ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet said few anglers visited the Baja coastal area of Ensenada last week but the fishing weather was good at Punta Banda and pangas continued to catch good counts of bottom fish plus a few yellowtail. On Friday, Jay Johnson of Ensenada fished on the panga Vonny I with Capt. Beto Zamora for limits of mixed bottom species plus 1 nice yellowtail. On Saturday, Capt. Beto fished with Greb Abgela and Peter York of San Diego for limits of bottom fish, salmon grouper, whitefish, and bonita. The charter panga Vonny III with Capt. Hector also scored limits of bottom fish and bonita for Leonard Luna and Glenn Spears of Los Angeles. Ensenada weather was sunny in the mid-60s over the weekend, with light winds, 1 to 2-foot ocean swells, and the water temperature at Punta Banda averaging 59 degrees.

GOOD ENSENADA WEATHER--Baja's eastern Sea of Cortez coast was ripped by north winds last week, but Ensenada on the Pacific side enjoyed some great fishing conditions. Here's Jay Johnson, left, with an ice chest full of bottom fish plus a nice yellowtail caught while panga fishing with Vonny Fleet's Capt. Beto Zamora, right, at the tip of Punta Banda. PHOTO COURTESY OF IVAN VILLARINO.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Sarai Garcia of Don Eddie's Landing said some late season white seabass were caught last week, as anglers Angel De Guzman and Roy De Cauwer of San Jose, Calif., fished south at El Tranquilo with Capt. Pancho Berrellesa for a catch of 4 white seabass including fish of 40 and 61 pounds. "They decided that they wanted to try at this late date in the fishing season and see what kind of luck they would have," Garcia said. De Guzman and De Cauwer fished on the Skipjack cruiser Panchita with live bait and Krocodiles in clear water of 59 to 62 degrees. WHITE SEABASS STILL BITING AT EL TRANQUILO.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported good weather in the San Quintin fishing area, but with cooler morning temperatures requiring warm clothing when leaving the bay in the mornings. Few anglers were present at San Quintin. "No boats from my landing have been down south," Hillis said. "Most fishermen have been concentrating on the large rockcod and lingcod." John Yasui of San Diego and his group fished on the charter boat Pelicano with Capt. Miguel for full limits of bottom fish.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Bill Erhardt of Loreto reported on 2 fishing days each of the last 2 weeks off the Baja coast outside Magdalena Bay's Puerto Lopez Mateos, missing his targeted wahoo but finding some wide-open dorado action, 14 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 20 pounds, and 5 striped marlin released. Erhardt fished on his boat Soledad out of Boca de Soledad from The Ridge to the Thetis Bank and southwards of the San Carlos entrada. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was mostly flat but with some days of 10 to 20-knot wind. Offshore water temperatures were at 78 to 79 degrees the first week and 75 to 76 degrees the second week. OFFSHORE FISHING AT THE RIDGE AND THETIS BANK.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said, "After a week of cooler temperatures and wind off Magdalena Bay, the fishing snapped back for both dorado and marlin. Most of the action was reported up above the Thetis Bank. However with fewer boats fishing the Pacific out of Mag Bay, it is difficult to know what else is happening closer to Bahia Santa Maria." Inshore fishing produced grouper, corvina, and an excellent bite of spotted bay bass A free-entry Mexican government sponsored wahoo tournament was scheduled for Puerto Lopez Mateos on Dec. 8-9, 2006, with the top prize a panga with 60-h.p. Suzuki motor. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was cloudy in the high-70s, with water temperatures at 70 to 78 degrees.

CABO GOLD RUSH--New York anglers Stephen Hutter, William Mark, Scott Mark, and Wayne Mark fished at Cabo San Lucas for 3 days last week aboard the charter boat Cabo Magic Dos with Capt. Chito at the helm, and on their second day of fishing they found a great catch of these dorado plus a striped marlin released. At right, the striper comes in for release by the Cabo Magic Dos. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LORI GARCIA.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of the Cabo San Lucas charter boat Falcon said most boats opted not to pound upswell to the Finger Bank and fished closer to home around the Golden Gate Bank again last week. "The long run to the Finger Bank was too punishing for most boats," Connolly said. "The Golden Gate Bank was far enough." Action around the Golden Gate remained good for striped marlin, plus some sailfish, and 1 very good day for 7 wahoo and 7 marlin releases by the boat Gladiator. "Northern winds and big swells cooled the water and may have been responsible for the large amount of striped marlin tailers spotted heading toward Cabo," Connolly said. GOLDEN GATE BANK FISHING STEADY FOR MARLIN AND SOME WAHOO.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet said the Golden Gate Bank on the Pacific side of Cabo remained the hot spot for striped marlin last week as Pisces boats averaged 1 to 4 marlin releases and top boats included Ni Modo with 8 and 7-release days. The stripers were closer to the surface than the previous week. "Last week our boats bottom fished for them," Ehrenberg said. "This week the preferred method for catching them was drifting with live bait." Some sailfish, dorado, and a few yellowfin tuna were also caught. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was sometimes lumpy on the Pacific side, with average water temperatures of about 77 degrees. STRIPED MARLIN FISHING SURFACES AT THE GOLDEN GATE BANK.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing said Cabo San Lucas fishing water temperatures around the tip of Baja were stable at 80 to 81 degrees. The concentrated striped marlin bite at the Golden Gate Bank became scattered and boats trolled and drifted bait in different areas. "A few boats have gone up the Sea of Cortez around Punta Gorda and have done fairly well," Landrum said. "There was a halfway decent bite off the Red Hill area."

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: 4 blue marlin under 300 pounds, 41 striped marlin, 55 yellowfin tuna, 38 dorado, and 2 wahoo. "The billfish bite at the Golden Gate continues pretty good," Edwards said. "Most of the boats that stay with it wind up with 2 to 3 billfish per day." Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was mostly sunny in the high-80s, with water temperatures at 77 degrees at the Golden Gate Bank and 82 degrees on the Sea of Cortez side at the Gordo Banks. Good supplies of live bait continued at the Golden Gate.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tommy Garcia of Cabo Magic Sportfishing reported on 90 charter boats, with a catch including released fish of: 39 striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 66 dorado, 8 yellowfin tuna, 3 yellowtail, 3 bonita, 20 roosterfish, 35 pargo, 6 cabrilla, and 6 boat with no luck.

BILLFISH CONSERVATION--A Cabo San Lucas striped marlin bearing a Billfish Foundation Tag is about to be released in fishing last month by the Cabo San Lucas charter boat Cabo Magic with Capt. Hector. Cabo Magic's Lori Garcia said the tag was recovered and turned in for research, one of fewer than 1 percent that are recaptured. The striper was landed by anglers Steve Pengelly and Les Farley of England. PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI GARCIA.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 13 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 200 pounds, 14 striped marlin, 7 yellowfin tuna of 20 pounds, and 19 dorado of 25 to 30 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Art Coleman of Temecula reported on 1 day of fishing at the Golden Gate Bank aboard the charter boat Top Gun for a catch including 2 striped marlin caught on a double hookup using an artificial lure and a dead mackerel bait. "Both fish were released in good shape," Coleman said. "The Top Gun is a great boat, very fast, and got us to the banks in a very short time. The crew did a great job on the double hookup. It got crazy for a while." Cabo San Lucas Pacific side weather was windy to 20 knots, with swells of 3 to 4 feet.

GOLDEN GATE DOUBLE--Art Coleman, center, Cabo San Lucas charter boat Top Gun Capt. Jose, right, and first mate John, with a striped marlin released off a double hookup at the Golden Gate Bank. PHOTO COURTESY OF ART COLEMAN.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said December winds were blowing at East Cape last week. "The trick is to get out fishing on one of the calm days," Graham said, "or at least as early as possible on the windy days." Blue marlin and striped marlin were present from Punta Pescadero north to the 88 Bank off Isla Cerralvo, and tuna and dorado fishing was concentrated to the south off Cabo Pulmo. East Cape fishing area weather was in the low-80s, with water temperatures at 74 to 84 degrees. WINDY WINTER-STYLE WEATHER.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista said East Cape fishing area weather was windy with big swells toward the end of week and he did not fish on his beach launched aluminum boat. "The wind blew really hard well out into the gulf because the surf was higher here yesterday than after Hurricane John," Eddy said on Friday. Trolling Jointed Rebel Fastracs with 2 anglers the previous week from Buena Vista south to Rancho Leonero produced 11 sierra of 22 to 25 inches and a big triggerfish for the cooler. JOINTED REBEL FISHING FROM BUENA VISTA TO RANCHO LEONERO.

TIN BOAT SIERRA--East Cape aluminum boat angler Torrance Eddy, shown, of Buena Vista and his fishing partner Eldon Hathaway trolled Jointed Rebel Fastracs south to Rancho Leonero for a catch of 11 nice sierra and a big triggerfish. PHOTO COURTESY OF TORRANCE EDDY.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Lucas Cove reported Santa Rosalia fishing area weather windy in the mid-70s, with water temperatures of 69 to 71 degrees. "Winter winds have taken over and shut down fishing except for Monday and Tuesday," Anderson said. Two runs to the Isla San Marcos northern bajos produced some quality yellowtail and cabrilla for Anderson and Alan "Scotty" Wallace. "He managed to land a really nice yellowtail and a real quality cabrilla so he was really happy for the day," Anderson said. "The wind started blowing the next day and we have been sitting on the beach repairing tackle, tying new rigs, and generally waiting for the wind to stop."

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Over the Thanksgiving Day holiday, Craig Collins of Rio Rico, Ariz., reported on a local San Carlos shore fishing session and an outing on his boat No Sniveling with his mother Janet Richardson of Mesa, Ariz., for a combined catch of 13 sierra and some orangemouth corvina of 4 to 10 pounds. "We took No Sniveling out one morning and caught nice sierras at Punta San Antonio trolling Rapala Magnums in green dorado pattern," Collins said. "My mother and I also fished from the shore near Marina Real to catch a nice batch of corvina."

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 31 boats from Aries Fleet fishing out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid for a catch including released fish of: 31 sailfish, 3 striped marlin, 6 blue marlin, and 12 dorado mostly of 40 to 55 pounds. "The billfish are averaging a bit more than 1 per boat day," Edwards said. "Blue marlin were still biting, but all blues were under 300 pounds." Mazatlan fishing area weather was mostly sunny in the high-80s, with water temperatures at 82 to 83 degrees. Aries Fleet boats fished about 24 to 29 miles southwest of Marina El Cid.

SPEARFISHING COW--Marla's Sportfishing Capts. Scott Osuna and Alonso Osuna assist divers bringing their 235-pound Puerto Vallarta yellowfin tuna aboard the charter boat Arca de Noe last week. The cow class tuna was speared at Roca Corbeteña in 85-degree water. PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY OSUNA.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Osuna of Marla's Sportfishing said, "It was a great Puerto Vallarta fishing week for big fish. The tunas and marlin were biting really good, nailing the skippies and some caballitos." Marla's boats fished just 2 days and were chartered by 2 groups of free divers for the rest of the week. "The free divers saw so much life around La Roca Corbeteña," Osuna said, "a lot of bait like skippies, greenjacks, rainbow runners and also a lot of huge schools of big tunas from 150 pounds up to 200 plus." Divers on the Marla's boat Arca de Noe speared a yellowfin tuna of 235 pounds. Puerto Vallarta offshore fishing boats generally did well on tuna, marlin, sailfish, and dorado. "Looks like next week is going to be great fishing again," Osuna said.

BAAAD INFLUENCE--Bobby Blake, right, of Georgia, fished at Puerto Vallarta over the weekend aboard the Prime Time Adventures charter boat Bad Influence, and he scored on this cow class 212-pound yellowfin tuna at Roca Corbeteña with Capt. Aldo "Lora" Vasquez, left, and first mate Largo, background. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH TEMPLE.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Josh Temple of Prime Time Adventures said, "To be honest, we caught too many giant tunas to count. It's that crazy down here right now. Also, I just bought a new Cabo 40 Express charter boat called the Conquistador." Puerto Vallarta offshore fishing by the Prime Time Adventures boats Frantic Pace, Top Gun, Chappy One, and Bad Influence produced very good action for blue marlin, black marlin, sailfish, dorado, and many large yellowfin tuna including fish of 250 and 288 pounds for anglers Michael Bogart and Steve Danziger. Temple also noted that he caught his first-ever personal blue marlin last week, a 450 pounder. "After guiding anglers to literally hundreds of marlin releases," Temple said, "I'd never had the opportunity to reel one in for myself." Puerto Vallarta fishing area water temperatures were in the mid-80s, with continued currents from the south. GOOD OFFSHORE FISHING FOR PRIME TIME BOATS.

BIG VALLARTA KAHUNA--Mark Rein with a nice yellowfin tuna taped at 145.6 pounds caught aboard his boat Big Kahuna last week with local captain Tony Ocaranza at Puerto Vallarta's El Banco offshore fishing high spot. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK REIN.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Marisela Hernandez of Chelita Sportfishing said the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Chelita was pulled for repairs last week and was scheduled to begin fishing again by Monday or Tuesday.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Merle Erickson of Chicago reported in detail on his 2 Puerto Vallarta fishing days with Capt. Josh Temple of Prime Time Adventures, with hard-core action at El Banco and Roca Corbeteña aboard the boats Prime Time and Bad Influence prouducing a great catch of 2 black marlin in the 500-pound class released in about 90 minutes of fishing, plus blue marlin and tuna. After his second day of fishing, Erickson said, "It was an incredible day. We made it back to Punta Mita about 7:20 p.m., after dark. Thanks to Josh for a killer trip." DOUBLE BIG BLACK MARLIN DAY FISHING WITH JOSH TEMPLE.

DHAMAR VALLARTA ACTION--Anglers Ken Sharp, left, and his fishing partner "Criss" from Idaho with a nice Puerto Vallarta yellowfin tuna caught with Capt. Danny Gomez aboard the charter super panga Dhamar. At right, a solid Puerto Vallarta offshore hookup aboard the Dhamar. PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANNY GOMEZ.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Mark Rein of Phoenix, Ariz., reported on an outing by his boat Big Kahuna to El Banco and Roca Corbeteña with Tony Ocaranza for a catch in very active water of 1 yellowfin tuna of 145.6 pounds. "The rest of the day was a series of short bites and pulled hooks," Rein said. "This was by far the most active fishing day I have experienced since arriving at Puerto Vallarta in July. There clearly were lots of fish in the area." A night fishing session in the marina produced a 30-inch snook, some snapper and catfish, and a big bite that broke off after shredding 2 feet of leader that was attributed to a "crocodile" by another boater. "He had seen a big one in the lagoon next to the marina earlier in the day so I just think that was on his mind," Rein said. NIGHTTIME MARINA FISHING FOR SNOOK ABOARD BIG KAHUNA.

BEGINNER'S LUCK GRANDE--Rich Janowski of Denver fished at Puerto Vallarta together with Merle Erickson aboard the Prime Time Adventures charter boat Bad Influence, and he landed his first-ever fish of any kind, this 150-pound class yellowfin tuna. At right, Erickson, with Prime Time Adventure's Capt. Josh Temple on the wire, releases one of two 500-pound class black marlin released in about 90 minutes of fishing aboard the Bad Influence. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MERLE ERICKSON.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Gomez of Dhamar Sportfishing said the charter super panga Dhamar fished at El Banco for 1 yellowfin tuna of about 180 pounds and 2 sailfish. Fishing earlier during the Puerto Vallarta tournament on Nov. 17-19, 2006, produced a catch of 1 sailfish per day plus 6 dorado.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said clear 82-degree water continued about half-a-mile out of Zihuatanejo bay and cobalt blue, 84-degree water was 10 miles out. "The fishing has been off a bit this week," Kunze said, "and with the full moon ahead, I don't see it improving. However, all the captains are telling me the fishing is going to bust wide-open after the full moon period." Action was up-and-down offshore for sailfish and for roosterfish inshore. "Capt. Adolpho of the Dos Hermanos feels the roosters appear to be moving around," Kunze said. "Capt. Santiago had one of the good days yesterday, taking 6 roosters, 4 on surface poppers, and 2 on live bait." Inshore fishing was good for sierra, small jacks, and black skipjack.

FIRST FLY SAIL--Gordon Silverthorne, left, of British Columbia, fished at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo with Capt. Santiago Valdovinos, right, aboard the charter panga Gitana for his first-ever sailfish on the fly. At center and right, a dancing dorado takes to the air during Silverstone's trip off Ixtapa on the Gitana, and an uncommon tripletail he caught aboard the charter panga Gitana II with Capt. Adan Valdovinos Olea and first mate Francisco, shown. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAUL PHILLIPS.

HUATULCO, MEXICO: Sportfishing articles, maps, and fishing report archives for Huatulco.

PUERTO VALLARTA SKIES--Mark Rein's Puerto Vallarta boat Big Kahuna on a run to El Banco last week that scored a 145.6-pound yellowfin tuna. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK REIN.