ENSENADA, MEXICO: Sportfishing articles, maps, and fishing report archives for Ensenada.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Julio Meza of San Quintin fished on Christmas Day aboard his boat Santa Monica with his wife Alma and for the first time ever with his new daughter Alejandra, aged 4 months, landing 3 yellowtail at the San Quintin 15 spot. "Alma asked me to take the baby," Meza said. "The day was beautiful, flat and warm. I agreed, and we put the boat on the water at noon, just for a quick ride to see if she could handle it without getting seasick." With the baby doing just fine, Meza decided to run outside of San Quintin Bay and drop jigs at the 15 spot. "We returned to the ramp in 2-1/2 hours total," Meza said. "Very funny to see her on the water. She looks like she is going to like fishing." San Quintin fishing area weather was flat in the low-80s, with water temperatures at 59 degrees.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said a period of rough weather interrupted very good offshore fishing outside of Magdalena Bay last week. "I can’t wait to see what happens next week after the front passes by," Graham said. Diana Hoyt of Mag Bay Outfitters at Puerto Lopez Mateos reported extraordinary action until the weather front passed through for dorado and striped marlin. "As they worked their way up to the Thetis Bank they had double-digit shots on the fly," Graham said. Capt. Ruben Duran on the boat Raptor found wahoo on fly fishing tackle outside the Puerto Lopez Mateos entrada. Fishing in the mangrove channels produced good action for pargo, grouper, and small sierra. Magdalena Bay weather was partly cloudy in the mid-60s, with water temperatures of 72 to 74 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Pacific side winter striped marlin at the tip of Baja produced very good counts for Cabo San Lucas boats fishing at the Golden Gate Bank last week. Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 54 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 170 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 43 dorado, and 2 yellowfin tuna. "The billfish bonanza is underway in Cabo San Lucas as the striped marlin begin filtering down from the Magdalena Bay region," Edwards said. "All boats combined averaged 3 billfish per day. The Golden Gate Bank was unquestionably the hot spot, but fair numbers of billfish were also taken at the Cabo Falso drop-off." Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather on the Pacific side had some days of north wind. Water temperatures were higher on the Pacific side at up to 78 degrees, but as low as 72 degrees on the Cortez side at Los Frailes.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of the Cabo San Lucas charter boat Falcon reported intense striped marlin action up the Pacific side including a 15-release day and 2 quintuple hookups for the boat Trauma. The Falcon released 10 stripers on 16 hits on Wednesday, with 1 quadruple hookup and most of the rest doubles. Connolly said, "The Golden Gate Bank remains the top spot with consistently good marlin fishing for virtually everyone that spends any time there. There have been lots of satisfied anglers at the Gate." EXCELLENT STRIPED MARLIN FISHING AT THE GOLDEN GATE BANK.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the previous week, Connolly reported continued good striped marlin fishing on the Pacific side. "The Falcon averaged 5 marlin and 5 dorado per day while fishing in rough seas and short days," Connolly said. "Quite a few Cabo San Lucas fishing boats returned early due to the sea conditions at midweek. Those anglers that hung in did well, especially on marlin. The stripers have been hooked by all the usual methods. It's very exciting fishing." STRIPED MARLIN FISHING HOLDS UP ON THE PACIFIC SIDE.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jorge Navarro of Pisces Fleet reported 80 percent of fleet boats releasing billfish last week, including a 13-release day for the charter boat Rebecca, a 10-release day for the boat Andrea, and 8-release days for the Tracy Ann and Yahoo. "Most boats released 2 to 7 marlin," Navarro said. "We saw a slight decrease as the sea got a little rough and some clients decided to come back with 1 or 2 marlin released and a few dorados for dinner." Of 149 marlin landed, all but 3 were released. Two sailfish were also released. Dorado were also caught by 78 percent of Pisces charters, but only 5 boats landed yellowfin tuna. Cabo San Lucas fishing vacation area weather was sunny, with water temperatures averaging 77 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Ramon Druck of the Cabo San Lucas charter super panga Cheer's reported on 2 half-day local outings on the Pacific side, fishing the beach at Faro Viejo with fly fishing anglers and out to about 4 miles with conventional tackle for a catch of: 1 striped marlin, 1 marlin lost, 1 dorado, and 1 skipjack. Cabo weather was mostly calm, with light breezes and near shore water temperatures on the Pacific side at 83 to 86 degrees. PANGA FLY FISHING AND CONVENTIONAL TACKLE FISHING ABOARD THE CHEER'S.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported Cabo San Lucas fishing area water temperatures up to 78 degrees on the Pacific side, about 74 degrees around the arch, and down to about 72.5 degrees up the Sea of Cortez side from Punta Gorda northwards. "Strangely, the water is cooler right now on the Cortez side of the cape," Landrum said. "Water clarity follows the temperature, with the cooler water being greener. Punta Gorda is very green, while the Pacific is a deep blue." Cabo San Lucas sportfishing boats were working close to home during the week. "A combination of choppy water to the north and striped marlin concentrated off Cabo Falso ledge has resulted in the majority of the fleet working within sight of the arch," Landrum said.

Landrum also noted that striped marlin, reserved for sportfishing in Mexico, were being caught illegally for sale around Cabo San Lucas. "With the large number of striped marlin available at a time of year when money is needed, combined with the slow charter booking normal at this time of year, a number of boats have been catching striped marlin to sell," Landrum said. "One boat was caught with 7 striped marlin and several others with 3 or more. It looks like the officials are going to prosecute. It is nice to see the laws being enforced."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 8 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 17 striped marlin, 9 yellowfin tuna of 20 to 30 pounds, and 3 dorado of 20 to 25 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Marshal Wax of Pacific Palisades, Calif., reported on a day of fishing on his boat Good Vibrations off the Cabo San Lucas lighthouse for a catch including released fish of: 5 marlin, 1 yellowfin tuna, and 1 dorado. "All the fish were baited except for the yellowfin tuna," Wax said. "The fishing was under birds in beautiful conditions. The town was very quiet." Cabo San Lucas water temperatures were at 75 degrees.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: For the week ending Dec. 28, 2006, Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 65 combined La Playita charter fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 78 yellowfin tuna, 88 dorado, 2 striped marlin, 22 sierra, 54 pargo, 10 cabrilla, and 5 amberjack. The Los Cabos vacation area was busy with tourists but not too many were fishing. Dorado caught at the Gordo Banks averaged 8 to 25 pounds, and yellowfin tuna 25 to 50 pounds. Water temperatures off San Jose del Cabo were at 73 to 76 degrees. VACATION TRAVELER CROWDS ARRIVE AT LOS CABOS.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: On Thursday, Bob Grimes of San Jose del Cabo said, "Fishing is slow, and it is real windy. Yesterday, 5 carnaderos were working hard to catch a few sardinas at the beach about 2 miles east of La Playita and about 20 pangas and a few cruisers waited to get sardinas. Today about 25 boats went out in spite of the strong wind. About 12 of them congregated a mile off of La Playita for about an hour. Then they dispersed and soon all came in because of the wind. There are some sierra in close to shore, with the occasional small huachinango and small triggerfish."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported a break in the wind at midweek, but East Cape fishing waters still unsettled and beach fishing slow due to wave action. Offshore, a few marlin and dorado were caught just off Punta Pescadero. "The past few days have been pleasant," Graham said. "But with the leftover surf from the wind, the beach and inshore fishing has been tough. Any action is early and the bite only lasts a short time after sunrise for sierra, ladyfish, small jacks, and an occasional roosterfish." East Cape weather was in the low-80s, with water temperatures of 70 to 76 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Leeper, staying at Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort, said, "There was very little fishing at East Cape the last week due to winds, but a few tin boaters got out for short trips and found some of the biggest sierra I have seen here, plus the odd dorado to 25 pounds. I have a feeling the fishing could be good if we could get out, due to close-in water temperature breaks."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport East Cape diving service at Buena Vista said winds kept him on the beach most days during the past week, but one dive boat did run to Punta Pescadero on Wednesday. "All year, most of our East Cape diving tours are to the Cabo Pulmo Marine Park south of us and I had forgotten how good our local diving sites to the north can be," Rayor said. "The reefs are packed with sea life. Huge schools of grunts, goatfish, king angelfish, butterfly fish, and many more varieties of reef fish are thick."

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Lucas Cove said strong winds in the Santa Rosalia area knocked out most fishing during the week. "The wind is really taking it's toll," Anderson said. "When the tides are right to produce great yellowtail fishing, the wind is so bad that no one can get off the beach." On Wednesday, some boats fished for yellowtail at the Isla San Marcos bajos, but Anderson said he only saw 1 yellowtail caught, by Bud Pierce on a live bait with 3-ounce sliding sinker. John Bogert was doing well with Baja Catch-style fishing for mixed bass species very close to shore. WINDY FISHING CONDITIONS FOR SAN LUCAS COVE ANGLERS.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Sportfishing articles, maps, and fishing report archives for San Carlos.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 28 Aries Fleet offshore boats fishing out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 15 striped marlin, 8 sailfish, 2 blue marlin of about 250 pounds, 11 dorado, and 3 yellowfin tuna in the 100-pound class. Eight inshore super pangas had a catch of: 6 red snapper, 2 sierra, 14 palometa, 15 jack crevalle, and 35 pargo. "The big surprise is the continued catch of blue marlin going into the final week of the year, which is unusual," Edwards said. Mazatlan fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the low-80s, with water temperatures at 73 degrees inshore and 76 degrees offshore. Offshore boats fished 23 to 29 miles southwest of Marina El Cid.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Tadeo Hernandez of Flota Bibi Fleet reported on 9 boats fishing out of Mazatlan harbor during the week for a catch including released fish of: 4 striped marlin, 2 sailfish, 6 dorado, and 17 skipjack tuna and bonita. Flota Bibi Fleet was also doing whale watching trips, averaging 7 humpback whale sightings per outing.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 13 Ixtapa Zihuatanejo offshore boats, with a catch including released fish of: 16 sailfish, 11 shark, 13 dorado, and 16 bonito. Seven inshore boats had a catch of: 7 roosterfish, 43 bonito, 2 dorado, and 28 jack crevalle. "The number of anglers is still down, but the fishing is pretty good, especially for the offshore waters," Edwards said. "Boats are catching a couple of dorado on floating trees and debris."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said 82-degree blue water was still close to the beach but boats were fishing about 25 miles out for an average catch of 2 or 3 sailfish per day plus a couple of dorado in the 20-pound class. Fly fishing client John Wexler fished 1 day with guide Paul Phillips and Capt. Martin on the charter boat Isamar and they raised 5 sailfish and hooked 2 of them. Dan Britt of North Carolina fished 1 day with Kunze south of Ixtapa at Puerto Vicente Guerrero for 2 roosterfish and 1 large jack crevalle hooked, but none landed. "He was snake bit and lost all 3," Kunze said. Ixtapa fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the low-90s, with water temperatures of 82 to 84 degrees.

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