East Cape dorado and billfish are hitting off La Ribera

Mexico Fishing News, December 5, 2005

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR EAST CAPE

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Russ Fritz of La Ribera said the ongoing billfish bite just a couple of miles offshore took a break in wind on Sunday afternoon, but his panga Soplado still landed two of three dorado hooked in the area:

"An absolutely massive school of mackerel is feeding on tiny halfbeaks just 4 miles off La Ribera...The red hot marlin bite continues until about midday, all around the boiling mackerel...Lots of sailfish and dorado are being caught by East Cape fishing boats...I counted eight boats hooked up at the same time yesterday morning...The Soplado was the lucky boat today...most boats gave up the hunt as the wind started." East Cape weather was windy in the afternoon, but with water temperatures off La Ribera steady at 80 degrees. EAST CAPE FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts reported on 34 boats fishing out of Hotels Palmas de Cortez and Punta Colorada, with a catch including released fish of: 164 dorado, five blue marlin, 13 striped marlin, 15 sailfish, 38 yellowfin tuna, one wahoo, nine sierra, and three Humboldt squid. The late season dorado, of 15 to 50 pounds, were caught in all directions, from Punta Pescadero in the north, straight out, and all points south. East Cape weather was in the mid-80s with water temperatures at 72 to 80 degrees. EAST CAPE FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Leeper, staying at Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort, said he fished 2 miles out on Saturday aboard his boat Canto del Mar and scored on three dorado in an hour: "It sounded from the radio that fishing was good all over the East Cape." East Cape dorado averaged 15 to 18 pounds, with some to 30 pounds, in water temperatures of about 77 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Jorge Bergin of La Ribera at East Cape said on Saturday, "The marlin bite is wide-open and everybody who can find them is limiting on sierra...I didn't fish today but it was like glass all morning." Local commercial panga fisherman Alonzo Castro scored on a black marlin weighed at 539 pounds caught on his panga Reyna about 5 miles off La Ribera, on a live mackerel, in 80-degree water, with 60-pound line and a 100-pound leader.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Roy Baldwin of Rancho Leonero reported four days of wind last week, with cooler water temperatures at 77 to 79 degrees and few anglers in the East Cape area, but boats still scoring on mixed striped marlin and sailfish plus dorado averaging 30 pounds off Punta Pescadero to the north. Inshore fishing produced sierra off most East Cape beaches from Rancho Leonero south to the Punta Arena lighthouse. Angler Steve Henry fished on Saturday and hooked three marlin and two sailfish in two hours. EAST CAPE FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Brad Meister of La Ribera reported two marlin caught on his panga Lady Dena, about 3 miles out from La Ribera, and another panga session with Capt. Juan Diego about 4 miles off the Punta Arena lighthouse for 12 tuna, three pargo, one dorado, and one amberjack, all caught on flylined sardina baits. EAST CAPE FISHING TRIP REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported East Cape weather as clear in the low-80s, with water temperatures of 79 to 84 degrees and winter-style winds off-and-on: "There’s still a decent offshore bite on the good days and tough on the others, and still a few dorado to be found if you are lucky. The sierra bite has been good for the tin boat fleet.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista reported East Cape winds keeping his small Catalina Wherry row boat with 2 h.p. motor mostly ashore, but some fish caught recently including large puffers, a 2-pound porgy, and a 4-pound triggerfish: "A wherry is a very seaworth and old design for fishing row boats...It´s nice with the little 2 h.p. Honda and surprisingly fast...cruises at about 7 m.p.h." A commercial panguero returned from Punta Pescadero with a 35 to 40-pound dog snapper too long to fit into a 120-quart cooler. EAST CAPE SMALL BOAT FISHING AND WIND REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport dive service at Buena Vista said the week started off with three straight days of wind for the wind surfers, but then flattened out for four good diving days, with 75 to 78 degrees at depth and visibility at 50 to 100 feet. Sea life sightings at Cerro Verde north of Los Barriles included thick schools of grunts, rays, jacks, and several nudibranchs. EAST CAPE DIVING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the previous week, Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 82 boats from combined East Cape fleets including the Van Wormer resorts of Palmas de Cortez and Playa del Sol, with a catch including released fish of: six blue marlin, 40 striped marlin 38 sailfish, 161 dorado, and nine sierra. East Cape weather was in the high-80s, with water temperatures of 73 to 81 degrees. "The dorado bite in the East Cape fishing area pretty much went off this past week," Moyers said. "Unfortunately, the yellowfin tuna bite was nonexistent." EAST CAPE SPORTFISHING REPORT.

