MEXICAN STRIPED MARLIN AND SAILFISH MIXED
IN EAST CAPE SPORTFISHING WATERS

Dec. 18, 2005, Roy Baldwin, Rancho Leonero, East Cape, Baja California, Mexico Sportfishing:

The East Cape sport fishing vacation area had mild weather with cool mornings around 60 degrees and afternoon highs near 80, north wind early in the week, calmer conditions the last 3 days, and cooler water temperatures 71-73 degrees. Great fishing continues at East Cape on the calm days, with tuna south, dorado north, and sierra off most beaches.

Billfish are a mix of striped marlin and sailfish in the same spot, about 5 miles off La Ribera, with little fishing pressure as most East Cape charter boats are targeting dorado.

The strong dorado bite continues, with lots of dorado of 10-15 pounds spread from Los Barriles to the buoys off Punta Pescadero, with fish taking live mackerel, hoochies and lures.

Over the weekend a wide-open tuna bite developed at East Cape just south of the lighthouse within 1/4 mile of the beach, with football-sized tuna aggressively taking hoochies. On Saturday 1 charter boat took or released 30-plus tuna in 2 hours of fishing, with multiple double and triple hookups.

Inside, sierra are off most East Cape beaches, from Rancho Leonero south to Las Barracas, taking mostly hoochies.