so far this season has been a dud and the Dorado fishing is nothing short of dismal. There are a few out there and we were tricked into thinking that they were really on their way in, as last weekend's fishing was really starting to pick up.

On July 1, Capt. Francisco Muñoz took his clients offshore for Dorado and billfish. He described calm water after morning winds but no sign of life whatsoever.

There have been a few Yellowtail caught inshore as Loreto anglers have decided to use this fishery as an alternative to trolling offshore. The Yellowtail have been off Isla Coronado off the lighthouse right near where we get the bait. They have been hit and miss but if you hit them right they'll be in the 30 pound size range.

Roosterfish have been on one day and off the next. For the most part they've been small at under 10 pounds. We've been getting them at San Basilio and Mangles and also at Puerto Ballandra on Isla Carmen. The Jack Crevalle have been much more consistent and in fact a school of 30 pound class Jacks have been very willing to take sardinas and flies off Isla Coronado. This bite has gone on for over a week and a half now. Ladyfish have been prevalent off San Bruno and Mangles point, a good bet.

The Cabrilla and Pargo fishing action continues to be good at Loreto. If you want to bring back fish you can bet on catching some of these. The Cabrilla and Pargo are both coming in from 10 to 20 pounds easily. We've been getting them on live bait, iron and trolled Rapala type lures as well as on flies.

Lots of Bonita and Skipjack from 4 to over 10 pounds have been caught with live bait, jigs, lures and flies to our south off Isla Monserrate and to the North off the San Bruno area.

Live mackerel has been for sale at the Loreto marina but when there are lots of boats going out, they'll sell out by 5:30 a.m.

Water Surface Temperature Range: 84-73.

(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.