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 reported windy, rough weather at Ensenada last week and no pangas launched to fish at Punta Banda. Ensenada weather on Sunday was partly cloudy in the low-60s, with the water temperature at 60 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the boat Bad Dog at Marina Coral reported bringing a mola mola ocean sunfish aboard in rough conditions at the Punta Banda bank last Saturday, with excellent results for the table: "The first thing you need to know about filleting a sunfish is that what looks like you should cut and take home is what you throw out. What looks like what you should throw out, you take home...Amongst the organs you will find a white jelly-like flesh. This is what you want...It's better than yellowtail or any kind of tuna, I guarantee it...But you have to know how to prepare this fish." ENSENADA FISHING REPORT AND SUNFISH PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS."

ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR ERENDIRA

ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Fernando Castro of Castro's Camp reported 17 boats fishing out of Erendira last week, for steady counts of red rockcod, lingcod, whitefish, and large sized calico bass. Erendira weather was variable with some northeast winds, Santa Ana winds, fog, and then warm weather returning, as boats continued to fish daily. Water conditions were clear blue at 55 degrees in the main fishing area 4 miles from Castro's Camp.

ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Chris Kugel of San Diego reported some windy conditions at Castro's Camp at Erendira over the Thanksgiving holiday, but most boats scoring good counts of rockfish, barracuda, one white seabass, and a halibut, plus a 10 to 12-pound fish tentatively identified as a king salmon caught by Capt. Oscar Barrios of the charter boat Don Castro: "...From what I have seen and what the skippers tell me, about two-dozen fish are caught during a 'winter'...I caught one salmon last year, throwing a Krocodile at breaking white seabass. It was about the same size as the one caught last week, 10 to 12 pounds." ERENDIRA FISHING AND SALMON CATCH REPORT.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN QUINTIN

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported few anglers at San Quintin last week, and only six boats going out. White seabass were caught south at Socorro on Tuesday and Wednesday, but winds came up on Thursday and boats fished closer to the bay. On Saturday, Brad Harden, Mike Ledaux, Don Riggs, Rick Sherry, Jeff Evans and Ron Anderson, all from Long Beach, fished with Capts. Hector and Miguel at the 15 spot for limits of rockcod and lingcod to 15 pounds. San Quintin weather was in the low-40s at night, and Hillis said, "Anglers should start bringing warmer clothing for the trip out in the morning." SAN QUINTIN SPORTFISHING REPORT.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Kelly Catian of K&M Offshore Sportfishing reported cooler conditions at San Quintin and few sportfishing boats going out, but "the commercial rockcod guys are killing it with lots of huge reds and even some cowcod." Running south out of San Quintin on an overnight fishing trip and another surfing trip, Catian said white seabass were still around, but due to leave soon as water temperatures decline: "The croaker are still around...with yellows showing at the cleaner spots but no big numbers..Calico and sandbass are thick...as well as some midsize rockfish." SAN QUINTIN SPORTFISHING AND SURFING REPORT.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR BAJA COASTAL AREAS

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Juanchys Aguilar of La Bocana on the semi-remote Baja Pacific coast reported strong offshore winds of 17 to 21 knots most of the week and no yellowtail caught. One sportfishing run in his charter panga Karol produced one grouper of 20 to 25 pounds. Six large fish were broken off on straight 80-pound line with no leader. Fishing inside Laguna la Bocana produced halibut, medium cabrilla, and medium grouper. All lagoon grouper were released: "All of these grouper we are returning to the water since this area is a nursery for these fish...We are hoping to create good Baja fishing conditions for grouper." LA BOCANA, BAJA FISHING REPORT.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Les Heil of La Bocana reported on fishing over the Thanksgiving holiday with Capt. Jaunchys Aguilar, Frank Wasserman and Ernest Gonzalez, making mackerel inside the lagoon and fishing in 65-degree water at Whale Rock off La Bocana for one grouper of about 60 pounds, another smaller grouper, and 17 yellowtail of 10 to 15 pounds. Two other sport anglers in the area were reported to be fishing out of Punta Abreojos in a canoe. LA BOCANA, BAJA FISHING REPORT.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Joe Cameron of San Diego and Jeff Cordeiro fished three days with Capt. Juanchys Aguilar at La Bocana for a catch of: 30 yellowtail, two grouper of 30 to 40 pounds, two large calico bass, five barracuda, and three black skipjack: "On Wednesday, Juanchys and I hooked 11 grouper and only landed one...I finally got one Friday on 100 pound gear...We could have caught a hundred yellows but they weren't our target fish." LA BOCANA, BAJA FISHING REPORT.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MAGDALENA BAY

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported good counts of 10-pound plus snook caught inside the Magdalena Bay mangrove channels at Puerto Lopez Mateos, plus some palometa amarilla or golden jacks also caught by anglers on the boat Don Juan. Offshore fishing was slower for striped marlin as water temperatures dropped to 72 degrees: "...Only a handful of bites for the boats fishing at the Thetis and up..." Magdalena Bay weather was clear in the mid-70s, with water temperatures of 71 to 79 degrees. MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORT.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Diana Hoyt of Mag Bay Outfitters at Puerto Lopez Mateos reported more the 20 snook caught in the mangrove channels by different charters last week, with some over 20 pounds, one white seabass of 30 pounds, pargo, and corvina. One boat reported fishing 40 miles out in 72-degree water for several tuna and a few dorado.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR CABO SAN LUCAS

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 43 outings by Gaviota Fleet, the Fish Cabo, and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 43 striped marlin, two sailfish, seven yellowfin tuna, 31 dorado, one red snapper, one cabrilla, and one skipjack. "The Cabo San Lucas fishing area had a considerable downturn from last week's report," Edwards said, "with most of the boats averaging a billfish per boat day fished and some of the better boats still having two to four-fish days." Cabo San Lucas weather was partly cloudy with some northerly breezes, in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 73 to 77 degrees on the Pacific side and 73 to 74 degrees on the Cortez side. The best fishing was found on the Pacific side at the Golden Gate Banks. CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet reported striped marlin moving closer to Cabo San Lucas and the best action found last week at the Golden Gate Bank about 25 miles up the Pacific side: "Fewer boats went up to the Finger Banks this week, as the marlin began to show up in better numbers at Golden Gate." Eighty-five percent of charters landed marlin, including a 13-release day for Blue Thunder, and eight releases for El Gallo. Dorado and yellowfin tuna were scattered and slow. Inshore boats did well on sierra plus skipjacks and roosterfish. Cabo weather was clear and calm after winds earlier in the week, with water temperatures averaging 74 degrees. CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported Cabo weather as partly cloudy in the low-80s, with north winds on both the Pacific side and the Cortez side north of Los Frailes, but flatter conditions south off the Los Cabos coast. Three late season blue marlin were reported, but the main bite continued to be on striped marlin on the Pacific side from the Golden Gate Bank north to the Finger Bank area. School-sized yellowfin tuna were consistent near shore on the Cortez side, but dorado were scattered. CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Benjamin Ortega of Solmar Fleet at Cabo San Lucas reported a catch including released fish of: 42 striped marlin, 41 dorado and 38 yellowfin tuna. Top catches for the week included nine striped marlin releases for angler Emma Reyes and her grouper on the charter boat El Torito fishing north on the Pacific side at the Finger Bank. Solmar Fleet's top boat for the week was El Torito, with Capt. Antonio Romero and a six-outing catch including released fish of: 26 striped marlin, 21 yellowfin tuna, and 20 dorado. CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on seven outings by El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 14 striped marlin, and 12 yellowfin tuna of 20 to 40 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported a catch including released fish of: 58 striped marlin, 79 yellowfin tuna, 63 dorado, 3 wahoo, 16 skipjack, 18 pargo, three cabrilla, 12 roosterfish, 28 sierra, one squid, and 15 boats skunked.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS), MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 84 combined La Playita fleet pangas, with a San Jose del Cabo catch of: 380 yellowfin tuna, 450 skipjack, two striped marlin, six wahoo, 45 dorado, 28 pargo, 22 amberjack, 32 cabrilla, 84 sierra, six rainbow runner, and 20 triggerfish. The yellowfin tuna averaged 10 to 20 pounds and were caught mostly on sardinas north of Punta Gorda. San Jose del Cabo weather was often windy, in the mid-70s, with water conditions greenish at 72 to 74 degrees. "San Jose del Cabo fish counts were down due to the cooler and rough weather, but over the weekend bounced back up as the weather improved," Brictson said. SAN JOSE DEL CABO FISHING REPORT.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS), MEXICO: Bob Grimes of San Jose del Cabo reported steady action on skipjack and tuna of 10 to 15 pounds around the Iman bank area, plus some amberjack, cabrilla, and smaller pargo. Sierra were also appearing, and Grimes noted, "...The sportfishing pangueros are already concerned that the local gill netters will be putting out their nets soon to wipe out the sierra and anything else swimming by." SAN JOSE DEL CABO FISHING REPORT.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS), MEXICO: Species fishing specialist John Snow of San Jose del Cabo reported on three slow days of panga fishing, except for one hot session on 11 football tuna, and one surf fishing trip with a catch of one largemouth blenny and one orangeside triggerfish. Overall, Snow reported only 19 fish species encountered, none of them new. Offshore San Jose del Cabo water conditions were generally "pristine blue" at a consistent 78 degrees, in two main panga fishing areas about 20 miles north and south of La Playita. SAN JOSE DE CABO SPECIES FISHING REPORT.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LA PAZ

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Dos Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said his Las Arenas side boats were fishing close to Punta Perico, due to winds and seas to 3 feet, for catches of dorado of 15 to 25 pounds, more sierra, and a short midweek bite on yellowfin tuna to about 25 pounds. Bait was available in the same area, and marlin, sailfish, and good numbers of pargo lisa were also seen. LAS ARENAS FISHING REPORT.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International reported some wind early in the week but the La Paz side dorado bite holding steady, and a brief snap of late season yellowfin tuna on the Las Arenas for fish from football size to about 30 pounds. "It's December and this is the first time I can remember that tuna must've lost their way and forgotten it was almost Christmas," Roldan said. "The body of fish was found in a finger of warm water that extended from the south." LA PAZ FISHING REPORT.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LORETO

LORETO, MEXICO: Steve Dastych and Eileen Dastych of Minneapolis fished with Loreto's Capt. Sergio Pena on Friday and found calm seas, but slow going north of Isla Coronado. Returning closer to the island, they got into a hot yellowtail bite and landed four 20 pounders, plus an 8-pound huachinango. Four other boats fishing north of the island had a combined catch of one yellowtail, one skipjack, and one hammerhead shark, and ten boats headed south and got into the yellowtail action. LORETO FISHING REPORT.

LORETO, MEXICO: Arturo Susarrey of Arturo's Sportfishing at Loreto reported winds calming at the end of the week and boats catching 4 to 10 yellowtail of 15 to 25 pounds at Punta Pulpito and on the north side of Isla San Ildefonso. Smaller fish of 5 to 10 pounds were also caught at Isla Coronado, plus about six cabrilla per boat. No roosterfish were reported. Mackerel and caballito baits were available at Isla Coronado. LORETO SPORT FISHING REPORT.

LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of the Hotel Oasis reported few anglers in Loreto and few boats going out due to wind. Michael Michelson and Christian Stocks fished with Capt. Martin Quintana at Isla Coronado and caught three yellowtail to 35 pounds and a hammerhead shark. LORETO FISHING REPORT.

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SANTA ROSALIA

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Lucas Cove reported early week winds keeping everybody in camp, but his boat sneaking out to the Isla San Marcos bajos on Wednesday for four yellowtail of 25 to 30 pounds: "By the time I got to the island, things were starting to lay down and and I had the entire reef all to myself." Winds settled down and many boats fished on Friday and Saturday for about four yellowtail per outing, including one yellowtail over 37 pounds caught by Anderson. Inshore fishing was very good for cabrilla and some bonita, as winds returned on Sunday. SAN LUCAS COVE, SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORT.

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: For the previous week, J. L. Terry of San Francisquito south of Bahia de los Angeles reported two days and nights of 35 to 40 knot winds keeping boats on the beach. At the caleta, Beto Lucero was building kitchen cabins for ecotourism tourists with government grant support: "I hope it works for him. He had to prove the value of that type of tourism, island trips, cave paintings, fossil beds, and whales, to a government group last year."

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN FELIPE

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: John Tillander of Punta Bufeo at Gonzaga Bay, south of San Felipe, reported weather in the high-70s and water temperatures at 76 degrees. Near shore fishing was very good between Punta Bufeo and Papa Fernandez landing for pompano to 2 pounds, barracuda, cabrilla to 5 pounds, and spotted bay bass to 1 pound, using cast and trolled lures along the rocks. Tillander noted that commercial trawlers were working the Enchanted Islands and local officials had confiscated two pangas fishing illegally for endangered totoaba. GONZAGA BAY FISHING REPORT.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Andrea Velez of Baja Sportfishing, Inc., reported that work on their newly refitted San Felipe panga mothership Andrea Lynn is progressing with the new staterooms and private bathrooms scheduled for completion in January and the first fishing trip slated for May 20, 2006.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: At San Felipe, Catalina Meders of the Title Company Bookstore overlooking the bay reported whitecaps on the bay and cool weather in the mid-60s on Sunday with very few visitors in town following the busy Thanksgiving holiday rush. Just north of town, the large El Dorado real estate development had a billboard up advertising a new shopping center to be anchored by a Home Depot store: "Many of us have very mixed feelings about all this. But change cannot be halted. We will have to either leave or go with the flow." SAN FELIPE TOWN REPORT.

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO) FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR ROCKY POINT

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO), MEXICO: Shawn Gustafson of Chandler, Ariz., and his group fished on Gustafson's boat Murphy Girl, in 74-degree water, about 50 miles south of Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco), and caught what appeared to be California halibut of 15 to 25 pounds on almost every drift using live spotted bay bass for bait, plus a 25-pound sawtail grouper, some goldspotted bass, and one unidentified fish: "I also caught a weird looking fish that looked like a rock and think it may have been a 'toad fish.' Very strange." Gustafson noted that the large halibut were caught in 268-foot deep water and were well outside their normal Mexican range, generally cited in the literature as restricted to the Pacific coast of Baja California north of Magdalena Bay: "I guess we proved this wrong." PUERTO PENASCO FISHING TRIP REPORT.

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO), MEXICO: Ryan Jenkins of Glendale, Ariz., reported on a shore fishing trip to Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco), fishing two areas for "good but not spectacular" action on spotted bay bass, Cortez halibut, leatherjacket, and needlefish. Eight halibut to 4 pounds were caught with artificial lures about 30 to 40 feet from shore using 6-pound line: "It is not uncommon to watch them follow your lure up right to the edge of the shore...Gone are the days of 13-foot surf rods with 20-pound test line and 4-ounce sinkers." ROCKY POINT SURF FISHING REPORT.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN CARLOS

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Manuel Gerhardus of Guasave, Sinaloa, reported on a run out of Las Glorias, south of Topolobampo on his boat Mamanina, with a first-ever striped marlin caught by his son Manuel while fishing 32 miles out on a heading of 230 degrees. The marlin hit a petrolero colored lure and weighed about 80 pounds.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MAZATLAN

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 30 Aries Fleet offshore boats out of Marina el Cid, with a catch including released fish of: one blue marlin, nine striped marlin, two sailfish, three yellowfin tuna, and seven dorado. Inshore boats had limits of sierra, corvina, jack crevalle, red snapper, and sea bass. Twenty-nine boats fished three days in the recent 11th Annual Mazatlan Billfish Classic tournament for releases of: 94 sailfish, 22 striped marlin, and 11 blue marlin. The largest tuna caught during the tournament weighed 76 pounds, and the largest dorado 60 pounds. Mazatlan weather was calm and cloudy in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 76 degrees in the best offshore fishing location 30 miles out. MAZATLAN FISHING AND BILLFISH CLASSIC TOURNAMENT REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported on the first of two fishing days for his Sails & Tales sailfish fly tackle tournament, as anglers Pudge Kleinkauf of Anchorage and Gordon Henriksen of Denmark took the lead with one sailfish released each on Sunday. Joe Dowdell of Marathon, Fla., also released a sailfish during the tournament practice day. "Picture perfect weather greeted the Sails & Tales contestants as they arrived at the Zihuatanejo Municipal pier," Graham said. "Contestants and guides wasted little time boarding their respective pangas and speeding out for the hot spot outside the harbor entrance. It was teasers in the water at 7 a.m." IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FLY FISHING TOURNAMENT REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported calmer weather in the low-90s, and warming water temperatures at 84 to 85 degrees, with blue water 8 miles out and boats averaging about two to three sailfish per day, plus one blue marlin reported, and inshore catches including yellowtail jack, needlefish, bonito, sierra, and a some roosterfish. IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 1

EAST CAPE BLACKIE--This 539-pound black marlin was caught at East Cape Saturday by commercial panguero Alonzo Castro (center) about 5 miles off La Ribera. Castro landed the fish on 60-pound tackle after a fight lasting an hour. East Cape locals Juan Diego Macklis (left) and Brad Meister (right) came to his aid and helped get the marlin on board Alonzo's panga Reyna. Photo courtesy Jorge Bergin.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 2

SONYA'S SAILFISH--Sonya Fritz fished at East Cape on Russ Fritz' boat and landed this wild-fighting sailfish for a release about 3 miles off La Ribera. Said Russ, "I cut the leader for her, while the fish tried to pull my arm out of the socket." Photo courtesy Russ Fritz.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 3

BAJA SALMON--Capt. Oscar Barrios (right) of the Castro's Camp boat Don Castro at Erendira south of Ensenada caught this salmon over the Thanksgiving holiday. According to Castro's Camp regular Chris Kugel, salmon are caught in the area from winter through April, and this was the first of the season. Photo courtesy Chris Kugel.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 4

QUINTIN-STYLE COW--Capt. Chiflo of Tiburon's Pangas with a nice cowcod caught off San Quintin. Kelly Catian of K&M Offshore Sportfishing reported few sport boats going out, but commercial boats doing well on big red rockcod and some cowcod. Photo courtesy Kelly Catian.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 5

LA BOCANA GROUPER--Joe Cameron and Jeff Cordeiro fished with Capt. Juanchys Aguilar (shown) of La Bocana on Baja's semi-remote Pacific coast and they caught two of these grouper at Whale Rock, plus 30 yellowtail, calico bass, barracuda, and skipjack. Photo courtesy Joe Cameron.

Mexico Fishing Photo 6

THANKSGIVING GROUPER--Anglers (from left) Frank Wasserman, Ernesto Gonzalez, and Les Heil fished in 65-degree water over the Thanksgiving holiday out of Baja's Pacific coast location of La Bocana with Capt. Juanchys Aguilar on Heil's boat Panga Extra for grouper to 60 pounds, plus 17 yellowtail to 15 pounds. Photo courtesy Les Heil.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 7

MAGIC MOMENT--Teddy Bayham, 12, and his family fished at Cabo San Lucas with Cabo Magic and they landed two wahoo and two skipjack for the day. Photo courtesy Tommy Garcia.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 8

MEAN GREEN MARLIN--This amazing photo was caught off Magdalena Bay as a striped marlin hit a Mean Joe Green lure during Tim McNulty's trip from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas on Steve Campbell's boat Corsario. Photo courtesy Tim McNulty.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 9

OUR MAN IN BAJA--Western Outdoor News Baja Editor Jonathan Roldan, of Tailhunter International, shows off a La Paz yellowfin tuna caught last week on the Las Arenas side. Admitting to a playful bit of photo legerdemain, Roldan said, "The camera angle makes it look bigger than it really is! This is about a 20 pounder." Photo courtesy Jonathan Roldan.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 10

PUNTA PERICO DORADO--Gregg Yerington of Huntington Beach fished two days with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Nufo on La Paz' Las Arenas side and scored on these nice dorado at Punta Perico. Photo courtesy Gerardo Hernandez.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 11

BETWEEN LORETO WINDS--Christian Stock (left) and Mike Michelson fished during a period of calm weather with Capt. Martin Quintana out of Loreto's Hotel Oasis and they scored on three yellowtail and a hammerhead shark at Isla Coronado. Photo courtesy Patty Zapata.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 12

FAR FROM HOME FLATTIES--Shawn Gustafson fished out of Rocky Point at the north end of the Sea of Cortez on his boat Murphy Girl and scored on these halibut that look suspiciously like California Halibut, whose Mexico range is supposed to be restricted to Baja's Pacific coast north of Magdalena Bay. Photo courtesy Shawn Gustafson.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 13

OUT OF SINALOA--Manuel Gerhardus fished with his father Manuel on their boat Mamanina out of Sinaloa's port of Las Glorias and he landed his first-ever marlin, on a petrolero lure, 32 miles out. Photo courtesy Manuel Gerhardus.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 14

IXTAPA TOURNAMENT SAILFISH--Joe Dowdell (right) tagged the first sailfish last week on the practice fishing day of Baja On The Fly's Sails & Tales fly tackle sailfish tournament at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo. Dowdell fished with Capt. Felipe (left) and guide Ed Kunze. The fish was released in excellent shape. Photo courtesy Ed Kunze.

Mexico Fishing Photo 15

EAST CAPE WHERRY--When winds permit, Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista fishes in his classic Catalina Wherry row boat, equipped with 2 h.p. outboard motor: "It's...surprisingly fast...cruises at about 7 m.p.h." Photo courtesy Torrance Eddy.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES