SUMMER DORADO AND STRIPED MARLIN FISHING SEASON BEGINS

June 13, 2004, Bill Erhardt, Loreto, Mexico Fishing Report:

It is time to stop saying that the fishing in Loreto is slow. There are more dorado (also mahi-mahi or dolphinfish) everyday and the marlin that have been around for a few weeks have started to bite with a vengeance.

Early in the week, winds and rough water lowered water temperatures outside down into the high 70's, but by the end of the week the temperature east of Catalan was back up to 82. Between Catalan and Carmen Saturday afternoon it was glassy calm and the surface temperature was 85. Weed is still not forming up into paddies.

Yesterday, Saturday, was one of those days that a solo fisherman wishes he were not, just to have a witness. Fishing out of Puerto Escondido east of Catalan, I caught, photographed and released 6 striped marlin between 100 - 130 lb., and also 4 dorado, 2 about 22 - 24 lb. and 2 smaller. I also hooked and lost a blue marlin that broke the leader at the hook on a signature greyhounding run (probably nicked earlier by a dorado), and a 7th striper, the second half of a double, that ducked under the boat and cut off on the motor.

Two other double hookups were averted by jerking the lures from the mouths of marlin trying to take them as I was clearing the lines to deal with fish already hooked up. It was truly an incredible day of marlin fishing. Pam Bolles of the Baja Big Fish Company viewed the pictures in my camera, with dates and time, of the six marlin at boat side sporting 4 different lures. So, although she was not along for the ride Pam is the witness to this fish story.

On Thursday, fishing the same area, I caught a blue marlin a little under 200 lb., a wahoo around 50 lb. and a dorado around 25. I did not see a single other boat Thursday from when I put in at 5:30 a.m. until I reached Danzante on the way home at 3:30 p.m. Saturday there were 3 other boats fishing east of Catalan but none within hailing distance. This is the way fishing is supposed to be on the Baja.

My total for 4 days fishing between Friday last and Saturday: 1 blue marlin, 8 striped marlin, 10 dorado and 1 wahoo.

IT IS SUMMERTIME IN LORETO!

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