Cabo San Lucas striped marlin fishing good for Semana Santa

Mexico Fishing News, April 17, 2006

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of Cabo San Lucass and the boat Falcon said, "It's a good time to be fishing in Cabo. Marlin fishing was good and the fish except for tuna were close in. Boats releasing 2 or more were not unusual. From the orange flags we saw flying, I am sure it was the best week for wahoo in the last 6 months. They are biting the marlin lures at random locations. Use cable."

The Falcon fished Thursday for 6 marlin hookups on jigs and another 5 on bait, for 7 releases within 7 miles of the Hotel Finisterra. "Friday we had a triple on bait, a group of tailers, and released another bait fish," Connolly said. The charter boat Got Caught had a 5-fish day at midweek, and the Dream Maker scored on 2 marlin per day plus 3 wahoo during 2 outings off Bahia Santa Maria. Pisces Fleet's charter boat Valerie caught marlin, dorado, and wahoo on Wednesday.

On Saturday, the Falcon fished close in and went 2-for-2 on tailers plus a 50-pound wahoo. "We went 13-for-18 on marlin over 3 days with a full moon," Connolly said. "The marlin bite was inside, 3 miles from gray rock to Chileno bay Saturday on the midday tide change, jumpers and tailers during a nice 2-hour period. The water was blue and calm with some spots hitting 78 degrees. Boats fishing further offshore in calm conditions reported tossing baits to 15 or more marlin with no takers, while the fish found close to the beach were aggressive and willing." Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was sometimes windy, with the water temperature at 73 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 37 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 42 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 4 dorado, 4 wahoo, 30 yellowfin tuna. "The fishing at Cabo San Lucas appears to be on the upswing," Edwards said, "as the sea temperatures are stabilizing again. A definite temperature break is holding at Cabo Falso, but it hasn't streaked up the water on the Sea of Cortez side. With the stability, the fish seemed more eager to bite. Also, for the first time in awhile, a few tuna popped up. Cabo San Lucas weather was partly cloudy in the low-90s, with water temperatures at 68 degrees on the Pacific side, butting up to 73-degree water on the Cortez side. The best catches were made about 5 miles south of the arch and from the Gordo Banks to the 95 spot.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet reported 79 percent of charters with striped marlin last week, 16 percent landing dorado, 13 percent with yellowfin tuna, and 86 percent with all species combined. Top outings for the week included 2 trips by the Ni Modo with a total of 12 marlin released. Four wahoo of 30 to 70 pound were boated and inshore trips produced sierra plus some roosterfish and ladyfish. "We have been pleasantly surprised by how good the fishing is," Ehrenberg said. "Usually at Easter time, we expect the fish at Cabo San Lucas to take off on vacation just like everybody else. That is, you see them but they are not hungry. That has not been the case this week." Pisces boats fished in mostly calm water up the Cortez side to the 1150 spot, in water temperatures averaging 71 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 20 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 24 striped marlin, 21 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 30 pounds, 8 dorado of 20 to 40 pounds, and 12 sierra of 5 to 8 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic reported on 101 boats, with a catch including released fish of: 103 striped marlin, 1 broadbill swordfish, 1 sailfish, 18 yellowfin tuna, 14 dorado, 4 wahoo, 86 sierra, 10 yellowtail, 2 mako shark, and 5 boats skunked.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Charlie Whitesell of Cabo San Lucas said his son Chuck and grandsons Charlie III, 8, and Tanner, 7, fished locally on Saturday with Capt. Ramon on the charter panga Cheers for a catch of 5 sierra to 12 pounds caught off the Hotel Solmar beach.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported striped marlin caught in all directions from Cabo San Lucas. "There were fish everywhere you went," Landrum said, "in the warm water on the Cortez side at Punta Gorda, at the 95 spot, and even in the greener water south and inside of the San Jaime Bank on the Pacific side." Yellowfin tuna from footballs up to about 60 pounds were caught from 5 to about 25 miles south. The dorado bite improved on fish averaging about 15 pounds and a fair number of wahoo in the 30-pound range were landed over the full moon period, about 5 to 8 miles offshore, up into the Gordo Bank area. Inshore, some boats caught up to about 10 sierra per outing, plus some roosterfish, bonita, and skipjack while trolling in front of the marina and up the Pacific side. Cabo San Lucas weather was partly sunny in the high-80s, with some variable and moderate winds.

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 reported yellowtail still in hiding last week, but his charter pangas fishing at the tip of Punta Banda catching steady limits of rockcod and lingcod for all anglers. Ensenada fishing area weather was mostly cloudy in the high-60s, with light breezes, ocean swells of 2 to 3 feet, and water temperatures at the Punta Banda boiler rocks averaging 59 degrees. Anglers fishing for limits during the week included Rick Kubota and his daughter Christine, 10, of Davis, and Jeff and Jeffrey Lenz of Huntington Beach.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Memo Gomez of El Dorado Sportfishing reported on a Saturday outing in flat sea conditions with 2 anglers aboard the charter panga El Dorado for good action at the north point of Isla Todos Santos, fishing in 250 feet of water for a catch of: 9 red snapper, 5 lingcod, 8 salmon grouper, 14 mixed rockfish, and 3 scorpionfish. "We saw yellowtail boiling in the area," Gomez said, "but they wouldn't do anything." Water temperatures at the island were at 61 degrees. A local bottom fishing run earlier in the week caught: 1 lingcod, 2 scorpionfish, 1 sheephead, 12 red rockcod, and 14 mixed rockfish, fishing in 60-degree water at a depth of about 120 feet. "Fishing at Ensenada continues a little slow," Gomez said. "We had some rain and a little wind at Bajo de San Miguel...There were a lot of mackerel on the surface."

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Judy Ostberg of the boat Melody out of Marina Coral said an offshore run on Friday found lots of kelp paddies but no yellowtail or albacore. "We had consistent water temperatures of 62.9 degrees and found one spot with 63.1 degrees on our 120-mile search," Ostberg said. "We did have a triple jig strike on bonito, and lots of paddies, but no fish. Hopefully, next Saturday we will find them with another week of warm water."

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sammy Susarrey of Lily Fleet reported good fishing on the troll with 3 anglers early Saturday morning, pulling sardine-colored Tady 45s about 100 yards behind the boat at 3 knots for a catch of: 5 yellowtail at 15 pounds. "We haven't had live bait for 3 days," Susarrey said. "This afternoon we had a light rain, but no wind. There were yellowtails breaking all around the boat. We had clean water from North Todos Santos Island all the way to San Miguel Point...We tried all kinds of lures but the light sardine was today's color." Ensenada water temperatures were at 61.7 degrees. Susarrey said other boats reported limits of 10 to 12-pound bonito in 62-degree water at the double 220 spot.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported on-and-off winds most of the week in the San Quintin area, but the weather improving on Saturday. Boats fishing out of Bahia de San Quintin caught limits of rockcods and lingcod, plus some giant Humboldt squid, and some exceptionally good counts of Johnny bass.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said the commercial scallop harvest overshadowed sportfishing activity at Magdalena Bay last week, but some corvina were caught at the San Carlos bridge and pier, and a few yellowtail and skipjack were found under birds at the entrada. "Up at Puerto Lopez Mateos, grouper continued to put on a show in a few of the locals secret hot spots," Graham said. "There were also plenty of spotted bay bass, including a few fatties, and a decent halibut bite on most of the sandy beaches." Some offshore boats reported yellowfin tuna, but no locations were given. Magdalena Bay weather was clear in the low-80s, with water temperatures at 60 to 66 degrees.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Jeff Petersen of Loreto and the boat Baja Californian said his family spent part of Semana Santa on Baja's Pacific side at Puerto Lopez Mateos, and part of their celebration included catching an estimated 10-kilo Magdalena Bay snook, or robalo, that was barbecued as the prepared Mexican dish called pescado sarandeado, or in this case, "robalo sarandeado." "The snook was caught on the Pacific outside Adolfo Lopez Mateos," Petersen said. "It was part of the Semana Santa celebration, a time full of happiness when families are together and enjoy such special dishes."

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 52 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 236 bonito, 62 mixed pargo species, 44 dorado, 42 sierra, 18 amberjack, 16 cabrilla, 8 yellowtail, 8 grouper, 4 striped marlin, 2 mako shark, 2 yellowfin tuna, and 1 wahoo. Big crowds of holiday campers filled beaches to capacity for Semana Santa, Brictson said, as San Jose del Cabo weather was sunny at 90 degrees, with water temperatures of 70 to 73 degrees throughout the fishing area.

Most pangas fished the bottom rock piles for mixed species, but offshore surface action showed signs of life. "Striped marlin were the most common offshore species," Brictson said. "Large concentrations were encountered from 4 to 10 miles offshore from La Laguna to Red Hill. Charter boats had trouble obtaining live bait at times. The marlin were not striking the lures that often. As bait supplies improve and the moon darkens we expect the marlin bite to break wide open."

Dorado were still scarce, but yellowfin tuna were at least seen by pangueros fishing at the Gordo Banks. "Tuna weighing to over 100 pounds were seen chasing and feeding on bait fish and red crabs, though only a couple of hookups were reported," Brictson said. "These were on trolled bolito and resulted in no fish landed. At least these fish are now showing up in local waters. It has been months since they were last seen."

In surf action, a 15-pound snook was landed in front of the Coral Baja Hotel, pargo to 10 pounds were caught at the San Jose del Cabo estuary, and there was a steady pick on small croakers caught on chunk bait.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS), MEXICO: Species fishing specialist John Snow of San Jose del Cabo reported 5 new species caught, from a total of 28 species, during 1 surf fishing session and 3 panga outings with Capt. Pata on the Salome. New species included: Pacific leopard flounder, Pacific threadfin herring, Roger's round ray, rosy scorpionfish, and chameleon wrasse. "It was a slow week for big game species but a strong food week," Snow said. "The Sea of Cortez continues in its sprung-into-life status. The water temperature is slowly approaching the mid-70s. Live bait was not available, with the exception of the pelagic red tuna crabs and white mullet. Gringo traffic was down at La Playita but as the week progressed and Easter approached it became busier, an excellent time to vamoose. A whale shark surfaced within 3 feet of the Salome with its tail passing by at eye height...awesome!"

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Axel Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on 39 East Cape charter fishing boats, with 120 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 103 yellowfin tuna, 10 dorado, 8 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 1 wahoo of 95 pounds, 1 shark, 50 snapper, 5 jack crevalle, 14 bonito, 43 cabrilla, and 4 sierra. Most hotel boats fished 20 to 30 miles north, Valdez said. "Offshore fishing still has a very good number of tailers all around, but with last week's lack of consistent good bait, it was tough getting them to bite."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Tami Gaussoin of Rancho Buena Vista reported on 22 boats, with a catch including released fish of: 14 marlin, 2 sailfish, 11 dorado (also mahi-mahi or dolphinfish), and 79 yellowfin tuna.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Jorge Bergin of La Ribera reported lots of people on the beach for Semana Santa and slow fishing due to heavy bait concentrations showing up in East Cape waters. "There are big bait balls everywhere of polillas, or 'moths,' juvenile, 1-inch silver fry," Bergin said. "Sardines or herring? They are keeping all the fish gorged. This happens at least once a year here. Then we have to wait until the balls fall apart, the fry grow up or move off, or the fish eat 'em all. Nobody can fish from local beaches now because of the crowds."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero said hotel boats fished all week despite a couple of windy days. East Cape area weather was in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 73 degrees off the beaches and up to 78 degrees offshore. Striped marlin moved in to about 10 miles out, averaging 1 per boat, Ireland said, but they were picky biters. Yellowfin tuna were spread out in up-and-down action, moving with porpoise through heavy schools of variety bait species including caballito, sardina, and squid. "It's a very erratic bite as the schools move up and down, with some boats limiting out within a couple of hours, while other boats in the same area get nothing," Ireland said. Some dorado were mixed with the marlin and tuna. Inshore, kayak anglers did well on pargo, sierra, jacks, and a few roosterfish.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said Pudge Kleinkauf and her group of fly anglers from Alaska scored on yellowfin tuna, skipjack, pargo, pompano, sierra, and a small roosterfish while pre-fishing offshore and inshore in preparation for their 5-day stint of serious fly fishing. "They weren't disappointed," Graham said. "The trick with the tuna is be the first to find them. Get there late, and you wish." East Cape weather was partly cloudy in the high-80s, with moderate breezes and water temperatures of 62 to 70 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport dive service at Buena Vista said conditions were rapidly improving in the East Cape area. "Spring is here and the place is really starting to go off," Rayor said. "World renowned underwater photographer Bill Boyce came up from a dive and the first words out of his mouth were, 'I have dived all over the world and I've never seen a reef with more life.'" Sea life sightings included dog snapper, huge grouper allowing close approaches, green and jeweled moray eels, guitarfish, and bullseye rays. East Cape water temperatures were warming into the mid-70s.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista reported East Cape fleet boats returning with good catches of tuna plus some dorado at midweek. Good numbers of striped marlin were seen close to shore off Punta Pescadero. "I've been watching the boats come in today and just about all I see are tuna banners with a few dorado thrown in," Eddy said. East Cape weather was in the high-80s with good winds, and Eddy said many sea turtles and manta rays were being seen in the water. "We saw many, many manta rays and were even splashed by one," Eddy said. "At a distance, it's hard to tell a jumping marlin from a manta ray. We saw one marlin 500 yards or less from shore. It happened just south of the Hotel Punta Pescadero, perpendicular with where the dirt road comes down the hill toward the beach. We saw 5 or 6, all within 5 miles of the beach."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts reported for the fleets of Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, and Punta Colorada, saying, "East Cape anglers are getting 4 to 10 shots at stripers on most days, and plenty of dorado of 15 to 35 pounds. Yellowfin tuna 15 to 75 pounds are available. Huge amounts of bait are in the area, including mackerel, sardines, squid and flying fish." East Cape water temperatures were at 73 to 74 degrees. Marlin were caught in all directions, mostly 16 to 20 miles out, but with some as close as 8 miles. Yellowfin tuna were out about 42 miles. Mixed snapper and some sierra were caught inshore.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the previous week, Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported slower action, with East Cape weather in the high-80s and water temperatures at 67 to 73 degrees.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Dos Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said that despite a reduced number of anglers present at La Paz due to the Aerocalifornia shutdown, both the weather and the fishing were continuing to improve steadily on the Las Arenas side. "We're seeing bait in big quantities now," Hernandez said. "Yellowtail fishing was a little slower, but we're still catching them at Los Piles on Isla Cerralvo. Pargo lisa are in big schools at Punta Perico, but as we know, only 1 or 2 can be landed for every 3 to 5 hooked." Yellowfin tuna were seen with schools of bait fish off Punta Pescadero, and tuna, marlin and sailfish were seen off Isla Cerralvo.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International said respectable numbers of anglers fished at La Paz last week, despite the Aerocalifornia shutdown. "Quite a few made it down on alternate flights or airlines," Roldan said. The hot yellowtail run tapered off last week, but pargo, amberjack, snapper, cabrilla, and some continued yellowtail as well, produced for anglers on the Las Arenas side, with some fish caught into the 30 to 40-pound class.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Mike Massey of Mulege and Mission Viejo said his vacation plans were put on hold after he had several tickets canceled by Aerocalifornia and was advised to file a dispute with his credit card company. "I am stuck in the Aerocal mess," Massey said. "They actually called my house yesterday and left a message that the flight has been canceled, and they will call me back when they resume flying. Right. I called my credit card company and they said to file a dispute and they will reimburse me for the charges and they will get the money from Aerocal. So at least I don't have to eat the money. Unfortunately, all the other flights have been full for some time now so we have to scratch the trip this year."

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Tim Stemwedel of Univisitlapaz.com said of the continued Aerocalifornia flight stoppage last week, "I suspect that if they do resume flights they will be very limited. At the present I choose to fly other airlines."

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Don Bear of Loreto reported slower yellowtail fishing last week, although fish were still present in good volume. "They are still around in considerable numbers, for they are breezing on the surface all around Isla Carmen," Bear said. "Getting them to strike is another matter."

On Saturday, Capt. Francisco "Choppy" Murillo and his clients caught 2 yellowtail at La Cholla on Isla Carmen. North winds started early, with whitecaps by 8:30 a.m, Bear said. "Even at 6 a.m., the water was rough enough that Capt. Paulino Martinez' customers declined to go out and returned to their homes in Ciudad Constitucion."

Bear fished early in the week on his boat with Capt. Martinez and Fabrizio Maragoni of Thousand Oaks for a catch in the San Bruno area north of Loreto of: 2 yellowtail of 20 to 25 pounds, on 3 strikes; 1 cabrilla of 6 pounds; and a shark about 3 or 4 feet long. On Friday, they fished again around Isla Carmen on Maragoni's 21-foot boat for 1 yellowtail of about 40 pounds plus 5 strikes missed. "I'm ashamed to say I was the culprit on most of the missed opportunities," Bear said. Bottom fishing at Punta Perico produced 5 whitefish and 1 tijereta. Loreto charter captains Francisco and Javier Martinez fished with clients on 2 boats Tuesday for a total catch of 5 yellowtail, all hooked at Punta Lobos. Loreto weather was in the 90-degree range, calm in the mornings with afternoon chop from the northwest, with water temperatures of 69 to 72 degrees. "Bait is plentiful at Las Lagrimas just after sunrise and the carnaderos are beginning to put in sporadic appearances on some mornings," Bear said. "The only problem has been the timing of the low tides, which has made either launching or retrieving of boats other than pangas a real adventure."

Bear also had tighter coordinates for the Las Lagrimas bait spot off Isla Coronado. "We caught bait on Monday at 26.06.377 North 111.15.100 West," Bear said. "The bait schools can be anywhere within a couple hundred yards of that point, and we motor around until we locate one of them on the fish finder, or until we see another boat bring up a full bait rig."

LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of Loreto's Hotel Oasis reported steady weather and yellowtail action most of the week, but winds starting to change on Friday evening. Six anglers fishing with Capts. Francisco Martinez, Isidro Mendoza, and Martin Perpuli scored on a combined total catch for 5 outings of 24 yellowtail of 19 to 28 pounds. Anglers fishing during the week at Punta Perico and other spots on Isla Carmen included: Ted Colfescu and George Cesarini of Sacramento; Tom Fukuhara, Howard Nishimoto, and Ken Goto; Jack and Jeff Castellaw of San Diego; Ted Colfescu; and George Cesarini.

MULEGE FISHING REPORTS

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MULEGE, MEXICO: Rick Barber of Mulege reported water temperatures at 67 to 68 degrees, improving spring weather, and local boats still returning with decent yellowtail results on fish into the 30 and 40-pound range, plus leopard grouper, barracuda, mojarra, snappers, and bottom fish. Anglers fishing at Islas Santa Inez, Punta Concepcion, Isla San Marcos, and local rock piles included Mulege guides Capt. Alejandro and Capt. Mateo, Del Lehr and Grumpy Gorm, Gary Green, Gary MacFarland, and Marty Robinson. "Mateo tells me that the 'tails around both Santa Inez and San Marcos are taking live bait and iron," Barber said, "but since the bait is small right now, it's a hit-and-miss situation at times. For trolling, smaller Krocodile lures as well as the Dart and Stinger types seem to be working better right now. My guess is that's because they match the bait more closely. For cabrilla, however, my favorite orange-yellow broken back Rapala has been by far my most consistent scorer. I've been hitting some nice leopard grouper in the 3 to 6-kilo class with one that topped the scales at 8.5 kilos."

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

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Elijah Hayward of Oceanside and Bahia de los Angeles (L.A. Bay) said he found no local yellowtail during his 5-day trip, but good bottom fishing and "unbelievable" weather in the upper-80s with no wind until Friday. "The water was warm and blue yet still mostly void of yellowtail," Hayward said. "We did some good bottom fishing, which was all anyone was doing. There were some huge schools of squid by Isla Smith. The bay is warm for this time of year. If this continues, it should be an epic summer."

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: J.L. Terry of Caleta San Francisquito south of Bahia de los Angeles reported wind and cool temperatures over the weekend. "Not much fishing around here," Terry said. "We're hoping for white seabass. Beto Lucero is doing a lot of work on his property."

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: John Tillander of Punta Bufeo, south of San Felipe, reported on 2 days of poor fishing action. "Fishing was really slow," Tillander said. "One of the surprises was no triggerfish. I talked to several other guys and they said the same thing. In the past, we've caught them year-around. I don't know what happened to them." Gonzaga Bay area weather was sometimes windy, in the mid-70s, with water temperatures at 68 degrees.

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Conal True, director of the totoaba breeding program at Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, Ensenada, reported a very successful broodstock collection trip, with 36 live totoaba captured aboard the Tony Reyes Fishing Tours San Felipe panga mothership Jose Andres during a special non-sportfishing trip made possible by federal permits. "We had a great trip," True said. "The live totoaba are in the lab. Although they not adult fish, they will grow. Some of them will probably mature in a year or so."

SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: At San Felipe, Catalina Meders of the Title Company Bookstore overlooking the bay said skies were a perfect blue for Easter Sunday, with the temperature at 83 degrees, but the big crowds of Semana Santa tourists had to battle their way through a bout of 60 m.p.h. desert winds Saturday to reach town. "Putting up tents was a nightmare of blowing utensils and tarps and towels," Meders said. "The wind finally died down in the early evening, resulting in the beauty of today. This is the last big weekend for a while and the parties are going full tilt. The vendors are happy and everyone is having a great time."

ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO) FISHING REPORTS

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ROCKY POINT (PUERTO PENASCO), MEXICO: Mike Auditore of Phoenix reported on a run out of Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) to the 51-mile bank with Hap Balmes on April 8, 2005, aboard his boat El Gato Blanco, reaching the bank an hour before high tide, but finding fairly slow fishing and a catch of: 7 red snapper to 15 pounds, 1 white seabass of 40 pounds, and 8 goldspotted bass. "The bite was off," Auditore said. "We left with live bait still in the bait well. There was one other boat out there called the Murphy Girl who had no luck at all. It was a strange kind of a day." Auditore made mixed-size mackerel and sardine baits 10 miles out of Rocky Point and fished the 51-mile bank in good sea conditions and a water temperature of 63 degrees.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 15 Aries Fleet boats fishing offshore of Mazatlan out of Marina el Cid, for a catch including released fish of: 7 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, and 1 dorado. Eight inshore super panga outings produced a catch of: 57 baqueta or gulf coney, with many over 30 pounds; 25 barracuda; 40 red snapper; and 32 tonguefish. "Fishing at Mazatlan was a little slow this week," Edwards said. "But the inshore smorgasbord continues." Mazatlan weather was partly cloudy in the mid-80s, with water temperatures at 72 degrees inshore, and 75 degrees offshore in the best fishing area 25 to 30 miles southwest of Marina el Cid. All billfish were taken on rigged baits.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Osuna of Marla's Sportfishing said the charter boat Marla II fished in flat conditions and 80-degree water at El Banco and landed 2 striped marlin and a dorado for angler Armando Garcia and his 10-year-old son Junior. "The offshore fishing this week at Puerto Vallarta is picking up a lot," Osuna said. "We had 6 other strikes but we had no luck on the hookups. These fish are nailing the lures and trolled dead baits, mullets and caballitos. Puerto Vallarta water is warming up a lot now, so maybe soon the real big fish will show up. We didn't have too many charters this week, but the fish are showing up really good. The water is looking nice and clear, almost blue."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area water temperatures were at 78 degrees inside 6 miles and 82 degrees farther out. "This combination has been great for jack crevalle inshore and sailfish offshore," Kunze said. "Few anglers are fishing the inshore, but when they do, they are catching 12 to 15 of the 14 to 20-pound jacks per day. Most are taken on slowed-trolled live bait, but the fly anglers are also getting some." Offshore boats averaged 2 to 3 sailfish per day. Angler Scott Anderson of Minnesota landed 4 sailfish with Capt. Ruben on the Vamonos III. "Conditions are almost perfect and we are expecting the big yellowfin tuna and marlin almost any day now," Kunze said.

Paul Phillips of the Fintastic Total Tag & Release Tournament said inshore jack action was good for follows on slow-trolled baits and lures. "Fly anglers are getting shots by bringing these fish in close to the boat and casting to the trailers," Phillips said. "Now we wait for the marlin and tuna to start showing up."

CANCUN FISHING REPORTS

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CANCUN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said El Cid Caribe fleet manager Mario Anzoategui at Puerto Morelos near Cancun reported 6 offshore boats with a catch including released fish of: 2 sailfish, including 1 of about 100 pounds, 8 barracuda of 15 pounds or more, and 7 dorado, plus amberjack, dog snapper, and triggerfish. "I asked Mario about the barracuda over there and he explained that their smaller barracuda are usually about 15 pounds and they just get much bigger from there," Edwards said. El Cid Caribe boats found their best offshore action about 10 to 12 miles out of the hotel marina. Rigged ballyhoo, or halfbeaks, were used for both surface and bottom fishing. Cancun weather was partly cloudy in the low-90s, with water temperatures at 80 to 81 degrees and offshore winds at 10 to 12 knots.

Cabo San Lucas Fishing Photo 3

GOOD CABO DAY--Keith Miller of Texas fished out of Cabo San Lucas early in the week and released 2 striped marlin out of 3 landed and also boated a 30-pound dorado aboard Pisces Fleet's charter cruiser Andrea. PHOTO COURTESY TRACY EHRENBERG.

Cabo San Lucas Fishing Photo 2 Cabo San Lucas Fishing Photo 1

CABO ACTION--One of Keith Miller's 3 striped marlin for the day comes to the gunnel aboard Pisces Fleet's Cabo San Lucas charter boat Andrea. At right, Miller's 30-pound class dorado caught the same day last week. PHOTOS COURTESY TRACY EHRENBERG.

Ensenada Fishing Photo 2

LING LADY--Christine Kubota, 10, of Davis, fished at Ensenada's Punta Banda with Vonny's Fleet last week, and she and dad Rick Kubota caught their limits of rockcod, plus some nice lingcod like this beauty. PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.

Ensenada Fishing Photo 1

LOTSA ROCKFISH--Jeffrey Lenz and his dad Jeff loaded up with rockfish limits while fishing the Punta Banda area of Ensenada last week with Capt. Cruz Zamora on the Vonny's Fleet panga Vonny II. PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.

San Jose del Cabo Fishing Photo 3

COLORFUL CATCH--Showing a rainbow of colors and patterns, this mixed catch of fish included pargos, bonito, amberjack, sierra, and a nice grouper that came aboard the La Playita pangas of Gonzalo de Varona, right, and his group of anglers fishing with Gordo Banks Pangas of San Jose del Cabo. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

San Jose del Cabo Fishing Photo 2

BAJA SUR MIXED CATCH--Robert Jarman, left, and his group fished early in the month with Gordo Banks Pangas at San Jose del Cabo and caught a nice rack of mixed yellowtail, amberjack, and sierra with Capt. Jesus. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

(Right) SAN JOSE BEACH SNOOK--A nice 15-pound class black snook caught from the beach in the first week of April at San Jose del Cabo's Hotel Coral Baja by Tom Starley. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

East Cape Fishing Photo 3

EAST CAPE FLY JACK--Fly tackle angler Alison Osinski of San Diego fished with Baja On The Fly out of East Cape last week and fooled this hefty jack with a well-placed fly not far from Punta Colorada. PHOTO COURTESY OF GARY GRAHAM.

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EAST CAPE ON THE FLY--Fishing was picking up last week at East Cape as fly tackle angler Sandie Arnold found a small roosterfish while fishing with Baja On The Fly. At right, Pudge Kleinkauf with a nice yellowfin tuna caught on the fly out of Buena Vista Beach Resort. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GARY GRAHAM.

La Paz Fishing Photo 2

ON THE BEACH--Angela Farrell of Oceanside and husband Tim fished the El Bajo seamount north of La Paz with Tailhunter International early in the month and scored a nice bunch of yellowtail to 45 pounds and a couple of cabrilla for good measure. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

La Paz Fishing Photo 1

LA PAZ PARGO LISA--Mullet snapper, or "pargo lisa" in Spanish, were schooling south of La Paz last week, and Beth Sarachman of Charkbait Tackle Shop in Huntington Beach got this beauty while fishing with Tailhunter International in a panga at Punta Perico. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

Loreto Fishing Photo 2

NICE ONES--Ted Colfescu, left, and George Cesarini of Sacramento fished with Capt. Francisco Martinez of Loreto's Hotel Oasis last week and they scored on 4 yellowtail at Isla Carmen. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTY ZAPATA.

Loreto Fishing Photo 1

LORETO FORKIES--Anglers, left to right, Tom Fukuhara, Howard Nishimoto, and Ken Goto fished out of Loreto's Hotel Oasis with Capt. Martin Perpuli and scored on 12 yellowtail at Isla Carmen's Punta Perico. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTY ZAPATA.

Rocky Point Fishing Photo 1

ROCKY POINT RUN--Mike Auditore, right, and Hap Balmes ran out to the 51-mile bank south of Rocky Point on Auditore's boat El Gato Blanco and their catch included 7 of these big red snapper, a 40- pound white seabass, and 8 goldspotted bass. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE AUDITORE.

Puerto Vallarta Fishing Photo 1

VALLARTA WATERS WARMING--Anglers Armando Garcia, left, and his 10-year-old son Junior fished in 80-degree water and improving spring conditions out of Puerto Vallarta aboard Marla's Sportfishing's charter boat Marla II, and they landed 2 sailfish plus a 25-pound dorado at El Banco. At right is Marla II deckhand Alvino Osuna. PHOTO COURTESY DANNY OSUNA.

Magdalena Bay Snook Photo 1

MAG BAY SNOOK--A 10-kilo (22-pound) class black snook makes a Semana Santa barbecue at Magdalena Bay last week for Jeff Petersen and his family, who traveled to Baja's Pacific side from their home at Loreto. The snook was caught just off Magdalena Bay's Puerto Lopez Mateos. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRADLEY PETERSEN.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES