EARLY FALL SEA WATER TEMPERATURES HOLDING AT 85 DEGREES

Sept. 24, 2004, Rick Barber, Mulege, Mexico Fishing:

Mulege water temperatures have been holding at 82 to 85 degrees, but the bad luck we've been having with the wind and the water continued to haunt us this week.

Mulege fishing on Monday was a blowout and Tuesday was marginal, although a few of us gave it a try. Since I fish out of a 15-foot Valco Bayrunner, I stayed on the west side of the Sea of Cortez and Bahia Concepción. I also got skunked!

A friend of mine, Tom, who has a panga, crossed the Bay and trolled from the Pt. Aguja light to Punta Concepción. He managed to boat a smaller Dorado, three very respectable Sierra, and a couple of Cabrilla. He called me on the radio to join him but the water looked just a bit too lumpy for my liking!

Wednesday was another marginal fishing day at Mulege, but some of the guys did go out. Four Mulege skippers I talked to combined to boat seven Dorado and an even dozen Cabrilla. There were even some Sierra in the mix.

Mulege sea conditions on Thursday were a little better but the catch was not, although some Dorado were boated as well as the usual fare of Cabrilla and Sierra. We don't count Skipjack and "slimers" (barracuda). We catch them for fun, bait or cat food...or all three.

Friday was marginal enough to keep me off the water (bad decision. It laid down around 9:00), but Tom went out to fish the Pt. Concepción area again. That didn't prove productive so he moved to Punta Chivato where he scored on a fair Dorado and some Cabrilla.

One of our famous (infamous?) Mulege fishing guides, Alex, who bartends at the Hotel Serenidad when he isn't out killing fish, tried the Pt. Concepción area also on Friday but without success. He then moved south to the Mine where he was fishing in 280 feet of water for Pinto Bass. He got into a good school of the bass when a 40 lb. Yellowtail picked up his bait. Luckily, Alex fishes with heavier line and boated the 'tail. Make my day!!!

Alex's story is a good example why most of us fish with heavier line down here if we're near or around rocks. Most of the fish at Mulege are not line shy and you just never know what is going to inhale your bait!!! Every time I start to think about reverting to my lighter rigs, I am reminded of the time my daughter was fishing a reef in 25 feet of water north of Santa Inez when she tangled with (and landed) a four-foot long, 75-pound grouper. She was fishing with the fishing guru of Mulege, Marty Robinson, who ALWAYS uses 60 to 80 lb. line (and MirrOlures).

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Mulege and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Mulege may be found at Mexfish.com's main Mulege page.