DORADO MOVING TO WARMER NEAR SHORE FISHING AREAS

Nov. 18, 2006, Pam Bolles, Baja Big Fish Company, Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Normally we wouldn't be reporting dorado, sailfish, and marlin this late into November at Loreto because by now all of these fish species would have left.

This year the Dorado have remained at center stage for the past several weeks. The offshore water is still fairly warm at 76-79 degrees but it's cooling rapidly. The shoreline water and the water inside the protection of the islands will remain warmer, currently 79-82 degrees, for an extended period of time, and the result of this is that the dorado (also mahi-mahi or dolphinfish) will stay inside.

This is happening now. Loreto fishing waters north of Isla Coronado are holding Dorado and they can be caught literally a stone's throw from where the mountains meet the sea.

There are also Dorado along the shorelines at the mouth of Puerto Escondido to Rattlesnake beach and they are likely to be in many protected coves around all the islands.

Loreto fishing boats are still going up as far as Bajo de Mercenarios for Pacific Sailfish and the occasional Marlin. Dorado are to be found in this same area.

Expect the billfish to become less frequent in the upcoming weeks at Loreto, and for the majority of the Dorado to make their southward migration along the center of the Sea of Cortez off Baja's eastern coast. However a good portion of them may move to the warm water along shore. Since dorado numbers were thick this season some may even stick around for the whole year.

With Loreto tourism at a slack period until about the 20th of December, there are few boats going out fishing. Until the lows are reached in January and February, expect good opportunities for roosterfish, snapper, cabrilla, triggerfish, wrasse, ladyfish, and sierra.

There are lots of sardina inside and around the Loreto marina and we expect this to be the case until water temperatures along the shorelines cool down to wintertime lows. Mackerel are easily caught now with bait jigs about a mile-and-a-half off the marina and at the deep spot off the lighthouse at Isla Coronado.

Small roosterfish are being caught frequently right inside the Loreto marina by locals fishing with handlines and whole or chunked sardinas.

Loreto water temperature: Offshore: 76-79 degrees, inshore 79-82 degrees.

(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.