Fishing on Santa Rosalia's Isla San Marcos bajos steady for winter yellowtail

Mexico Fishing News, December 26, 2005

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SANTA ROSALIA

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos reported Santa Rosalia area weather with early week winter winds to 50 knots, but settling down for the rest of the week, with steady yellowtail action on the bajos, water temperatures at 63 to 64 degrees, and visibility in green water at 20 to 30 feet.

Yellowtail fishing at the Isla San Marcos bajos was slow in the mornings but picked up on the surface during the afternoons as tidal currents began to move. On one morning, Kanzler's boat caught only three yellowtail by noon, but put another eight aboard in 45 minutes later in the day. Fishing action dropped again at the end of the week, as currents slowed during the day. Kevin Ward fished with Kanzler off the cliffs south of Santa Rosalia, and caught an unknown species of black, perch-shaped fish while fishing 310 feet deep with a Sabiki bait rig: "Kevin Ward also caught this really weird fish...It had a strange little flap of skin below the eye. When opened it is very light in color like maybe some kind of light?...The scales are very fine and feel like sandpaper, leather-like to the touch. It also had some very light blue color specks near the belly." SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORT.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR ENSENADA

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the boat Bad Dog at Marina Coral at Ensenada reported on Sunday that he was loaded and prepared for his planned nighttime broadbill swordfish trip, but Bad Dog stayed in marina because the port was closed to due wind, high surf conditions, and strong currents. "The surf at North Todos Santos Island was photographed...at 35 feet," Ross said. "Some slips in Ensenada Harbor were torn out by the strong current. Birds were working the shallow waters of the beaches as anchovies and sardines were being pushed helplessly onto the beach by the strong current and big surf."

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN QUINTIN

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Stan Vath of San Quintin reported that the airstrip near Campo Lorenzo on the inner bay was opened recently: "...The new airport has just been permitted by Mexico City and is now open. It is located in San Quintin very close to where the Old Mill strip was. It serves a new property development as well as the several hotels located nearby." Information, campolorenzo.com.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MAGDALENA BAY

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported Magdalena Bay weather as clear in the low-70s, with water temperatures at 68 to 75 degrees. Offshore boats fishing north of the Finger Bank reported cooler temperatures and spotty action for billfish, dorado, and tuna. Inside the Magdalena Bay mangrove channels, snook were "tough as usual," Graham said, but the few anglers present caught sierra and pompano. MAGDALENA BAY FLY FISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR CABO SAN LUCAS

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported swells to 12 feet on the Pacific side, but little wind and no effect on offshore fishing as boats continued to score very good striped marlin counts from Cabo San Lucas north to the Finger Bank area. One boat reported three consecutive days with 15, 12, and 32 marlin released. Good numbers of yellowfin tuna from football size to about 50 pounds were caught south of Cabo and 15 to 30 miles out on the Pacific side, and the dorado bite continued poor.

"There was about one flag for every ten boats this week," Landrum said. Inshore fishing was hampered by big swells, but some boats reported a slow increase in sierra and yellowtail. Cabo San Lucas weather was in the high-70s, with water temperatures in all directions about 71 to 72 degrees. CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet reported continued good striped marlin action on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas from Faro Viejo north to the Golden Gate Bank area. The charter boat Valerie had five and six-striped marlin release days, and Ni Modo ran farther north to the Finger Bank and released eight marlin. Overall, 79 percent of Pisces boats released striped marlin, 26 percent landed yellowfin tuna of 10 to 50 pounds, and dorado action continued very slow at 10 percent. Cabo San Lucas weather was clear and sunny. CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on eight outings by El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: eight striped marlin, seven yellowfin tuna of 20 to 45 pounds, and three dorado of 40 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Benjamin Ortega of Solmar Fleet reported a week's catch including released fish of: 36 striped marlin, 29 dorado, 47 yellowfin tuna and one snapper. "With the first decline in the Cabo San Lucas marlin bite in more than a month," Ortega said, "many sportfishing boats turned to small game fish with moderate to good success during the past week..." Solmar's top boat for the week was El Torito, with Capt. Antonio Romero and a catch including released fish of: 22 striped marlin, 28 dorado and 30 yellowfin tuna. CABO SAN LUCAS SPORTFISHING REPORT.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported a catch including released fish of: 59 striped marlin, 96 yellowfin tuna, three yellowtail, four skipjack, 34 dorado, 42 sierra, five jack crevalle, two pargo, three roosterfish, many Humboldt squid, and nine 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 62 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing at Los Cabos, with a catch of: 310 yellowfin tuna, four sailfish, two wahoo, nine striped marlin, one mako shark, 72 dorado, 190 skipjack, 12 amberjack 130 sierra, 26 roosterfish,, eight dogtooth snapper, 22 cabrilla, 28 pargo, and 16 jack crevalle.

The yellowfin tuna bite was mostly on fish of 10 to 40 pounds caught on sardinas at the Iman and Fortuna banks and mixed with both black skipjack and skipjack tuna. "...Yellowfin tuna continued to be the most common catch," Brictson said.

"At the start of the week the bite was towards Cabo...but later in the week the action switched back towards [the] Iman and La Fortuna Banks...The fish were also larger in size." Sea lions were a nuisance in the area, and good numbers of whales were also present. San Jose del Cabo weather was at 80 degrees, with persistent winds from the north and water temperatures at 69 to 73 degrees. SAN JOSE DEL CABO PANGA FLEET REPORT.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS), MEXICO: Bob Grimes of San Jose del Cabo reported slow fishing at Iman and San Luis. "We were the only panga fishing in the area," Grimes said. "All the others went toward Cabo San Lucas to fish for small tuna. We caught some barrilete, various snappers, and small grunts." Sierra were present near the beach but not hitting well at Punta Palmilla and Punta Gorda. Grimes said he caught some sierra while fishing with small Rapalas trolled from a kayak. Sea lions were aggressive from Cabo San Lucas to the Gordo Banks, Iman, and San Luis. SAN JOSE DEL CABO FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR EAST CAPE

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported East Cape weather as clear in the high-70s, with sporadic north winds and water temperatures at 79 to 84 degrees. "There are billfish up off of Punta Pescadero," Graham said. "...Now that the visitors have dwindled down to a trickle, the dorado have decided to bite...The tin boat guys at East Cape were catching plenty of sierra, some of which will probably end up in ceviche to be served on Christmas Day." EAST CAPE FLY FISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Roy Baldwin reported East Cape weather warmer in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 70 to 72 degrees and some days of north wind. Mixed striped marlin and sailfish were concentrated 3 miles off La Ribera and the strong dorado bite on 10 to 15-pound fish continued in a wide area from the Punta Arena lighthouse in the south to the buoys off Punta Pescadero in the north. Inshore fishing produced sierra, mainly on hoochies, off most East Cape beaches south to Las Barracas. EAST CAPE SPORTFISHING REPORT.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport dive service at Buena Vista said: "We have been fighting the north wind all week but have managed to get scuba diving tours off every day. The water temperature has dropped to a bone chilling 69 to 70 degrees at depth. Visibility has been 30 to 40 feet, with mild current. Because of the windy conditions, we have been staying close to home and diving Punta Pescadero most days. That location is more protected from the wind than Cabo Pulmo and a safer bet. There has been no shortage of sea life with sightings of schooling manta ray, sand shark, and sea turtles.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LA PAZ

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International reported a run of 3 to 8-pound sierra, plus some fish to 12 pounds, on both the La Paz and Las Arenas sides last week: "The La Paz fishing area had a surprising run of fish this week... Lots of sierra showed up...Lots of fun, not to mention prime fillet for ceviche." On the Las Arenas side, more winter season dorado were caught at the buoys, and dorado were also caught in the channel between Islas Espiritu Santo and Cerralvo: "...Dorado showed up again as waters warmed slightly...It's been one of the longest dorado seasons I can remember...Some nice grades of winter mahi." LA PAZ SPORTFISHING REPORT.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR LORETO

LORETO, MEXICO: Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company reported Loreto weather sometimes windy, with water temperatures at 63 to 72 degrees. Yellowtail including some as large as 40 pounds were moving back and forth between Isla Coronado and La Cholla at the northwest corner of Isla Carmen. They were caught about 200 feet deep when winds permitted: "The yellowtail are taking live mackerel or bigeye or jigs from off the bottom, 200 feet, and have been in the 30 to 40 pound range." Sardina bait was easy to net at the Loreto downtown marina and larger baits were being caught at Isla Coronado and 2 miles out of the marina. "If it is windy at night the Loreto baitsellers probably won't be out there catching it," Bolles said. "If you plan to fish New Year's Day be ready to catch your own bait, and drive your own boat, as most of the men in this town will still be celebrating." LORETO SPORTFISHING REPORT.

Patty Zapata of the Hotel Oasis said windy Loreto weather was not allowing anglers to get out, but Capt. Martin Perpuli fished on a calm day with anglers Bill and Annie Cummings and Larry Fischer and caught three yellowtail of 19 to 29 pounds about 10 miles out, between Islas Carmen and Coronado. Mackerel live baits were easy to jig about 2 miles out, winds were light, and seas were at 2 to 4 feet. LORETO FISHING REPORT.

At Villas de Loreto, Wendy Wilchynski reported no anglers among guests at the hotel.

MULEGE FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MULEGE

MULEGE, MEXICO: Fly-in angler Ron Grant reported Mulege weather in the mid-70s, with water temperatures in the low to mid-70s, and anglers finding yellowtail in all directions, from firecracker size into the 20-pound range. "North winds most of the week were keeping water choppy and Mulege fishing boats close to home," Grant said. "Most Mulege fisherman are looking for and finding yellowtail in most areas in all directions." Some late season dorado were also still in the area. Few tourists were in town as the busy holidays approached, and the runway at the Hotel Serenidad was in good condition. MULEGE FISHING REPORT.

MULEGE, MEXICO: Rick Barber of Mulege announced entry details for the local Spring Yellowtail Fishing Tournament, Dec. 15-18, 2005, with a captain's meeting at the Pelican Reef Bar & Grill on Dec. 15, fishing on Dec. 16-18, and the awards banquet on Dec. 18. The tournament entry fee is 550 pesos, and prizes include: First prize is 30,000 pesos; second prize, 15,000 pesos; third prize, 5,000 pesos; biggest "other" fish (sharks, billfish and rays excluded), 5,000 pesos. The fishing area for the tournament in basically from Isla Tortuga in the north to Bahia San Nicolas in the south, and as far out from Mulege as desired. More information: mulegeclassictournaments.com. MULEGE YELLOWTAIL FISHING TOURNAMENT DETAILS.

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: Abraham Vazquez of Camp Gecko at Bahia de los Angeles reported yellowtail scarce but bottom fishing good and triggerfish being caught from shore. Bahia de los Angeles weather was mostly windy from the north, in the high-60s, with water temperatures at 63 to 67 degrees. The road was in good shape and gas was available in the village. Vazquez noted that the Fonatur federal department of tourism was paving the road north to Punta la Gringa and was also grading the road south to San Francisquito, with rumors about of an enormous land sale and windfall for ejido members: "There are a lot of rumors of...all 80 members of the ejido getting $10 million dollars each...No such thing has happened yet and the chances of this are very slim. Rumors sound much nicer than reality, but they just don't put much gasoline in the car." BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES FISHING AND VILLAGE REPORT.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR SAN CARLOS

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Bill Molden of San Carlos said, "The yellowtail finally are showing here in some decent numbers." Fishing at Isla San Pedro Nolasco and local points around San Carlos was improving, mostly on small fish, but with some to 30 pounds, caught both on the troll and by jigging. "Fishing water temperatures at San Carlos have stabilized and the catching has been decent," Molden said. SAN CARLOS FISHING REPORT.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Bob Blair of Fishing San Carlos reported the charter boats Too Much Fun and Andale fishing at Isla San Pedro Nolasco on Thursday for a 6-hour combined catch of nine yellowtail. "They were good-sized fish for all of them but one," Blair said. "There were lots of boats on the water at the north end of the island and everybody I talked to did great. The water was great as well."

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: For the previous week, Craig Collins of Rio Rico, Ariz., reported on an outing to Isla San Pedro Nolasco by his boat No Sniveling, finding 57 to 60-degree water and a decent bite on firecracker yellowtail plus some bigger fish mixed in. "There were lots of small fish at the north end of the island being caught yo-yoing," Collins said. "Yellow and greens, and 6x Jr or smaller jigs seemed best...Yellowtail were also being caught by trolling Rapalas on wire...I was bit all the way from 200 feet deep...to some smaller yellows hitting on a fast crank at less than 50 feet from the boat." SAN CARLOS YELLOWTAIL REPORT.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR MAZATLAN

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Perry Veasey of Williamsburg, Virg., fished out of Mazatla's Marina el Cid on a 26-foot super panga early in December and caught his first sailfish, about 30 miles out in 72-degree water. Veasey also released several blue marlin for the day and landed two yellowfin tuna and two dorado in calm seas. MAZATLAN SPORTFISHING REPORT.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR PUERTO VALLARTA

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Osuna of Marla's Sportfishing reported Puerto Vallarta winds at 5 to 9 knots from the north, water temperatures at 74 to 76 degrees, and fishing better for all species: "This week of sportfishing at Puerto Vallarta has been a good for tunas and all other fish too...These tunas were taking the caballitos really good and the snappers and amberjacks, they liked the jigs better." Steve Danziger of Santa Monica, Chuck Schmid of Long Beach, and Ed Rosemblum of Sherman Oaks fished with Osuna at Roca Corbeteña on the Marla's charter boat Marla II for a catch including a yellowfin tuna of 210 pounds, an amberjack of 80 pounds, and a good number of snappers and jacks. PUERTO VALLARTA SPORTFISHING REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze of Zihuatanejo reported steadily improving sailfish action centered 15 miles out of the bay on a heading of 200 degrees as the sportfishing fleet averaged about three sailfish per outing on conventional tackle, plus about two dorado of 25 to 35 pounds. "Capt. Maragarito, on the small cruiser Gaby, fished two days out of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo and released 10 sailfish," Kunze said. "He also got five nice dorado." Kunze guided fly tackle angler Terrence Tucker of New Jersey to two 25-pound dorado landed only 150 yards off the beach, and he also guided Baja On The Fly angler John Oberton for one sailfish plus a 30-pound dorado wguke fishing aboard the cruiser Vamonos with Capt. Cali. IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO SPORTFISHING REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Stan Lushinsky of Ixtapa Sportfishing Charters reported improving offshore sailfish action plus some very good roosterfish results inshore at Puerto Vicente Guerrero, where Capt. Cheva on the charter boat Dos Hermanos reported 11 roosterfish and three jacks landed, and Capt. Adolofo reported 12 roosterfish to 70 pounds plus nine jack crevalle, or yellowtail jacks. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo weather was in the 90s, with good sea conditions and bait plentiful. IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO SPORTFISHING REPORT.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported Ixtapa Zihuatanejo weather as clear in the mid-80s, with southwest winds at 8 knots, and water temperatures at 80 to 84 degrees.

Mexico Fishing Photo 2

YELLOWTAIL SHOWTIME--Television and movie actor Richard Eyer of Mammoth fished the Isla San Marcos 110 bajo with Mike Kanzler in fairly slow conditions, but the boat still scored on four yellowtail in the 25-pound class. Photo courtesy Mike Kanzler.

Mexico Sportfishing Photo 1

WINTER TAILS--Matt Reed, David Mullen, and Bruce Mullen fished the Isla San Marcos bajos off Santa Rosalia with Mike Kanzler and scored on 11 yellowtail, most of them caught in a hot afternoon surface bite. Photo courtesy Mike Kanzler.

Mexico Fishing Photo 3

BIG ENSENADA WATER--Last week's huge storm swell off the Southern California coast caused enormous surf conditions at Ensenada's Isla Todos Santos and crashing waves inshore, here seen coming over the break wall at Marina Coral. Photo courtesy Sammy Susarrey, Lily Fleet.

Mexico Fishing Photo 4

NEW SAN QUINTIN PISTA--Stan Vath of San Quintin's Campo Lorenzo reported the new airstrip on the inner bay has opened, with information available at campolorenzo.com. Photo courtesy Stan Vath.

Mexico Fishing Photo 5

BAJA MYSTERY FISH--What is it? Kevin Ward fished a Sabiki bait rig 310 feet deep along the cliffs south of Santa Rosalia with Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos and caught this fish that could not be identified. It had a very hard head, fine scales like sandpaper, and was leathery to the touch. Photo courtesy Mike Kanzler.

Mexico Fishing Photo 6

LORETO'S WINTER SEASON--Capt. Fidel Alcaide Garcia (shown) scored on two yellowtail of 30 pounds while fishing mackerel off the bottom at La Cholla at the northwest corner of Loreto's Isla Carmen for Baja Big Fish Company angler Garth Mitchell of Calgary. They called it day early due to winter winds. Photo courtesy Pam Bolles.

Mexico Fishing Photo 7

CALM SEAS CATCH--Annie Cummings, Bill Cummings and Gary Fischer fished on a wind-free day with Capt. Martin Perpuli of Loreto's Hotel Oasis and scored on three nice yellowtail using live mackerel baits between Islas Coronado and Carmen. Photo courtesy Patty Zapata.

Mexico Fishing Photo 8

ROOSTER ON THE FLY--Alaska Airlines pilot Bill Perry caught this nice roosterfish on fly tackle in front of Loreto's Punta Terra Firma with Baja Big Fish Company's Capt. Francisco Muñoz who chummed with live sardinas to get the attention of a nearby school of roosterfish. Photo courtesy Pam Bolles.

Mexico Fishing Photo 9

MAZATLAN SAILFISH--After years of trying, Perry Veasey (right) of Virginia finally caught his first sailfish, on a super panga about 30 miles off Mazatlan with Capt. Francesco out of Marina el Cid. Photo courtesy Perry Veasey.

Mexico Fishing Photo 10

VALLARTA CATCH--Steve Danziger, Chuck Schmid, and Ed Rosemblum fished on the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Marla II with Capt. Danny Osuna and landed yellowfin tuna to 210 pounds, plus jacks and snappers while fishing at Roca Corbeteña. Photo courtesy Danny Osuna.

Mexico Fishing Photo 11

PEZ FUERTE AT THE ROCK--Chuck Schmid of Long Beach, with his nice 80-pound amberjack caught on a caballito bait at Puerto Vallarta's Roca Corbeteña on the charter boat Marla II with Capt. Danny Osuna. Photo courtesy Danny Osuna.

Mexico Fishing Photo 12

TOUGH PARGO--Ed Rosemblum fished on the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Marla II and landed this hard-hitting, heavy ribbed barred pargo at Roca Corbeteña. Photo courtesy Danny Osuna.

Mexico Fishing Photo 13

MOMENT OF TRUTH--Dorado action improved at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo last week, and fly fishing guide Ed Kunze found this dorado only 150 yards off the beach for angler Terrence Tucker: "One cast with the fly rod, and one or two strips, and it was on...It weighed about 24 pounds." Photo courtesy Ed Kunze.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES