Albacore fishing at Ensenada is 35 miles off Baja coast

Mexico Fishing News, June 2, 2003

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Pangas at Punta Banda caught yellowtail, and offshore boats found albacore about 35 miles out of Ensenada over the weekend. Erick Ptacnik of Gordo's Fleet reported 3 offshore albacore to 35 pounds, and local boats with larger yellowtail at Santo Tomas and good counts of barracuda around Islas Todos Santos.

At Lily Fleet, Sammy Susarrey said 9 albacore of 15 to 20 pounds were landed on Saturday in 62.1 degree water, and the Amigo also scored on yellowtail with jigs at Santo Tomas.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: On Saturday, Werner Hradecky fished out of Mission Bay on Scott's Johnny with Mike Bratton, Mike Redman, and Dave Laguardia, about 100 miles south on a heading of 197 degrees. "Caught 14 albies by noon," Hradecky said. "Eleven on the troll and 3 on live bait. Water conditions were pretty lumpy past 60 miles. Left at noon and headed home at 18 knots. The albies weighed between 15 and 22 pounds." The water temperatures about 90 miles out was 58.5 degrees, Hradecky said. At 100 miles, the water warmed to 61.5 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Earlier, Steve Ross of Pescadores de Ensenada at Marina Coral said, "I got the numbers from Etc.Etc. who did real well only 35 miles from Ensenada and metered walls of albacore in a 35-square-mile area. Let the games begin." Over Memorial Day, Ross reported club boats including Melody, Um Bwana, Blackjack, Patron, Rude Too, and his own boat, Bad Dog, "scoured the 238 and inner banks for paddy yellowtail, but found none."

ENSENADA, MEXICO: At Punta Banda, Vonny's Fleet pangas scored on the season's first large local yellowtails over the weekend, including a 34 pounder and limits of bottom fish caught with Capt. Beto Zamora on the Vonny I by Paul Antounian of Van Nuys and Hrutch Jolekian of Sherman Oaks. They also scored on barracuda, lingcod, sandbass, and calico bass, said Vonny's Fleet's Ivan Villarino. Punta Banda water temperatures were at 61 degrees.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

PUERTO SANTO TOMAS FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO SANTO TOMAS, MEXICO: Sam Saenz said gloomy weather covered the sky over the weekend, but seas were moderate in light winds, and the bottom fishing remained excellent with limits for all anglers. The first yellowtail of the season were caught early in the week, as 2 pangas landed 4 of them at Punta China. The yellowtail weighed 15 to 20 pounds. Saenz also reported commercial pangas using gill nets had brought in a few white seabass, yellowtail, and 1 medium-sized black sea bass.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Jim Harer of the Old Mill Hotel said water temperatures over the weekend averaged 57 degrees, with overcast mornings. Eight boats fishing during the week did not find yellowtail, but loaded up on bottom fish and lingcod.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Joe Martin and Dennis Lundquest fished at midweek with Capt. Bear out of Don Eddie's Landing and didn't catch yellowtail, but loaded up with bottom fish. "Clouds halfway down the volcano all day long, and fog that felt like mist," Martin said. "We fished the 240 Spot, where Dennis nailed his first big ling, 22 pounds. Bear nailed one at 20 pounds. We went to the 15 Spot. Good-sized whitefish, reds, and more lings.

"No sign of yellowtail, and we looked hard. Talked to Jaimie Garcia, and he was able to nail a few last weekend, but they were tough to come by." Don Eddie's Landing reported yellowtail around, but not biting eagerly. The few yellowtail landed weighed from 20 to about 26 pounds, Don Eddie's reported.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported San Carlos weather at 80 degrees, with water temperatures of 60 to 66 degrees. Graham said a few grouper and pargo were reported north at Lopez Mateos, and local spots were producing fair catches of corvina. Halibut, snook, and sierra were slow.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Cool winds on the Pacific sides brought lower water temperatures and slower action at the tip of Baja last week, although there were lots of striped marlin around and some boats did score double releases or better.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Solmar Fleet reported on 84 boats chartered with a catch including released fish of: 45 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 40 dorado, a 90-pound hammerhead shark, 2 bonito, 10 skipjack, 4 roosterfish, and 8 sierra.

Rene Santa Cruz of Solmar Fleet said, "Large areas of squid and big schools of flying fish have moved in, resulting in lower catch rates than the norm for this time of year. Their impact was particularly felt in the tuna fishery, where none was reported caught for the first time this season."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: At Pisces Fleet, Tracy Ehrenberg reported 68 percent of boats landing marlin, and 85 percent scoring on all species combined.

"There were lots of fish around and close in too," Ehrenberg said. "Some clients reported seeing 30 or more marlin in a day, but getting a hookup was not easy. "Bait has been scarce. Mackerel wasn't always available so mullet was used. But the majority of fish weren't hungry, maybe because there was an influx of flying fish and squid that they have been feeding on."

Nevertheless, some boats did well, including Pisces' Rebecca with triple and quadruple release days, and Andrea with a double on marlin plus a sailfish. Stimulator also released a 230-pound blue marlin. Dorado and yellowfin tuna were slower. Water temperatures were 69 to 71 degrees, with seas rough on the Pacific side and moderate to rough on the Cortez.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported about 55 percent of Gaviota Fleet boats scored on striped marlin, with most of the fish found north of the Gordo Banks on the Cortez side. Edwards said Gaviota Fleet had a catch including released fish of: 18 striped marlin, 12 dorado, 1 wahoo, 1 mako shark, and 29 yellowfin tuna.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Capt. George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing said the wind blew so hard at times it was "almost whitecaps in the marina." The strong winds caused an increase in the current coming down the coast, dropping water temperatures to as low as 67 degrees in some locations south of the arch, Landrum said. "Hopefully, the winds and currents will change, and warm water will return," Landrum said.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Earlier, Ken Rodriguez and his wife Diane had a double on striped marlin aboard the Edith II with Capt. Jose Juan, including Diane's first marlin, caught with a Penn Jigmaster within sight of the arch. "We had an unbelievable day," Rodriguez said. "We saw approximately 40 to 50 marlin, no exaggeration. We ran out of live mackerel and were forced to keep throwing our last 2 dead mackerel at all the fish we saw, but they weren't interested.

"We were headed in for the day. The deckhand was taking down the poles, when we came across a marlin free jumping and feeding. As luck would have it, the only pole available was the lightest, a Penn Jigmaster 500L spooled with 240 yards of Trilene 40-pound.

"The fish immediately hit the bait and took off on a run that almost spooled my wife. We quickly backed down, and were able to get some line, and I spent one of the most enjoyable half-hours of my life watching my wife fight that fish. The boat Edith II and crew were outstanding."

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas said water temperatures averaged 70 to 72 degrees, and offshore action was slower, but bottom fishing picked up.

"The La Playita panga fleet had a couple of great days of fishing for African pompano," Brictson said. "They were found in their favorite area near San Luis, close to shore off Blue Rock. Trolling live bait, as well as drifting bait with small sinkers, produced results on as many as a dozen fish per panga, in sizes ranging from 5 to 18 pounds. This annual run of pompano typically occurs in March or April. They usually migrate fast. They are one of the best eating fish available for Baja anglers."

Brictson added, "Bottom rock piles produced this season's first real action for amberjack, fish to over 50 pounds on yo-yo style jigs and live mullet. Red Hill and Iman Bank were the most productive areas for amberjack, cabrilla, and grouper. Dogtooth snapper to 30 pounds have been found along the rocky shorelines and particularly near the shipwreck off of La Salina, near Punta Gorda, striking best on trolled mullet." Live mackerel, sardina, and mullet were limited in supply, Brictson said. Along shore, some roosterfish, sierra, jack crevalle, pargo, needlefish, and pompano were caught.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Ed Raphael of San Clemente fished with a Victor's Fleet panga out of the Fiesta Inn. "The hotel was great, but the fishing was a little slow on this trip," Raphael said. "We were trying to target wahoo. We used Marauders and other wahoo jigs for 2 days without a strike. We fished the Gordo Banks. We tried live mackerel and got several dorado. My largest was 35 pounds. We also caught and released one sailfish which hit a purple-and-blue lure."

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Fishing action bounced back over the weekend, after a period of doldrums. East Cape water temperatures averaged about 80 degrees, although earlier in the week some unusual near-shore cool water eddies caused thick fog patches that moved ashore and even climbed part way up the hills at Los Barriles and Buena Vista.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Marisol Verdugo-George of Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort said, "Well! The fishing certainly picked up a lot. All the boats from our fleet are going out, and the tuna are back! Tons of tuna! Mr. Fase and his sons caught a 120-pound tuna, one of 80 pounds, and 2 more of 70 pounds. Several dorado were caught also, mostly 30 to 45 pounds. Eight striped marlin released. Hopefully, next week will be even better!"

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: At Rancho Leonero on Sunday, John Ireland said, "The fishing has improved." The hotel was seeing about 4 wahoo per day, Ireland said, and tuna to 45 pounds were found under porpoise about 25 to 30 miles out.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Tami Moyeous of Rancho Buena Vista said that Tony Marron at the hotel had predicted the improvement in fishing action this weekend. Earlier in the week, the hotel reported 38 boats with a catch including released fish of: 22 striped marlin, 31 dorado, and 12 yellowfin tuna.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Buena Vista Beach resort reported on 28 early week boats with a catch including released fish of: 4 striped marlin, 17 dorado, 10 yellowfin tuna, 1 roosterfish, 1 shark, 6 bonito, 1 skipjack, 2 sierra, and 1 needlefish. The hotel reported most boats fishing south.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 297 early week 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: 97 striped marlin, 20 sailfish, 168 dorado, 200 yellowfin tuna, 5 wahoo, 3 amberjack, 2 pompano, 7 roosterfish, 15 triggerfish, and 2 sierra. East Cape weather was in the low-80s, with water temperatures ranging from 74 to 82 degrees, and mostly calm winds except for some afternoon chop.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: East Cape resident George Bergin described the unusual near shore fog conditions, "A cold current along our shores has pushed the 77-degree water way out to over 40 miles. Inshore temperatures have the bait sparse and scattered. Rare fog banks have come ashore, and climbed the hill to my house."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: At Baja On The Fly, Gary Graham said beach fishing was up-and-down, with little bait to be found: "From La Ribera to Punta Arena, I can't remember the last time we traveled that whole distance without seeing anything. Then, back at Rooster Alley, we began seeing both quality roosters and jacks every few minutes. Don Sloan of Borrego began his 3-week trip with a 17-pound jack his first day out."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Rod Kubly of Glendale, CA and Los Barriles fished last week with his 8-year-old son Matthew on their 22-foot Parker La Risa, and Matthew caught his first solo dorado. "This bull was the first dorado that Matthew caught without any assistance," Kubly said. "Quite a feat when you consider that Matt weighs 65 pounds and the fish weighed 40 pounds. This will be a very memorable day for the two of us.

"The bite was vary much hit or miss for the hotel boats. We did very well for dorado about 7 miles east of the lighthouse, catching several in the 40-pound range.

"The same day Matt picked up that dorado, we went through a 10-mile fog bank. Yes, pea soup thick fog. Heading out, it was about 20-foot visibility. Really strange! When we came back in to our mooring in front of Palmas at 2 p.m., the fog had come into town. About an hour later it was gone and clear as a bell. Good thing I have a GPS chart plotter."

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Fishing was generally spotty, with some highlights last week, as water temperatures averaged about 78 degrees on the Las Arenas side. Jonathan Roldan of Tail Hunter International said pangas on both sides of the hill were seeing both hot and cold action. On the Las Arenas side, bait was extremely hard to find, and boats were reduced to running up the east side of Isla Cerralvo searching for sardinas, or chumming with cut skipjack to catch mackerel one at a time. However, Skip Coomber's panga hooked 2 yellowfin tuna in the 100-pound class, and another boat pulled 10 tuna to 30 pounds from a pod of dolphin about 25 miles outside, Roldan said. Another boat got lucky on 8 dorado and a nice pargo, but most boats found slow going on small dorado made difficult to catch by scads of needlefish.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: On the La Paz side, Roldan reported wind and tough going, but one boat hooking 8 dorado and a roosterfish as it found shelter near shore in about 20 feet of water. The La Paz side had good supplies of sardina and caballito, Roldan said, but the water around Isla Espiritu Santo was green after 8 days of south winds.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company reported cooler weather with some afternoon winds. Yellowtail were still hitting at San Bruno, Punta Lobos, and Punta Perrico. Dorado action was slower. On Saturday, dorado were found a distant 55 miles from the marina, out past Isla Carmen. "Once you've traveled that distance, you'll find that they've already gorged themselves on squid," Bolles said. "Lots of boats coming in with 2, but the occasional boat with many more. It's good to know they're out there, but we sure hope they come in closer soon."

LORETO, MEXICO: At Villas de Loreto, Wendy Wilchynski reported some guests returning with limits of larger dorado, which were being enjoyed in the hotel restaurant with mango sauce.

MULEGE FISHING REPORTS

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MULEGE, MEXICO: Fly-in resident Ron Grant returned from 7 days at the Hotel Serenidad and reported weather in the high-80s, with little to no wind, and water temperatures in the mid to high-70s.

Larger bull dorado, from 35 to 50 pounds, were caught, Grant said. "Boats were getting 2 to 6 of the biggies a day. Feathers, any color, is the way to go. Location of choice is 18 to 22 miles out on a heading of 30 to 35 degrees. Sargasso is forming just north of Santa Ines Island, but no fish. Lots of marlin and sailfish in the water, with several hookups on the dorado rigs."

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES (L.A. BAY) FISHING REPORTS

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: At Bahía de los Angeles, Abraham Vazquez of Camp Gecko said the weather was in the mid-80s, with very high humidity, moderate winds from the southeast, and local water temperatures averaging 64 to 66 degrees. Schools of anchovy and sardina were in the bay, but only a few mackerel. Good numbers of yellowtail to 30 pounds were at the inner islands, down to Las Animas, and north to Punta Remedios. The fish at Punta Remedios were 12 to 15 pounds, on the surface in the early morning, and deep the rest of the day. Vazquez said that the 20-peso island visitor fee was being enforced.

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Tony Reyes of Tony Reyes Fishing Tours reported on a 6-day Midriff Islands trip by the panga mothership Jose Andres, returning to San Felipe on May 30 with a catch of: 148 yellowtail, 18 to 28 pounds; 111 cabrilla, 8 to 14 pounds; limits of spotted bay bass; 4 broomtail grouper, 12 pounds; 26 barred pargo, 9 to 12 pounds; 2 grouper, 25 to 35 pounds; 60 squid, 20 to 40 pounds; 1 sheephead, 18 pounds; 5 white seabass, 14 to 18 pounds; and 1 black sea bass, 55 pounds. Midriff water temperatures averaged 72 degrees.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Alex Velez of Baja Sportfishing, Inc. reported on a 6-day Midriff Islands trip by the panga mothership Erik, returning to San Felipe on May 29 with a catch of: 182 yellowtail, 12 to 22 pounds; 163 cabrilla, to 17 pounds; 3 black sea bass, to 46 pounds; 31 red pargo; 8 white seabass, 28 to 45 pounds; 197 miscellaneous species including squid, triggerfish, and sheephead. Sixteen anglers lead by Ted Phoenix fished 2 per panga.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Bob Castellon of Sea of Cortez Sportfishing reported on a trip by the panga mothership Celia Angelina, returning to San Felipe with a catch of: 106 yellowtail, 84 cabrilla, 15 white seabass, 61 pargo, 2 grouper to 38 pounds, and 287 miscellaneous fish. The trip was lead by Tony Marks of Monrovia, CA and the weather was very good, Castellon said.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Local angler Bill Molden said water temperatures were 80 to 82 degrees, and 76 anglers on 42 boats in last week's lady's tournament caught: 178 dorado, 43 tuna, 8 wahoo, 23 released marlin, and 8 released sailfish. "This is the best spring fishing we have seen here in years," Molden said.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported a catch including released fish for Aries Fleet at Marina el Cid of: 43 sailfish, 4 striped marlin, 26 dorado to 45 pounds, and 81 yellowfin tuna. Inshore fishing was good for larger snappers and triggerfish. Mazatlan weather was clear in the mid-90s, with water temperatures in the low-80s.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Hot sailfish action, mixed with all sizes of yellowfin tuna continued last week. Local guide Ed Kunze said Ed Garvis of Anaheim, CA took a 202-pound tuna fishing with Arturo on the Whisky III. Capt. Armando on the panga Janeth got a 252 pounder for his client Nick Borsch of Holland.

Captain Calli on the Vamonos II released 8 sails for his clients in one good day of fishing, Kunze said. He was working an area only 12 miles out of Zihuatanejo Bay on a 210-degree heading.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Catches reported by Stan Lushinsky of Ixtapa Sportfishing Charters included 10 sailfish in a day for David Padget on the Vamonos III, and 3 sailfish plus 7 yellowfin tuna for Greg Schmidt on La Bamba. Zihuatanejo weather was in the low-90s, with water temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees.

Fish Photo 1

ALL BY HIMSELF--Eight-year-old Matthew Kubly of Glendale, CA landed his first solo dorado at East Cape while fishing with his father Rod, who said, "Quite a feat when you consider that Matt weighs 65 pounds and the fish weighed 40 pounds." Photo courtesy Rod Kubly.

Fish Photo 1

LOCAL ENSENADA YELLOWTAIL--This nice 34-pound yellowtail and limits of barracuda, lingcod, sandbass, and calico bass were landed at Punta Banda on Sunday by Paul Antounian and Hrutch Jolekian, fishing with Vonny's Fleet's Capt. Beto on the Vonny I. Photo courtesy Ivan Villarino.

Fish Photo 1

BIG CABO WAHOO--Rick Cooper of Upland, CA caught this 110-pound wahoo while fishing on the Respite, owned by Kevin Burlingame. The catch was made 20 miles out on a heading of 150 degrees with a special lure made by Bruce Natil, Cooper said. Photo courtesy Rick Cooper.

Fish Photo 1

FIRST DORADO--Dave Berthold of Atlanta trolled a sardina recently off Cerralvo Island with Tail Hunter International for this nice dorado, his first ever. Photo courtesy Jonathan Roldan.

Fish Photo 1

NO WAHOO, BUT NICE DORADO--Ed Raphael of San Clemente tried for wahoo with Victor's Fleet at San Jose del Cabo, but landed this 35-pound dorado instead. "We also caught and released a sailfish that hit a purple-and-blue lure," Raphael said. Photo courtesy Ed Raphael.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES

Albacore fishing at Ensenada is 35 miles off Baja coast

Mexico Fishing News, June 2, 2003

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

PUERTO SANTO TOMAS FISHING REPORTS

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

MULEGE FISHING REPORTS

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES (L.A. BAY) FISHING REPORTS

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS