DORADO FISHING IS SLOWER FOR LOCAL FISHERMEN

June 10, 2006, Don Bear, Loreto, Baja Sur, Mexico, slower dorado fishing:

The dorado fishing at Loreto this past week has been spotty, a hit-or-miss proposition. When located, the dorado schools have consisted of mostly small fish of 5-10 pounds. Billfish, mostly sailfish, have been present in good numbers. Loreto weather has been hot, 100 degrees some days, and humid. Water temperatures ranged from 79 to 83 degrees, with noticeable warming during the course of the week.

Fishing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday on my boat, Captain Paulino Martinez led Susan Rapach and Dick Muhl of Timaru, New Zealand, and me to the following 3-day catch: 9 dorado, 5-30 pounds; 3 sailfish; 1 striped marlin; and 2 jack crevalle, 20-25 pounds. Except for the last, all the fish were caught 7-12 miles east of Isla Carmen. All but one of the dorado were caught Wednesday. All billfish were tagged and released. The toros were caught inside Punta Tintorera out of a school crashing sardines.

Capt. Francisco Martinez led his fishermen to 2 dorado on Thursday.

His son, Javier, found a school of small fish north of Isla Catalana on the same day, and his customers had limits by 10 o'clock.

Local Mexican sportfishing Capt. Paulino Martinez' fishermen came home empty that day.

Mackerel baits have been available every day from the Loreto carnaderos. Squid are easily catchable 3 to 4 miles off Loreto. Paulino has been netting sardines for us on the north side of Isla Carmen. I still refuse to pay $15 to the hacks that are netting sardines in the marina.

(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.