Spring fishing waters warming up at Cabo San Lucas

Mexico Fishing News, April 14, 2003

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Spring fishing action at the tip of Baja California improved a couple of notches last week, as water temperatures warmed up on the Pacific side and some boats scored multiple marlin releases. Solmar Fleet manager Rene Santa Cruz reported a triple release day for angler Rick Ingle of Lakewood, WA, with Capt. Federico on the Solmar I.

Ingle's marlin, plus a 40-pound class dorado, hit live mackerel at the Gordo Bank. Overall, Solmar Fleet had a catch including released fish of: 47 striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 51 dorado, 92 yellowfin tuna, 3 mako shark, 15 sierra, 14 skipjack, 18 roosterfish, and an 80-pound wahoo caught by Tracy, CA angler Peter Earley on the Solmar IV.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said Gaviota Fleet had a catch including released fish of: 35 striped marlin, 46 yellowfin tuna, and 42 dorado. "The fishing picked up considerably this week, with most of the boats averaging a billfish per day, and rounding out the catch with dorado and tuna," Edwards said. "Dorado have been in the 'keeper class,' with many of the fish in the 35 to 45-pound range." Gaviota Fleet boats found their best fishing at the Jamie Bank and 16 to 25 miles south of Cabo Falso.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: At Pisces Fleet, Tracy Ehrenberg reported 56 percent of boats releasing billfish, and 94 percent scoring on all species combined. "A big improvement," Ehrenberg said. "Shame there weren't more anglers around to enjoy it."

Top Pisces Fleet boats for the week included the Rebecca, which released 3 striped marlin and landed 2 dorado for Steven Sabalaske and Doug Truax of Washington State, and La Brisa with anglers Christopher Marks, Randy Pope and Domenek Weaver of Livermore, CA, with 2 marlin releases, 5 yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado, and a 65-pound wahoo.

"Fishing was pretty consistent, from the Old Lighthouse early in the week and then moving into the Sea of Cortez," Ehrenberg said. "Marlin took lures and bait, but they are still not really hungry. Many boats sighted them but weren't fortunate to register any hook-ups. We heard of a huge 125-pound wahoo caught at the 95 Spot, by Gene Lieu from Indianapolis. This fish took 30 minutes to land on 60-pound line."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Octavio Castro of Cabo's Sportfishing said the Anzuelo fished in very good conditions at the end of the week, landing striped marlin of 156 pounds, dorado to 50 pounds, and yellowfin tuna to 40 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Picante Fleet had 6 boats fishing on the Cortez and Jaime Bank on Friday with a catch including released fish of: 4 striped marlin, 16 dorado, 1 mako shark, and 24 yellowfin tuna.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Capt. George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing said Cabo weather was cloudy during the week, but clearing by the weekend, with daily highs in the low-90s, variable winds, and generally good sea conditions.

"The Sea of Cortez has been almost flat calm here at Cabo," Landrum said. "This has made for water that is beautiful to fish on." Landrum said near shore water on the Pacific side was found as cool as 67 degrees, but it was 69 to 70 degrees at the Jaime and Golden Gate Banks. On the Cortez side, a consistent 72 to 73 degrees was found, as some billfish were caught as close as a quarter-mile from the arch. According to Landrum, some out-of-season blue marlin were also spotted, but there were no reports of any landed.

Overall, yellowfin tuna and dorado provided the bulk of the action, Landrum said. Most of the tuna were school-sized 15 to 40 pounders, with many caught on porpoise by boats trolling lures. "The temperature breaks at the cool water eddy to the south and along the east side of the Jaime Banks have been holding the fish this week," Landrum said.

Dorado were averaging about 25 pounds, and many boats were reporting wahoo cut offs. Inshore, some yellowtail, sierra, and a few small roosterfish were caught, and bottom fishing was fair for amberjack, snappers, and groupers in the 3 to 6-pound range. Humpback whales continued to be present in numbers.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet said pangas fishing the tip of Punta Banda were finding continued limits of lingcod on dead anchovies, assorted rockfish, and lots of calico bass on swim baits in the boiler rocks. Over the weekend, Brian and Joanne Foley of Playa del Rey fished had limits on those species, plus sandbass, in good conditions. Ensenada weather was in the high-60s, with gentle breezes, swells to 3 feet, and water temperatures averaging 60 degrees.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Local angler Julio Meza reported catching a black seabass on Sunday while fishing on his boat inside the bay: "A beautiful day today, with my friends Mackenzie and Raul Marmol from Ecuador. We targeted halibut in the bay with live mackerel, and early in the morning we hooked a nice one, but after that it turned slow.

"We went out to the 240 Spot, and we saw a huge school of yellowtail under the boat, but they had no interest in eating. We did well on lingcod and salmon grouper, but with our target fish in mind, we went back to the mouth of the bay and Mackenzie hooked a nice black sea bass with a live mackerel.

"Lots of boats fished today from San Martin Island to the 120 Spot, with nice catches of lingcod, whitefish, and reds. No yellowtail were on board this week. Water temperature was 56.5 degrees, glassy, and with clear skies."

Earlier, Meza reported Hector "Lilo" Villavicencio of Pedro's Pangas lost big black seabass two days in a row at the shallow water spot inside the mouth of the bay. "Thursday, Lilo fished on his way back to the dock, and fought a black sea bass for more and 20 minutes," Meza said. "The line broke. The next day, same story, but he caught 4 nice halibut to 25 pounds. Looks like this fish run has already begun." Meza said other guides, including Miguel, Bartolo, Jaime, and Elias had good results bottom fishing at the 6 Spot, 15 Spot, and 240 Spot. "No yellowtail this week," he said, "but lingcod to 28 pounds. The weather is good now."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas said the weather was generally good during the week, with a few windy mornings, but not enough to keep the boats from going out. San Quintin weather was in the low-70s, but still chilly at night. Winds were calm on Sunday morning.

"Everyone brought in large quantities of rockcod, lingcod, and whitefish," Hillis said. "The largest ling this week was an 18 pounder." Anglers fishing with Pedro's Pangas during the week included: Paul Siordia, Taun Hoang, and Steven Nguyen of Garden Grove; Sam Stratton of Tempe, AZ) with his son and grandson, Darryl and Sean, of Orlando, FL; and Ralph Hughes, Jim Simpson, Ryan Tororanto, Tom Ralph, and Steven Daniels, all of Arizona.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said a few schools of small albacore were reported by yachts in transit, south of Punta Tosca. At the Thetis Bank and up the Ridge, yellowfin tuna were caught in sizes of 30 to 60 pounds, Graham said, and in the esteros, the water temperature was warming a bit, and producing some fair to good action on snook. "It isn't a slam dunk, but if you put in your time, you might get lucky," Graham said. San Carlos weather was at 80 degrees, with local water temperatures of 64 to 68 degrees. Yellowtail action was slower, and the best locations for corvina were at the pier and power plant.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Luis Duhart said Victor's Fleet pangas at Punta Palmilla caught yellowfin tuna and dorado about 7 miles off the Cabo del Sol Hotel. The Maricela with Capt. Gustavo "Mudo," caught tuna to 30 pounds and dorado to 20 pounds, Duhart said, in water temperatures of about 70 degrees.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: At Gordo Banks Pangas, Eric Brictson said water temperatures off La Playita beach warmed up to 70 to 74 degrees, but local supplies of sardina baits was very limited. "Much of the action was from Chileno to the Gordo Banks, anywhere from 2 to 20 miles offshore," Brictson said, but, "with the lack of the small live bait, inshore fishing was not all that productive."

Overall, fishing numbers were up a bit, Brictson said, on yellowfin tuna, striped marlin, wahoo, dorado, sailfish, sierra, jack crevalle, cabrilla, pargo, and skipjack. Average catches ranged from a few fish to over a dozen, with the most numerous species being dorado and yellowfin.

Most of the tuna were found 10 to 20 miles off shore, usually associated with porpoise, and dorado were found in scattered pods throughout the same areas.

The tuna were hit or miss, Brictson said. Average catches were 2 to 6 per boat, once the fish were located, but, "everyday they seemed to be in a different area." Early season sailfish were also caught, and along the beaches, sierra, jack crevalle, and some roosterfish were landed.

"But with the lack of sardinas, the action was somewhat limited," Brictson said. Beach anglers reported good results on small halibut at the San Jose estuary.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: San Jose resident Bob Grimes reported continued commercial gill net activity in the area: "The gill netters from the commercial cooperativa in La Playita are taking amberjack, pargo, croakers, roosterfish, and other species. A large portion of the catch is by-catch that is thrown to the pelicans. The gill netters have been particularly aggressive the last couple of years in La Playita, and many of the inshore species have been decimated, even the rayadillo (grunts).

"The Mexicans working in pesca deportiva (sport fishing) have traditionally been pretty passive about gill netting because of complicated familial and other reasons, but now realize the damage that the chinchorros are doing to the livelihood of anyone working pesca deportiva, not to mention hotels, restaurants, etc. They are cutting the gill nets with increasing frequency, which is causing the gill netters to stay around to guard their nets.

"At Bahia Los Frailes, that commercial panga fleet is down to about 10 or 12 pangas. At times it is close to 100. At Los Frailes, which is a marine reserve, the pangueros use hand lines for huachinango, grouper, cabrilla, and other bottom species. These pangueros tell me that they don't use gill nets because it is prohibited, and I have not seen gill nets at Los Frailes."

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Good fishing continued for boats out of Bahia de Palmas for dorado, striped marlin, and school-sized yellowfin tuna. Marisol Verdugo of Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort said good results were found by their boats, Pescadory Too, Adelaida, Ricky, and Marisol: "The dorado were good this week, averaging 25 to 40 pounds. The average boat caught 4 to 8 dorado. The tuna was great! But the size is 15 to 25 pounds. A lot of boats opted to go inshore for roosterfish after they had their fill of tuna. Tuna were 30 to 40 pounds."

Verdugo also said the resort's email address has been changed to martinverdugo@prodigy.net.mx.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Don Anderson fished East Cape the second half of the week with excellent results on 6 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 4 yellowfin tuna to 15 pounds, and 15 dorado, for 3 days of fishing. "Little to no wind, although it had been blowing from the north 3 to 4 days in a row before we got there," Anderson said. "Water temperature was 73 degrees, and blue, up close to the beach. I fished 20 miles east, although we saw fish on the way in. Never got a marlin bite on the feathers, all on live bait. Dorado, 25 to 40 pounds, hit the feathers all day, not at the buoys, but all across open water. Same with small yellowfin tuna."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 54 boats from combined fleets including the Van Wormer resorts of Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, and Punta Colorada, with a catch including released fish of: 7 striped marlin, 178 dorado, 90 yellowfin tuna, 17 roosterfish, and 1 shark. Most boats fished south of town, 10 to 30 miles off shore, from Punta Colorada south.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Jeffry Kingsley of Costa Mesa reported on a trip to Hotel Palmas de Cortez with the Limb Fitters group, from the prosthetics and orthotics industry, that has been visiting East Cape for fishing and charitable work since the early 1970s. Kingsley's group of 15 anglers caught 135 fish in 3 days, including striped marlin, sailfish, dorado, yellowfin tuna, roosterfish, and pargo. "Most of the action in fairly rough seas was on Petrolero jigs and a blue-and-white large hoochie," Kingsley said. "Quite a few roosters were seen, but were line shy. The high boat for the week was El Borracho, followed by El Loco II and El Tomas."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Earlier, Esaul Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on 17 boats fishing in windy conditions with a catch including released fish of: 1 striped marlin, 33 dorado, 53 yellowfin tuna, and 3 jack crevalle. East Cape water temperatures were 71 to 73 degrees. The week's fishing featured Baja veteran traveler Togo Hazard on the Dusty B., with a great day on 4 dorado and 20 tuna.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Paul Oldaker of Steamboat Springs, CO fished April 2 out of Hotel Punta Colorada and caught dorado and yellowfin tuna, plus two fish thought to be skipjack tuna: "We were about 2 hours east and south, probably off Frailes somewhere. We caught 2 fish the captain called 'white skipjack.' I had seen a small one a couple years before. I think it is Katsuwonus pelamis, the skipjack tuna. White skipjack is a good common name for this uncommon fish, since there are so many black skipjack in the area." Oldaker also reported that another Punta Colorada boat caught albacore on April 5.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: At Rancho Leonero, Gary Barnes-Webb said East Cape weather was about 80 degrees, with water temperatures of 71 to 73 degrees, and "wonderful fishing conditions" by the weekend.

"Most boats are heading about 10 miles off the lighthouse and working south from there," Barnes-Webb said. Leonero boats were finding hot inshore action on roosterfish of 40 to 60 pounds, "aggressively feeding off Las Barracas." Multiple striped marlin hookups were common, and increasing numbers of sailfish were seen. Yellowfin tuna of 15 to 30 pounds were being caught by all anglers, and "the best spring dorado bite in memory" continued on fish of 30 to 50 pounds, spread throughout the bay.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said, "Wow! What a difference a few days make. There's little wind, calm seas, and those fish we knew were out there are now biting like a bear coming out of hibernation. Every boat that I saw racing in yesterday had so many flags flying that I thought there must be some kind of celebration going on."

On the beach, fly angler Mike Klingler of San Bruno scored on 5 species including a 15-pound roosterfish while fishing in front of Buena Vista Beach Resort. "As the sun set behind the mountains, he was cheered on by a large group of revelers celebrating a wedding on the beach," Graham said. Water temperatures were 68 to 74 degrees, and roosterfish were right on the sand chasing 2-pound mullet at Bartle Beach.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of Vista Sea Sport said diving conditions were excellent at Cabo Pulmo: "Spring has sprung, and the sea and winds are calm, for the moment! Diving is great right now. The reefs at Cabo Pulmo are overflowing with life. It looks like the freeway in L.A. at 5 p.m. The water is clear and blue but viz is low because you can't see through all the fish. Huge schools of big eye jacks, cownose rays, giant grouper, and jack crevale are the stars of the show at the moment."

Rayor said bottom temperatures were 71 to 73 degrees, and he was trying to hook one of the increasing number of broadbill swordfish that are being spotted at East Cape:

"No swordie yesterday. We have only heard of one broadbill landed this season on the East Cape. One seems to pop up somewhere everyday, though. They all seem to have lockjaw and are not interested in bait. We worked on one for over an hour the other day. He stayed up for a long time.

"We just kept making circles, trying to get the bait in front of him. Frozen mackerel and a tuna belly. One time we had the baits right in his nose. The fish sank. My bait sank. We waited and my reel started to sing. What a rush! Turned out, a bull dorado ate the bait from right in front of the swordie. Very frustrating, but what a great day!

"Got one a few years ago. Hoping to do it again."

Rayor said the run of small, wind-driven Portuguese man-of-war or agua malas that would be expected about now has not materialized.

"Have not seen any agua malas," he said. "Kind of strange. It should be the time. Come to think of it, a few weeks ago we did see a small area 25 or 30 miles off shore but haven't seen them since."

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Fishing slowed down on both sides of the hill last week. Jonathan Roldan of Tail Hunter International said, "Bottom line is that fishing really was off quite a bit. We had been so used to nailing dorado and yellowtail. It was totally scratch fishing this week. I think a lot of that had to do with the winds that dropped water temps and brought up some green waters."

With dorado fishing slow, Roldan said anglers where switching to lighter gear for cabrilla, sierra, red snapper, smaller pargos, and larger bonito.

Roldan also reported the season's first sailfish and roosterfish, and a 25-pound yellowfin tuna caught on the south side of Isla Cerralvo by Jill Stevens of Alpine, CA. Giant Humboldt squid of 20 to 40 pounds also showed up.

Roldan noted 2 more miles of pavement from Agua Amarga to Los Muertos, the opening of the new Giggling Marlin restaurant, and some new beach restrictions and "Private Property" signs put up around the Hotel las Arenas. "Our pangueros are wondering if they will be allowed to put their boats by the lighthouse come summer," Roldan said. "I thought all beaches were public property. I guess, however, they can block access to the beach by snagging the road."

LA PAZ, MEXICO: At Mosquito Fleet, Mino Shiba reported some dorado of 10 to 25 pounds caught at Isla Espiritu Santo in water temperatures of 68 to 72 degrees, plus some action on yellowtail to 30 pounds between the island and Tecolote Beach. Good numbers of pargos were caught close to the rocks on live sardinas, Shiba said.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Ray Hiemstra of Huntington Beach had a good outing on mixed species with Fisherman's Fleet: "I went out on a panga arranged by David Jones on Friday. We fished the backside of Isla Cerralvo and had a good day catching numerous sierra, pargo, and jacks, along with bonito, trumpetfish and needlefish. The action was good all day. The dorado catches are sparse, with only one caught from the fleet that day, although several schools were spotted. No tuna were caught. We fished close to Cerralvo Island, less than one-half mile off shore."

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Arturo Susarrey of Arturo's Sportfishing reported Loreto weather in the high-70s, with occasional north winds, and water temperatures of 71 to 72 degrees. Yellowtail to about 27 pounds were caught at Baja Alfonso, between Islas Coronado and Carmen, and some marlin and dorado were seen at Punta Lobos, Susarrey said.

LORETO, MEXICO: Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company said her new store is now open in downtown Loreto, at the corner of Madero and Jordan, 2 blocks west of the malecon at Macaws Restaurant, and 2 blocks south of the bank.

Bolles also said she's discontinuing her email addresses after 7 years, due to an onslaught of spam reaching the 600 messages per day level. Henceforth, clients are requested to send emails through the contact form on her website, www.bajabigfish.com.

Bolles reported yellowtail slow, but the first dorado of the season caught: "On Tuesday, 2 dorado were caught off the east side of Isla Carmen, over 30 miles out. We are now starting to spot dorado in feeding behavior. This looks like the beginning of the northern migration. It will be several weeks before they are here in schools, but this is a good sign for the coming season."

With live bait hard to find, Bolles had some comments on what's going on: "Keep in mind, the bait sellers catch bait the evening before you go out. If it is windy in the evening and into the night, chances are very good that bait will not be available to buy.

"So in this event, make sure you depart early enough to catch your own, and make sure you have that bait jig. We stock bait jigs in our new shop. Today the bait sellers bought some, so who knows, maybe there won't be any more bait shortages!

"Big mackerel are working best for the large yellowtail. Sardinas are $10 for a net load. We suggest getting mackerel for the yellowtail or sardinas for the shallow cabrilla and roosterfish. Be prepared to bring iron in case you can't get bait."

LORETO, MEXICO: Earlier, Loreto resident Don Bear reported: "Fabrizio Marangoni and Jim Ballard fished with Paulino Martinez, catching 2 yellowtail and 1 cabrilla at Bajo Alfonso on a very rough day. Several pangas came back empty.

"Jim Ballard said the water on Saturday south of Catalana was showing 77 to 78 degrees. They also saw a small Sargasso paddy, about 2 feet in diameter, down there.

"Today, Paulino spotted a large marlin, too large to be a striper. Paulino and I saw a large manta ray while fishing for bait yesterday, which suggests to me that the water is warming up. All of this points to early warm water."

Tony Bykerk of Puerto Escondido reported sluggish fishing around the southern islands: "When the weather allowed, we fished either the south Catalan reef or the northeast corner of Santa Cruz Island.

"Although it is a scratchy bite, several tuna around 100 pounds have been taken by Tripui regulars on flylined caballitos. Boats were traveling 50 miles each way, and many days were windy.

"Large yellowtail were also caught at Santa Cruz, along with good-sized cabrilla. The south reef at Catalan continues with a sometimes great yellowtail bite. The yellows, 25 pounds, are eating iron as well as live bait.

"But it has been an inconsistent bite, and some mornings you just couldn't catch enough to justify a 100-mile round trip."

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Bob Castellon of the San Felipe panga mothership Celia Angelina reported on a four-and-a-half day Midriff Islands trip ending April 9. Castellon said 16 anglers had a catch of: 21 yellowtail to 21 pounds; 194 cabrilla to 19 pounds, with many over 10 pounds; 3 white seabass to 18 pounds; 3 grouper over 25 pounds, and 16 grouper under 25 pounds released; and 325 miscellaneous fish including spotted bay bass, triggerfish, and barracuda. Castellon wished to thank anglers for following his boat's policy of releasing grouper under 25 pounds. Midriff weather was sometimes windy in the low-80s. Castellon also said he missed the trip due to his pending gallstone surgery, which was scheduled for April 23.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Tony Reyes of San Felipe's Tony Reyes Fishing Tours said his boat the Jose Andres recently hosted a team of biologists, photographers, reporters, and students, who searched the northern Sea of Cortez for the endangered and very rare vaquita dolphin. "We had a great trip," Reyes said. "We had an opportunity to see them on different days. The wind blew sometimes, so we returned to the pier for the night, and continued the next day very early."

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Catalina Meders of San Felipe's Title Company Bookstore overlooking the bay said the weather was getting "hot," and the whole town was bracing for the onslaught of the huge Semana Santa crowds: "This is the week when San Felipe strengthens it's grip on the handles of the Noise City trophy cup. By next Friday evening, things will have reached solid fever pitch, and there will not be a square foot on the beach that is not covered.

"The great thing is that the town really profits from all this, and the street vendors actually look less harried and care-worn by the end of the week. Easter is still basically my favorite holiday, so Happy Easter and Good Passover to everyone who celebrates them."

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO) FISHING REPORTS

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ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO), MEXICO: Dale Donaldson of Puerto Peñasco's (Rocky Point's) Santiago's Ocean Service reported good-sized pinto bass running 13 miles southwest of town, at 120 feet deep. Water temperatures were about 76 degrees, Donaldson said, and the annual grouper run was expected to begin in April and May, about 30 to 40 miles out.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said Aries Fleet boats out of Marina el Cid saw broadbill swordfish daily, but they didn't land any. One boat had an estimated 300 pounder on for about 5 hours, Edwards said, but it sawed through the line.

Dorado were caught in good sizes of 45 to 50 pounds, and were hitting slow-trolled mullet baits intended for billfish. Aries Fleet had a catch including released fish of: 21 striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 3 mako shark, 1 blue shark, 3 yellowfin tuna, and 74 dorado.

Mazatlan weather was mostly cloudy and humid in the mid-80s, with some southwest afternoon breezes, and water temperatures in the low-70s. The best fishing was found 25 to 30 miles southwest of Marina el Cid.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Local guide Ed Kunze said 78-degree water moved right to the entrance of Zihuatanejo Bay, and the inshore fishing was greatly improved. "The blue water close to shore has really turned on the inshore fishing for sierras, rainbow runners, large jack crevalle, and a few rooster fish," Kunze said.

Offshore, the action for tuna, and especially sailfish was approaching red-hot. "Santiago on the panga Gitana and Efrain on the Vamonos III both had back-to-back days with at least 9 sailfish strikes each day," Kunze said. "The main action is taking place at 16 miles on a 240 degree heading." Zihuatanejo weather was in the mid-80s, with water temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Stan Lushinsky of Ixtapa Sportfishing Charters said early week boats were averaging 150 to 200 kilos of tuna caught. Sailfish action picked up a few days later, with many boats reporting 6 fish raised per day. Angler Andy Cousens on the Vamonos III with Capt. Chiro landed 4 sailfish and missed 3 others, Lushinsky said, and inshore fishing was dominated by huge schools of yellowtail jacks and bonitos. No roosterfish were reported, he said.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Paul Phillips of the Fintastic Total Tag & Release Tournament said boats were raising 7 to 8 sailfish per day by the end of the week. "Toward the middle of the week a light southwest breeze began, and by the end of the week, blue water was 2 miles from the harbor," he said. "The water temperature increased to 80 and the sailfish were jumping. Hopefully our 'April Current' has departed with Semana Santa.

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FROM HOLLAND TO EAST CAPE--Dutch light tackle, mixed species specialist Peter Langstraat fishes at Hotel Punta Colorada with his girlfriend Mieke Schaap, shown here with a green jack. Said Langstraat, "When I met her, she had never touched a rod in her life, but she was willing to try. After quite a bit of field training and casting lessons, she joined me for the first time in June 2002. Fishing from my aluminum boat, she actually did great, including some pretty rare species like an almaco jack, a flat needlefish, and bonefish. She totaled 18 different species and 91 fish overall. Again last February, she did very well, catching a 15-pound skipjack after almost an hour, and of course lots of sierra, some ladyfish, and a green jack. This one was caught by her from the beach close to the lighthouse of Punta Arena on a 14-pound line with a piece of squid. Photo courtesy Peter Langstraat.

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PUNTA BANDA CATCH--Joanne Foley and husband Brian of Playa del Rey fished at the tip of Punta Banda with Ensenada's Vonny's Fleet on Sunday for limits on rockcod, lingcod, calico bass, and sandbass. Photo courtesy Ivan Villarino.

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GORDO BANKS DORADO--This 30-pound dorado was landed by Philip Angeles of Santa Barbara, in a panga out of La Playita beach with Capt. Chame. Photo courtesy Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas.

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SAN JOSE CATCH--Tim Goulart's group did well on school-sized yellowfin tuna and dorado with Victor's Fleet last week, just a few miles off San Jose del Cabo. Photo courtesy Luis Duhart.

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EAST CAPE BEACH ACTION--Jeff Solis of Baja On The Fly shows off a nice roosterfish caught from the beach last Sunday. East Cape shore fishing picked up last week, as winds subsided. Photo courtesy Gary Graham.

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SKIPJACK TUNA?--Paul Oldaker of Steamboat Springs, CO fished at East Cape recently and caught a couple of these small tunas, called "white skipjack" by the captain. "I think it is Katsuwonus pelamis, the skipjack tuna," Oldaker said. "White skipjack is a good common name for this uncommon fish, since there are so many black skipjack in the area." Photo courtesy Paul Oldaker.

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LA PAZ DORADO--Jillene Stevens of Alpine got this nice dorado by drifting a big chunk of squid south of Cerralvo Island, near La Paz, with Capt. Adolfo Gonzales of Tail Hunter International. Photo courtesy Jonathan Roldan.

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DORADO LIMITS--Californians Angela and Tom Grana scored limits of dorado with Mosquito Fleet's Capt. Javier. Photo courtesy Mino Shiba.

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HOTEL OASIS YELLOWTAIL--Bill Sumner fished out of Loreto's recently reopened Hotel Oasis with friends Bill Bennett and Tex Pegan for a scattered catch of yellowtail to 35 pounds with Capt. Ismael Murillo. Photo courtesy Bill Sumner.

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GOOD LORETO DAY--Vince Acosta, Gabriel Aguilera, and Mike Alloway of San Diego had a great yellowtail day at Loreto with Capt. Juan Pablo Martinez of Mitch's Sportfishing, fishing mostly at San Bruno and Isla Coronado. Photo courtesy Mitchell Rose.

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LORETO YELLOWTAIL--Arturo Susarrey of Arturo's Sportfishing in Loreto sent this photo of cabrilla and yellowtail to 27 pounds caught recently at Baja Alfonso by these anglers from Hawaii. Susarrey said they also lost 6 other yellowtail during the day. Photo courtesy Arturo Susarrey.

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MAZATLAN SNOOK--Aires Fleet manager Geronimo Cevallos with a beautiful snook caught last week about 6 miles north of Mazatlan at a spot called Piedras Negras. The snook was caught by trolling a small, mackerel-colored Rapala. Photo courtesy Nora Alonso Rice.

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SAN QUINTIN BLACK SEA BASS--Julio Meza, right, shows off a black sea bass caught inside San Quintin Bay on Sunday, on a live mackerel, with friends Mackenzie, and Raul Marmol of Ecuador. Meza's boat also scored on halibut in the bay, and lingcod and salmon grouper outside on the bajos. Photo courtesy Julio Meza.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES

Spring fishing waters warming up at Cabo San Lucas

Mexico Fishing News, April 14, 2003

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO) FISHING REPORTS

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS