Hurricane Marty rips Mexico's southern Sea of Cortez fishing areas

Mexico Fishing News, September 29, 2003

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LA PAZ

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Boats were fishing again in calming seas, as work crews worked furiously to clean up the massive damage from last week's Hurricane Marty, which ripped into the Baja coast with torrential rains and frightening, 100 m.p.h. class winds from East Cape, through La Paz, and north to Loreto.

By Sunday afternoon, power and telephone service was still intermittent in some areas, and some arroyos were still negotiable only by 4WD vehicles, but clients were arriving at most hotels, stores were being restocked, and boats were resuming normal operations.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: In La Paz, Jonathan Roldan of Tail Hunter International reported many boats damaged or sunk in the torn-up marinas, which were hit by 7-foot waves inside Bahía de la Paz. At the hard-hit La Concha Beach Resort, Roldan said, "Water in the parking lot rose to the height of car windows. The lower offices of the hotel were 7 feet under water! The Marina de la Paz looks like the day after Pearl Harbor."

Roldan said armies of cleanup workers were making rapid progress, and he was fishing again. "Not the best conditions, but safe enough to send some folks out of the La Paz side. Actually got some dorado and pargo! The waters are pretty muddy and green, but it's getting better. I had some boats out beyond Isla Espiritu Santo the other day, and there's actually blue water out there." The Las Arenas side road was still a 2-hour drive, Roldan said, sardina bait was found in the muddy water, and some dorado, cabrilla, and triggerfish had already been caught: "It should be cleaned up well enough in the next few days." Good dorado fishing outside was also reported by commercial pangas, Roldan said.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Joanne Barnes of El Centenario said some fatalities were reported in La Paz, and helicopters and military inflatables were seen searching the arroyos and bay.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Tad Crofoot of La Concha condos said the buildings were relatively undamaged, but the hotel was temporarily closed. Crofoot called damage to the city "normal with a Class 2 Hurricane," with street pavement damage, and mud slides. The airport was open again, after closing for 2 days. "The major disaster was Marina de la Paz, " Crofoot said. "Three of the outside big docks broke lose and the boats piled on top of each other. Many boats were sunk and many more severely damaged."

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sport Fishing said 8 boats fished by Sunday and caught dorado of 30 to 40 pounds. Sardina bait was also found, and Hernandez said pangas were looking for tuna. Water temperatures south of Isla Cerralvo averaged 82 degrees. The Tortuga guest house was undamaged, Hernandez said, but people were reported missing in the arroyos. Many roofs were lost outside the city.

During the hurricane on Monday, Mino Shiba of Mosquito Fleet said the wind was so loud it sounded like his house would collapse.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Larry Miller of Perris, CA said of the storm: "It was a classic. Wind from the north, with a lot of water, bent things over to the south. Then things went almost dead calm for an hour or two, starting up from the south, and that's when a lot of the damage occurred. Things that had been flexed to the south got pushed over the other way and let loose."

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR ENSENADA

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet said weather at the tip of Punta Banda was in the high-70s, with light breezes, swells of 3 to 4 feet, and water temperatures of 62 to 63 degrees. Limits of rockcod, lingcod, and barracuda were caught by Lando and Lisa Delgado of Eastlake, CA, and limits including yellowtail were caught by Lawrence Tiang and Walter Corboler of Upland, CA on the Vonny I.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sergio Susarrey of Sergio's Sportfishing Center reported on 142 anglers with a catch of: 238 yellowtail, 84 bonito, 52 barracuda, 102 calico bass, 107 sandbass, 12 yellowfin tuna, 1 dorado, 277 lingcod, 376 rockcod, 12 sheephead, 18 salmon grouper, and 35 red snapper.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of Pescadores de Ensenada reported on trips by club boats out of Marina Coral: Shanna Marie with limits of albacore for Donald Smith; 4 yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado, and many skipjack for Judy and Mel Ostberg on Melody; slow fishing for Bad Dog, Rude Too, and Blackjack.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Baja author Graham Mackintosh announced that his new book, Nearer My Dog to Thee, about a summer spent high in the San Pedro Martir National Park south of Ensenada, is at the printers and will debut in a few weeks.

PUERTO SANTO TOMAS FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR PUERTO SANTO TOMAS

PUERTO SANTO TOMAS, MEXICO: Paul Montgomery of Vista, CA and his brother Bevin of Evans, WA fished 3 days with Capt. Jorge Kamel at Puerto Santo Tomas: "The remnants of Hurricane Marty made it a sloppy ride, but the fishing couldn't have been much better. Lots of large lingcod and quality reds and as many bonito as you wanted. We caught the bonito on trolled Rapalas and Tady 4/0's fished fairly deep. We caught the lingcod on strips of mackerel and white iron jigs." Montgomery reported clean water at 62 degrees, fishing north of the puerto. Yellowtail were reported farther offshore. The lower road was in normal condition, but the upper road was reported in need of grading.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN QUINTIN

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas said he had 18 boats out during the week, and the Old Mill Hotel had another 10. "The outer waters are still green and dirty," Hillis said. "Probably as a result of Hurricane Marty." Offshore boats were returning with 2 to 4, 30-pound yellowfin tuna each, plus lots of skipjack. Local boats caught good numbers of yellowtail, to high of 35 pounds, at Isla San Martin, Ben's Rock, and another school located 2 to 4 miles off the point. San Quintin weather was flat and overcast in the low-80s by the end of the week, after one day of wind from distant Hurricane Marty.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: At Don Eddie's Landing, Amy Ferreira said tuna were scarce, but boats caught yellowtail of 12 to 23 pounds, barracuda, and bonita, plus the usual limits of bottom fish, including lingcod to 21 pounds, sheephead, sculpin, and whitefish. Good sandbass catches were also made at El Socorro, plus 3 white seabass of 18, 21, and 26 pounds.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Noel Huelsenbeck of Del Mar, CA, his father Noel, and Wayne Thomas fished 3 days with Kelly Catian at El Capitan Sportfishing, for white seabass, limits of yellowtail to 25 pounds, 1 yellowfin tuna of 15 pounds, 1 thresher shark, lingcod and bottom fish, and a striped marlin caught by his father: "We spotted a marlin on the bait ball and Kelly baited a mack on a marlin setup with 125-pound leader and 50-pound but the marlin spit it. A minute after, my dad got bit and after a lot of awesome boat maneuvering by Kelly and a bit of luck, we sunk a couple of gaffs in it, as it was belly hooked and not okay to be released."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Earlier, Catian reported: "Mostly yellowtail at the high spots. The tuna are way outnumbered by the skippys and the size has been small. We've been doing good-to-excellent on the 'tails at Ben's rock, the 240 Spot, Isla San Martin, and the point. Water temp was 64 to 65 degrees."

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MAGDALENA BAY

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said few anglers were at San Carlos last week. Yellowtail and a few white seabass were reported outside Isla Santa Margarita, and some grouper on high spots at Bahía Santa María. Most local boats were working shrimp, and few anglers fished the mangroves. San Carlos weather was in the low-80s, with water temperatures of 69 to 76 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR CABO SAN LUCAS

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Hurricane Marty's passing brought improved fishing to the tip of Baja, as crews cleaned up relatively light local storm damage and most facilities were returning to normal.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported on 37 boats with a catch including released fish of: 1 sailfish, 14 striped marlin, 124 yellowfin tuna including several over 100 pounds, 66 dorado to over 60 pounds, 4 wahoo, 6 jack crevalle, and 10 sierra.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Hebert of Reel Easy Sportfishing said, "After Hurricane Marty, fishing was actually pretty good for us last week." Hebert said most of the action was found on the Sea of Cortez side. Six boats had a catch including released fish of: 5 striped marlin, 5 dorado, and 16 yellowfin tuna.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said Gaviota Fleet sent 22 boats out with a catch including released fish of: 2 blue marlin, 3 sailfish, 9 striped marlin, 10 dorado, and 43 yellowfin tuna. "The port was closed for a couple of days, but back up to full fishing speed, now," Edwards said. Gaviota Fleet found its best action on the Pacific side at the Jaime Bank.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: At Pisces Fleet, Tracy Ehrenberg said, "We were pleasantly surprised at how good the fishing was. Usually the first couple of days after a storm are for exploring and checking conditions." Forty-six percent of Pisces Fleet boats caught billfish and 87 percent caught all species combined. Good numbers of yellowfin tuna were caught, mostly 30 to 70 pounds, but topped by a 230 pounder caught by Philip Raymond of Los Angeles.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Capt George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing said post-Marty weather was pleasant, in the high-80s, with water temperatures of 84 to 85 degrees. Green water surrounded the tip of Baja out to 5 or 10 miles. The dorado bite was improving near storm-washed debris on fish to about 35 pounds. Inshore fishing was almost impossible due to heavy runoff. Landrum also said recent delays in getting fuel at the Pemex dock should end this week when the new facility is completed.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: John Lanz of northern California fished for 5 days, after the hurricane, with Hector Cota on the Angelina Fleet boat Carmelita III, and reported "pretty good action each day. No skunks." Lanz said he released 1 striped marlin after 7 shots, plus a blue marlin, several 25-pound dorado and a 50 pounder, a 30-pound wahoo, and lots of 10 to 25-pound yellowfin tuna. Lanz said his best action was from the lighthouse, around to Punta Palmilla.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jose Luis Sanchez said Solmar Fleet fished, but was unable to report due to computer problems caused by the storm.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN JOSE DEL CABO

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Luis Duhart of Pamilla Bay Sportfishing said the town was bustling with cleanup activity. Boats landed dorado, marlin, and yellowfin tuna. A 5-panga group from Owner Hooks fished the Gordo Banks and Punta Cabeza de Ballena for 10 to 20-pound dorado, and a couple of yellowfin tuna of 15 to 25 pounds. With sardina scarce, boats were trolling for small bonita and barrilete baits. Local weather was in the mid-80s, with very calm seas.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR EAST CAPE

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: All East Cape hotels were repairing damage and beginning to send boats out. The Las Cuevas arroyo was being bridged by the usual dirt causeway on Sunday, and 4WD was still recommended for roads both north and south. Electrical and telephone service was still spotty, due to the number of poles knocked down, but crews were working 24-hours per day, and power was expected by midweek. All hotels were operating on generators.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: On Sunday, Mark Rayor of Vista Sea Sport had some early indications of the expected post-hurricane jump in fishing action: "A buddy went out at noon and was back at 4 with a nice black marlin yesterday. This morning he got a couple of dorado and a sailfish. I think the footballs are wide open for the hotel boats."

Rayor said the propane truck arrived Sunday, restoring generator power to his house, and his boat and property came through without major damage: "Currents have already carried away most of the debris and mud. Tomorrow we are planning our first scuba trip since the storm and are hopeful for good conditions."

During the storm, however, Rayor reported: "Man Jose! Now I know what 100 m.p.h. feels like. Nothing like we have had the 14 years we have been here. The fun was over at 4:30 a.m. Monday morning when a bedroom window just exploded. There was nowhere to hide. The noise was deafening. I've been through a lot of weather in my 54 years but this was the first time I really feared for my life. The destruction in town is unbelievable. Palmas lost nine rooms with sliding doors and windows blown out. The whole front of their dining room is blown out. Took the storm doors and all. Every local I speak with says Marty had more force than any chubasco they have been through."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Axel Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort said hotel boats were already fishing again by Wednesday, only 48 hours after the storm passed, as guests were ferried in from La Ribera. "This past month been wet and wild on the East Cape," Valdez said. "This is the first time ever that we have experienced more than one hurricane in a year." Thirty boats had a catch including released fish of: 1 blue marlin, 7 striped marlin, 12 sailfish, 12 dorado, 78 tuna, 10 bonita, and 10 skipjack. Capt. Jesus Araiza reported clear blue water 13 miles out.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Local resident Chip Shapley reported on Sunday that some cruisers were restricted due to a temporary shortage of diesel fuel, but pangas were fishing. Shapley said he fished Saturday for 4 football tuna, a 20-pound dorado, and a sailfish released. He fished in 82 to 85-degree water, 28 to 33 miles out. "Saw lots of sailfish, but only got one, on a mullet," Shapley said. "Tuna were feeding on small squid and small flying fish."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Tami Muoyeos at Rancho Buena Vista reported some broken windows and missing thatch, temporary diesel shortages, and the hotel almost cleaned back up, with a group of 15 anglers arriving Sunday.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported for 35 pre-hurricane 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: 3 blue marlin, 8 striped marlin, 51 sailfish, 13 dorado, and 144 yellowfin tuna. East Cape weather was in the high-80s, with calm winds, and water temperatures of 81 to 86 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: At Baja On The Fly, Gary Graham said storm recovery was proceeding rapidly: "Things are literally improving hourly. Baja's resilience is always a source of amazement to me. Hurricane Marty was one of the more severe storms in the past few years, and Baja and its residents have risen to the challenge.

"The last couple of days at cocktail hour, smiling hotel clients were scarfing up sashimi and ceviche and washing it down with margaritas or a Pacifico while congratulating each other on their day's catch."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: At Rancho Leonero, John Ireland reported the fleet in full operation and fishing in flat seas. The top catch for the week was 2 blue marlin and 2 sailfish, and limits of yellowfin tuna were being caught by all anglers.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Jeff Williams of Costa Mesa, CA fished out of Rancho Leonero after the storm: "Thursday 2 boats went out. I alone on a panga with Indio, and another family group on a cruiser. We saw loads of 40 to 50-pound tuna on dolphin pods and under birds, but no takers. The lone catch of the day was a 5-pound dorado on a blind jig strike in green water, inside of the floating forest. Water was cleaning up nicely and fishing should take off soon."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Earlier, John Mensik of Phoenix, AZ fished with Capt. Victor on the Vamanos in the Ron Kovach light tackle tournament at Buena Vista Beach Resort: "In 3 days we caught 16 tuna, 30 to 42 pounds. We lost an equal amount. We had a nice bull dorado on 20-pound, I would say approximately 45 pounds, but right at the boat, ping!" Mensik fished with Steve Mantle of Seattle, WA, and John Beggan and Steve Mandarino of Pittsburgh, PA.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Jim Sammons of La Jolla Kayak Fishing announced the dates of his 2004 trips to Hotel Punta Colorada: May 14-17, 18-21; July 16-19, 20-23; Oct 7-12.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LORETO

LORETO, MEXICO: The town was cleaning up quickly from extensive damage caused by Hurricane Marty to the malecon and downtown marina.

LORETO, MEXICO: Mitch Rose of Mitch's Sportfishing returned Sunday saying, "The town got its a... kicked." Rose reported several boats sunk, the marina partly gone, along with Chili Willy's restaurant and about 100 yards of the malecon south of the Hotel la Pinta. Rose reported, however that he returned with about 50 pounds of cabrilla and yellowtail fillets after fishing on the cruiser Helena with Capt. Juan Pablo Martinez, together with about 7 to 10 pangas, 30 miles north of town.

LORETO, MEXICO: John Carroll of Bonita, CA got caught while trying to outrun the storm to Mulege: "What rain and wind Marty packed for us! Packed the trucks as fast as we could. We were off to Mulege in the hopes of out running this thing. That sucker stayed over our heads and pounded us for five hours and never relented at all. In fact it only got stronger. We passed maybe five other vehicles over a 136-mile trek to what would be our final destination of Santa Rosalia.

"We talked to a Telnor truck and found there were at least two more washouts that seemed not passable to them. We sat down to regroup and the sh... really hit the fan. We found a nice hotel and slept the night through, to awake to no wind and no rain, in fact only a slight swell. What a difference a day makes." Carroll reported finishing up his trip at San Quintin where his group did well on yellowtail at Ben's Rock. "The trip was now a lock and we headed for the border," he said. "Planned for everything except for Marty."

LORETO, MEXICO: Ana Benziger of the Hotel Oasis said the beach front facility escaped major damage and had water through the storm. Guests were arriving on Saturday.

LORETO, MEXICO: At Baja Big Fish Company, Pam Bolles said the store and house were fine, and the town was abuzz with preparations for receiving the 1,500-passenger Holland America Ryndam cruise ship. The weather was cooler and beautiful, and the mountains were covered with green. Bolles said much of the malecon sea wall was down and the northbound side of the road was covered with sand. About the hurricane, Bolles said: "We pulled through fine. Most of the rain came in the span of about three hours. Based on the flooding on Tuesday morning, we got as much rain in those three hours as we did during the entire week hurricane Juliette was over us."

Bolles said dorado and yellowtail were being caught again, and bait was for sale at the marina. "Now that the police guard is gone, it is possible to walk along the marina breakwalls once again, but with extreme caution. The northwest corner is flat now and access to the water is better than ever. There are plenty of new spots to fish now."

LORETO, MEXICO: Jeff Petersen of Loreto said 2 boats per night from the carnaderos baitsellers' cooperativa began fishing for bait on Wednesday, each catching 120 to 150 jurelito, and selling to about 5 boats per morning. About 10 boats per day were fishing. Bait boats were starting about 10 p.m., but catching most of their fish during a 2-hour early morning bite.

LORETO, MEXICO: At Villas de Loreto, Wendy Wilchynski said no anglers were present at the hotel. Juanita Raney of El Fuerte Sportfishing was working in the hotel office, but was in the U.S. last week, with a baby expected in December.

LORETO, MEXICO: Don Bear of Loreto said during the storm that water service was lost when the main supply pipe was cut in several places. Bear reported half the malecon seawall and marina breakwater down, and the highway cut in both directions, but the phones still working. Loreto police were restricting access to some flooded and damaged areas of town.

MULEGE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MULEGE

MULEGE, MEXICO: Diana Johnson of the Hotel Serenidad said Mulege had strong rain and wind, and many houses under the bridge were flooded up to 6 feet deep, but nobody was hurt. "Some people lost everything, TVs, sofas, refrigerator, stoves, everything," she said. The hotel was without electricity or water for about 30 hours. The beaches were covered with clams, scallops, and other types of seafood.

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

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: At Bahía de los Angeles, Abraham Vazquez of Camp Gecko reported during the storm: "We have had for about 3 hours winds of up to 50 m.p.h., maybe some gusts stronger. Water is running all over the place. My boat is gone from the mooring. This is not fun. It is scary."

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Sonny de la Torre of Riverside, CA, Ed Rice, and his friend Ben fished on Igor Galvan's super-duper panga at L.A. Bay after the storm, with water temperatures in the high-70s: "Got there in time for the end of the storm. They had about 25 boats packed into Don Juan cove. We fished Thursday at Smith Island. Bait was not cooperating. I caught 3 yellowtail 25 to 30 pounds. Ed caught 2 yellowtail, 20 to 25. Ben had one, 20 pounds. There was some whitefish and cabrilla also."

The next day, De la Torre's group landed 14 yellowtail to 30 pounds, plus a 15-pound grouper. "We were severely out-gunned," De la Torre said. "Fishing 40 and 50-pound test when we should have been going with 60 and 80. Them rocks down there are sharp!"

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN FELIPE

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Two San Felipe motherships fished the Midriff Islands last week, but both were restricted by weakening Hurricane Marty, which was forecast to turn east, but instead ran up the Cortez coast.

Filiberto "Fily" Espinoza of Tony Reyes Fishing Tours reported on a 6-day Midriff Island trip by the panga mothership Jose Andres, returning to San Felipe on Sept. 26 with a catch of: 159 yellowtail, 19 to 24 pounds; 3 grouper, 40 to 45 pounds; 1 pinto bass, 18 pounds; 2 dorado, 28 pounds; 34 cabrilla, 8 to 12.5 pounds; 8 red snapper, 14 to 18 pounds; 1 broomtail grouper, 28 pounds; and 47 spotted bay bass. Midriff water temperatures averaged 80 degrees, as bad weather from weakening Hurricane Marty restricted fishing operations.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Dana Kerby and her husband, Jim, of Ensenada was on the panga mothership Erik, which also returned to San Felipe from a trip hampered by the storm. Kerby said the Erik had a weather-restricted catch of: 8 dorado, 10 to 25 pounds; 12 smaller yellowtail; 4 grouper, about 15 pounds; 10 cabrilla, 5 to 10 pounds; 15 giant squid; and many sierra, sandshark, and small bass.

Kerby described the storm: "We heard that there was a hurricane below Cabo San Lucas, but it was projected to cross the Sea of Cortez a lot further south of us and go onto mainland Mexico around Sinaloa.

"As the storm moved rapidly north, we also headed north, planning to find refuge in Bahia Los Angeles. It was too rough to enter Bahia de Los Angeles when we got there, so in a driving rain, we anchored in the bay off La Gringa, at the north end of Bahia de Los Angeles where we rode out the worst of the weather. We were anchored next to the Jose Andres for over 24 hours.

"There were VERY high winds. One passenger had a wind meter and he said it was in the range of 70 m.p.h. Five to 7-foot waves and rain for almost 24 hours straight. The high winds and waves swamped four pangas. They sank still tied to the mothership, but the waves and winds broke them loose. They were able to refloat two of the four, and salvage the motors, but because of time constraints, divers will recover the other two pangas.

"We headed north again Wednesday evening to La Asamblea. Those who had not fished on Wednesday were able to go out. Water was beginning to be calmer. We heard three sailboats at Refugio Bay had gone aground. The people were safe on the island. The Erik stopped just south of Gonzaga Bay, and we headed for San Felipe."

"The captain did the best he could under the circumstances, to see that everyone was safe, with safety for the passengers and crew always the first consideration. The ship was never in danger, and we headed for safety as soon he got word of the hurricane. It was truly a Baja adventure of a lifetime. I wouldn't like to go through another hurricane, but it won't stop me from fishing on the Sea of Cortez and the Erik again."

Kerby also reported some passengers having problems reaching San Felipe for the trip, due to a road blockage by commercial shrimp fishermen near El Chinero, who were protesting being prevented from fishing in the Alto Golfo Biosphere Reserve.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: At San Felipe, Ed Meders of the Title Company Bookstore overlooking the bay said Hurricane Marty caught the town fishermen by surprise, but last-minute effort saved the day: "As the sea turned very angry, an army of fisherman began to appear, and the race was on. It seems almost like a game they play with the sea--waiting to the very last minute to pull their boats. With everyone working in harmony, by the time the waves were lapping the seawall every panga was either on the seawall or on the malecon. A 1960-something pickup truck found itself still on the beach and in some danger of floating out to sea. A small army of guys physically carried it to safety."

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: In another chapter of the Tony Peñaloza-Gordon Byrne booking problems involving the panga motherships, Capt. Villegas and Erik, Harold Davis of Davis Boats in Paso Robles, said he is about to being legal proceedings, after receiving no refunds through the Santa Paula, CA police department, and Austin Jenkins also said legal action would be taken after his group of four had to pay $1,000 for a replacement trip that they understood was supposed to be free.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN CARLOS

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: San Carlos resident Bill Molden reported conditions returning to normal after the passing of weakened Hurricane Marty, but the fishing slow: "We took a direct hit from this minimal hurricane, and damage was widespread. Sea water temps are down 10 to 15 degrees. Hopefully, we'll get more boats in the water here in the next few weeks, and we'll have a decent close to this year's summer fishing."

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MAZATLAN

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Tadeo Hernandez of Flota Bibi Fleet said the port was closed 3 days, but 3 boats that did go out caught 2 sailfish, and 9 skipjack tuna and bonita. Fishing pressure was very light, with only 6 boats fishing out of the 60 available in Mazatlan, Hernandez said. Most boats were fishing 24 to 26 miles offshore.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said Aries Fleet at Marina el Cid was reporting good numbers of sailfish in the area, but very few boats fishing. Boats averaged about 1.5 sailfish per day, with a total catch including released fish for 19 boats of: 27 sailfish, 3 blue marlin, and 2 dorado. Mazatlan weather was sunny and humid in the low-90s, and boats were fishing a scattered bite in all directions.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Local guide Ed Kunze said 84-degree blue water is 10 miles out and boats averaged 1 to 2 sailfish per day. Ernesto Perez of Mexico City fished 2 days with Luis Maciel on the Gringo Loco, and caught 10 roosterfish to 35 pounds his first day, and a 225-pound blue marlin his second day. Kunze said some dorado were also beginning to show.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Paul Phillips of the Fintastic Total Tag & Release Tournament said no tuna were reported.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: At Ixtapa Sportfishing Charters, Stan Lushinsky said rough weather closed the port for 3 days last week. Capt. Adolofo Espinosa landed a 245-pound blue marlin, on a spinning rod loaded with 50-pound Power Pro. Ixtapa weather was generally rough and rainy.

Fish Photo 1

LA PAZ MARINA--The scene on the La Paz waterfront after Hurricane Marty. Photo courtesy Jonathan Roldan.

Fish Photo 1

ENSENADA PANGA CATCH--Nando and Lisa Delgado of East Lake, CA caught limits of rockcod, lingcod, and barracuda at the tip of Punta Banda with Vonny's Fleet. Photo courtesy Ivan Villarino.

Fish Photo 1

BIG GUADALUPE CALICO--Bob Selvin of Los Angeles caught this beautiful 10 pound, 10 ounce calico bass at Isla Guadalupe recently, during a 5-day trip on the Pacific Quest. Photo courtesy Bob Selvin.

Fish Photo 1

PUERTO SANTO TOMAS--Paul Montgomery of Vista, CA (right) and his brother Bevin of Evans, WA fished 3 days with Capt. Jorge Kamel at Puerto Santo Tomas for good counts of lingcod, red rockfish, and bonito. Photo courtesy Paul Montgomery.

Fish Photo 1

HOT SAN QUINTIN ACTION--Noel Huelsenbeck of Del Mar and his group had a great day of fishing for white seabass, yellowtail, a thresher shark, and a striped marlin, with Capt. Kelly Catian's El Capitan Sportfishing at San Quintin. Shown left to right are: Wayne Thomas, Capt. Kelly Catian, Noel Huelsenbeck, and Bill Huelsenbeck. Photo courtesy Noel Huelsenbeck.

Fish Photo 1

CABO DELUGE--Hurricane Marty flooded the streets of downtown Cabo San Lucas. Photo courtesy John Lanz.

Fish Photo 1

AFTER MARTY--John Lanz fished 5 days after the hurricane with Hector Cota (shown here) on the Angelina Fleet boat Carmelita III, and reported "pretty good action on 1 striped marlin, a blue marlin, several dorado to 50 pounds, a 30-pound wahoo, and lots of 10 to 25-pound yellowfin tuna. Photo courtesy John Lanz.

Fish Photo 1

LOS BARRILES DAMAGE--Hurricane Marty broke windows and felled trees at East Cape, including this one in downtown Los Barriles. Photo courtesy Mark Rayor.

Fish Photo 1