Loreto yellowtail fishing continues spring run

Mexico Fishing News, March 27, 2006

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Improving weather allowed more anglers to get into Loreto's spring yellowtail run last week as boats scored decent counts on quality fish in all directions from town.

Dominic Chi reported on 2 days of fishing with his father Mark for good action on 10 yellowtail their first day and 9 yellowtail their second day. A 35 pounder was caught with a sardine print Butterfly Jig, Chi said, and his father also caught a 38 pounder. "We planned to fish 3 days but on the third day the winds were howling," Chi said. "The first 2 days were completely wide-open." Chi fished with Capt. Tito of Arturo's Sportfishing. "The fish were caught off Carmen Island...straight out from the marina towards the right," he said. "Almost every fish was caught on the surface...on flylined sardines and macks...except one fish which was caught on the Butterfly Jig...We saw birds working bait balls, boils of yellowtail here and there, and seals going after hooked yellowtail. I lost 3 yellowtail to seals. They just seemed to pop up right before we landed them."

LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of Loreto's Hotel Oasis reported 3 days of good weather and steady yellowtail action last week. "We have had some wonderful weather to go with the fishing and fisherman in the hotel," Zapata said. On Monday, Fred Portillo of Arvada, Colo., fished live mackerel with Capt. Martin Perpuli at Punta Perico on the back side of Isla Carmen for 7 yellowtail in the mid 20-pound class. Other outings to Punta Perico and San Bruno by anglers Ed and Leonard Shonberg, Bob Thomas, Markus Michelson, and Jim and Mitch Bogdanowicz found about 2 to 4 yellowtail per boat in the 25-pound class, plus mixed bottom fish. Mackerel bait was easily found, Zapata said, and many porpoise were present in the Loreto area.

LORETO, MEXICO: Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company reported good yellowtail action for most of the week. "We had strong winds early in the week...but once the winds died down yellowtail were to be found at Punta Pulpito, Punta Perico, and Punta Lobos," Bolles said. "The bite at San Bruno dropped off but on Friday I had boats there that did get a few." On Saturday, Bolles fished on Baja Big Fish Company's soon to be in service 33-foot charter cruiser which arrived in Loreto on Friday, making platano and mackerel bait at Isla Coronado and running to Punta Lobos, Punta Perico, and finally to Smorgasbord Reef on the north side of Isla Catalan south of Loreto, landing 3 yellowtail over 30 pounds, all taken on 20-pound line and live bait about 150 feet deep. "The new big boat is beautiful," Bolles said. "The boat is a 33-foot Roamer built by Jim Lindell...Francisco and Chubasco will be the captains."

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the boat Bad Dog out of Ensenada's Marina Coral reported on a run to the Punta Banda rocks on Saturday, blanking on his targeted yellowtail in wind-blown, 56-degree water. "With pairs of eagle eyes, and trolling Rapalas, we were to be denied as no trace of them appeared," Ross said. The Bad Dog then fished for bottom fish on the Banda Bank and caught barber poles, 3 starry rockfish, and limits of red vermillion rockfish of 3 to 4 pounds while struggling in strong wind and current with 3-pound weights. Ross relayed reports that the giant Humboldt squid caught in previous weeks were not to be seen. "Bad Dog...received a report from Rude Too that they were unable to find giant Humboldt Squid...Reports from Mercado Negro were that panga fishermen were harvesting major loads of Humboldts until Thursday...when it shut off. They were being paid 12 cents per pound." Ensenada winds were calm again by Sunday morning. Anglers fishing aboard the Bad Dog included Ross, Gail Ross, Juan Lu, and Marinero Alex "Jando" Ruiz.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Judy Ostberg of the boat Melody out of Marina Coral reported on a weekend run outside to the 450 and lower 500 spots, finding 60.2-degree water and "nobody home" on kelp paddies. "We went on an exploratory trip on the outside looking for signs of life," Ostberg said. "We ran a total of 105 miles por nada, then back to the Banda."

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet, very busy with family matters, said his pangas fishing the tip of Punta Banda scored on steady bottom fish but found no yellowtail at all for the first time in several weeks.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sergio Susarrey of Sergio's Ensenada Sportfishing Center reported on 4 anglers fishing locally on Thursday aboard the charter boat Clipper II, with a catch of: 12 lingcod, 17 rockcod, 9 whitefish, 23 sheephead, and 14 red rockcod.

ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS

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ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Nelson Maruyama of Santa Ana and Peter Trotsky fished 1 day in cold conditions last week with Capt. Oscar out of Castro's Camp at Erendira south of Ensenada for a catch of: 1 lingcod, 1 whitefish, some salmon grouper, and good numbers of red rockcod. "We were the only ones fishing that day because it did rain on Tuesday morning and the weather was very cold," Maruyama said. "There was a lot of mud...We used a lot of different plastics...We saw lots of birds...The captain said there was a lot of bait around, but we couldn't get any...We did not use any live bait, only Mojo scampi, rockcod rigs with strips of squid...The water was kind of murky, I think because of the rain on the morning before...I think the total number of fish was about 50 or 60, an okay number for Castro's Camp. Maruyama and Trotsky fished about 180 to 250 feet deep, about 7 to 10 miles northwest of Castro's Camp, in cool water at 53 degrees.

ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Fernando Castro of Castro's Camp reported cool, clear water of 50 to 52 degrees and 20 boats fishing out of Erendira last week, for continued good counts of lingcod, red rockcod, and whitefish. Heavy bait concentrations continued in the main fishing area 5 to 6 miles out. Erendira weather was good later in the week, but with some light winds and drizzle over the weekend that did not affect fishing.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported on 8 boats fishing out of San Quintin during the week, for good rockcod and lingcod numbers at the 240 and 15 spots and "all the giant Humboldt squid you want." The squid averaged 25 to 30 pounds, Hillis said. San Quintin weather was calming by the weekend after a period of winds, in the mid-70s by noon. "Winds died down and fishermen showed up," Hillis said. "The weather has been cold in the evenings and early mornings. Dress warm for your trip to the first fishing spot, usually the 15 fathom. You can always take the warm clothes off if need be."

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Sport and commercial fishing panguero Juanchys Aguilar of La Bocana on Baja California's semi-remote Pacific coast reported very cool offshore water temperatures of about 55 degrees and very slow open ocean fishing last week, but inshore fishing produced good catches of corvina of 6 to 10 pounds, plus California halibut, from Punta Abreojos north to La Bocana and Punta Lobos at Bahia de San Hipolito. "We're fishing for corvina with Krocodiles and 12 to 15-pound line," Aguilar said. "We're also using dead bait as we cast toward the beach...Right now, the open ocean doesn't have good fishing...only bottom fish at about 230 feet deep...and very few fish, just sandbass and whitefish." La Bocana weather was warm with little wind. "The months of March to June and part of July have the coolest temperatures," Aguilar said. "From September to February has the warmest temperatures. Right now is the opening of the 2006 abalone season for our commercial cooperativa."

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Mike Gravert of Elk Grove, Calif., said he's planning a "The Baja Catch"-style fishing expedition of the Baja peninsula this year from May to July. "I and 2 of my best fishing partners are towing a boat and camping all the way down to Cabo," Gravert said. "After...going down to Baja the last five years, we figured it was time for a trip of a lifetime." Gravert said he would be sending weekly reports from his Baja fishing locations during the trip.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said guide Capt. Enrique Soto reported good catches of golden jack, or palometa amarilla, to 10 pounds in the Magdalena Bay mangrove channels north of San Carlos at Devil's Curve. "There were also a few smaller snook and a decent corvina bite on both streamers and surface poppers," Graham said. "Near the entrada, bonito and skipjack and an occasional yellowtail can be found under bird schools." California gray whale numbers continued to decline as the migration moved north last week, and offshore a few yellowfin tuna were found at the shark buoys. Magdalena Bay weather was clear in the low-70s, with water temperatures at 60 to 66 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported striped marlin concentrated between the 95 and 1150 spots at the end of the week, but action up-and-down on fish sometimes reluctant to strike. On Friday, there was a good showing of broadbill swordfish from a small spot in the same area. "There was a brief, one-day showing of swordfish on the surface," Landrum said. "From what I heard there were about 7 fish sighted, 4 hooked, and 1 landed, all from a small 1-square-mile area...Maybe a night trip? There was plenty of bait...down between 50 and 150 feet." A few yellowfin tuna were found about 40 miles south of the arch. Dorado were very scarce offshore, but some small fish were caught within 3 miles of the beach. Inshore boats found good counts on sierra and a few small roosterfish in the 5-pound class. Boats fishing live bait deep around rocky points also scored on yellowtail averaging about 12 pounds. "Fishing continues to improve," Landrum said. "Some anglers are still striking out...but most of them are seeing at least some action and it seems to be improving every day." Cabo weather was sunny with light breezes during the second half of the week, in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 66 degrees at the Jaime and Golden Gate banks on the Pacific side, and 74 to 76 degrees around the 95 spot and Cabrillo Sea Mount.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 45 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo San Lucas charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 1 small blue marlin, 45 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 7 dorado, and 1 pargo. "Billfish catches picked up considerably this week," Edwards said. "It seemed that the farther up the Sea of Cortez one went, the better the fishing got...While the 1150 spot produced some fish, Destiladeras was the real hot spot for the week and boats had an opportunity for 2 to 4-fish days...The Fish Cabo reported a 4-marlin and 1-sailfish release day with the Conrad Lopez group from San Jose, Calif." Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was sunny in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 64 degrees on the Pacific side, 71 degrees at Cabo Falso, and 72 degrees on the Cortez side at Los Frailes.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of Cabo San Lucas said his boat Falcon was out of the water for engine work, but reported hot broadbill swordfish action on Friday. "Swordfish arrived on the Cortez side and some of them were hungry," Connolly said. "Some of the swordfish were outside the 95...I also heard 150 degrees from Cabo 10 miles...Tonufo invested a lot of time in a big, wild, 400-pound plus fish only to lose it at the boat...There was 1 caught out of 6 hookups." Striped marlin action was good all week, as some boats were shut out, but others scored 1 to 3 fish on the Cortez side. "Most of the action was close to Cabo," Connolly said. "The best fishing was from the 95 to...the Outer Gorda Bank...Bones on the Big Daddy Rabbit got his guys 6 on his best day. Success, with Keven Pahl, and Crusader, with Paco Ruiz, each had over 20 marlin in the cross-hairs on Saturday for their pair of releases. Singles didn't bite but groups of 3 or 4 often had a hungry one. There were lots of marlin seen and cast to, but hooking them proved to be difficult for most. Darcy on the Reel Easy found 8 yellowfin tuna at 40 miles on Friday, the rare success story on tuna. It was a tough bite on the dorado. Success had a couple of wahoo bites on Marauders on Thursday, landing one, but targeting wahoo is sort of like muskie fishing right now...There are some sailfish showing up in the catches." Cabo San Lucas fishing area water temperatures were at 71 to 74 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 12 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 8 striped marlin, 1 mako shark of 40 pounds, 1 blue shark of 45 pounds. Tuesday was a slow fishing day at Cabo San Lucas, Dillon reported, as all 3 El Budster boats were skunked.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported a catch including released fish of: 58 striped marlin, 1 broadbill swordfish, 2 yellowfin tuna, 5 dorado, 16 mako shark, 1 blue shark, 1 hammerhead shark, 90 yellowtail, 12 roosterfish, 20 sierra, 4 amberjack, 4 jack crevalle, and 17 boats skunked.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Species fishing specialist John Snow of San Jose del Cabo fished the surf at the Todos Santos commercial beach last week for a catch of 9 gafftopsail pompano to 3 pounds. Snow also reported about 10 commercial fishing pangas with a combined catch of about 3,000 fish, including about 20 percent ocean tilefish, 20 percent yelloweye tilefish, 10 percent Mexican bonito, 10 percent rays, and 40 percent other species including scorpionfish, red snapper, damsel bass or rose threadfin bass, rockcods, mako shark, and popeye catalufa. "I did see a standard sale go down," Snow said, "an overflowing 5-gallon bucket of ocean whitefish for 200 pesos...All the fish were cleaned on the beach...The rays' remains were returned to the sea...Everything else was hand-fed to a zillion pelicanos which collected patiently awaiting the handouts."

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 59 combined La Playita fleet charter pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 405 sierra, 94 pargo, 68 bonito, 21 yellowtail, 28 cabrilla, 19 amberjack, 14 parrotfish, 10 pompano, and 8 dorado. San Jose del Cabo weather was sunny in the 80s, with water temperatures at 70 degrees from Chileno north to Los Frailes. "The San Jose del Cabo panga fleets are fishing mainly rock piles closer to shore," Brictson said. "Punta Palmilla was probably the best area...for sierra, yellowtail, cabrilla and amberjack. Sierra action was pretty much nonstop, with sizes ranging up to 6 pounds." Brictson said no yellowfin tuna were reported, although commercial boats caught some tuna of 20 to 80 pounds. "Apparently they're some tuna out there somewhere, but the commercial boats are netting them before they are reaching the range of the sportfishing fleets," Brictson said. "More porpoise are now being found...but they are not holding schools of tuna as they normally would."

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Axel Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on 9 boats, with 29 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 2 striped marlin, 10 dorado, 10 yellowfin tuna, 14 snapper, 1 jack crevalle, 12 skipjack tuna, and 7 sierra. East Cape water temperatures were held down to 65 to 73 degrees by winds. "With our consistent cold front, our ocean also was affected and the water temperature was quite cold this past week," Valdez said. Fleet boats fished south on calm days and north on windy days. "Except for some good days for dorado and tuna at the beginning of the week, this was another typical windy week of our almost gone winter," Valdez said.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 58 charter boats from combined fleets including Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, Punta Colorada, Buena Vista Beach Resort, Rancho Leonero, and Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort, with 166 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 62 striped marlin, 4 sailfish, 54 dorado, and 22 yellowfin tuna. "The action saw a slight downturn," Moyers said. "The dorado count...fell off considerably...We saw more stripers than dorado...Striper action was north off Punta Pescadero, straight off Los Barriles, and south off Los Frailes and Destiladeras...Yellowfin tuna brought up the proverbial rear...straight off Los Barriles as well as to the south off Los Frailes...The warmer water is still down south beginning at about Cabo Pulmo and extending on down towards Cabo." East Cape weather was cooler with north winds on Wednesday and Thursday and local water temperatures at 62 to 70 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista reported local pangueros with 2 yellowtail in the 30-pound class caught while fishing live mackerel baits 200 feet deep off Rancho Leonero. East Cape fishing area weather was "as good as it gets" on Sunday morning, Eddy said, with no whitecaps, 5 m.p.h. breezes from the southeast, an air temperature of 70 degrees and rising, and "not a cloud in the sky."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported a few East Cape charter boats fishing between seasonal spring winds last week, with some striped marlin and sailfish found scattered around Bahia de Palmas, a few dorado found outside and off Punta Pescadero to the north, and some yellowfin tuna landed by boats that risked the wind and headed south. "East Cape is slipping into that transitional mode when the winds begin to lose strength and start to shift from north to east," Graham said. "There begins to be more good days than bad. Early this week, it was calm but by midweek the north winds were churning up the Sea of Cortez...Then, as quickly as it started, it slacked off...It is always like starting at square one after the wind backs off, and with few boats looking, it is tough to locate any fish concentrations." White bonito, or skipjack tuna, plus sierra and ladyfish were caught inshore. Two days of offshore fishing for reported swordfish last week by Mark Rayor of Vista Seasport did not score any broadbills. "With picture perfect weather, he would have been back out this morning, but his boat was chartered for the day," Graham said on Saturday. East Cape fishing area weather was partly cloudy and sometimes windy in the low-80s, with water temperatures of 62 to 70 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Graham also noted that the previous week's ultra-hot sailfish bite at his Guatemala fishing operation had slowed down. "The action couldn't go on indefinitely," Graham said. "The catches were still in the low double-digits...The acres of small bait fish...reported for the past few weeks seemed to have disappeared...The fleet did find action anywhere from 15 to as far as 45 miles offshore." Guatemala weather was clear in the mid-80s, with water temperatures of 78 to 82 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero said his boats fished south with dorado and striped marlin the main quarry. "Fishing was nearly a carbon copy of last week," Ireland said. "The striped marlin are feeding 10 to 20 miles out from Rancho Leonero to Los Frailes. They are taking live mackerel and tuna lures but are picky biters averaging 1 per boat...There are lots of free swimmer dorado in the same area as the marlin, with a steady bite averaging 2 fish per boat of 15 to 35 pounds." Yellowfin tuna were present but a long ride offshore. Few boats fished inshore but some jacks and sierra were caught and more roosterfish were seen. "The kayak fishermen are taking some nice pargo and grouper," Ireland said. After 2 days of north wind, East Cape weather was calm in the low-80s at the end of the week, with water temperatures in the mid-60s to the north, and up to 74 degrees to the south.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts said boats from Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, and Punta Colorada found dorado of 20 to 40 pounds, yellowfin tuna of 25 to 50 pounds, and striped marlin in 73-degree water about 25 miles south. "Boats are catching and releasing 4 to 10 striped marlin per day when focusing on billfish," Dalmau said. "Boats targeting dorado and tuna are flying 2 to 10 flags...The general reaction from our guests has been, 'I can't believe how many fish I saw, there must have been a thousand marlin in just one area!'"

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Dos Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said weather conditions for his pangas fishing on the Las Arenas side south of La Paz improved steadily during the past few weeks, but water temperatures were still cool at 68 to 73 degrees "meaning that the dorado and tuna have still not arrived." Bait supplies were very good around Bahia de los Muertos and very abundant at Isla Cerralvo, Hernandez said. Nearby fishing was steady for mixed species. "This week around Punta Perico, we've caught cabrilla of 10 to 15 pounds and pargo lisa and yellowtail of 15 to 25 pounds," Hernandez said. Mike Clark and his wife Terry fished 2 days inshore with Capt. Nufo and caught 3 yellowtail, 1 pargo lisa, 1 pargo perro, and some cabrilla. On their third day, we took them sight seeing and swimming around the bay and Punta Perico."

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International said his La Paz boats found some yellowtail into the 40-pound class in calming weather toward the end of the week. "Lots of wind earlier in the week finally gave us a break," Roldan said. "When we finally got on the water, the fish were waiting. Yellowtail bait wasn't spectacular, but steady and the fish were there...What we lacked in numbers we made up for in quality with a number of mossback type yellowtail in the 25 to 40-pound class. The bigger the fish, the more likely to be hunkered down in the structure and harder to catch. Smaller fish ran in schools. Not so many pargo were caught this week, but possibly it was because more guys are concentrating on the yellowtail...We got some of the red and yellow snapper as well as cabrilla."

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

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SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos reported heavy yellowtail fishing at Isla Tortuga, but a sudden back problem while fighting a 40-pound class fish that required a morphine injection to get him off the boat. Santa Rosalia weather was unfishable due to winds on some days but calming by Friday, in the mid-70s, with chilly water temperatures of 60 to 63 degrees, and poor visibility around Isla San Marcos of about 10 to 15 feet, with many yellow lionhead jellyfish in the water. Kanzler's run to Isla Tortuga produced 3 heavy hookups on 3 drops on fish of about 25, 40, and 40 pounds, but then came the back problem. "The second bait...held me down...and once at color I knew I had the best yellowtail of the year so far...right about 40 pounds or a pound or 2 larger...and...I never call 40 unless they dam well are...My third fish...made for the shallows...and when I made the move with my back bent over trying to get around the corner of the transom...pain like I've never felt before shot through my lower back and body!...I was brought to my knees...With bolts of pain, I carefully turned the reel with one hand...and somehow got the gaff in it's side...Getting dangerously close to the shore, I got the boat started and drove it away on my knees to a safer distance...On the radio...I did get Joe 'Happy Hound' Archibald who was fishing Isla San Marcos...and met him halfway back...It took every bit of my mental strength to keep from blacking out during the run home...The nurse here at the island hospital had to shoot me in the butt on the boat with morphine so they could get me to my house...I can...still feel tenderness, but I'm getting around fine...Just need to sit out fishing the rest of this week."

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Gary Thomas of Tracy, Calif., had a preliminary species identification for the unusual fish netted and photographed at Isla Tortuga the previous week by Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos. "The fish in Mike Kanzler's photo is called a sharpnosed puffer," Thomas said. "They are thick in the shallows in the Loreto, Mulege, and Santa Rosalia areas...They are readily available for purchase in most good marine aquarium stores. I believe that I have found them at every tropical place that I have ever dived."

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Syd Lindsay of San Lucas Cove reported a humorous incident involving the gas pump readouts at one of the Santa Rosalia Pemex stations. "The story I got was that a Mexican man went in with a 60-liter can and the pump ran up to 80 liters," Lindsay said. "He was raising hell, and the people from Weights and Measures happened along, and he raised hell with them. Since Friday half the station has been closed and the line is long. So here is the bottom line, when a gringo complains, nada, but this time it looks like they sold to the wrong Mexican."

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Catalina Meders of San Felipe's Title Company Bookstore overlooking the bay said the weather was at 79 degrees Sunday morning, sunny and clear, and mostly calm. "Last Saturday there was a grunion run," Meders said. "These are always fascinating even though the mating ritual of these little unassuming fish seems oddly elaborate." San Felipe was fairly quiet between spring break and the approaching Semana Santa celebration to be held April 9-12, 2006, Meders said, and there were mixed reports about the future of David "Poppa Neutrino" Pearlman's sea going raft project. "I have heard both that he has decided to shelve the project until next year, and that he is making his final preparations for the launch south," Meders said. "Take your pick."

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Curt Jones, reporting for Bobby Castellon's Sea of Cortez Sportfishing and the San Felipe panga mothership Celia Angelina, said the boat was moved to Rocky Point last week for routine annual maintenance of the keel and rudder, plus a major overhaul. "Bobby sends his regards," Jones said. "We did not attend the Del Mar show this year...the first time in 16 years...Instead we took the boat over to Rocky Point for maintenance." Jones said the Celia Angelina was scheduled to make its first charter sportfishing trip of the 2006 season on April 26, 2006.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Fernando Almada of Catch-22 Sportfishing reported on a run to the south end of Isla Tortuga by the charter boat Catch-22 Pez Vela on Saturday, finding good weather all day, and a catch on Rapalas trolled in 60 to 90 feet of water at 63 to 64 degrees that included 1 yellowtail, 8 cabrilla, and 2 yellow snapper. "The wind finally gave us a break and my friend Jason Brabrooke and I teamed up to go all the way to Tortuga and we took our girlfriends out fishing," Almada said. "Jason trolled one of those new Rapalas and it was by far the most successful lure of the day...On our way back to San Carlos we had a beautiful sunset."

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: For the previous week, Craig Collins of Rio Rico, Ariz., reported on a good yellowtail run out of San Carlos for his boat No Sniveling, scoring on 8 trolled yellowtail of 22 to 30 pounds in glassed-off conditions and 60 to 62-degree water at the south end of Isla San Pedro Nolasco. Fishing with his brother-in-law Ted Lucero of Morenci, Ariz., Collins said they also lost fish that couldn't be stopped on 50 and 60-pound wire line tackle. "We used...MirrOlures MR113 in fire tiger...and a Rapala CD18 in natural wood color to catch all of them," Collins said. "We fished exclusively at the south end of the island, and we were only there for 5 hours...We could have caught more if the 120-quart ice chest had any room. It was Ted's big day...and 5 of the 8 caught were his. We had 3 double strikes during the height of the bite. An absolute bonus day on the Sea of Cortez!"

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported Aries Fleet offshore boats out of Marina El Cid with about 2 striped marlin per day plus a scattering of dorado into the 45 to 50-pound range and more yellowfin tuna showing up in calm seas about 18 to 28 miles southwest. "General manager Geronimo Cevallos...said it was 'good' for the stripers," Edwards said. "Many fish are being caught on the artificials this week, especially the purple-black colors." Mazatlan weather was sunny in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 66 degrees inshore, and 70 degrees offshore.

Edwards also noted that El Cid's new hotel on the Atlantic coast of Mexico, the El Cid Caribe near Cancun, had opened and was offering sportfishing with 2 cruisers and 2 super pangas. "If the groups require more boats, they will make arrangements with other local fleets," Edwards said.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Osuna of Marla's Sportfishing reported good action out of Puerto Vallarta found by the charter boat Marla II on surface jacks around the north side of Bahia de Banderas, and good numbers of striped marlin, sailfish, and dorado about 12 miles off Punta Mita, also at the north side of the bay. A midweek outing on the Marla II with anglers Brad and Brian Thompson of Minnesota found jack crevalle in 70-degree water, light breezes, and a 2 to 3-foot swell. "There are jacks nailing big bait balls all over the north side of the bay," Osuna said. "They are taking anything you throw on top of them, jigs, live bait, Rapalas, Fish Traps, spoons, topwaters, anything. There is a lot of action on all the inshore fishing trips." Another outing found offshore striped marlin and dorado for anglers Robert and Kily Wassenaar of Iowa, in 2 to 3-foot swells, 4 to 6 knots of wind, and a water temperature of 77 degrees. "There are a lot of striped marlin, sailfish, and dorados running about 12 nautical miles north of Punta Mita," Osuna said. "The Marla III and the Arca de Noe are also doing well on all their charters. These fish are baiting really well, especially on the artificial lures."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Paul Phillips of the Fintastic Total Tag & Release Tournament said offshore action for sailfish and striped marlin improved last week, as several boats reported up to 7 sailfish hookups and about 1 marlin per day. "With the current change and the water warming up to 84 degrees in areas, the fishing has greatly improved," Phillips said. Santiago on the panga Gitana released 7 sails and 1 striper on Friday, capping an excellent week." Capt. Martin on the panga Isamar also hooked 7 sailfish and tagged 1 sailfish plus a striped marlin during 3 outings with fly tackle. "The 'April Current' is playing games in the Zihuatanejo area and could reappear at any time, so check with your captain as to the daily status," Phillips said. Inshore fishing at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo produced some jack crevalle but no roosterfish.

HUATULCO FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR HUATULCO

HUATULCO, MEXICO: Eric Weissman of Explore Fly Fishing said water temperatures were cooler in the low-80s at his San Agustinillo fishing operation near Huatulco last week, with green water near shore and lots of small shrimp and sardinas being eaten by schools of barrilete, yellowfin tuna, and dorado. "Dorado are within 300 yards of the hotel," Weissman said, "in small packs and very aggressive." Sailfish and dorado were reported in blue water a few miles offshore, but Weissman said he hasn't scored on them. "I have only been hitting skipjack, black skipjack, and yellowfin," he said. "Large schools of rainbow runner and bar jack are around...The guests here secured lots of tuna on the fly so they are happy...It looks like a good season again, since the big dorado are already showing up and the tuna are still here. The end of April, May, and June are excellent here for sails, dorado, jacks, and then the roosters." Huatulco weather was in the low-90s.

Loreto Sportfishing Photo 5 Loreto Sportfishing Photo 4

(Left) LORETO YELLOWTAIL ACTION--Dominic Chi, left, and his father Mark, right, fished 2 days out of the Loreto downtown marina and scored on a total of 19 yellowtail to 38 pounds with Arturo's Sportfishing.

Loreto Sportfishing Photo 3

PIEDRA BAJA YELLOWTAIL--Loreto anglers, from left, Mike Michelson, Mr. Granzow and Mr. Hederer, fished out of Loreto's Hotel Oasis and landed 3 yellowtail to about 30 pounds while fishing at a location known as Piedra Baja, about 15 miles north of town between San Bruno and Isla Coronado. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTY ZAPATA.

Loreto Sportfishing Photo 2

FROM ISLA CATALAN--Pam Bolles of Loreto's Baja Big Fish Company with her biggest yellowtail of the day, caught during a run to the north side of Isla Catalan by Baja Big Fish's soon to be in service 33-foot charter cruiser. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAM BOLLES.

Cabo San Lucas Sportfishing Photo 1

CABO STRIPER--David Frick, second from left, and 11-year-old Andy Mayfield of San Antonio celebrate their marlin catch aboard the Cabo San Lucas charter boat Cabo Magic. PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI GARCIA.

Loreto Sportfishing Photo 1

BIG BOAT FOR LORETO--Baja Big Fish Company's Pam Bolles said their new 33-foot boat will soon be put into charter service for trips out of Loreto's downtown marina. PHOTO COURTESY OF PAM BOLLES.

La Paz Sportfishing Photo 2

LAS ARENAS LANDING--Mike and Terry Clark fished on a panga out of Ensenada de los Muertos, on the Las Arenas side, south of La Paz, with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Nufo Green for a nice catch of yellowtail found around Punta Perico. PHOTO COURTESY GERARDO HERNANDEZ.

La Paz Sportfishing Photo 1

BARBECUE JUREL LINEUP--This group of anglers led by Dan Fedorka, left, fished at La Paz with Tailhunter International and loaded up on some nice early spring yellowtail headed for the barbecue rack. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

Sharpnosed Puffer Photo 1

SHARPNOSED PUFFER IDENTIFIED--This 3-inch fish netted at Isla Tortuga in the Sea of Cortez off Santa Rosalia by Mike Kanzler 2 weeks ago was identified as a sharpnosed puffer by Gary Thomas. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE KANZLER.

San Carlos Sportfishing Photo 3

AT ISLA TORTUGA--Jason Brabrooke fished out of San Carlos, Sonora, on the boat Catch-22 Pez Vela with Fernando Almada, and they scored on yellowtail, cabrilla, and a couple of these nice yellow snappers at the south tip of the Isla Tortuga. PHOTO COURTESY FERNANDO ALMADA.

San Carlos Sportfishing Photo 2

SAN PEDRO NOLASCO YELLOWTAIL--Ted Lucero fished out of San Carlos, Sonora, on his brother-in-law Craig Collins' boat No Sniveling, and he scored on 5 of his first-ever yellowtail at Isla San Pedro Nolasco. At right, Collins with another nice one caught during the trip.. PHOTOS COURTESY CRAIG COLLINS.

Puerto Vallarta Sportfishing Photo 3

BOILING JACKS & BIRDS--Hot surface action for mixed jacks greeted anglers fishing the north side of Puerto Vallarta's Bahia de Banderas last week on Marla's Sportfishing's 3 charter boats, the Marla II, Marla III, and Arca de Noe. PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY OSUNA.

Puerto Vallarta Sportfishing Photo 2

(Left) PUNTA MITA JACK CREVALLE--Brad and Brian Thompson fished the north side of Puerto Vallarta's Bahia de Banderas and scored in hot surface action for jack crevalle boiling on bait while fishing aboard the charter boat Marla II.

(Right) PUERTA VALLARTA DORADO--Kily Wassenaar with a nice dorado caught about 12 miles off Puerto Vallarta's Punta Mita last week, in action for mixed dorado, striped marlin, and sailfish aboard the charter boat Marla II. PHOTOS COURTESY DANNY OSUNA.

Huatulco Sportfishing Photo 2

HUATULCO FLY TUNA--Explore Fly Fishing guide Ed Mitchell shows off a yellowfin tuna of about 20 pounds landed near Eric Weissman's charter fishing operation at San Agustinillo, near Huatulco. Mitchell is also the proprietor of Hotel Villas de Carrizalillo in Puerto Escondido. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC WEISSMAN.

Huatulco Sportfishing Photo 1

HUATULCO RUNNER--Eric Weissman of Explore Fly Fishing with a handsome rainbow runner, locally called a "salema," caught on 14WT fly tackle about 500 yards from the hotel last week at his San Agustinillo charter fishing operation near Huatulco. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC WEISSMAN.

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