Sparky jumped
times
before he retired.
Good job, Sparky!
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Loreto yellowtail fishing picks up the pace
Mexico Fishing News, April 3, 2006
LORETO FISHING REPORTS
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LORETO, MEXICO: The spring yellowtail run at Loreto and points north of town ramped up from decent to good last week as some pangas scored on up to 10 fish per outing and a handful of early season teaser dorado (also mahi-mahi or dolphinfish) were caught as well.
Patty Zapata of Loreto's Hotel Oasis reported steady yellowtail action all week for boats fishing at San Bruno, Punta Perico, around the east side of Isla Carmen, and Punta Lobos. Eight panga outings with Capts. Martin Davis, Martin Perpuli, Luciano Murillo, Tito Veliz, and Poncho Susarrey produced a combined total of 45 yellowtail up to about 35 pounds, including a 10-fish day at Punta Lobos for anglers John and Dennis Nespor with Capt. Murillo and another 10-fish day at Punta Perico with Capt. Susarrey for anglers Bob and Mary Ann Altaffer.
LORETO, MEXICO: Don Bear of Loreto reported good yellowtail results as most boats caught 2 to 6 fish. "It hasn't been necessary to travel extreme distances to find the fish," Bear said. "The prime areas were the east side of Isla Carmen and the San Bruno bajo." Capt. Paulino Martinez had an 8-day run with a total of 40 yellowtail caught, all at 20 to 35 pounds, Bear said. Six other pangas fishing with Martinez had similar results for 16 anglers. Capts. Eulogio and Alvaro Murillo came back from San Bruno with 6 yellowtail for Charlie Licha, his 2 grandsons, and other anglers. Bear said he fished 2 days with Capts. Francisco and Paulino Martinez and blanked at Punta Perico his first day, but came back with 6 yellowtail at San Bruno. "The most common technique has been flylining live bait, although some have had success using 3 to 4-ounce sinkers to put the bait in the middle of the water column," Bear said. Loreto weather was mostly calm except for winds on Wednesday, in the low-80s, with water temperatures at 66 to 68 degrees. Bait was plentiful at Las Lagrimas. "One problem has been the extreme tides, making launching and retrieving extremely difficult and, at times, impossible. I lost my transom triducer yesterday when launching," Bear said.
LORETO, MEXICO: Nacho Davis of the Loreto Carnaderos y Pescadores baitsellers cooperativa reported local angler "Jimbo" Luithly with 3 small early season dorado caught on debris in 69.2-degree water 30 miles north of town. Davis said the dorado were hooked on black-purple jet heads around 4 floating plastic fuel cans. "He hunted 40 miles southeast without action," Davis said. "Then 30 miles north before finding flotsam. Luithly described the trip as '119 miles of not too much action.'" Davis also reported slow bait fishing by the Carnaderos for 3 nights last week, 2 nights producing no baits at all, and the third night with only 13 baits. "They are coming, and we'll have bait for you," Davis said.
LORETO, MEXICO: Earlier, Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company reported 3 early dorado caught at Isla Carmen and to the south. Bolles said, "The yellowtail are off their spawn and feeding on plentiful bait....Last week 1 small dorado was caught off the east side of Isla Carmen, but I believe that was a resident fish that never migrated out of the area. On March 28th I had a report of 2 dorado caught in the 20-pound range off the south side of Isla Catalan. The sargasso will determine whether or not we have a good dorado season. We are ready to set buoys for them in May...We are now seeing the start of the sargasso growth on the rocks below the surface of the water." Bolles also noted that the 33-foot cruiser planned for charter service with Baja Big Fish Company will not be available as hoped.
In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:
ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS
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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet said his beach launched pangas fishing at the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda caught no yellowtail last week, but found steady mixed species limits or near limits of lingcod, rockfish, chuckle heads, sugar bass, calico bass, red rockcod, and giant Humboldt squid. On Saturday, anglers Ryan Smith, Patrick Mares, Don Fradette, Corey Hamrick, Mark Merlino, Kyle and Mike Smith, and Francisco Segura fished on the Vonny I, Vonny II, and Vonny III with Capts. Beto, Hector, and Cruz for a catch of 19 Humboldt squid, 20 lingcod, 30 sugarbass, 5 red rockcod, and 5 calico bass. On Thursday, "Calico" Brian Foley limited out in a hot bite of calico bass. Other anglers fishing during the week included Kris Chun, Bruce George, Jay Johnson, Jerry, and Goldia and Jim Amick. Ensenada fishing weather was partly cloudy and overcast, in the low-60s, with light breezes, water temperatures at 58 degrees, and ocean swells of 2 to 4 feet.
ENSENADA, MEXICO: Derek Arneson of San Diego reported on a run aboard his 15-foot aluminum boat out of Puerto La Salina north of Ensenada, fishing with Armando Rodriguez of San Diego in 58-degree water about 60 to 80 feet deep, 2 to 3 miles from the boca, for limits of calico bass and lingcod. "Almost all our fish were caught on MC Swimbaits," Arneson said. "There was lots of bait and bird activity in the water. Yellowtail by Easter!" La Salina sea conditions had light swell and breezes.
ENSENADA, MEXICO: Daniel Shay, noting the Ensenada fish market photo of the deep water fish, escolar, in the Mexfish.com fish photo gallery, said he purchased the fish in a San Diego market recently, and it made him ill to the point that he "couldn't control my bowel movements." The escolar contains large quantities of indigestible oil, giving it the nickname of the "Ex-Lax" fish, and Shay said, "My body could not digest its oil and it went right through me, like castor oil. The FDA banned escolar in 1990, but reversed itself a few years ago and allowed it back on U.S. menus after deciding escolar wasn't 'toxic.'"
PUERTO SANTO TOMAS FISHING REPORTS
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PUERTO SANTO TOMAS, MEXICO: Sam Saenz of Puerto Santo Tomas Resort south of Ensenada reported calm seas and no wind over the weekend, very little current, but local captains saying the water around Puerto Santo Tomas looked "sort of murky dark in color." Anglers Jim Quinlan and his group from Temecula were the only sport anglers in the area, Saenz said, and they came back from the Soledad Reef with full limits of rockcod, lingcod, and whitefish.
ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS
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ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Fernando Castro of Castro's Camp reported 16 boats fishing during the week despite some weather cancellations. "We had some cancellations due to the rain this week," Castro said, "but actually the fishing was good. We caught red rockcod, whitefish, lingcod, and more bass." Erendira water temperatures were at 54 to 55 degrees in the main fishing area, with clear color and some light sprinkles at night and in the mornings. Three boats were fishing on Sunday morning.
SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS
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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported San Quintin weather very cold at night, but in the low-70s by noon, with water temperatures at 56 to 58 degrees. "There were very few boats fishing at San Quintin this week," Hillis said. "We believe customers were anticipating bad weather to hit San Quintin, but the bad weather never made it that far south. We had only light winds in the afternoon." Fishing was a little slower last week, Hillis said, but the few boats going out still caught rockcods, whitefish, lingcod, and a few giant Humboldt squid.
SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Kelly Catian of K&M Offshore Sportfishing announced the addition of the fleet's second Parker 23-foot pilot house boat for charter fishing out of San Quintin. "This is our second Parker and probably not the last," Catian said. "I'm leaving this week to go pick it up."
BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS
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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Tim O'Brien of Cape Cod reported on a 6-week overland fishing trip down the Baja California peninsula, fishing from shore and "The Baja Catch"-style from a small inflatable boat for about 15 species, including yellowtail, snapper, corvina, eels, spotted bay bass, puffers, and 2 nice halibut of 24 and 32 inches caught on the low tide at Punta Rosarito with 5-inch swimbaits, an Abu Garcia bait casting reel, and 10-pound line. "Just got back from 6 weeks in Baja," O'Brien said. "We...found great tranquility and great fishing...We camped at all the spots except Mulege, where we spent the night after getting blown off the beach at Punta Chivato...I loved King of the Moon, and The Baja Catch is my Baja bible!" O'Brien noted that he had a break-in at Mulege that cost him $400 in fishing tackle and the usual rip-off problems at the Santa Rosalia Pemex station. "Pay attention to everyone around you if you're forced to use this one," he said.
BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: George Bogen of Los Angeles sent a photo of an unusual fish caught in Santa Monica Bay in 1985, but which probably also occurs in waters south along the Pacific coast of Baja California. "The fish was copper colored, like metallic copper with a beige bottom," Bogen said. "The deckhand called it a midshipman...What in heaven's name is it?" The fish hit a live anchovy in June, about 100 feet deep, in water at about 64 degrees.
MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS
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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported mostly quiet conditions around the Magdalena Bay fishing area last week, with most California gray whales departed for northern destinations and fishing generally slow except for some snook in the mangrove channels and a decent corvina bite at the San Carlos commercial pier or at the bridge before town. "There are still a few whales hanging around while they are psych themselves up for the long trip up the coast," Graham said. "The best action...was...at Los Barriles where there were a few snook to be had if you were there at the right time." Offshore fishing was also slow. Graham said, "The Humboldt squid have been about the only thing reported of any consequence." Magdalena Bay weather was clear in the low-70s, with water temperatures of 60 to 66 degrees.
CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS
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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of Cabo San Lucas and the boat Falcon reported good numbers of striped marlin in the Cabo area, but many not willing to hit a lure or bait. "There are lots of marlin spotted but it is difficult to find them in a biting mood," Connolly said. "At this time of year, marlin happily feed on squid and...the caballito pitched at them are often completely ignored...It is always good to see them, of course. It is pretty good marlin fishing over all." The marlin were located a bit farther northeast, Connolly said, and were concentrated 8 to 10 miles off Punta Gorda. Two broadbill swordfish were reported lost, and the boat Anchor lost an estimated 400 pounder after 5 hours on Tuesday. "The crew offered the fish a live caballito and it attacked it like a leopard on a rabbit," Connolly said. "It jumped 7 times and in the latter stages of the battle gave no real signs of being tired...Just another example of the degree of difficulty in landing a big swordfish." Dorado, tuna, and wahoo were scattered. Some yellowtail were caught off the Cabo rocks, but sea lions were a problem. "If you hook the first fish, forget about it," Connolly said. "It can be tough getting a whole yellowtail to the boat. Mornings and evenings are producing best."
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 36 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 28 striped marlin, 3 dorado, and 15 sierra. "The Cabo crazy current is back with its ever-changing temperatures," Edwards said. "It sure makes for difficult fishing conditions and longer rides...The 1150 spot was best, but the fish were scattered about throughout the week with some good fishing outside of the Palmilla Ridge." Cabo San Lucas weather was party cloudy in the high-80s, with water temperatures a cool 62 to 63 degrees at San Cristobal on the Pacific side, and up to 71 degrees northeast of the Gordo Banks.
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet reported 79 percent of charters with striped marlin, including a 5-release day for Ni Modo, a 4-release days for Ni Modo, Karina, Yahoo, and Rebecca, all fishing close in and up to 20 miles out. "We were surprised that the fishing moved back towards Cabo, as at this time of year we expect it to go the other way, closer to the East Cape," Ehrenberg said. "Usually when we think of March it brings to mind windy weather and fish that are disinterested in the bait...This March overall has been a good month...The striped marlin bite remained quite consistent." Boats were again fishing north off San Jose del Cabo at the end of the week. Only 4 Pisces boats caught dorado, and only 1 boat found yellowfin tuna.
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 10 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 15 striped marlin, 2 dorado (also mahi-mahi or dolphinfish) of 30 pounds, and 4 sierra.
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported clear blue water at the San Jaime Bank on the Pacific side at 65 to 67 degrees and off-color water on the Cortez side at 73 to 75 degrees. A good bite on plentiful striped marlin tapered off at the end of the week as the fish fed on squid. "The fish have been stuffed with squid which they have been tossing up when brought close to the boat," Landrum said.
"The squid...might also be the reason there have still been sightings and occasional hookups with swordfish this week." Yellowfin tuna and dorado continued very scarce and scattered, but inshore fishing was productive for guide, Jeff DeBrown, whose clients fished near the Cabo arch on Saturday for a catch including released fish of: 10 small roosterfish to 6 pounds, 5 sierra, 1 ladyfish, 1 yellowtail of 20 pounds, and 1 pompano lost. "The yellowtail and 7 of the roosterfish were on live bait while the rest were on the fly," Landrum said. "I guess that gives you an indication of the action."
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Donald Rubi of Duarte, Calif., reported a slow day at midweek aboard the Edith Fleet charter boat Angelina, getting skunked both offshore about 8 to 10 miles out, and inshore while fishing for smaller game along the Pacific side. "Just one of those days," Rubi said. "Slow and no go." Later in the week, Rubi fished again with Capt. Jose on the 22-foot charter boat Choyera, catching 1 sierra on the Pacific side and returning inshore for 1 yellowtail on 4 strikes about 40 yards from shore, plus a 19-pound dog snapper.
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported a catch including released fish of: 23 striped marlin, 6 dorado, 1 mako shark, 24 yellowfin tuna, 14 yellowtail, 115 sierra, 2 skipjack, and 17 boats skunked.
CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: The Rolex/IGFA Offshore Championship Tournament reported more than 60 teams from more than 30 countries entered for the event to be held at Cabo San Lucas on May 7-12, 2006. Anglers will fish aboard local charter boats after qualifying for the release-format tournament in events held around the world.
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 70 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 660 sierra, 6 striped marlin, 8 mako shark, 5 dorado, 21 yellowtail, 26 amberjack, 45 bonito, 35 cabrilla, 14 pompano, and 44 mixed pargo.
San Jose del Cabo weather was mostly calm at about 80 degrees, with water temperatures at 69 to 70 degrees inshore and 71 to 72 degrees about 15 to 20 miles out. "The La Playita panga fleets continued to find good numbers of sierra close to shore from Red Hill to Chileno," Brictson said. "Most of these fish struck on smaller baits and were in the 2 to 5-pound range. Off the bottom in the same area there was a mix of snapper, yellowtail, amberjack and cabrilla, although these species were not as consistent as the sierra."
SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS), MEXICO: Bob Grimes of San Jose del Cabo reported good numbers of striped marlin around the Gordo Banks. "Mullet and small barrilete are being used as bait, with more success with the barriletes," Grimes said. "The marlin are striking on lures too...There are very few tuna or dorado." Pelagic red tuna crab, or langostilla, were used to catch huachinango at the banks, and sierra plus some amberjack and cabrilla were found off Punta Palmilla and Cabo Real. Grimes noted that seasonal gill netting in the San Jose del Cabo area was less than normal. "A local gill netter set his net at least one night, a week or so ago," he said, "but it appears that pressure from the local sportfishing pangueros has caused him to stop for the time being...Some of the sportfishing pangueros are trying to prevent this from happening this year, with peer pressure and sometimes cutting the gill nets, and so far they have been pretty successful."
SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS), MEXICO: Species fishing specialist John Snow of San Jose del Cabo reported improved conditions during 2 surf fishing sessions, and 3 panga outings with Capt. Pata of the Salome, for a total of 24 fish species caught or observed and several new ones including: giant sand stargazer, jewel eel moray, round stingray, spotted sand bass, Chilean devil ray, and brine shrimp. "Spring has sprung, and the sea is alive and well and full of several new species," Snow said. "We lost 4 mullet to monsters of the deep, one of which was to a hammerhead shark which came up to the boat...Gringo traffic at La Playita increased significantly from 3 weeks ago but remains 'bajo' due to no targeted game species being present...The gringos did bring at least 2 striped marlin back to the beach."
EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS
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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Axel Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on 34 East Cape boats, with a catch including released fish of: 38 striped marlin, 3 sailfish, 33 dorado, 10 yellowfin tuna, 26 snapper, 1 jack crevalle, 2 bonito, and 10 ladyfish. "Most of our fleet was going south about 25 to 35 miles out in front of Cabo Pulmo and the light house," Valdez said. "The billfish caught this week averaged 1 per boat and not everyone was targeting them."
EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Josh Dickenson of Baja On The Fly reported inshore fishing conditions primed for improving action, with winds slackening and water temperatures rising. "The news this week revolved mainly around the lack of wind," Dickenson said. "This trend will bring warmer weather and water...The inshore fishing hasn't quite caught up yet though." Dickenson said some schools of ladyfish, pompano, and jacks were being seen, and snorkelers reported very tight schools of gafftopsail pompano. "As water temps rise and more striped mullet and flatiron herring bait appears, these schools will loosen up, providing more shots to the beach angler," he said. "Thus far, it's the very lucky boat to run into roosters." East Cape offshore boats reported mixed results on sleeping striped marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna. East Cape weather was clear in the low-80s, with water temperatures of 62 to 70 degrees.
EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero reported striped marlin feeding 20 to 30 miles out, from Rancho Leonero to Los Frailes, with dorado also averaging 2 per boat at 15 to 40 pounds, and some school-sized yellowfin tuna of 15 to 20 pounds mixed in. "With the spread of warmer water into the bay, the bite has spread as well," Ireland said. "Striped marlin and sailfish are...biting more aggressively this week, averaging 2 per boat." Sierra, jacks pargo, grouper, and increasing numbers of roosterfish were present over inshore reefs, although few boats fished for them. East Cape weather was in the low-80s and calm all week, with water temperatures steady in the bay at 72 to 74 degrees.
EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista reported local a panguero friend with another good-sized East Cape yellowtail, estimated at over 30 pounds and measured at 49 inches long from the nose to the tip of the tail. "This yellowtail...was the same size as the 2 he caught a few nights ago," Eddy said. "This is the biggest I have seen in person." Eddy said the yellowtail were being caught on handlines with live mackerel, 100 feet deep in 200-foot water, off Rancho Leonero. Also being caught were porgy to about 2 pounds and a few good-sized huachinango. Many manta rays were seen jumping in the East Cape area.
EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Brad Meister of La Ribera reported a good catch of huachinango, whitefish, and cabrilla while fishing with Lonnie Good of Creswel, Ore., and local panguero, Capt. Boney. "A few nice dinners," Meister said. "Boney is a commercial fisherman but will take guys out if he's not too busy...We were out a couple of miles from Punta Arena on the bottom."
EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Ash Pickering of the Vista Sea Sport dive service at Buena Vista said warming waters reached the 70-degree mark with visibility at about 40 feet. "We've had a gorgeous calm week giving us glass-like conditions," Pickering said. "We have plenty of schools of grunts, snapper, and surgeonfish, and we still see a lot of rays on most dives, combined with guitarfish, batfish, mobula manta ray, and our typical bullseye stingray."
LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS
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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International called it "an incredible week of fishing...not just in quantity, but in quality." Yellowtail of 25 to 45 pounds were caught in good numbers on both the La Paz and Las Arenas sides, Roldan said. "The fish have been sluggers...On the La Paz side, El Bajo kicked out forktail after forktail...On the Las Arenas side, a shoot up...on the south side of Cerralvo Island...huge yellowtail whomped through the sardine schools and bit slow trolled live bait...in an incredible 4 to 10 feet of water with clear sand bottoms. Panga after panga was slowly towed by harnessed grumpy yellowtail." Pargo were also caught at Punta Perico, plus some roosterfish and marlin, and the season's first early dorado were caught out at the shark buoys. "There were days when the winds blew and made it uncomfortable, but at other times fishing was nothing short of spectacular," Roldan said.
LA PAZ, MEXICO: Dos Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said improving spring conditions permitted fishing without difficulties on the Las Arenas side last week, except for some north winds on Saturday. Fishing was good for yellowtail to 36 pounds, plus pargo lisa and cabrilla at Punta Perico. Around the Las Arenas lighthouse, sierra were also caught. Commercial fishermen working the buoys reported seeing dorado of various sizes. "We're hoping they come closer, little by little," Hernandez said.
MULEGE FISHING REPORTS
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MULEGE, MEXICO: Ron Grant of Crestline reported on a fly-down trip to Mulege, with the town very busy for whale watching, good weather in the low-80s, and fishing generally slow, but with boats scoring on 1 or 2 yellowtail per outing from all directions. "Great year, lots of friendly whales," Grant said. "Live bait seemed to be the answer, but some were still picking up fish with jigs. Most yellowtail were in the 20 to 30-pound class." Grant noted that the Hotel Serenidad had acquired an aircraft fuel truck for fly-in guests. "Don Johnson told me he has another smaller one coming soon," Grant said. "One of the big problems for fly-ins was that most private aircraft had to travel elsewhere to get fuel before heading north. This will save time and money to be able to fuel in Mulege. I'm not sure just when refueling operations will go into effect."
SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS
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SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos reported up-and-down fishing action last week in generally good conditions. Santa Rosalia area weather was "nothing short of banner, really," Kanzler said, in the mid-70s, with flat seas and no wind seen over 10 knots, water temperatures at 64 to 65 degrees, with very poor visibility of about 3 feet around Isla San Marcos and much more clear at 30 feet out at Isla Tortuga. An outing to the local bajos produced first-ever yellowtail for anglers Erik Martinez, Eduardo Preales and Jose F. Chamizo Roll, and a buddy boat with Daniel Lopez, Augstine Casanova, and Bill Connelly scored on 7 more. But another trip with Alan Lewis and angler Bud produced only 1 yellowtail plus a sawtail grouper after 7 hours of effort. Finally, a trip out to Isla Tortuga with Kanzler's deckhand "Crazy Flea" Danny Chiquete scored on 14 yellowtail of 23 to 27 pounds. Kanzler said he was still nursing his sore back, but fished anyway. "I used a softer rod with lighter line and a backed-off drag," he said. "I kept the knees bent, back upright, and I got 7 of those 14 yellowtail. I'm soooo back."
SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Syd Lindsay of San Lucas Cove reported the Santa Rosalia Pemex station still partially closed with only 1 pump working last week, following of a short-pumping report. "Nobody seems to know when it will open completely," Lindsay said. "I guess when the feds say okay. The wait is sometimes close to an hour."
BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES (L.A. BAY) FISHING REPORTS
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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Fly-in angler Roger Crenshaw of Chula Vista relayed a report from Beto Lucero at Caleta San Francisquito south of Bahia de los Angeles saying, "Cold, wind blowing, and no one fishing."
SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS
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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Conal True, director of the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California totoaba laboratory in Ensenada, said he is scheduled to make a live broodstock collecting trip out of San Felipe in April, using special collection permits for the endangered fish issued by the Mexican federal government. True and his crew of marine biologists will look for the totoaba aboard the San Felipe panga mothership Jose Andres, provided through a special arrangement with Tony Reyes Fishing Tours of San Felipe.
SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: At San Felipe, Catalina Meders of the Title Company Bookstore overlooking the bay said the local grunion run reported the previous week occurred along the beach south of the commercial marina and north of Punta Estrella. "Apparently this side of the peninsula is where the grunion do their mating ritual in the daylight," Meders said. "It seems that on the Pacific side they are more apt to wait until the dark of night." San Felipe weather was sunny at 80 degrees with light breezes. The second golf course at the El Dorado development north of town was officially inaugurated last week. "With 2 golf courses and a real golf club house, it's safe to say that our 'little village' will never be the same," Meders said. "There is also a massive road resurfacing project underway. Many of the streets that have been unpaved since I've lived here are now being paved."
ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO) FISHING REPORTS
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ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO), MEXICO: Mike Auditore of Phoenix reported on a run to the 51-mile bank with 3 other anglers aboard his boat El Gato Blanco for a catch of: 9 red snapper, or huachinango, 6 white seabass of 15 to 20 pounds, 1 sheephead of 8 pounds, and 10 goldspotted bass of 3 to 12 pounds. Auditore said they fished with cut squid and with sardine and mackerel baits caught 2 and 10 miles out of Rocky Point, and they had the best action while anchored over the reef. "Most of the fish were caught on live bait," Auditore said. "We needed to...make it to the reef before high tide....I anchored up the first time off my spot, so we pulled up and tried again. This time it was a perfect set right on top of the reef...It was not long before the first fish was landed, a huge 15-pound red snapper...For the next two-and-a-half hours we had constant action...As soon as the current picked up, the bite slowed and we were out of bait anyway, so we headed for port with a nice load of fish." El Gato Blanco fished in calm water at 62 degrees.
ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO), MEXICO: Robert Everett of Las Vegas reported on a brief, 3-hour outing with a local panguero for good local action using his own homemade 2-ounce jigs for: 2 "calico bass," or goldspotted bass, 1 small corvina, several triggerfish, and a grouper in the 12-pound class. "I hired a local pangadero for a quick half-day of fishing while on a business trip," Everett said. "We were back at the dock in 3 hours and I still had time to sit at one of the local on-the-water restaurants to watch the sun disappear into the Sea of Cortez thinking why couldn't every day be like that." Rocky Point weather was overcast at 80 degrees, with light breezes.
SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS
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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Bill Molden of San Carlos relayed reports of 69-degree water at Isla San Pedro Nolasco and a 37-pound yellowtail caught at the south end by the boat Clawhammer. "The yellowtail fishing has been spotty at best," Molden said. "The water temperatures look like they are warming a bit. If it keeps warming, we should have dorado, bonita, and hopefully some tuna in here any time now...Everyone get ready, here comes summer."
MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS
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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported a 35.2-pound snook caught by Marina el Cid manager Geronimo Cevallos who was trolling a Rapala Magnum just outside the marina entrance. "Geronimo got himself excited talking with me about the inshore action," Edwards said. "The day before, he caught and released 18 corvina, fishing from the surf just north of Mazatlan." Inshore super pangas reported on 12 outings, with a catch of: 9 baqueta, 159 red snapper, 19 conejos, and 29 seabass. Sixty-one offshore Aries Fleet boats reported a catch including released fish of: 36 striped marlin, 1 mako shark, and 2 dorado. Edwards noted that Aries Fleet has put a pair of 29-foot super pangas into service to replace the old 23-foot boats. Mazatlan fishing area weather was sunny in the mid-80s, with mostly calm seas, and water temperatures at 69 degrees inshore and 72 degrees offshore. Aries Fleet offshore boats fished 22 to 29 miles southwest of Marina el Cid.
MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Tadeo Hernandez of Flota Bibi Fleet reported good bottom fishing 10 miles offshore of the Mazatlan lighthouse and all along the coastline. "Five inshore fishing trips have caught outstanding amounts of red snappers, mojarras, burritos, and conejos," Hernandez said. "Also, we've caught some gulf coney, gulf grouper, yellow snapper, jack crevalle, and a popeye catalufa." Hernandez said the popeye catalufa is not often seen at Mazatlan: "This fish is not very common. We just call it 'ojotón' or big eye. We've caught it before, but only a few times, and way smaller. The best fishing was with shrimp heads and red-white Rapalas." Mazatlan weather was mostly calm in the mid-80s, with some fog in the mornings, and water temperatures at 72 degrees.
MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Bill Heimpel of Star Fleet reported good action for striped marlin including a 183 pounder, plus 8 dorado to 38 pounds. "They seem to be feeding on squid and sardines," Heimpel said. "No signs of yellowfin tuna yet." Mazatlan fishing area seas were calm at 70 degrees.
PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS
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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Osuna of Marla's Sportfishing said his Puerto Vallarta charter boats fished several days inshore last week with continued good action for jacks boiling on the surface. "This week has had fabulous inshore fishing for jack crevalle all over the north shore of Banderas Bay," Osuna said. "All the locals are having so much fun. It just blows your mind away to see so much action on light tackle. The Marla II, Marla III, Arca de Noe, Dhamar, Columbus, and many other charter boats are really busy having super inshore fishing trips." Puerto Vallarta seas were mostly calm, with light breezes and the water at 71 degrees.
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Gomez of Dhamar Sportfishing said he's been finding outstanding striped marlin action, including one early week outing with 9 releases on 16 strikes, and 6 marlin on 10 shots the following day aboard his charter super panga Dhamar. "In the 13 years that I've fished at Puerto Vallarta, this is the first time I've seen this amount of striped marlin," Gomez said. "To be honest, I've only seen striped marlin like this off Magdalena Bay in Baja, but I guess they are here...The giant tuna season is going to arrive early this year, so get ready."
IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS
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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Paul Phillips of the Fintastic Total Tag & Release Tournament said the "April Current" appeared to be moving into the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo area, bringing cooler water that pushed the sailfish southeast. "Looks like the party might be over," Phillips said. "Even with the blue water just a couple of miles out, after a couple of productive weeks, it appears the 'April current' is moving down from the north again. Hopefully, some marlin and tuna will move in. It's best to check with your captain or listen up around the pier." Inshore fishing produced some jack crevalle around local rocks and islands.
IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said 78-degree water coming from the north displaced 82-degree, sailfish rich water and moved the fish farther to the south. "This will be great for the blue marlin and yellowfin tuna however," Kunze said. "Inshore action has been outstanding on large jack crevalle averaging 16 to 18 pounds, with some going 25 pounds. Most are being taken at the white rocks on slow trolled live bait, but many are following a hookless popper to give a fly caster a decent shot." Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area weather was clear in the high-80s, with water temperatures of 78 to 84 degrees.
IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 15 independent charter boat inshore and offshore outings, with a catch including released fish of: 1 striped marlin, 9 sailfish, 1 dorado lost, 8 sierra, good numbers of bonito, and 7 jack crevalle. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo weather was mostly calm with 81-degree water inshore, and 83 degrees offshore. "Good to have lines in the water at about 14 miles," Edwards said.
HUATULCO FISHING REPORTS
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HUATULCO, MEXICO: Eric Weissman of Explore Fly Fishing reported 78 to 84-degree water at his San Agustinillo fishing operation north of Huatulco, with calm mornings, afternoon chop and surf, and yellowfin tuna moving farther offshore, but good numbers of jacks, dorado, and barrilete very close to the hotel. "The fishing has slowed a bit," Weissman said. "Guests are getting fish after a few hard days, with many seen but few landed...April is shaping up to be a typically strong month for dorado, sails, jacks, and roosters beginning, with tuna started to move off but still present." Weissman also noted that Explore Fly Fishing has plans to offer charter fishing out of the Hotel Villas Carizalillo in Puerto Escondido.
CANCUN FISHING REPORTS
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CANCUN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported the new resort hotel El Cid Caribe open with 300 luxury rooms in the town of Puerto Morelos midway between Cancun and Cozumel. "Just 15 minutes from the Cancun International Airport," Edwards said. "The area provides excellent fishing, often within a mile of the marina, and the catches include marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado, wahoo, barracuda, sierra, shark, snapper, amberjack, bonito and grouper...The fleet and marina manager, Mario Anzoategui, speaks fluent English and looks forward to the privilege of providing a first-class service for all customers." Two super panga outings last week produced a catch including released fish of: 8 barracuda of 20 pounds, 4 dorado of 35 pounds, and 1 sailfish. Edwards said Cortez Yacht Charters is now booking trips for the hotel's fleet of 2 cruisers and 2 super pangas, plus other boats as required: cortezcharters@sbcglobal.net, 619-469-4255.
LORETO YELLOWTAIL LIMITS--John and Dennis Nespor fished out of Loreto's Hotel Oasis with Capt. Luciano Murillo and they each caught their official Mexican limits of 5 nice yellowtail after making bait at Isla Coronado and fishing in calm seas along the east side of Isla Carmen. PHOTO COURTESY PATTY ZAPATA.
EARLY SEASON DORADO--A determined "Jimbo" Luithly of Loreto fished 40 miles south and then 30 miles north of town before finding 3 of the season's first dorado around 4 floating plastic fuel cans in 69.2-degree water. PHOTO COURTESY NACHO DAVIS.
HUMBOLDTS FOR ALL!--Panga anglers fishing with Vonny's Fleet last week scored on good numbers of giant Humboldt squid at the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda. This group fishing Saturday on the Vonny I, Vonny II, and Vonny III included Ryan Smith, Patrick Mares, Don Fradette, Corey Hamrick, Mark Merlino, Kyle and Mike Smith, and Francisco Segura. PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.
"EX-LAX FISH"--Escolar for sale at the Ensenada fish market. PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEITH BERKLEY.
ANOTHER SAN QUINTIN CRUISER--K&M Offshore Sportfishing will soon add a second Parker 23-foot boat, similar to this one, to its sportfishing fleet at San Quintin, according to K&M's Kelly Catian. PHOTO COURTESY KELLY CATIAN.
PUNTA ROSARITO HALIBUT--Tim O'Brien of Cape Cod made a "Baja Catch"-style fish camping run down the Baja peninsula, catching about 15 species as he went, including this quality California halibut at Punta Rosarito on Baja's Pacific coast north of Guerrero Negro. PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM O'BRIEN.
CABO INSHORE--Ismael Valladares of Cabo San Lucas fished along the Pacific side with Donald Rubi's group on the Edith Fleet cruiser Angelina, and their catch included this yellowtail and nice dog snapper. PHOTO COURTESY OF DONALD RUBI.
YES!--Chris English of Dallas fished out of Cabo San Lucas on Pisces Fleet's charter boat La Brisa, and he landed his first-ever blue marlin with Capt. Rey and crew Rosendo. "The day was almost over and we had pulled in all the lures and were heading for home when they spotted a blue marlin," English said. "They could have easily kept going but they did not. Because of them I got to catch this great fish. Thanks guys! PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACY EHRENBERG.
EAST CAPE FLAGS--Nancy Jobe of Minneapolis fished out of East Cape's Buena Vista Beach Resort on the charter boat Dusty B III and released 3 striped marlin and 1 sailfish, plus landing this nice dorado with Capt. Nestor and crewman Alejandro. PHOTO COURTESY OF AXEL VALDEZ.
HOOKED IN THE EYE--Anglers's from left, Samantha Hinrichs, Zane Hinrichs, and Camille Hice, all of Placerville, fished out of East Cape last week and caught a small dorado of about 5 pounds, plus 2 marlin, one returned to the water and this one that was hooked in the eye and could not be released. PHOTO COURTESY OF DONALD RUBI.
NICE EAST CAPE FORKIES--Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista said his panguero friends have been catching quality yellowtail off Rancho Leonero lately, and he took this photo to prove it. "That is a 42-inch table," Eddy said. This fish was estimated at about 15 kilos. PHOTO COURTESY OF TORRANCE EDDY.
HOT LA PAZ YELLOWTAIL--Mark Goff of Mississippi made his first Baja trip and nailed this beautiful 42-pound yellowtail with live bait and 40-pound line while fishing out of La Paz with Tailhunter International. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.
BACK AT THE MINE--These anglers fished last week with Mike Kanzler at the Isla San Marcos bajos for a nice load of Santa Rosalia area yellowtail. Here they are back at the island boat landing near the COMSA gypsum mining operation. Shown from left to right are: Jose F. Chamizo Roll of Crailsheim, Germany; Bill Connelly of Dallas; Eduardo Perales N. of Mexico City; Augstine Casanova of Isla San Marcos; and Erik Matinez of San Pedro Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE KANZLER.
ROCKY POINT RUN--Mike Auditore, third from left, ran his boat El Gato Blanco to the 51-mile reef south of Rocky Point for a good load of large true red snapper, or huachinango, 6 white seabass, sheephead, and goldspotted bass. Other anglers on the trip included, from left, Dennis Dermyer, Pat Privatera, and Robert Cottrell, all of Phoenix. At right, Auditore with a sheephead and beautiful red snapper from his 51-mile run south out of Rocky Point. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE AUDITORE.
BIG SONORA LIZARD--Fernando Almada of Guaymas sent these photos of a large lizardfish caught from shore by a friend last week. "He went fishing from shore and among other fish, he caught this," Almada said. "We call them 'chiles." At right, the fish's unusual, distinctly reptilian head and mouth. PHOTOS COURTESY OF FERNANDO ALMADA.
MAZATLAN POPEYE--Flota Bibi Fleet found good inshore fishing last week including this popeye catalufa, not commonly seen in the Mazatlan area, that is locally called the "otojón," or "big eye" in Spanish. PHOTO COURTESY OF TADEO HERNANDEZ.
HUATULCO FLY SKIPPY--Ed Mitchell, center, with a skipjack caught on fly tackle with Explore Fly Fishing in front of the hotel at San Agustinillo north of Huatulco. At left is Explore Fly Fishing's Capt. Beto Alvarez. PHOTO COURTESY ERIC WEISSMAN.
WHAT IS IT?--George Bogen's mystery fish, caught 100 feet deep in Santa Monica Bay on a live anchovy. "The fish was copper colored, like metallic copper with a beige bottom," Bogen said. "The deckhand called it a midshipman." PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE BOGEN.
Baja coastal fishing reports and articles.
Ensenada fishing reports and articles.
Puerto Santo Tomas fishing reports and articles.
Erendira fishing reports and articles.
San Quintin fishing reports and articles.
Magdalena Bay fishing reports and articles.
Cabo San Lucas fishing reports and articles.
San Jose del Cabo (Los Cabos) fishing reports and articles.
East Cape fishing reports and articles.
La Paz fishing reports and articles.
Loreto fishing reports and articles.
Mulege fishing reports and articles.
Santa Rosalia fishing reports and articles.
Bahia de los Angeles (L.A. Bay) fishing reports and articles.
San Felipe fishing reports and articles.
Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) fishing reports and articles.
San Carlos (Sonora) fishing reports and articles .
Mazatlan fishing reports and articles .
Puerto Vallarta fishing reports and articles.
Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing reports and articles.
Huatulco fishing reports and articles.
Cancun fishing reports and articles.
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