White seabass catch fire at San Quintin;

Rains wash out Ixtapa fishing action

Mexico Fishing News, August 27, 2007

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Marita Melville of Don Eddie's Landing said San Quintin's simmering August white seabass bite turned consistent last week as all boats launched scored on croakers that went from about 18 pounds into the 70-pound plus range.

"This week we had a total of 19 boats that went out and all brought in white seabass," Melville said. Top outings during the week included Capt. Juan Cook's with 11 white seabass, Capt. Jaime Cervantes with 7 fish to 72 pounds, and Capt. Jaime Garcia returning to the ramp early 2 times with his boat full. San Quintin boats fished all coastal areas north and south from Punta Colonet to El Rosario, but most of the croakers caught by Don Eddie's boats were found very close to the bay. "This past week boats have been fishing close to La Pinta and the point," Melville said. "Not many have been going to other places."

Anglers fishing at the point found good action on birds. San Quintin fishing area weather was very good all week, in the 80s, with light winds and the water temperature averaging 68 degrees. Yellowfin tuna and albacore continued to be scarce offshore, but yellowtail and mixed bottom fish were steady. The Don Eddie's Landing Labor Day weekend fishing tournament was scheduled for Sept. 1-2, 2007, with an entry fee of $75 per person. Information: 011-52-616-165-6061, 011-52-616-165-6062, www.doneddies.com.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas said 30 boats fished during the week for catches that included 3 small yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado to 15 pounds, mixed bottom fish, yellowtail counts as high as 10 fish to 20 pounds, and some limits of white seabass as big as 52 pounds for boats that fished south at Socorro. "The white seabass are hitting the large chrome Krocs or live bait," Hillis said. "Most of our boats fished the island or south at Socorro." Anglers fishing with Capts. Hector on the charter boat Rommy and Cayo on the Coyote included Tim and Ann Schroeder of the Las Vegas Guys and Gals Fish Club, Chris Genocchio and Alan MacKenzie of Orange County, and Danny Knight and his group from Long Beach, Calif.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Gabriel Davila of Upland, Calif., reported a hot session on white seabass for his group fishing with Capt. Jaime Garcia south of the bay for a catch of 11 white seabass of 42 to 49 pounds weighed in by Marita Melville of Don Eddie's Landing. Fishing with Davila were anglers Oscar Davila, Juan Eggli, and his sons Jacob Eggli and Jonah Eggli. "We skipped on making bait and headed south in absolutely gorgeous conditions," Davila said. "By the time the rest of the fleet joined us Jacob already had two 40-plus pound white seabass on board using chrome Krocodiles. Capt. Jaime really seems to have a knack for targeting white seabass. We were back in the bay a little before 11 a.m." Fishing the previous day produced no action offshore, but a full load of rockcod, halibut, sandbass, and some smaller calico bass at Isla San Martin and just inside the mouth of the bay. Offshore water temperatures were at 68 degrees.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Julio Meza of San Quintin and the local private boat Santa Monica said white seabass action was excellent last week. "Come to fish San Quintin soon," Meza said. "It is the best white seabass fishing I have ever seen, with fish up to 80 pounds."

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Judy Ostberg of the Ensenada boat Melody out of Marina Coral reported on a Saturday outing to fish in 72.4 to 74.5-degree water around the upper 500 spot for a quadruple yellowfin tuna strike of 8 to 10-pound fish plus 1 kelp paddy yellowtail at 18 pounds. "Most paddies were holding fish but we couldn't get them interested in the bait," Ostberg said. "The fishing was scratchy for most boats in the area."

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet said he had another week of good summer fishing for his pangas at the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda, with steady counts of red rockcod, sugar bass, bonito, halibut to 9 pounds, and some yellowtail to 26 pounds caught on the surface with aluminum jigs and Rapala X-Rap plugs. Anglers fishing during the week included Earl Jackson of Los Angeles, Calif., who went out with Capt. Vicente Flores on the charter panga Vonny II for a nice assortment of bottom fish plus 2 yellowtail of 24 and 26 pounds. Ensenada fishing area weather was warm in the mid-70s and partly cloudy, with light wind, ocean swells of 2 to 3 feet, and the water temperature in the main Punta Banda fishing area at 64 to 65 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Andy Villa of Rialto, Calif., reported on 2 good Ensenada yellowtail outings by his group on the boat Sayang with Capt. Kiki and on the Ensenada Sportfishing Works boat Sara with Capt. Apache for a total of 42 yellowtail to 35 pounds and 1 mako shark of about 150 pounds that came back to hit a skirted mackerel after breaking off another line. "Great paddy hopping out there!" Villa said. "Capt. Kiki is an independent commercial fisherman. We fished on a 210 degree heading off Punta Banda then worked north between 20 to 30 miles out." Villa fished with his cousins Chuck and Phill Buentiempo, and Mark Maretti.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Emerald Argonza of Matador Sportfishing reported on an outing with 4 anglers aboard the Ensenada charter boat Matador out of Marina Coral for a catch west and south of the 238 spot of: 8 trolled yellowfin tuna, and 4 kelp paddy yellowtail on bait averaging about 25 pounds. "We got our first triple hookup of yellowfin tuna 10 miles west of the 238," Argonza said. "We got hit on black-purple and Mexican flag feathers. We tried using live bait but the fish just would not take them." Ensenada fishing area offshore water was very blue and clean at 65 to 68 degrees, with some moderate winds and ocean swells to 4 feet.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: For the previous weekend, Steve Ross of the Ensenada boat Bad Dog out of Marina Coral reported on an overnight run for an 18-pound kelp paddy yellowtail outside the Banda Bank and 3 small yellowfin tuna the following day on a quintuple jig strike at the lower 500 spot after spending the night on a sea anchor and blanking on shark. Live bait available at Ensenada was mixed. "We called Gordo's and the live bait seiner Maria Veronica trying to buy some live bait to no avail," Ross said. "At La Perla's, Mike loaded us with mackerel, small barracuda, pompano, and brown baits. We had a complete aquarium."

PUERTO SANTO TOMAS FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO SANTO TOMAS, MEXICO: Sam Saenz of Puerto Santo Tomas Resort said about 10 pangas fished during the week for good results on full Mexican limits of bottom fish, lots of barracuda and bonita on the surface, and a 30-pound yellowtail caught on the Soledad Reef by John Chilson of Escondido, Calif.

ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS

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ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Tere Castro of Castro's Camp said 30 boats fished at Erendira during the week for "really good catches" of larger rockcods, barracuda, bonita, lingcod, and yellowtail, plus some white seabass and halibut. "The fishing has been good," Castro said. "We see a lot of bait in the water and we're catching a lot of big ones." Baja coastal water temperatures averaged 66 degrees in the main fishing area about 7 miles out.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Gilbert Orozco of Union City, Calif., reported a good session of pier fishing at Rosarito Beach south of Tijuana by his 8-year-old son Thomas Orozco for a catch of: 28 mackerel, 9 surf perch, 1 jacksmelt, and 2 bonito about 14 inches long. "The Rosarito pier provided a daily personal record for Thomas," Orozco said. "He spent 5-1/2 hours and caught 40 fish. It was the first time he fished in Mexico." Orozco said his son fished with a light spinning reel, 10-pound and 30-pound test line, Krocodiles, and rubber leadheads that he custom made himself. A good number of anglers were fishing on the pier for species including a shovelnose shark.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Mike Yen of San Diego reported a large 82-pound opah caught during a outing aboard the charter boat New Lo-An about 80 miles southwest of Point Loma in 68 to 69-degree water about 500 to 600 fathoms deep. The opah hit an iron jig on the sink during an albacore stop. "I cast downwind and let my iron flutter down below the school of feeding albacore," Yen said. "I let out about half of my spool before beginning my retrieve. It seemed like I had snagged dead weight for a good 3 to 4 minutes. Then the fish went on an incessant run. The captain ran to the helm as my Newell 533 was stripped down to its last 50 yards of 40-pound line. He slowly idled the boat towards the fish, allowing me to regain line for the next 30 minutes. The deckhand said it best, “This is like Christmas when you were a kid." For the trip, 19 anglers on the New Lo-An ended up with a catch of 171 albacore, 1 bluefin tuna, and Yen's lucky opah.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Jim Weidler of Newport Beach, Calif., reported on a flight down the Baja coast to pick up some shark encounter cage divers at Isla Guadalupe. "I departed John Wayne Airport, cleared customs in Tijuana, and then filed to Guadalupe," Weidler said. "I was there only for a couple of hours to pick up the group. They said they saw many great white shark, some up to 15 feet long. I was told there was at least one other boat out there looking at the great whites. On approach from the southwest end, you can see the old plane wreck before the threshold on the right, a Lockheed Loadstar. The military said it's been there 20 years."

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Derek Arneson of San Diego, Calif., noted that contrary to recent reports pangas were available for sportfishing at semi-remote La Bocana on the Pacific Baja coast as long as enough notice was given to Capt. Juanchys Aguilar. Arneson said Aguilar was also reporting very good yellowfin tuna action about 15 miles outside the La Bocana boca. Information: KAROL_36@MSN.com.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said fishing 6 to 24 miles outside Magdalena Bay's Boca de Soledad at Puerto Lopez Mateos produced good fly fishing action for smaller dorado, yellowtail, and assorted bonito and skipjacks last week. "We found about as steady a bite as we could hope for using our olive-colored Marabou Deceiver and Wasabi flies," Graham said. Striped marlin were also seen but not targeted. Fishing inside the Magdalena Bay esteros produced sierra and corvina, and grouper and pargo were caught in deeper water around Boca de Santo Domingo to the north. The local segment of the Baja California Sur Governor's Cup fishing tournament series was underway at Puerto Lopez Mateos. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the high-80s, with water temperatures of 64 to 76 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 43 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 94 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 1 mako shark, 9 yellowfin tuna, 7 Humboldt giant squid, 1 wahoo, and 50 dorado. Top outings included a 6-release day for the charter boat Fish Cabo. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was cloudy but calm and rainless in the low-90s, with water temperatures to 81 degrees at the Jaime and Golden Gate Banks on the Pacific side, cooler water at the arch, and warmer water again to 86 degrees at the Gordo Banks on the Sea of Cortez side. "It's really good fishing in all directions," Edwards said, "but the best bite remains at the Golden Gate Bank with tailing fish seen everywhere. Slow-trolled live bait was the hot ticket." The live bait supply at Cabo San Lucas was excellent for both mackerel and caballito.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 8 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 1 blue marlin of 250 pounds, 14 striped marlin, 19 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 25 pounds, 1 wahoo of 25 pounds, and 15 dorado of 20 to 55 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jorge Narro of Pisces Fleet Sportfishing said 220 billfish were landed and 216 of them released during a week of good action despite a day of port closure due to rough weather the previous Sunday. "Otherwise, we could have caught another 20 or 25," Narro said. Top outings during the week included a 9-striped marlin release day for the charter boat C-Rod, 8 striped marlin releases for the Reel Heaven, and 9 and 11-release days for the Ni Modo. Cabo San Lucas fishing area water temperatures at the Golden Gate and Jaime Banks averaged 78 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing said Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was surprisingly cool as the distant dissipating remnants of Hurricane Dean passed far to the northeast. "Our weather was more reminiscent of May than of August," Landrum said. Billfish action was very good at the Golden Gate Bank on the Pacific side as the charter boat Fly Hooker pulled off a hot bite of billfish working bait balls after releasing 2 stripers and a blue. "Our angler was tired after that and we headed in," Landrum said, 'but if we had stayed I have no doubt that it could have been a double-digit day." Dorado fishing was consistent but yellowfin tuna were scattered. Inshore fishing was good for roosterfish of 5 to 25 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the previous week, Landrum reported Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather with clouds and scattered rain but no wind as the Hurricane Dean storm system crossed westward over the Mexican mainland and dissipated. "The wind shifted around from the northeast and the daytime temperature dropped to the high-80s," Landrum said. Very late season striped marlin continued to lead billfish action. "We are still seeing large numbers of striped marlin, very strange for this time of year, but at least they are there and biting," Landrum said. "The major mass of striped marlin has moved to the Pacific side of the Cape, just off the beach between the Lighthouse and the Golden Gate Bank."

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 61 combined La Playita fleet charter pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 810 yellowfin tuna, 135 dorado, 8 wahoo, 9 striped marlin, 5 sailfish, 34 bonito, 166 skipjack, 8 amberjack, 6 dog snapper, 32 pargo, and 14 cabrilla. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather had some tropical summer clouds and rain, but with quickly returning calm seas at a water temperature of about 80 degrees as sardina bait fish became plentiful again around the Puerto Los Cabos marina. Good counts of yellowfin tuna were found in various locations, particularly at the Inner Gordo Bank and as close as a mile from shore at La Laguna. Most tuna were footballs to 12 pounds, but the action was wide-open at times on chummed bait. The best wahoo action of the summer was found during a flurry of hits for anglers trolling from La Fortuna to San Luis.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO:San Jose del Cabo species fishing specialist John Snow reported on 3 surf fishing sessions and 4 outings with Capt. Pata on the panga Salome for a count of 72 fish caught of 30 species, but no new species encountered. Beach fishing catches included gafftopsail pompano and 2 paloma pompano at 4 pounds. Panga fishing catches were topped by a 55-pound dorado. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was hot and humid in the mid-90s, with water temperatures in the mid-80s. Snow also noted that his commercial fishing panguero contacts in Todos Santos on the Baja Sur Pacific coast had switched from net fishing to deeper fishing and were no longer providing new species as their fish were cleaned on the beach. "I did have exceptional luck off the beach at Todos Santos while waiting for the commercial guys to return," Snow said. "Otherwise surf fishing was impractical due to high surf caused by a tropical depression which hit early in the week." Few anglers were present at the La Playita Beach panga launching area.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of the Baja On The Fly East Cape fly fishing service said offshore boats averaged 1 to 2 marlin per outing as the ratio of blue marlin to striped marlin gradually increased and yellowfin tuna were found close in. "If you are one of the first few boats to the high spot off La Ribera each morning, you might get lucky and land one of the few tuna on the fly," Graham said. Dorado fishing continued up-and-down and scattered. Beach fishing produced small roosterfish, pompano, and a few ladyfish. East Cape weather was still settling after the mainland Mexico dissipation of Hurricane Dean, very humid in the low-90s, with water temperatures of 78 to 87 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero reported "the most consistent billfish bite I can recall" for fleet boats fishing off La Ribera and other widely spread areas, with blue marlin counts increasing and striped marlin and sailfish also abundant. "There is about 1 blue marlin taken for every 6 or 7 stripers," Ireland said, "which is very good considering the fleet boats are taking 1 to 6 stripers per day."

Yellowfin tuna were caught in schools within a mile of the beach and some large dorado were mixed in with the billfish offshore. Few boats fished inshore but good concentrations of bait were present and 2 larger roosterfish to 60 pounds were released.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Tami Gaussoin of Rancho Buena Vista reported on 71 boats, with a catch including released fish of: 81 striped marlin, 15 blue marlin, 17 sailfish, 28 roosterfish, 28 dorado, 96 yellowfin tuna, and 1 wahoo. Top trips for the week included a 539-pound blue marlin on 60-pound line and another blue marlin of 220 pounds both caught by the Daynaten Corporation group of Dallas, Texas.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts reported on 270 East Cap e charter fishing boats from Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, and Punta Colorada, with a catch including released fish of: 72 blue marlin, 169 striped marlin, 49 sailfish, 244 dorado, 472 yellowfin tuna, 130 roosterfish, 8 wahoo, 15 cabrilla, 100 pargo, 90 triggerfish, 2 mako shark, and 66 dorado. East Cape fishing area weather was in the high-90s, with water temperatures at 75 to 85 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the previous week ending Aug. 16, 2007, Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 251 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 733 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 34 blue marlin, 188 striped marlin, 1 black marlin, 53 sailfish, 155 dorado, 379 yellowfin tuna, 1 wahoo, and 8 roosterfish. East Cape fishing area weather was in the high-90s, with water temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees. "The billfish bite was down for striped marlin and sailfish, but blue marlin numbers were up pretty good," Moyers said. "Most of the blue marlin action was had to the south between La Ribera, Punta Arena, Cabo Pulmo, and El Faro. The lone black marlin weighed about 275 pounds."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista reported steady action for 1 or 2 dorado per trip while trolling jointed Rebel Fastrac lures near shore from his beach launched aluminum boat. "For the last 6 to 8 weeks, I have caught dorado every time," Eddy said. "Of the 15 or so I have caught, all but 2 have been about 8 pounds. The others were 15 and 3 pounds. I troll at 6 m.p.h. about 500 yards from shore parallel to shore, no need to zigzag, with 2 Rebel lures, one blue-silver and one black-silver, back at least 100 feet. I also use 3-foot stainless steel braided wire leaders. I have trolled Fastracs from the Pemex station in Los Barriles to San Bartolo canyon and back."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Ron Welter of Henderson, Nev., reported good action during 2 outings with his wife Tina Welter out of Hotel Palmas de Cortez on the boat Champagne with Capt. Manuel and deckhand Eric for a catch including released fish of: 2 sailfish, 1 dorado of 28 pounds, some roosterfish, 1 jack, and 1 blue marlin lost. "The second day we wanted to go for roosterfish but there were too many needlefish so we went out to try to catch a blue marlin," Welter said. "We hooked a nice one but we lost it. We used lures of multi colors and live sardines. Every boat around us was hooking up." East Cape fishing area weather was calm and warm.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Simon Cazaly of Vista Sea Sport said East Cape diving conditions were improving at the end of the week. "Although conditions haven’t been entirely favorable this week, today on El Bajo the water temperature was 81 degrees, the visibility was better at 25 feet, and we have made some great dives," Cazaly said. Sea life sightings at the Cabo Pulmo coral reef included jumping rays, bottlenose dolphin, bigeye jacks, yellow snapper, burrito grunt, Panamic porkfish, large grouper, sea lions, octopuses, gobies, nudibranchs, moray eels including a zebra moray eel, and crabs. "The zebra moray was just resting in a crack in the rocks," Cazaly said. "It was only the third one I’ve seen since I’ve been here."

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said Las Arenas side weather had some clouds and rain that stopped launches on Friday morning, but pangas were able to keep fishing otherwise. The best action was found north of Isla Cerralvo for striped marlin and dorado on weed patches. Pangas fishing outside the island at the 88 Bank also found dorado to 50 and 60 pounds when the weather allowed them to get out that far. Just south of the island, yellowfin tuna of 15 to 20 pounds were caught. At the beginning of the week, wahoo were also caught in the same area, but that bite was stopped when winds turned the water green.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International said even though no hurricanes came close to Baja last week, La Paz fishing waters were still ruffled by some wind and rain on some days. "Everyone got fish," Roldan said, "but we still got affected by winds and rains for a few days that made fishing uncomfortable and inconsistent at times." Dorado and marlin continued to lead offshore fish counts. "It's a great opportunity if you ever want to catch a marlin," Roldan said. "And quite a few people are getting limits or near limits of dorado with some larger bulls up to 50 pounds being caught." No wahoo were brought in, but some pangas ran into flurries of school-sized yellowfin tuna of 5 to 30 pounds.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jamie Lawson of San Diego reported a very large giant Mexican needlefish measuring 76 inches long caught while slow trolling a live ladyfish on 25-pound line and 40-pound leader about 100 meters off the Punta Arena de la Ventana lighthouse with Capt. Lalo of Fisherman's Fleet on Aug. 22, 2007. The needlefish, Tylosurus crocodiles fodiator, would be a foot longer than the 64 incher described in The Baja Catch that was caught by Neil Kelly from the beach in the same spot. "The needlefish took the whole ladyfish!" Lawson said. "Unfortunately, I left it to Lalo to take the pictures at the beach, and he didn't push the shutter release all the way down. I'd received a clinic from Rooster Bill Mathias the prior night, and was trying out what I'd learned. Bill was with Capt. Isidro in the only other boat there. This establishes the existence of substantially bigger needlefish than I knew existed." Lawson's other catches for the day included 3 dorado of 60 to 66 inches long.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of the Hotel Oasis said Loreto fishing area weather was variable in the high-80s with some cloudy days. Just 7 pangas fished out of the hotel during the week, for a combined catch including released fish of: 5 small dorado, 1 blue marlin of 62 pounds, 6 sheephead of 8 pounds, and 7 triggerfish. Hotel Oasis pangas fished with live mackerel baits at Punta Tintorera for sheephead and triggerfish, and at Bajo Mercenarios for marlin and dorado. Loreto sportfishing captains going out during the week included: Alfonso Susarrey, Servando Davis, Martín Perpuli, and Jesús Davis. Anglers fishing included: Jon Hanson, William Bickel, Victor Viramontes, Ruli Matteu, Jerry Hahn, Bob McFadden, Randy Weight, David Driver, and Wilson Edwards.

LORETO, MEXICO: Bill Erhardt of Loreto reported a continued generally slow summer season last week for his boat Soledad. Erhardt fished 2 days as far as 60 miles offshore looking for yellowfin tuna and big marlin feeding on them but settled for just 1 dorado and 1 small striped marlin, both caught closer in. "I found nothing to show for 260-plus miles on the water," Erhardt said. "I did come across 2 dead sea turtles and a dead porpoise, all ripe and supporting balls of bait fish but no dorado. This is unheard of in midsummer in Loreto." Boats closer in also found generally slow action and few boats were fishing. "As is generally the case in Loreto in August, many of the tourists in town are Italian and are not here for the fishing," Erhardt said. "There is a steady stream of pangas from the Loreto marina to Isla Coronado for sightseeing and the beaches. Few American or Canadian tourists are in town for the fishing and most of the resident gringos are not fishing as much as they normally would because the fishing is so lousy." Loreto fishing area water temperatures were at 88 to 90 degrees offshore. Inshore water was a few degrees cooler and reported green.

LORETO, MEXICO: Pam Bolles of Baja Big Fish Company noted that the Mexican PESCA office in Loreto was advising people that fishing licenses would not be available locally after Sept. 1, 2007, and anglers would have to buy licenses and print them from the federal website after that date, sending fee revenue to the federal government rather than to the FONMAR fishing conservation trust that has been set up for the state of Baja California Sur. "It isn't an easy process but it's not impossible," Bolles said. "FONMAR will lose if this becomes the policy."

LORETO, MEXICO: Lynn Hamman of Loreto forwarded information about current boat launch fees at the Puerto Escondido ramp south of Loreto, with launch ramp use at 57.75 pesos each way and parking at 55.00 pesos per day, including IVA tax. PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL ERHARDT.

MULEGE FISHING REPORTS

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MULEGE, MEXICO: Andrew Harmer of San Luis Obispo, Calif., reported on a The Baja Catch-style beach camping and fishing trip by his group to the small settlement of La Ramalita on the Sea of Cortez shore between San Nicolas and San Sebastian at Bahia San Nicolas south of Mulege. Fishing from kayaks and during a panga outing to Isla San Ildefonso produced catches of triggerfish, scorpionfish, a 7.5-pound barred pargo, bigeye jack, skipjack, many giant needlefish, ladyfish, and 5 dorado to 40 pounds at the island. "We spent an hour trying deep reefs for yellowtail by the island, but no luck," Harmer said. "The trip location was inspired by The Baja Catch and we used a lot of the methods described in that book." During the trip a chubasco brought strong night winds. "Late that night we were woken up by a monster storm that destroyed our camp and tried to sink pangas," Harmer said. "The next morning there was a nice sized pargo in our camp as a thank you. The water was rough and murky, but the storm had moved on. The storm also mixed up the thermocline and made the water temperature drop several degrees. All this pushed the fish out offshore. We had a few of the locals come and spend some time with us and have a few meals with us." Also on the trip were: Jon Tsui, Gery Cox, and Steve Rienecke.

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

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Eddie Abate of San Diego reported on 3 days of fishing at Bahia de los Angeles by his group of 5 anglers on 2 super pangas with Capts. Igor and Guillermo Galvan for a total catch in some windy conditions locally and out at the south end of Isla Angel de la Guarda of about: 20 yellowtail to 28 pounds, 12 grouper to 30 pounds, 5 red snapper, 4 dorado, and 45 cabrilla. The dorado were caught at the big island. "The third day was not quite as windy and we fished some of the reefs south for yellowtail, grouper, and cabrilla up to 7 pounds," Abate said. "We were getting bit and hooked up on almost every drop." Mackerel bait availability was spotty. Bahia de los Angeles fishing area weather was hot at about 100 degrees with water temperatures in the low-80s. Locals said electrical power lines would arrive at the village within a month. Two whale shark were sighted at the south end of the inner bay.

SAN FELIPE FISHING REPORTS

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SAN FELIPE, MEXICO: Tony Reyes Sr. of Tony Reyes Fishing Tours reported on 6-day Midriff Islands fishing trip by the panga mothership Tony Reyes, returning to San Felipe on Aug. 24, 2007, with a catch of: 228 yellowtail of 15 to 28 pounds, 84 cabrilla of 8 to 13 pounds, 85 pargo of 8 to 14 pounds, 155 spotted bay bass, 29 dorado of 15 to 25 pounds, 11 white seabass of 15 to 24 pounds, 1 black sea bass of 65 pounds, 1 grouper of 44 pounds, 70 Humboldt giant squid to 18 pounds, 7 sheephead of 8 to 12 pounds, and 19 whitefish of 3 to 7 pounds.

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: John Hilderbrand of Jon Jen Charters at San Carlos said his boats averaged at least 1 billfish plus several dorado per outing. Yellowfin tuna were also present but not biting. San Carlos weather had one rough day on Friday, but Capt. Able was still able to get out and score dorado limits for his 4 anglers. "I was vacuum sealing for a few hours on that one," Hilderbrand said. Offshore water temperatures were as high as the mid-80s in patches.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Robert Barnes of Laughlin, Nev., reported on 2 days of fishing south of San Carlos with Gerardo "Lalo" Munoz on Munoz' 23-foot boat Sueltame for catches of sailfish, dorado, and 1 wahoo. "The second day, the only thing we brought was a couple of spinning outfits to cast with and we picked some dorado up under a piece of flotsam," Barnes said. Barnes noted that the Sueltame was slated to begin fishing out of San Carlos as a charter boat soon. "Gerardo has as shipshape a craft as I've ever been on," Barnes said. "Lalo had first class fishing gear too. He will soon have a website up advertising his service. There's a new kid on the block in the San Carlos charter community."

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 21 Aries Fleet offshore charter boats out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 3 blue marlin of 200 to 250 pounds, 1 striped marlin, 10 sailfish, and 37 yellowfin tuna to about 80 pounds. Inshore boats continued to find wide-open dorado numbers. "Dorado action at the buoys continues to rage with a full-speed bite, fabulous light tackle fun, and easy limit fishing," Edwards said. "Offshore catches were rounded out with some quality yellowfin tuna." Mazatlan fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the high-80s, with scattered thunderstorms, moderate seas, and water temperatures to 88 degrees. Offshore boats fished 20 to 28 miles southwest of Mazatlan using rigged trolling baits for billfish and feathers for tuna.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Quinonez of PV Marlin Sportfishing said no big cow class tuna were caught last week by the charter boat Lorena, but Puerto Vallarta fishing was steady for blue marlin and black marlin plus good action on dorado. "Dorado have been hot," Quinonez said. "There are more dorado than we have seen down here in years." Puerto Vallarta fishing area weather was calm, with clear waters offshore and water temperatures in the mid-80s.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Vince Saint of the Bloodydecks.com fishing website reported the results of the Bloodydecks.com second annual Tuna Shootout fishing tournament held at Puerto Vallarta's Paradise Village on Aug. 17-19, 2007, with 65 anglers fishing 2 days on 16 boats for a catch in rough conditions of 7 minimum 75-pound yellowfin tuna weighed. The boat Lightspeed with Team Elvis Too! took the $21,000 first place prize with a 178-pound tuna with Capt. Rob Ellyn, anglers Luis Ramos and Richard Hoffman, and deckhands Nacho Osorio and Omar Hernandez. Bloodydecks' Ali Hussainy said, "Congratulations to Team Elvis Too! for sticking it out in some grueling conditions and taking home a very nice paycheck. We are already planning a bigger and better event for next year!" Tournament sponsors included: Avet Fishing Reels, Berkley/PURE Fishing, Braid Fishing Products, Melton International Tackle, Pacific Coast Sportfishing, PELAGIC High Performance Offshore Gear, and Terrafin Software Sea Surface Temp Charts.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Jose Antonio Sanchez of Tijuana reported on a family vacation at Puerto Vallarta that included a fishing trip aboard the boat Flying Fish to Islas Marieta that produced a dorado caught near a floating tree and reef action on orangeside triggerfish, flag cabrilla, and Mexican giant needlefish. Sanchez said he also practiced throwing a cast net at Los Muertos Beach for releases of sardinas, mullet, and small jack crevalle. "Now they are in the stormy season," Sanchez said. "My wife, daughter, and mother enjoyed our vacation."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said the remnants of Hurricane Dean brought 7.5 inches of rain to the Ixtapa fishing area in a 24-hour period from Wednesday to Thursday, shutting down all fishing for a while. "The large volume of rain has dirtied up the inshore water from the outpouring of the rivers," Kunze said. "The roosterfish bite will probably not get going again for a few more days." Earlier, about 10 boats fishing per day were averaging a combined total of 3 or 4 blue marlin per day plus about 2 sailfish per boat. On Tuesday, Kunze and Capt. Cali fished 30 miles out with Kunze's son Ken on his 13th birthday for a 200-pound class blue marlin released on 40-pound line at about the 16-mile point. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area weather over the weekend was partly cloudy and settling in the low-90s, with east-southeast winds at 3 m.p.h., and the water temperature at 80 to 84 degrees.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said, "Three solid days of rain along with some high winds made fishing difficult last week in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo." Earlier, good roosterfish action along the beaches was reported by Capts. Temo and Adolofo. "The heavy rains opened up the rivers and the inshore waters became progressively more muddy as the week progressed," Edwards said. Offshore blue marlin counts fell as clear water moved farther from shore. Ixtapa fishing area weather was calming in the low-90s, with water temperatures of 87 to 89 degrees..

CANCUN FISHING REPORTS

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CANCUN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters relayed reports from Mario Anzoategui of the El Cid Caribe sportfishing fleet at Puerto Morelos saying that the Cancun fishing area suffered only minor damage from Hurricane Dean. "All of the boats were taken out of the water," Edwards said. "There was some minor damage from flying debris and a couple of days without electricity, but all will be back up and running for the weekend."

MEXICO COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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MEXICO: Manuel Gerhardus of Guasave, Sinaloa, reported a black marlin estimated in the 300-pound class plus 1 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, and 1 dorado landed by his boat Mamanina during a crossing of the Sea of Cortez from the Mexican mainland at Las Glorias, Sinaloa, to Marina Palmira on the Baja California Sur coast at La Paz. "The black marlin was landed 7 miles east of Isla Cerralvo," Gerhardus said. "It hit a petrolero lure." Gerhardus landed the black marlin himself after a fight lasting 1 hour 45 minutes.

MEXICO: An article by Ed Zieralski in the San Diego Union Tribune noted that the ongoing process of increasing environmental regulation for Mexican fishing waters would soon extend biosphere protection to more islands and that may have an affect on sportfishing boats. "Mexico will add a new biosphere next year called the Pacific Islands Biosphere Reserve," Zieralski said. "It will include the Coronados just south of San Diego, Todos Santos, San Martín, Geronimo, Cedros, Benitos and Alijos Rocks. The creation of that new biosphere is expected to result in more delays in the permitting process for long-range sport boats." Mexican sportfishing procedures have already been affected by biosphere status accorded to such areas as the Revillagigedo Islands, the extreme northern end of the Sea of Cortez, and Guadalupe Island off the Baja north Pacific coast.

San Quintin Mexico White Seabass Fishing Photo 4

GOOD CROAKER WEEK--San Quintin's Capt. Jaime Cervantes with a 72-pound white seabass caught during a good outing for 7 croakers last week with clients out of Don Eddie's Landing. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARITA MELVILLE.

San Quintin Mexico White Seabass Fishing Photo 1

San Quintin Mexico White Seabass Fishing Photo 3

QUINTIN WHITE SEABASS--Jacob Eggli, left, with San Quintin's Capt. Jaime Garcia and a quality white seabass caught in last week's hot bite. At right, Eggli, left, and Oscar Davila hooked up to a pair of 40 pounders during a good croaker session on Capt. Jaime's boat. Below, Capt. Jaime Garcia, top left, with a great catch of San Quintin white seabass and anglers, counterclockwise from bottom left, Gabriel Davila, Oscar Davila, Jacob Eggli, Juan Eggli, and Jonah Eggli. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GABRIEL DAVILA.

Ensenada Mexico Mako Shark Fishing Photo 1

ENSENADA MAKO--Andy Villa's group fished on the Ensenada charter boat Sara with Capt. Apache for good action on 19 yellowtail to 35 pounds plus this mako shark that broke off on a jig strike and then came back to hit a live mackerel pinned on a marlin skirt. From left are: Chuck Buentiempo, Phil Buentiempo, Andy Villa, and Mark Maretti. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY VILLA.

Ensenada Mexico Fishing Photo 1

ENSENADA PANGAS--Leonard Luna, left, of Los Angeles, Calif., and his fishing partner Warren fished out of Ensenada on a Vonny's Fleet beach-launched panga on Saturday for a great mixed catch rockfish plus this nice yellowtail and a couple of halibut with Capt. Hector on the panga Vonny III. PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.

Rosarito Beach Mexico Pier Fishing Photo 1

BAJA PIER FISHING--Thomas Orozco with a couple of bonito caught along with mackerel, perch, and jacksmelt during an outing on the Rosarito Beach Pier south of Tijuana with his father Gilbert Orozco. At right, the Rosarito Beach Pier busy with anglers. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GILBERT OROZCO.

Puerto Los Cabos Marina Mexico Dredging Photo 1

PUERTO LOS CABOS MARINA--Dredging continued last week as the channel of the new Puerto Los Cabos marina at San Jose del Cabo was readied for action. In the background, a topping of large rocks can be seen protecting the jetties from high surf during heavy tropical weather. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

San Jose del Cabo Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1

LA PLAYITA DORADO--Capt. Pata of the La Playita panga Salome with a beautiful 55-pound dorado caught during an outing off San Jose del Cabo with local species fishing specialist John Snow. "My new amigo taped out at 61 inches long," Snow said. "It should make many in La Playita happy tonight at the dinner table." PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN SNOW.

East Cape Mexico Roosterfish Fishing Photo 1

EAST CAPE ROOSTERS--Ron Welter and his wife Tina Welter fished 2 days out of East Cape's Hotel Palmas de Cortez for action with Capt. Manuel on sailfish, dorado, a blue marlin lost, and some of these roosterfish caught amid an abundance of needlefish close to shore. PHOTO COURTESY OF RON WELTER.

La Paz Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1 La Paz Mexico Mullet Snapper Fishing Photo 1

NO NEEDLEFISH PHOTO--Jamie Lawson shows off a 66-inch dorado caught while panga fishing at La Paz with Fisherman's Fleet Capt. Lalo, but Lalo missed getting a photo of Lawson's big fish, a Mexican giant needlefish measured at 76 inches long that inhaled a whole live ladyfish trolled about 100 meters off the Punta Arena de la Ventana lighthouse beach. At right, ace photographer Capt. Lalo of Fisherman's Fleet with Lawson and an exceptionally colorful mullet snapper caught at the south end of Isla Cerralvo. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ED KAMMERER.

La Paz Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1

LAS ARENAS PANGA DORADO--Ralph Lopez of San Dimas, Calif., landed this nice bull dorado last week while fishing the Las Arenas side south of La Paz on a Tortuga Sportfishing panga with Capt. Jorge Lucero. PHOTO COURTESY OF GERARDO HERNANDEZ.

Las Arenas Mexico Fishing Photo 1

LIGHT TACKLE DODO--Nat Weiner of Orange, Calif., got this great bull dorado off the south end of Isla Cerralvo after a long battle on 20-pound line tied straight to the hook. Weiner was fishing on a panga out of La Paz' Las Arenas side with Tailhunter International. PHOTO COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

Loreto Mexico Blue Marlin Fishing Photo 1

LORETO BLUE MARLIN--Jon Hanson, left, and William Bickel fished at Bajo Mercenarios out of Loreto's Hotel Oasis with Capt. Alfonso Susarrey for a catch that included this blue marlin weighed at 62 pounds. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTY ZAPATA.

Loreto Mexico Striped Marlin Fishing Photo 1

LORETO BLUE-ON-BLUE--Bill Erhardt of Loreto fished on his boat Soledad and caught this striped marlin that came to the boat lit up to match the feather it hit. The marlin was one of few bright spots in 2 days of slow fishing for Erhardt last week which yielded none of the yellowfin that were thick offshore in late July.

Ramalita Mexico Barred Pargo Fishing Photo 1 Ramalita Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1

BAJA BEACH CAMP FISHING--Andrew Harmer with a nice barred pargo caught while kayak fishing out of his group's camping location at La Ramalita on the Baja Sea of Cortez coast south of Mulege between San Sebastian and San Nicolas. The Baja Catch-style fishing during the trip produced a mixed bag of fish species that also included triggerfish, scorpionfish, jacks, needlefish, and ladyfish. At right Steve Rienecke with a dorado caught during the trip while fishing with a local panguero at Isla San Ildefonso. Three other dorado to 40 pounds were also caught. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANDREW HARMER.

Bahia de los Angeles Mexico Grouper Fishing Photo 1 Bahia de los Angeles Mexico Yellowtail Fishing Photo 1

CORTEZ MIDRIFF SAWTAIL--Jay Ressler, left, and Bahia de los Angeles sportfishing guide Capt. Igor Galvan with a large 30-pound class sawtail grouper caught at the south end of Isla Angel de la Guarda during a trip with Eddie Abate's group that also produced yellowtail, red snapper, cabrilla, and 4 dorado. At right, Ressler with a 28-pound yellowtail caught in the same area. PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDDIE ABATE.

Bahia de los Angeles Mexico Whale Shark Photo 1

BAHIA WHALE SHARK--A whale shark encounter during Chris Okamoto's recent fishing trip to Bahia de los Angeles. PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS OKAMOTO.

Sea of Cortez Mexico Wahoo Fishing Photo 1 Sea of Cortez Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1

MIDRIFF WAHOO--A Sea of Cortez Midriff area wahoo comes aboard Gerardo "Lalo" Munoz' boat Sueltame during an outing out of San Carlos, Sinaloa, on the Mexican mainland side with Robert Barnes of Laughlin, Nev. Barnes said the Sueltame is slated to go into charter service at San Carlos. At right, the Sueltame lands a San Carlos summer dorado. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROBERT BARNES.

Sea of Cortez Mexico Black Marlin Fishing Photo 1

ISLA CERRALVO BLACK MARLIN--Manuel Gehardus, left, of Sinaloa, at Marina Palmira in La Paz with Diomedes Reyes and a black marlin landed about 7 miles east of Isla Cerralvo during a crossing of the Sea of Cortez by Gerhardus' boat Mamanina. PHOTO COURTESY OF MANUEL GERHARDUS.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1

VALLARTA DORADO DINNERS--Capt. Felipe, left, of the PV Marlin Sportfishing charter boat Lorena with some nice dinner sized dorado caught out of Puerto Vallarta with angler John Proctor, center, and Lorena first mate Felipe. PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY QUINONEZ.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Tournament Photo 1

BLOODYDECKS VALLARTA WINNERS--Fishing conditions were tough during the recent Bloodydecks.com Tuna Shootout tournament at Puerto Vallarta but the Elvis Too! team managed a 178-pound yellowfin tuna to take first place and the $21,000 cash prize aboard the boat Lightspeed. Accepting the check are, from left: angler Luis Ramos, deckhands Nacho Osorio and Omar Hernandez, Capt. Rob Ellyn, and team member Richard Hoffman. PHOTO COURTESY OF VINCE SAINT.

Isla Guadalupe Mexico Aerial Photo 1 Isla Guadalupe Mexico Derelict Aircraft Photo 1

FLIGHT TO ISLA GUADALUPE--Jim Weidler flew from Orange County down the Baja coast to pick up some shark cage divers at Isla Guadalupe last week and photographed the remains of an old aircraft in its final resting place near one end of the island's runway, just visible in the photo on the left. "The military said it's been there 20 years," Weidler said. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIM WEIDLER.

Opah Fishing Photo 1

OPAH IRON MAN--Mike Yen hooked this rare 82-pound opah on iron drifted deep during an albacore stop about 80 miles southwest of Point Loma on the charter boat New Lo-An. The boat was used to follow the fish, just keeping Yen from getting spooled on 40-pound line. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE YEN.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES