LOTS OF BILLFISH PRESENT IN LOCAL SPORTFISHING WATERS

Aug. 9, 2005, Pam Bolles, Baja Big Fish Company, Loreto, Mexico Fishing Report:

There are literally tons of billfish off Loreto.

Sailfish are still large averaging 130 pounds, and Striped Marlin, Blacks and Blues in that order. Marlin being caught have been from 80-200 pounds. The billfish are being caught mainly on trolled live Mackerel or Bigeye. Feathers are becoming more common though still not widely used among the Loreto sportfishing pangueros. In general feathers need to be trolled faster than live bait and lots of captains don't understand that so they never see them produce like they should.

The Dorado have been a disappointment this season. Occasionally there were days when most Loreto fishing boats came back with them, but the next day they'd be gone. Two tournaments were held and the weigh-ins were "muy triste" as most boats were skunked. Less than ten Dorado were even weighed into either of the contests.

On Thursday (Aug 4) Brett Matzke fishing with Loreto Captain Eulogio Davis Sanchez happened upon the carcass of a dead dolphin in the southern waters off Isla Catalan. Brett, and his friend Mark Meloy caught and released 42 dorado from 10 to 25 pounds under that dolphin carcass. Brett told me that he was so tired that he handed the rod to his captain Eulogio who caught about 10 Dorado. Before they got onto this dorado frenzy they caught and released two marlin, all this fishing on flies.

Since the weekend the Dorado that have been being caught at Loreto are small, from 10 pounds and under.

Inshore, we've still got plenty of the old standbys; the Cabrilla, and the Pargo species, along with Yellowtail, Amberjack, Roosterfish, and Jack Crevalle among others. Loreto has had great inshore fishing since early spring and it hasn't let up.

Larger baits are not selling out so early anymore now that pressure from tourism at Loretohas slacked. There are plenty of sardinas inside and outside the marina.

Loreto Water Surface Temperature Range: 80-88.

(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.