Ensenada's Punta Banda fishing yields bottom fish limits and yellowtail

Mexico Fishing News, December 12, 2005

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet said his pangas fishing at the tip of Punta Banda found steady action and some limits of bottom fish all week long, plus some yellowtail to about 22 pounds.

Jay Johnson fished with Capt. Beto on Monday for a full ice chest catch of: eight calico bass, five lingcod, red rockcod, whitefish, and assorted bottom fish. Yellowtail were caught on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Ensenada weather was mostly calm in the mid-60s, with some light Santa Ana winds, 3-foot ocean swells, and water temperatures at 60 degrees. PUNTA BANDA PANGA FISHING REPORT.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Memo Gomez of El Dorado Sportfishing reported no boats fishing out of Ensenada late in the week. For the previous weekend, the El Dorado fished in light Santa Ana winds at Isla Todos Santos with four anglers for a good catch of: one 45-pound halibut, 16 salmon grouper, 20 rockcods, four whitefish, 10 lingcod, two sheephead, and two bonito. The El Dorado fished about 200 feet deep in 66.5-degree water.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS

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ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Fernando Castro of Castro's Camp reported on 18 boats fishing out of Erendira during the week for "mucho" lingcod, red rockcod, whitefish, calico bass, and barracuda. Erendira weather was very good all week, with some light Santa Ana winds, but with very calm seas immediately following. Water conditions were clear blue at 59 degrees in the main fishing area about 8 miles out of Castro's Camp and heavy concentrations of bait fish and pelicans continued to be seen.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported San Quintin weather over the weekend as mostly calm in the mid-70s after a period of wind, with water temperatures at 58 to 60 degrees. Nighttime air temperatures were down to 38 to 40 degrees and the water was still cloudy south at Socorro due to earlier winds. Only one white seabass was brought in during the week as most San Quinti n boats fished the 240 and 15 spots for limits of large rockcod and lingcod.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Juanchys Aguilar of La Bocana on the semi-remote Baja Pacific coast, reported good weather, calm seas, water temperatures at 67 degrees, and good yellowtail fishing at Pitahaya Bank, about 8 miles north of La Bocana. "Right now, we don't have yellowtail south of La Bocana at Whale Rock," Aguilar said. "Instead, the yellowtail are located at the Pitahaya Bank..." The yellowtail were about 20 to 35 pounds, and larger 40 to 45-pound fish were expected to arrive soon. On Friday, Aguilar's boat and Feliciano Villa's boat caught black sea bass of 134 and 95 pounds at the Pitahaya Bank while fishing 122 feet deep. LA BOCANA, BAJA FISHING REPORT.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Diana Hoyt of Mag Bay Outfitters at Puerto Lopez Mateos reported good black snook action at the Boca de Soledad entrada as anglers Sal, Sergio, and Harvey Tucker scored on several fish over 25 pounds.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported Magdalena Bay weather as clear in the mid-70s, with water temperatures at 68 to 75 degrees. Some striped marlin, yellowfin tuna, and dorado were still to be found in slowing offshore action: "...Not the bonanza it was last month." In the mangrove channels, snook, snapper, corvina, and white seabass to 30 pounds were reported. MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet reported continued good striped marlin action on the Pacific side as the fish moved south from the Finger Bank and good catches were made as close as a few miles off Faro Viejo. Overall, 93 percent of Pisces Fleet boats landed all species combined and 78 percent caught striped marlin, including an outstanding 16-release day for kathy and Keith Nicholson fishing aboard the Valerie on Thursday. Yellowfin tuna were caught by 27 percent of Pisces boats but only 18 percent found dorado. CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported on 119 boats, with a catch including released fish of: 85 striped marlin, 55 yellowfin tuna of 10 to 55 pounds, 39 dorado of 15 to 50 pounds, one wahoo of 40 pounds, four red snapper, one mako shark, 13 Humboldt squid, 12 sierra, three skipjack, and 18 boats skunked. CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 58 outings by Gaviota Fleet, the Fish Cabo, and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 48 striped marlin, one wahoo, 79 yellowfin tuna, 22 dorado, and one mako shark. "For most of the week, the Golden Gate was the hot fishing spot, but more and more billfish were filtering into the Cabo Falso ridge area...," Edwards said. "Look for the bite to get better and better, close to the Cabo San Lucas harbor." Cabo weather was partly cloudy and mostly calm on the Pacific side, with water temperatures at 74 to 75 degrees in all directions. CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Grant Hartman of Baja Anglers reported good striiped marlin action on fly tackle at the Finger Bank plus a legally fly hooked humpback whale by Donald Trump Jr. aboard the charter boat Flying Fish: "We would go up to a bait ball and free cast the fly into the bait ball and strip it slowly...Don cast his fly into a bait ball and suddenly the four or five marlin circling the bait ball disappeared...The whole area exploded with a whale's mouth engulfing the entire bait ball along with Don's fly. Don set the hook, and line starts buzzing off...He takes a look at me and just busts off the tippet...Don's gotta be the only fly fisher in the world to hook a humpback whale IGFA legally." CABO SAN LUCAS FLY FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported striped marlin moving closer to Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific side: "...Quite a few showing up from 4 to 6 miles off the beach near the lighthouse...Cabo San Lucas sport fishing boats have been working the ledge at the lighthouse with live bait deep and have been getting bit...not in the numbers that they are at the Finger Bank, but they are there." Dorado and wahoo were scarce but school-sized yellowfin tuna to about 50 pounds were caught on the Pacific side banks, and sierra averaging about 4 pounds were showing up in the surf line. CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Benjamin Ortega of Solmar Fleet reported a catch including released fish of: 49 striped marlin, 42 dorado, 35 yellowfin tuna, and two sierra. Top catches included four releases for El Torito and a triple-release day for the Solmar I while fishing at the Finger Bank and Golden Gate Bank. CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 13 outings by El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 13 striped marlin, 24 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 45 pounds, eight dorado of 25 to 45 pounds.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS), MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 67 combined La Playita Fleet pangas, with a catch of: 245 yellowfin tuna, 110 white skipjack, two wahoo, 16 dorado, 28 cabrilla, 12 amberjack, six pompano, 55 triggerfish, 42 pargo, 85 sierra, and 34 roosterfish. San Jose del Cabo fishing action was generally slower, with water temperatures at 73 to 77 degrees, daily winds of 10 to 20 knots on the Cortez side, bait scarce, and off color water: "The overall the bite at San Jose del Cabo was much slower this week than last...Even when bait was found, that did not guarantee catching fish. Some days they seemed to have lock jaw." Scouting trips to the Gordo Banks found only a few skipjack, Brictson said. SAN JOSE DEL CABO SPORTFISHING REPORT.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS), MEXICO: Joe Flores of La Mirada and Ron Camera of Las Vegas fished on a La Playita panga with Capt. Antonio of Gordo Banks Pangas and scored on yellowfin tuna to 42 pounds with sardina baits in the area north of Punta Gorda. Flores said morning air temperatures were cool enough to require a jacket, "...It was cold in the morning. Something I've never experienced in all the times I've been to Cabo." In two days of fishing, Flores and Camera had a catch of: 14 yellowfin tuna , five skipjack, and some small dorado released.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Roy Baldwin of Rancho Leonero reported five days of wind last week, but good fishing in between for marlin south, dorado north, and sierra off most beaches. Mixed striped marlin and sailfish were located 5 miles off La Ribera, and dorado limits on fish averaging 30 pounds were caught north off Punta Pescadero: "As many as you want, with fish aggressively taking live mackerel, hoochies and lures." Sierra were caught off most beaches from Rancho Leonero south to the lighthouse. EAST CAPE SPORTFISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported East Cape weather mostly windy, but plenty of billfish still around, plus a few dorado and yellowfin tuna: "If you have the time to wait out the wind, the fishing at East Cape is still good on the calm days." Inshore fishing produced sierra, but beaches were being hammered by wind and surf. Lane Garret reported: "I have seen a few cruisers returning with what appear to be at least limits of 10 to the occasional 40-pound dorado...There are quite a few striped marlin still around...A friend of mine had a 250-pound class blue marlin up to leader on Tuesday." EAST CAPE FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport dive service said winds kept his boat from making dive trips to the Cabo Pulmo coral reef: "Have not got a boat off the beach and it doesn't look like we are going to. A clean sweep for the wind surfers."

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International reported windy fishing conditions but a nice late season dorado bite for boats fishing on the Las Arenas side: "...You'd have almost thought it was summer at La Paz again...a nice jag of dorado came up...from south of Cerralvo Island...with good concentrations just inside of Muertos Bay, Cardonal and Boca del Alamo." Winds calmed toward the end of the week as some dorado limits were caught on medium fish, and some striped marlin were also hooked by local boats." LA PAZ FISHING REPORT.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Dos Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing reported cooler weather, north winds, and only a few pangas fishing on the Las Arenas side during the week, but fishing "bastante" good for dorado at the buoys about 3 miles off Punta Perico, plus cabrilla to 6 pounds, and sierra showing up at Barco Varado. "Only a few pangas fished this week," Hernandez said, "but the fishing was actually quite good." LAS ARENAS, LA PAZ SPORTFISHING REPORT.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: On Sunday, Wendy Wilchynski of Villas de Loreto reported no anglers at the hotel during the week: "Winds are a lot better than a week ago, but it has been cold and cloudy here."

LORETO, MEXICO: For the previous week, Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company said no more dorado or billfish were reported for the area, but yellowtail to about 20 pounds were present at Punta Pulpito when winds permitted. Yellowtail fishing at San Bruno reef north of Loreto was restricted by bonita and skipjack tuna concentrations in midwater: "...Bonita are hovering over the yellowtail schools. You just can't seem to get bait past them...Captain Francisco Muñoz used up all his big bait on the 15-plus pound fish. Swimming along with those bonita were much smaller skipjack tuna." Predawn sierra and some roosterfish were caught at Nopolo and around the Loreto downtown marina. Loreto weather was windy, with water temperatures at 63 to 73 degrees. LORETO FISHING REPORT.

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

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SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Lucas Cove reported a tough, windy week at Santa Rosalia with only a single yellowtail caught at the Isla San Marcos bajos by all boats combined: "...This week has been pretty much stinko...Everyone pretty much got skunked...We are expecting Mike Kanzler back this week and look forward to having him on the water again to show all of us neophytes where to find the fish." One nice 25-pound yellowtail was caught by Bob Bente and John Casey of Redding, who ran out to the bajos in a big Zodiac. Inshore fishing was good for local cabrilla, bonita, and barracuda, plus a few firecracker yellowtail showing up in cooling 64-degree water. "We are getting a lot colder water," Anderson said, "and if the wind ever stops blowing again we are sure that there will be some big yellowtail willing to take a flylined bait on the surface." SAN LUCAS COVE, SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORT.

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

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: J. L. Terry of San Francisquito south of Bahia de los Angeles reported over the weekend, "Lots of north wind, no fish, and very little boating." At the caleta, Beto Lucero was working on his new kitchen casitas designated for ecotourism.

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Tony Reyes of Tony Reyes Fishing Tours at San Felipe said the recent totoaba brood stock collection expedition by his panga mothership the Jose Andres only found one totoaba for the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California breeding facility at Ensenada. The fish did not survive, Reyes said, so none could be added to the breeding program. Another live brood stock collection trip for the totoaba program is planned for the Jose Andres in March 2006, with collection efforts to be made at the Islas Encantadas and also around Punta Estrella closer to San Felipe.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: At San Felipe, Catalina Meders of the Title Company Bookstore overlooking the bay reported very cool weather over the weekend at only 51 degrees, with wind, overcast skies, and rain threatening: "...Today most people are staying indoors." San Felipe's Parade of Lights was spectacular, Meders said: "It's too bad that more gringos didn't know about it...It's a shame these things don't get more publicity." In town, "Steel Magnolias," performed by the San Felipe Players, was a mega hit. SAN FELIPE TOWN REPORT.

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO) FISHING REPORTS

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ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO), MEXICO: Stuart Burnett of Rocky Point reported on a run Saturday to the 51-mile reef by his boat Constancia, scoring on two large black sea bass to 90 pounds, a 15-pound halibut, and 16 quality red snapper or huachinango, using live mackerel and grunts caught earlier at the 16-mile reef. Rocky Point seas were running 4 to 5 feet from the north, with air temperatures at 60 degrees and water temperatures at 63 degrees. ROCKY POINT FISHING REPORT.

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO), MEXICO: Ryan Jenkins of Glendale, Ariz., commented on an earlier fishing report of California halibut caught out of Rocky Point, which is outside the normal range for that species found in the literature: "They were in fact Cortez halibut...Many ichthyologists actually consider them to be the same species while some consider them a subspecies and very few still consider them a completely separate species." ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO) HALIBUT SPECIES NOTES.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Bill Molden of San Carlos reported very cool water temperatures in the high-50s and slow fishing all around except for big numbers of Humboldt squid: "The fishing has been in a word, bad. No yellowtail or bonita but lots of huge Humboldt squid. Near shore or offshore you just can't get through the squid to the fish. Fishing at Isla San Pedro Nolasco has proven to be poor and on the onshore points no better. With the water temperatures the coldest it's been this time of year in years and the seas not being cooperative, it's a wait and see."

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 26 offshore Aries Fleet boats out of Marina el Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 20 striped marlin, six sailfish, three dorado, two yellowfin tuna, and one hammerhead shark. Inshore boats scored heavy release catches of sierra, plus good numbers of cabrilla, red snapper, triggerfish, mojarra, and a few yellowtail. Mazatlan weather was calm in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 85 degrees in the best offshore fishing area about 15 to 25 miles southwest of Marina el Cid. MAZATLAN FISHING REPORT.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: John Nagy of Marina del Rey, and Barbara Fier, fished on an 80-foot deep ridge about 16 miles off Punta de Mita on the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Prime Time, and they scored on yellowfin tuna of about 170 pounds and 50 pounds, plus a sailfish released and another 100-pound class tuna that came unbuttoned. The tuna were feeding on squid and paper nautilus, Nagy said, but their fish were all caught on caballito live baits on the kite: "In the week before we fished, the tuna at Puerto Vallarta wanted only sardinas, but they passed over the sardinas for the caballitos on our trip." Punta Mita weather was in the low-80s, with warming water temperatures at 79 degrees. PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze of Zihuatanejo said fishing rebounded over the weekend after a weather-related slump earlier in the week: "...Due to a falling barometer from a weather disturbance about 100 miles north of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, the fishing action was fairly slow...Things have now stabilized and the fishing is good." Kunze's fly tackle clients hooked two sailfish on Saturday aboard the Yellowfin with Capt. Felipe, and Capt. Ruben on the Vamonos III hooked five sailfish on conventional gear. The sailfish were located in 82-degree, blue water about 10 to 15 miles out of Zihuatanejo bay on a heading of 210 degrees. Inshore fishing produced jack crevalle of 12 to 18 pounds but Kunze said, "...It appears the roosterfish have gone south for the winter." IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO SPORTFISHING REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Paul Phillips of the Fintastic Total Tag & Release Tournament reported two very slow offshore fishing days at midweek: "...Fishing went from good to zero in a night...We saw some sailfish but they wouldn't even look at a teaser. We were skunked for two fishing days. The second day didn't even see a fish." Inshore fishing produced some bonita, but no sierra or roosterfish. IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly announced the winners of his Sails & Tails all-release sailfish fly tackle tournament held Dec. 2-5, 2005: First Place, Cecilia "Pudge" Kleinkauf, Anchorage, Alaska; Second Place, Joe Dowdell, Marathon, Fla.; Accuracy Casting, Sandie Arnold, Anchorage, Alaska; Accuracy Casting Runner-Up, Gordon P. Henriksen, Denmark; Winning Captain, Martin Cortez, Zihuatanejo, panga Isamar. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo weather was mostly cloudy in the high-80s, with water temperatures at 80 to 84 degrees. IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FLY FISHING TOURNAMENT REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported good offshore results on sailfish, including 18 caught in four days for the Vamonos I, 14 in two days for the Gran Jefe, and 11 in two days for the Dos Hermanos I, plus two blue marlin landed at about 230 and 500 pounds. Inshore fishing was productive on jack crevalle, or "yellowtail jacks," but roosterfish were absent: "Inshore fishing action at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo has turned almost exclusively to big yellowtail jacks or jack crevalle, as the roosterfish bite continues to be a mystery." Ixtapa Zihuatanejo water temperatures were at 85 degrees in the main offshore fishing area about 15 miles out. IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Stan Lushinsky of Ixtapa Sportfishing Charters said, "Some very good days followed by some slow days continue to indicate that this year's season still has not set up as consistently as in previous years. However some captains and anglers were able to unlock the secrets of the bite each and every day."

Ensenada Mexico Sportfishing Photo 1

ENSENADA LIMITS--Matt Gora of San Diego and his friend had a great day and caught limits of bottom fish plus two nice yellowtail while fishing at Ensenada's Punta Banda on a Vonny's Fleet panga with Capt. Hector Zamora (right). Photo courtesy Ivan Villarino.

Ensenada Mexico Fishing Photo 2

ARMS OUT STRAIGHT--Vonny's Fleet regular Jay Johnson clowns around and makes the most of his yellowtail caught at Ensenada's Punta Banda with Capt. Beto Zamora. Johnson also caught his limit of bottom fish, including the quality sheephead shown off by Vonny Fleet's Capt. Beto. Photo courtesy Ivan Villarino.

Baja Mexico Sportfishing Photo 3

ISLA TODOS SANTOS HALIBUT--Anglers fishing at Ensenada's Isla Todos Santos caught halibut to 45 pounds with Capt. Memo Gomez of El Dorado Sportfishing. The catch also included salmon grouper, rockcod, whitefish, lingcod, sheephead, and bonito. Photo courtesy Memo Gomez.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico Sportfishing Photo 4

SHUDDA SEEN THE WHALE!--Grant Hartman (top) of Baja Anglers and Donald Trump Jr. about to release a fly tackle marlin at the Finger Banks north of Cabo San Lucas. Also hooked legally, and broken off intentionally, during the day was a humpback whale that engulfed an entire bait ball about 30 feet from the boat as a fly was being stripped through it. Photo courtesy Grant Hartman.

San Jose del Cabo Mexico Sportfishing Photo 5

SAN JOSE DEL CABO TUNA--Ron Camera (right) of Las Vegas, and Joe Flores, fished out of San Jose del Cabo's La Playita beach with Gordo Banks Pangas' Capt. Antonio and scored on this nice 42-pound yellowfin tuna with a sardina bait off Punta Gorda. Photo courtesy Joe Flores.

San Jose del Cabo Mexico Sportfishing Photo 6

TUNA COMING IN--Ron Camera brings a nice school-sized yellowfin tuna to gaff while fishing with Joe Flores on a Gordo Banks Pangas boat out of San Jose del Cabo. Photos courtesy Joe Flores.

La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 8

DECEMBER DORADO--Chris Bailey of Sandy, Utah, fished out of La Paz with Tailhunter International last week and got into a surprising December bite of dorado in great light tackle action not far from shore despite winter winds. Photo courtesy Jonathan Roldan.

San Felipe Mexico Sportfishing Photo 9

FISHING FOR SCIENCE--The San Felipe panga mothership Jose Andres of Tony Reyes Fishing Tours recently fished south at the Enchanted Islands to capture live totoaba for the breeding program of the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California at Ensenada. No fish were brought back during this trip, but another attempt is planned for March 2006. Photo courtesy Conal David True.

San Felipe Mexico Fishing Photo 10

TOTOABA RESEARCH PROGRAM--The Tony Reyes panga mothership Jose Andres at San Felipe was fitted with special aerated tanks for the capture of live brood stock totoaba for the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California breeding program at Ensenada. Photo courtesy Conal David True.

Rocky Point Mexico Sportfishing Photo 11

ROCKY POINT REDS--Stuart Burnett's boat Constancia scored on 16 quality red snapper plus a couple of large black sea bass during a run to the 51-mile reef on Saturday. Photo courtesy Stuart Burnett.

Rocky Point Mexico Sportfishing Photo 12

HEAVY DUTY BLACK--Dave Larsen fished out of Rocky Point on Stuart Burnett's boat Constancia and borrowed a 100-pound rated rod with 9/0 reel to land his black sea bass at the 51-mile reef. Photo courtesy Stuart Burnett.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 13

PUNTA MITA TUNA--John Nagy fished on the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Prime Time with Capt. Josh Temple and landed this estimated 170-pound yellowfin tuna while fishing a caballito bait on an 80-foot deep ridge about 16 miles off Punta Mita. "There were crashing 200-pound yellowfin tuna everywhere," Nagy said. Photo courtesy John Nagy.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Mexico Sportfishing Photo 14

SAILS & TALES WINNER--The winning captain for the second year in a row, Capt. Martin Cortez (right) of the panga Islamar, celebrates his victory in last week's Sails & Tails all-release sailfish fly tackle tournament at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo with winning angler Cecilia "Pudge" Kleinkauf (left) of Anchorage, Alaska, and tournament director Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly. Photo courtesy Gary Graham.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Mexico Fishing Photo 15

RETURN TO ACTION--Offshore sailfish action at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo rebounded from a couple of slow days last week, and on Saturday fly tackle angler Greg Schurger (left) of Columbus, Ohio, fished with guide Ed Kunze and Capt. Felipe (right) on the panga Yellowfin and landed this sailfish about 10 miles out. Fighting time, 10 minutes. Photo courtesy Ed Kunze.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES