Striped marlin fishing is hot but spotty at Cabo San Lucas;

Puerto Vallarta tuna action rolls on

Mexico Fishing News, October 8, 2007

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet Sportfishing reported Cabo San Lucas striped marlin action spottier during the week in windy conditions, but with some spectacular fishing on the Pacific side banks that produced 15-marlin release days for the charter boats Yahoo, Andrea, Adriana, and La Brisa.

Overall, 51 percent of Pisces boats landed 130 billfish, including 109 striped marlin, 6 blue marlin, and 14 sailfish, with almost all billfish released.

Dorado of 15 to 30 pounds were caught by 99 percent of charters, for a total of 445 dorado landed and many released. Yellowfin tuna of 15 to 30 pounds were caught by 30 percent of charters, and a 110 pounder was landed by the charter boat Falcon in a day that also produced a blue marlin and 4 dorado about 18 miles south of the arch. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was partly cloudy, with wind most days on the Pacific side and the water temperature averaging 84 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported windy, cooling weather in the low-90s, but warming water temperatures as high as 90 degrees found in spots on the Cortez side. "Friday morning it was like a sheep farm out there," Landrum said. "The wind settled on Sunday but it was still choppy." Dorado were found in all areas and the best yellowfin tuna action was found by boats pounding up the Pacific side to the Golden Gate Bank. Pacific side marlin counts in the double-digits were reported north at the Finger Bank. Inshore boats scored their best action on dorado just off the Pacific side beaches until winds made them move to the Cortez side for slower bonita and skipjack.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 45 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo San Lucas charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 4 blue marlin, 29 striped marlin, 1 wahoo, 96 yellowfin tuna of mostly 12 to 20 pounds, and 190 dorado.

"Dorado have taken over the bite activity and the yellowfin tuna are not too far behind," Edwards said. "The presence of both fish will begin to pull the black marlin and blue marlin to the area for the upcoming billfish tournaments." Billfish were caught in all directions from Cabo San Lucas and the best action for tuna and dorado was at the 95 spot. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was sunny in the mid-90s, with seas conditions good and water temperatures at 82 to 83 degrees on the Pacific side and up to 87 degrees at the Gordo Banks on the Sea of Cortez side.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 14 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 6 striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 1 wahoo of 30 pounds, 3 yellowfin tuna of 25 to 30 pounds, some yellowfin tuna limits of 10 to 20 pounds, 1 hammerhead shark, and 59 dorado of 20 to 30 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Grant Hartman of the Baja Anglers fly fishing guide service at Cabo San Lucas said fly fishing angler Greg Vanzant of Oklahoma scored 20 dorado to 40 pounds in less than 2 hours, plus a 300-pound class black marlin broken off after a 3-hour fight on his second day day. "Then he caught a sailfish and 4 nice dorado on the fly," Hartman said. Striped marlin counts were down, but dorado, sailfish, and blue and black marlin all increased. Some smaller roosterfish and jacks were found close to shore on the Pacific side.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Ramon Druck of the Cabo San Lucas charter sportfishing super panga Cheer's reported on 2 outings during the week, fishing on both the Pacific and Sea of Cortez sides with a total of 3 anglers, for a catch including released fish of: 14 dorado of 8 to 25 pounds, plus bonito and skipjack. The Cheer's fished for dorado up to about 4 miles off the Baja coast on the Pacific side in some strong winds and water temperatures averaging 78 to 80 degrees. "The clients were very happy," Druck said. "There was a lot of waves and rough seas, but it didn't stop the fishing." Anglers fishing aboard the Cheer's were Richard Castro, John Taylor, and Andrew Romero.

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 good panga fishing all week at the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda for steady limits or near limits of mixed bottom fish species plus lots of bonita for the Vonny's Fleet fish smoker and a nice 28-pound yellowtail landed after a battle with a sea lion by Robert Lockran of Los Angeles, Calif., with Capt. Hector on the Vonny III. Other anglers fishing during the week with Capts. Beto and Hector included Brian Foley, Jay Johnson, and Frank Luzaro. Ensenada fishing area weather over the weekend was windy with a small craft advisory and all fishing canceled. The water temperature at Punta Banda was in the low-60s.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sergio Susarrey of Sergio's Ensenada Sportfishing Center reported on 18 anglers fishing aboard the full-day charter boat Ensenada Clipper, with a catch of: 3 yellowtail, 6 bonito, 6 yellowfin tuna, and 19 dorado.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Erasmo Carrizales of Ensenada Sportfishing Works reported on an offshore outing by the charter boat Morgan James, fishing kelp paddies with 3 anglers around the 238, 500, and lower 500 spots for a catch of: 13 yellowfin tuna of 20 to 35 pounds, 1 skipjack of 20 pounds, and 8 bonita. "The Morgan James had a good day of fishing," Carrizales said. "The kelp was in all areas and at the 238 spot there was a 'road' of kelp about 3 miles long." Fishing aboard the Morgan James were anglers Billy Maranan, his son Conrad, Mike Christiansen, and Terence Sanchez. Ensenada fishing area offshore water temperatures were even at 68 to 69 degrees.

PUERTO SANTO TOMAS FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO SANTO TOMAS, MEXICO: Sam Saenz of Puerto Santo Tomas Resort south of Ensenada reported 4 pangas fishing during the week for full limits of whitefish, rockcod, some calico bass, and lingcod of 6 to 15 pounds. "There seems to be a lot of bait in the Puerto Santo Tomas area with lots of bird activity, but the surface bite has dropped down to a few barracuda and bonita," Saenz said.

ERENDIRA FISHING REPORTS

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ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Tere Castro of Castro's Camp reported 23 boats fishing during the week, for steady counts of mixed rockcods, lingcod, bonita, and some barracuda. Erendira fishing area weather was good most of the week, with some wind on Friday, but calming again over the weekend. Water temperatures averaged 57 degrees in the main fishing area 7 miles off the Baja coast.

ERENDIRA, MEXICO: Quinn Carney of Corona, Calif., reported his first-ever Castro's Camp halibut caught during his recent trip. "I've been going down to Castro's for 20 years," Carney said. "We went south, which is rare, but an hour later, bam, a 27-inch beauty."

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Marita Melville of Don Eddie's Landing said very few boats were fishing at San Quintin during the week as windy weather arrived, but good concentrations of white seabass were still in the area for those boats that went out, including a run by Capt. Juan Cook on the charter boat Panchita with hotel owner Don Eddie Marquez and Eduardo "Wala" Angulo of San Diego for a total of 15 white seabass caught by 9:30 a.m. "We did not have many boats going out this past week so Don Eddie went out fishing," Melville said. "They had a wide-open bite of white seabass for 3 hours while fishing at Socorro in 58-degree water. They also caught an assortment of bottom fish."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas said he was still getting cancellations from clients concerned about the recent Navy boarding incident off San Quintin. "Things have gone back to normal," Hillis said. "This incident was out of the ordinary and we don't anticipate any future problems." San Quintin fishing area weather was calm on Sunday as Capt. Hector reported 6 white seabass caught during a run to Socorro, plus bottom fish at the 15 and 240 spots and a few yellowtail averaging 15 pounds.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Julio Meza of San Quintin reported 2 white seabass of 35 and 38 pounds caught on 14-pound line by Antonio Rodriguez in a good bite just outside the bay aboard his boat Santa Monica. "By 12:30 we were having sashimi back at the dock," Meza said. "We moved several times looking for sonar marks and birds." Rodriguez' light tackle white seabass were landed after 2 fights totaling 75 minutes. Also fishing aboard the Santa Monica was Carlos Reynoso.

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Juanchys Aguilar of La Bocana on the Pacific Baja coast said sportfishing during the week included a 336-pound black sea bass caught by Carlos Rodriguez of Sonora fishing with Capt. Martin Aguilar Osuna and trip partner Favio Rodriguez. "Martin Aguilar is our best captain for black seabass," Aguilar said. "They fished in a secret spot, 120 feet deep, with 80-pound line." Fishing at a spot 19 miles south of Roca Ballena with Mike and Travis Vuich of San Diego produced a catch including released fish of: 6 medium sized yellowfin tuna, 61 medium dorado, and 20 yellowtail of 10 to 15 pounds, plus 8 halibut and 8 grouper inside Laguna La Bocana. "All fish during the week were released except for the black sea bass and some dorado and tuna," Aguilar said. Pacific water conditions off La Bocana were very clear at 73 degrees.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Derek Arneson, the victim of a recent late night armed robbery attempt on the infamous Tijuana "river road" leading west from the border crossing relayed a report of another robbery in the Rosarito area. "It was the same thing," Arneson said. "They had some sort of fake police light. This happened at 3 a.m. The Tijuana area is very dangerous right now."

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Bill Erhardt of Loreto trailered his boat Soledad across the Baja peninsula and launched at Magdalena Bay's Puerto Lopez Mateos on Tuesday, fishing in glassy conditions 40 to 50 miles offshore for a catch of 2 wahoo of 25 to 30 pounds, and 1 dorado of about 16 pounds. "I was looking only for wahoo so ran through schools of breaking fish on the way to the Ridge," Erhardt said. "I saw no other pangas or private sportfishing boats all day, but in the area I fished on the Ridge there were 3 long range boats." Magdalena Bay offshore fishing water was clear blue at 83 degrees. "I saw no marlin. In fact, in well over 1,000 miles on the water on and around the Thetis Bank this year I have yet to see a marlin," Erhardt said. "After the rains of September the normally parched landscape between Loreto and Puerto Lopez Mateos is now lush and the livestock grazing along the roadway are fat and sleek."

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Al Jordan of Loreto reported on a trip earlier to Magdalena Bay for 2 days of fishing on the charter super panga Sonia Ann out of Jeff and Sonia Petersen's Lopez Sportsman's Lodge at Puerto Lopez Mateos for a catch with Capt. Chico of: 4 dorado outside, and 11 grouper, 2 corvina, and many bass inside the mangrove channels. "The grouper were all caught on MirrOlures," Jordan said. "Then we caught corvina and bass on live bait. The lodge accommodations include 2 bedrooms with 2 baths and 5 beds. There is also a full kitchen with dining and living room, wonderful home cooked meals, and maid service." A website was slated to be launched for the lodge at: Bajacalifornian.com.

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 83 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 445 dorado of 10 to 50 pounds, 345 yellowfin tuna of 15 to over 60 pounds, 6 striped marlin, 9 wahoo of 20 to 25 pounds, 8 sailfish, 34 cabrilla, 48 yellowtail snapper, and 15 dog snapper. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was near 90 degrees, with water temperatures at 83 to 87 degrees. Plentiful bait supplies included sardina, mullet, caballito, and large schools of skipjack on the offshore fishing grounds that were being chunked and fished whole. Dorado and tuna alternated in hot bites, with the best action from La Fortuna to the Iman Bank.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: San Jose del Cabo species fishing specialist John Snow reported on 2 surf fishing sessions and 4 outings with Capt. Pata on the panga Salome, for a total of 118 fish of 32 species caught, collected, or observed. "Turbulent conditions were generated early in the week by the passing of Tropical Storm Juliette but as the week progressed excellent fishing conditions developed," Snow said. Fish species encountered in the San Jose del Cabo fishing area included: barred serrano, bigeye scad, burrito grunt, graybar grunt, Cortez grunt, dog snapper, dorado, finescale triggerfish, flag cabrilla, flatiron herring, gafftopsail pompano, giant hawkfish, leopard grouper, longfin salema, longnose puffer, marlin remora, Mexican bonito, mullet, mutton hamlet, orangeside triggerfish, Pacific creolefish, Panamic graysby, red snapper, reef cornetfish, reef lizardfish, sailfish, silverstripe anchovy, skipjack bonito, wavyline grunt, whitefish, yellow snapper, yellow snapper, and yellowfin tuna.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Axel Valdez of Buena Vista Beach Resort reported on East Cape 54 boats, with 172 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 386 yellowfin tuna, 162 dorado, 2 blue marlin, 37 striped marlin, 16 sailfish, 1 wahoo, 15 roosterfish, 87 snapper, 1 amberjack, 2 bonito, 3 ladyfish, 1 cabrilla, and 44 skipjack. East Cape fishing area weather was mostly calm in the low-100s, with water temperatures at 81 to 87 degrees. Fleet boats fished mostly close-by to the north and south. Inshore fishing was not optimum, but some roosterfish were caught at the hotel dock. Relatively few anglers were fishing in the East Cape area. "This was a week as it used to be back when all of the resorts at East Cape just used to close during the hurricane months with so much fish, no hurries, and not too much fishing pressure," Valdez said.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 295 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 861 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 842 dorado, 815 yellowfin tuna, 13 blue marlin, 121 striped marlin, 34 sailfish, and 12 wahoo. "With the slow year overall we’ve had down here on the East Cape, it just seems like all hell’s breaking loose when we get a nice month or so like we’ve been having," Moyers said. "The fishing is great just as it should be as we’re gearing up for a couple of real big tourneys, the East Cape Classic and the Let's Talk Hookup. Moyers noted that dorado action at East Cape was slightly "slower" during the week with "only" 98 percent of charters landing dodos.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts reported on 305 East Cape charter fishing boats from Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, and Punta Colorada just opened for the season, with a catch including released fish of: 815 yellowfin tuna, 680 dorado, 25 blue marlin, 205 striped marlin, 20 sailfish, 30 roosterfish, 12 wahoo, 9 cabrilla, 145 pargo, 20 triggerfish, 20 bonita, 5 pompano, 4 squid, and 30 skipjack. East Cape fishing area weather was at 100 degrees, with water temperatures of 78 to 86 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Jeff deBrown of The Reel Baja East Cape fly fishing guide service said dorado became more spread out and were caught more in singles and small pods as fairly strong north winds arrived over the weekend. "This is the first sign of north wind we have seen this year," deBrown said. "By Tuesday the winds are supposed to back off and we will hopefully resume the great fishing we have had." Fishing earlier in the week was very good for yellowfin tuna and bonita into the 15-pound class in front of La Ribera plus good numbers of dorado.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: East Cape tin boat angler Torrance Eddy reported trolling with a jointed Rebel Fastrac and a Rapala CD14 on Tuesday for a catch including released fish of 5 dorado of 3 to 20 pounds plus 2 large dorado lost. "The bigger fish were caught on my Rapala and the smaller ones on the Fastrac," Eddy said after fishing from the Pemex station north to the San Bartolo arroyo and then northeast away from the coast. On Thursday, Eddy fished on Jimmy Heidinger's super panga Splash with Chantale Bergeron and Capt. Ernesto or "Neco" for slow action amid a 20-boat fleet off La Ribera and then 5 dorado after moving north to the San Bartolo arroyo. "Within 15 minutes of our arrival we had boated 5 dorado of about 6 pounds each," Eddy said. Fishing to the south produced 5 large skipjack and 2 large red snapper caught by Bergeron in about 4 hours.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Earlier, Eddy reported a 61-pound dog snapper caught by local commercial panguero Elias Aguilar on Thursday night off La Ribera that was sold to local East Cape fish buyer "Chuy." "Chuy is a commercial fish wholesaler living in El Cardonal and serving the commercial pangueros of the East Cape area," Eddy said. "I had to practically run Chuy off the road on his way to sell the fish in Los Cabos so I could get pictures."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Steve Gruenwald of Orland, Calif., reported on a week-long trip to La Ribera with his 10-year-old son Lane Gruenwald for good panga action with Capt. Victor that included football yellowfin tuna, dorado, pargo, amberjack, and a brief hookup with a blue marlin on 25-pound line. "Sunday was about the most productive half-day of fishing I ever had in that area," Gruenwald said. "The big blue marlin came rocketing out of the water not 50 feet from our boat. My son's eyes were as big as fried eggs. I had to explain that, even though the fishing in Baja was really good, even I didn't expect to hook a blue on my first cast of the first day of the trip."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Simon Cazaly of the Vista Sea Sport East Cape diving service said Vista Sea Sport's Jennifer Rayor returned from a group dive at Cabo Pulmo reporting bottom temperatures at 85 degrees with visibility of 60 to 70 feet. "No need for a wetsuit," Cazaly said. "Particularly special for her was being able to see the whole site open out before her as the water was so clear." Sea life sightings during the week included large grouper, hawksbill sea turtle, and large schools of silver bait fish. "The tiny silver fish were hanging above the divers on the west side of the island as they looked up at the sun through the mass," Cazaly said.

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said fish counts during the week for his pangas on the Las Arenas side were dominated by smaller yellowfin tuna and dorado off Punta Perico and also off Isla Cerralvo. "We didn't find bigger dorado, wahoo, marlin, or sailfish this week," Hernandez said. "They disappeared." The La Paz fishing area had some days of clouds, with cooler weather in the low-90s and some rough seas. No dorado were found at the shark buoys. Sardina bait was present in all areas including Ensenada de los Muertos, San Isidro, and Isla Cerralvo. Good numbers of roosterfish were concentrated south at Boca del Alamo and at the north end of Isla Cerralvo. Anglers fishing with Tortuga during the week included Fred Cummins and his son Dylan Cummins of Phoenix, Ariz.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Bill Erhardt of Loreto reported very few boats fishing locally during the week. "I don't know anybody who has been fishing here," Erhardt said. "I had planned to get out for a day or two, but the wind has kicked up and it looks like it will continue at least through Monday. I have a marine band base unit that I usually have turned on when I'm around the palapa to keep my finger on the pulse, but there has been little or no chatter now for a few weeks, either in English or Spanish. There just is not much fishing out of Loreto right now."

LORETO, MEXICO: Lynn Hamman of Loreto said the La Picazon restaurant on the beach about 8 kilometers north of town was reopening after extensive remodeling and the installation of a new kitchen. "They still have the same great food!" Hamman said. "The hours have been extended and they will be able to handle parties of 50 for special occasions. Alex and his wife are very excited about the changes."

SANTA ROSALIA FISHING REPORTS

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SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Lucas Cove reported Santa Rosalia fishing area weather with early north winds and the water temperature at 82 to 86 degrees. A fishing trip to Isla Tortuga produced 2 sailfish and a dorado on 5 hookups. Seven yellowtail and a 50-pound grouper were caught during fishing on Saturday in the Governor's Cup tournament. "The wind started blowing first thing this morning and got worse as the day continued," Anderson said on Saturday. "Those that were targeting dorado had a lot of difficulty finding any fish." Anderson noted that his recent home purchase at San Bruno was cutting into fishing time. "The best advice I can give this week is never buy a house if your primary objective is to go fishing," he said. "Since buying a house in San Bruno we have only taken a total of 2 days to go fishing in the 2 weeks that we have been down here." Anderson said 27 boats fished in the local increment of the Governor's Cup Baja California Sur fishing tournament plus "probably over 100 shore fisherpersons of all ages." Anderson said, "They have 3 divisions of shore fishing by age and it was a lot of fun to see kids and adults scrambling around the jetty catching fish."

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Ed Hogan of San Bruno reported bait fish scarce off San Lucas Cove and desultory fishing results during 2 outings for mojarra and triggerfish one day, and another run out to Isla Tortuga a second day that produced 1 dorado, 2 billfish including an injured sailfish kept, 1 yellowtail, 2 cabrilla, 1 large pargo, and 1 triggerfish that Hogan said "was the largest I have ever seen." Bait was fairly easy to catch just outside the Santa Rosalia harbor. Hogan fished in water temperatures of 82 to 84 degrees at Isla Tortuga, using live bait on fly line, dropper loops, and sliding sinkers down to 200 to 270 feet deep. "We also broke off 3 large fish in the same area which we assume were yellowtail," Hogan said. Santa Rosalia fishing area weather had some rough seas, laying down in the afternoon. Fishing with Hogan were Phil Davison and Bob Bourgeois of Escondido, Calif.

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

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: For the previous week, Fred Montiel of Pasadena, Calif., reported on a day of panga fishing out of Bahia de los Angeles with Capt. Juan of Rafael Cuevas Sportfishing for a catch in very choppy sea conditions of: 10 sierra, 5 triggerfish, and many spotted bay bass released. "The wind was blowing all night and into the morning," Montiel said. "We made bait in front of the public ramp in about 30 minutes. We trolled for sierra with small chrome Krocodiles and used cut squid for bottom fishing. We were fortunate enough to swim with 2 whale shark. What an awesome experience!" Beach fishing produced 2 nice sierra and Montiel's first-ever roosterfish, a juvenile that would not give up. "I hooked a rooster 6 times but I couldn't land it," Montiel said. "Finally on the 7th try, and what felt like 100 casts later, I got my first roosterfish on a blue mackerel Krocodile." Bahia de los Angeles fishing area water temperatures were at 80 to 82 degrees.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 10 offshore Aries Fleet charter boats out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 2 blue marlin to 300 pounds, 7 sailfish, and 25 dorado. Four inshore super pangas had a catch of: 21 dorado, 12 red snapper, 4 jack crevalle, and 11 roosterfish. "We are starting to see a little more variety in the super panga catches," Edwards said. "Inshore fishing has picked up considerably. There is still good dorado action at the buoys but the roosterfish are offering some excellent variety on live bait." Mazatlan fishing area weather was cloudy in the high-80s, with mostly calm seas and water temperatures even at 85 to 86 degrees. Offshore boats fished 22 to 29 miles southwest of Mazatlan, mostly with rigged baits.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Merle Erickson of Chicago reported on 5 days of fishing with 2 friends aboard the Puerto Vallarta charter boats Marla and Marla II with Capts. Danny Osuna and Alonso Osuna, finding some slow days for as little as 1 football tuna, but other days of wide-open fishing and a total catch including released fish of: 9 yellowfin tuna of 70 to 180 pounds, 2 pargo, 1 dorado, and 1 black marlin at 300 pounds. On Wednesday, Erickson reported farming double-digit yellowfin tuna in very hot action at Roca Corbeteña as he tried fishing with bullet tuna baits and the boat landed tuna of 150, 160, and 170 pounds. "I farmed at least 8 bites, Danny missed 2 fish, and Alvino missed 1," Erickson said. "There were 150-pound fish blowing out all over the place. The amount of life at Corbeteña right now is staggering. I was fishing the bullets like I had been fishing the skippies and that was my mistake. With the bullets, Danny said that one needs to put it in gear after a count of 2 as opposed to, say, 5 with the bigger skippies. The tuna spit the bullets out after they run for a few seconds, and that is what was happening I think." Other Puerto Vallarta fishing results during Erickson's trip included Danny Gomez on the charter panga Dhamar with several big tuna over 100 pounds and a wahoo, the Marla II with 4 tuna to 220 pounds, and the Arca de Noe also with tuna over 100 pounds. Puerto Vallarta fishing area weather was hot and sunny, with mostly light winds and blue to blue-green water at about 85 degrees.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Matt Harbour reported on an inaugural 2-day session off Puerto Vallarta with Steve Danziger aboard Danziger's new boat Cha-Ching, fishing with Capt. Jeff Illingworth at El Banco and Roca Corbeteña for a catch including released fish of: 3 cow class yellowfin tuna of 240, 265, and 290 pounds, and 1 blue marlin in the 400-pound class. "I think it is safe to say that the Cha-Ching raises fish," Harbour said. The last cow tuna was hooked just minutes before the Cha-Ching stopped fishing to make a plane. "Right when our time was almost up, the left rigger bait gets destroyed," Harbour said. "After letting the fish gulp down the bait for a count of 10 seconds, I came tight. I knew it was another cow tuna. I slide the drag up to full and was pulling approximately 40 pounds of drag. Within 50 minutes, I was able to subdue our third cow of the trip, and we were on our way back to Punta Mita so we could board a taxi to make our flight later that evening."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Clarke Smith of Newport Beach, Calif., reported a 327-pound yellowfin tuna landed off Puerto Vallarta after a 5-hour fight on 80-pound Spectra line loaded on an Avet JX reel. Smith fished at El Banco aboard his boat Aleta with Capt. Manny Ocaranza, using a Taniguchi wrapped Calstar 610H rod, 100-pound fluorocarbon leader, and 6/0 Hayabusa circle hook. "The tuna was hooked on a fly lined caballito," Smith said. "It barely knew it was hooked for the first several hours. We chased the fish at up to 8 knots for long periods of time. Luckily, it never strayed too far from the bank and stayed in water 300 to 400 feet in depth. The fish finally began to circle after four-and-half hours and still had lots of life at the end. We put 2 flying gaffs and 2 fixed gaffs into the fish and it was still kicking. It was a great team effort to successfully boat a fish of this caliber with the tackle used."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Gomez of Dhamar Sportfishing reported on 2 outings each by the charter super pangas Dhamar and Gabriela for a catch including released fish in some rough conditions of: 1 blue marlin, 5 yellowfin tuna, 12 dorado, and 5 dog snapper. "We nailed the fish and lost a few," Gomez said. "The tunas are here and we have 2 pangas for charter."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stan Gabruk of Master Baiters Sportfishing & Tackle said the week's catch by a mix of 6 pangas and cruisers included a 500-pound class blue marlin released after a 5-hour fight by angler Vicki Davidson, 75, aboard the charter boat El Amo. "She went out to El Banco and also boated 3 mahi-mahi in the 35 to 45-pound range," Gabruk said. Master Baiters catches including released fish for the week were: 9 black marlin, 2 blue marlin, 17 yellowfin tuna of 150 to 345 pounds, 38 dorado, 6 sailfish, and many miscellaneous fish. "Boats are going out everyday and the fishing is incredible, especially after the bad year we had last year," Gabruk said.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said dorado averaging 20 pounds and yellowfin tuna of football size to 60 pounds were being caught on the edge of 82-degree blue water about 5 miles off the beach. "The dorado action is steady, but the tuna are breezing in and out," Kunze said. "For the tuna it is more of a matter of being at the right place at the right time." Ixtapa Zihuatanejo boats fishing 12 miles out averaged about 2 sailfish per outing. Inshore roosterfish action was excellent all along the coast but with only 4 or 5 boats fishing per day very few anglers targeted roosterfish.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported offshore boats averaging 3 to 5 sailfish plus about 6 quality dorado per outing. Fishing inshore, Capt. Adolfo Espinosa reported near double-digit roosterfish south of the bay. "There has been no lack of action this past week and it finally appears that the fishing has returned to the norm," Edwards said. Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area weather was in the low-90s, with some clouds and blue 85-degree water as close as 3 miles.

CANCUN FISHING REPORTS

ALL ARTICLES, REPORTS AND FISHING INFORMATION FOR CANCUN

CANCUN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 6 outings by the El Cid Caribe sportfishing fleet at Puerto Morelos near Cancun, with a catch including released fish of: 1 sailfish, 2 jack crevalle, 3 tuna, 8 king mackerel, and 13 giant barracuda. "The sailfish is very unusual for this time of year," Edwards said. "It was another slow-on-people week in the Cancun fishing area, with only a little more than a handful of boats fishing mostly short days." Cancun fishing area weather was mostly cloudy in the low-90s, with high humidity, easterly winds to 12 knots, and stable water temperatures at 85 degrees. Most boats fished with rigged ballyhoo baits.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico Marlin Fly Fishing Photo 1

GOLDEN GATE FLYING--Jon Hass, left, of Portland, Ore., and Cabo San Lucas fly fishing guide Grant Hartman of Baja Anglers about to release a 90-pound striped marlin caught on Monday at the Golden Gate bank aboard the charter boat Flying Fish IV with Capt. Arturo. PHOTO COURTESY OF GRANT HARTMAN.

Cabo San Lucas Mexico Dorado Fishing Photo 1

CABO PANGA FISHING--Andrew Romero, left, and John Taylor with a couple of nice local dorado caught in good action on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas last week with Capt. Ramon Druck aboard the charter super panga Cheer's. PHOTO COURTESY OF RAMON DRUCK.

Ensenada Mexico Fishing Photo 1

ENSENADA OFFSHORE FISHING--With a great mixed catch of dorado and yellowfin tuna caught during a recent run by the Ensenada Sportfishing Works charter boat Morgan James are anglers Orlando Cabala, "Allen," Jim Derr, Elean Brhlkin, and Eric Brhlkin. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERASMO CARRIZALES.

Ensenada Mexico Yellowtail Fishing Photo 1 Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet Photo 1

LUCKY ENSENADA FORKIE--Robert Lockran of San Diego, Calif., with a 28-pound yellowtail hooked at Ensenada last week that was landed after a tussle with a sea lion. Lockran scored his Baja forkie plus bottom fish and bonita while fishing on a Vonny's Fleet panga off the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda. At right, it's been a good summer for bonita at Ensenada, and Vonny's Fleet's notorious Ivan Villarino loads another batch of fillets into the fish smoker for his clients. PHOTOS COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.

San Quintin Mexico Fishing Photo 1

MORE QUINTIN CROAKERS--Don Eddie Marquez, front right, of Don Eddie's Landing at San Quintin and some of 15 quality white seabass landed during an outing last week aboard the Don Eddie's charter boat Panchita with Capt. Juan Cook, upper right. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARITA MELVILLE.

San Quintin Fishing

San Quintin Mexico Fishing Photo 2

LIGHT TACKLE CROAKIN'--Antonio Rodriguez, center, with one of 2 white seabass of 35 and 38 pounds landed just outside Bahia de San Quintin on 14-pound line with Julio Meza, left, on Meza's boat Santa Monica during an outing last week that also included Carlos Reynoso, right. PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIO MEZA.

Baja California Mexico Wahoo Fishing Photo 1

THETIS BANK WAHOO--Bill Erhardt of Loreto trailered his boat across the Baja peninsula, fished the Pacific Ocean solo in calm waters on the Ridge north of the Thetis Bank on Tuesday, and caught the first 2 wahoo taken out of Puerto Lopez Mateos this year. This 57 pounder hit on a wire rigged marlin lure, and a smaller wahoo took a Yo-Zuri Bonita lure. PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM LUITHLY.

Baja California Mexico Black Sea Bass Fishing Photo 2

BOCANA SECRET SPOT--Favio Rodriguez of Sonora, Mexico, with a massive black sea bass weighed at 336 pounds that was landed by Carlos Rodriguez while fishing 120 feet deep with Capt. Martin Aguilar Osuna at a secret spot near La Bocana on the Baja Pacific coast. PHOTO COURTESY OF JUANCHYS AGUILAR.

Puerto Los Cabos Mexico Marina Photo 1

END OF AN ERA--Under a moody tropical sky, final dredging work was underway last week at the new Puerto Los Cabos marina at San Jose del Cabo. Said Gordo Banks Pangas' Eric Brictson, "They had a few leaking seals, and that made it have kind of an amusement park feel." At right, the new slips to be used by the La Playita sportfishing panga fleets, which have traditionally launched over the beach here ever since Hernán Cortés sailed by in 1533. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

San Jose del Cabo Mexico Tuna Fishing Photo 1

PANGA TUNA FISHING--Gordo Banks Pangas' Capt. Chame Pino with a perfect fillet size 68-pound yellowfin tuna caught early in the week with clients while fishing off San Jose del Cabo with a dead sardina bait at the Iman Bank. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 1

EAST CAPE CRUISING--The Mark Garcia group from New Mexico puts in some fishing time last week aboard the East Cape charter cruiser Aleta out of Buena Vista Beach Resort. PHOTO COURTESY OF AXEL VALDEZ.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 2

RIBERA RED SNAPPER--Chantale Bergeron, right, with a lit up huachinango or true red snapper, one of a pair she landed near East Cape's La Ribera last week on Jimmy Heidinger's super panga Splash with Capt. Ernesto, left. At right, East Cape wholesale fish buyer "Chuy" of El Cardonal headed to market at San Jose del Cabo with a nice 60-pound dog snapper caught by local panguero Elias Aguilar on Thursday night off La Ribera. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TORRANCE EDDY.

La Paz Mexico Fishing Photo 1

LA PAZ SOUTH SIDE--Dylan Cummins, of Phoenix, Ariz., fished south of La Paz on a Tortuga Sportfishing panga with his dad and Tortuga's Capt. Martin Lucero, left, for a catch in some windy conditions that included these football yellowfin tuna. PHOTO COURTESY OF GERARDO HERNANDEZ.

East Cape Mexico Fishing Photo 4

LA RIBERA PANGA--Steve Gruenwald and his son Lane with his first-ever yellowfin tuna, caught while panga fishing out of East Cape's La Ribera with Capt. Victor. Action during the week included a big blue marlin broken off on 25-pound line. At right, Lane with a flying fish taken from the stomach of an East Cape dorado. PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEVE GRUENWALD.

Isla Tortuga Mexico Fishing Photo 1

ISLA TORTUGA FISHING--Bob Bourgeois, left, and Phil Davison with a sailfish that was injured during the fight and could not be released during a trip to Isla Tortuga off Santa Rosalia aboard Ed Hogan's boat. The day also produced a second billfish release, yellowtail, cabrilla, pargo, and triggerfish. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED HOGAN.

Bahia de los Angeles Mexico Fishing Photo 1 Bahia de los Angeles Mexico Roosterfish Photo 1

WINDY BAHIA FISHING--Anglers, from left, Ryan Rubio, Fred Montiel, and Lance Rubio stayed close to shore during a trip to fish in windy conditions at Bahia de los Angeles with Capt. Rafael Cuevas for a catch of sierra, these triggerfish, and lots of spotted bay bass, plus Montiel's first-ever roosterfish, a juvenile caught from shore. At right, Montiel's roosterfish prize, finally landed after it hit 7 times. PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRED MONTIEL.

East Cape Mexico Tiger Shark Photo 1

TIGER AT EAST CAPE--A good-sized tiger shark cruises by the video camera during a dive trip by East Cape's Vista Sea Sport diving service at the Esperanza spot about a three-quarters of a mile from shore near Cabo Pulmo. PHOTO COURTESY OF SIMON CAZALY.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 1

HARD CORE PANGA--Four long distance offshore runs by the Puerto Vallarta super panga Dhamar last week with Capt. Danny Gomez scored on dorado, dog snapper, 1 blue marlin, and good action for big yellowfin tuna. PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY GOMEZ.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 2

VALLARTA MARLIN RELEASE--A 400-pound class blue marlin is revived before release during an inaugural 2-day session out of Puerto Vallarta by Steve Danziger's new boat Cha-Ching. Fishing at El Banco and Roca Corbeteña by the Cha-Ching also produced yellowfin tuna of 240, 265, and 290 pounds. PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT HARBOUR.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Fishing Photo 3

NO KID STUFF--Seventy-five-year-old Vicki Davidson released a 500-pound class blue marlin after a 5-hour fight and also landed these hefty dorado at Puerto Vallarta during an outing on the Master Baiters Sportfishing & Tackle charter boat El Amo, reported Stan Gabruk of Master Baiter's. First mate William helps her show off the catch. PHOTO COURTESY OF STAN GABRUK.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico Giant Tuna Fishing Photo 1

SMALL REEL CHALLENGE--Clarke Smith, right, with an Avet JX reel used to subdue this 327-pound Puerto Vallarta yellowfin tuna after a 5-hour fight with Capt. Manny Ocaranza, left, aboard the charter boat Aleta. Smith loaded his reel with 80-pound Spectra tied to 100-pound fluorocarbon leader. PHOTO COURTESY OF CLARKE SMITH.

Baja California Mexico Desert Foliage Photo 1

BAJA RAIN FOREST--After the rains of September, the normally parched Baja landscape between Loreto and Puerto Lopez Mateos is now lush and green and the livestock grazing along the roadside are fat and happy. PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL ERHARDT.

BAJA MEXICO FISHING REPORT ARCHIVES AND FISH PICTURES