ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet reported good, steady bottom fishing for all pangas last week at the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda for Mexican limits of mixed lingcod, red rockcod, and bonita for the Vonny's Fleet client fish smoker. Anglers fishing with Capts. Beto and Hector included Brian "Calico" Foley of Campo La Joya, and firefighter Pat Brennan. Local Ensenada fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the mid-60s, with light 3 to 4 m.p.h. breezes, ocean swells at 2 to 3 feet, and the water temperature at Punta Banda averaging 59 degrees.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas said very few anglers were in the San Quintin fishing area last week. Three boats went out, fishing mostly south at Socorro, for full Mexican limits of sandbass, calico bass, shallow water rockcods, lots of big barracuda on the surface, and 1 white seabass at 21.5 pounds. San Quintin fishing area weather was noticeably cooler in the low-70s, with mostly good sea conditions and normal afternoon winds. "You will need to dress warmly for the ride out in the mornings," Hillis said. "It's foggy and overcast until about 10 a.m." Anglers fishing with Pedro's Pangas Capt. Hector on the charter boat Rommy during the week included Pedro Rodriguez, Felipe Godinez, Neftali Aliceit, and Rudy Ruiz.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Jeff Petersen of Lopez Sportsman's Lodge at Puerto Lopez Mateos said Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was windy outside and on the bocas Friday, but fishing inside the mangrove channels was good for the charter panga Sonia Ann. "We fished live shrimp north of Boca Santo Domingo and back to Lopez," Petersen said. "Our catch was a 15-kilo grouper, 26-kilo pargo, and 1 corvina." Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was cooling seasonably, with increasing numbers of Canada geese seen. Petersen noted that the new Puerto Lopez Mateos launch ramp under construction was 10 meters wide and had an adjoining concrete pier, with service scheduled to begin in time for the local fishing tournament in December. Launching at a designated location, it was hoped, would help reduce the cutting of mangrove launch slots at many locations in the bay. "The stated reason for development of the ramp by the government is to protect the mangroves," Petersen said. "There's going to be a fine place to launch sooner or later." The new Lopez Sportsman's Lodge facility is just a stone's throw from the launch ramp area. Information: www.bajacalifornian.com.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Jeff deBrown of The Reel Baja fly fishing guide service at East Cape said he was moving over to Baja's Pacific coast for several weeks of live-aboard offshore charter fishing trips during the Magdalena Bay fall fish pileup for striped marlin, yellowfin tuna, dorado, and wahoo. "I am offering a 7-day fishing package where we will live aboard a 40-foot vessel. I will only be taking 2 anglers per week so each of them will get plenty of fish at only $3,750 per angler. I have back-to-back trips until late December, and I still have some availability. Information: jeffdebrown@hotmail.com.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 204 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing off San Jose del Cabo, with a catch of: 1,480 yellowfin tuna of mostly 8 to 20 pounds, 455 dorado mostly under 15 pounds, 5 striped marlin, 6 sailfish, 8 wahoo, 3 hammerhead shark, 1 mako shark, 7 dog snapper, 68 mixed snapper species, 38 sierra, 3 gulf grouper, and 29 cabrilla. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was ideal in the high-80s, with some south swell early in the week but mostly flat seas, inshore water green, offshore water cobalt blue, and water temperatures at 78 to 82 degrees. School-sized yellowfin tuna were the main quarry of the La Playita sportfishing pangas, with the most consistent action continuing to be found from the Gordo Banks to the Iman Bank. "Drift fishing while chumming with live sardinas was the most productive technique," Brictson said.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Jack Simpson of Mission Viejo, Calif., reported on 2 days of fishing with Gordo Banks Pangas for a catch at the Fortuna and Iman Banks of: 6 dorado of 10 to 15 pounds, 19 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 30 pounds, a first-ever giant Mexican needlefish or agujon at 36 inches long, 1 wahoo lost, and 1 blue marlin lost. "The tuna were quite line shy unless you used fluorocarbon," Simpson said. "Bait was plentiful but small. We used 1 to 3-inch sardinas. It looked as though lots of boats were pre-fishing for the Western Outdoor News tuna tournament." Simpson noted that most Gordo Banks Pangas boats were still launching from the beach as construction continued on the new Puerto Los Cabos marina. "Poor Eric is still launching from the last little sand inside the new marina," Simpson said. "The road to the marina is still quite mixed up but we were able to find our way thanks to large 'Gordo Banks Pangas' signs showing the route."

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: For the previous week, Bob Lewis of San Jose del Cabo reported keeping his 21-foot boat Dos Gueros at the new Puerto Los Cabos marina for a few nights and fishing 4 days off the Baja coast as local boats targeted yellowfin tuna and dorado at the Gordo and Iman Banks. "The marina is functional now and there were 20 boats slipped when I checked out," Lewis said. "They have a tournament scheduled for Dec. 15th and told me they will be fully booked after that." Lewis said more slips are scheduled to be built but that they may be reserved for property owners. The marina launch ramp was "no more than 15 feet wide." "I'm not sure what that will mean for private boaters," Lewis said.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Brent Watson of Imperial, Calif., reported 13 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 30 pounds and 2 dorado to 40 pounds landed during late-October action with Gordo Banks Pangas Capt. Arturo Castillo aboard the charter panga Ginny. The count included a first-ever dorado for Watson's father-in-law Brent Michelsen. "The weather was beautiful and we fished the Gordo Banks," Watson said. "We had our limits within two-and-a-half hours."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts reported on 352 East Cape charter fishing boats from Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, and Punta Colorada, with a catch including released fish of: 6 blue marlin, 70 striped marlin, 111 sailfish, 276 dorado, 860 yellowfin tuna, 72 roosterfish, 5 wahoo, 10 cabrilla, 29 pargo, 36 ladyfish, 45 triggerfish, 155 bonita, 10 pompano, 140 squid, and 35 skipjack. East Cape fishing area weather was in the low-90s, with water temperatures in the mid-80s. "Most boats were heading south towards La Ribera," Dalmau said. "Other boats continued south another 20 miles. Every boat seemed to find tuna and dorado, with tuna ranging from football size up to 70 pounds."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero reported East Cape fishing area waters flat all week at 80 to 83 degrees, with good yellowfin tuna action inside and outside on fish of about 20 up to 100 pounds. "The smaller 20 pounders are providing limits for all anglers outside the Cabo Pulmo marine park," Ireland said. Striped marlin and sailfish were plentiful as some boats released up to 5 billfish per day including a few blue marlin. Some anglers limited on dorado averaging 10 pounds, but with some in the 40-pound class. Inshore, few anglers were targeting winter season sierra, cabrilla, jacks, and small roosterfish as most boats worked the offshore bite.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the week ending Nov. 1, 2007, Chris Moyers of East Cape Smoke House reported on 184 charter boats from combined fleets including Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, Punta Colorada, Buena Vista Beach Resort, Rancho Leonero, and Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort, with 525 anglers and a catch including released fish of: 2 blue marlin, 19 striped marlin, 11 sailfish, 612 dorado, 677 yellowfin tuna, 4 pargo, 4 wahoo, 7 roosterfish, and 2 sierra. East Cape fishing area weather was in the mid-90s, with moderate afternoon winds and water temperatures at 77 to 83 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of Vista Sea Sport noted that fishing clients during the week aboard his East Cape charter fishing and dive boat Jen Wren included 97-year-old Chuck Feller who caught his first-ever marlin. "His son-in-law asked if that was a record," Rayor said. "I told him when he stepped on the boat it was a record! He is going again tomorrow."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: East Cape tin boat angler Torrance Eddy reported on a good session for his beach launched aluminum boat on Saturday, trolling a 4.5-inch blue-silver Jointed Rebel Fastrac lure for about 10 hours for a catch of: 7 sierra, 1 grouper released, an 8-pound bull dorado, and a wahoo of 11 pounds. "Now that I've caught a wahoo on a Jointed Rebel Fastrac, I've set my sights on getting a marlin with one," Eddy said. "The wahoo was caught almost exactly 3 miles due north of Punta Colorada, the actual point rather than the hotel. The line was 20-pound Spiderwire and the lure had braided wire leader. I'm looking forward to some very serious eating. I was reading 'The Baja Catch' and it says that wahoo could often be found at the '50 fathom ledge.' Well, guess what? I made a waypoint on my GPS for where I hooked the wahoo and it matches exactly where 'The Baja Catch' has printed the number '50' for 50 fathoms on the East Cape fishing map on page 145 of the Second Edition."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Hans van den Berg of The Netherlands reported on his 12th holiday at East Cape's Hotel Punta Colorada, fishing from shore from Oct. 12, 2007, to Nov. 1, 2007, for a variety of species including ladyfish to 2 feet 2 inches, and by trip partner Kees Broekhuizen, a needlefish of 3 feet 1 inch, and a Pacific jack crevalle of 2 feet 1 inch on live bait.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Simon Cazaly of the Vista Sea Sport East Cape diving service at Buena Vista said diving conditions were very good at the Cabo Pulmo coral reef last week, with water temperatures at depth in the low-80s and visibility to about 70 feet. Sea life sightings during trips to El Cantil, El Bajo, Los Frailes, and other locations included yellowtail surgeonfish, parrotfish, rays, a previously not seen species of nudibranch, and encounters with garden eels and a large green moray eel. "We drifted over to El Bajo from Los Morros, stopping to look at the lawn of garden eels all sticking out of the sand and swaying like belly dancers," Cazaly said. "We also stopped and interacted with a large green moray eel curled up under a ledge. It happily let us stroke our hands along its body whilst nudging the sensory organs on the tip of its nose against my finger."

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos reported flat seas and "furious" yellowtail action on the 110 bajo north of the island. "It's the best big yellowtail bite in the past 5 years for November," Kanzler said. Santa Rosalia fishing area weather was in the mid-80s, with light breezes and calm sea conditions, blue-green water with 30 feet of visibility, and water temperatures at 71 degrees inshore and 76 degrees offshore and on the bajos. Good counts of sierra and bonita were also scored along the west shore of the isla. Three runs to the 110 bajo by Kanzler's boat produced a total of 30 yellowtail in the 25 to over 30-pound class. "I'm resting for tomorrow's run," Kanzler said.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Bruno reported sharply lower water temperatures at 68 to 69 degrees and yellowtail on a hot bite at the Isla San Marcos bajos. "Yellowtail have really taken off and decided to chew," Anderson said. "The size is excellent with 35-pound fish not uncommon. One panguero from San Bruno brought over 100 fish to the boat this week." Santa Rosalia fishing area weather was cooperative for smaller boats fishing the bajos north of the island. Big eye baits were easy to make near the mouth of the downtown Santa Rosalia harbor. "We managed 3 triples for the day, so you can imagine the fire drill that creates since the fish were so large," Anderson said. "Almost every boat had serious problems getting the fish off the reef and most boats actually lost more fish than they were able to bring to the boat." Boats fishing the yellowtail bajos during the week included the Sea Lioness, Will Bill, Moosea Boat, Larry's Toy, and Deep Dave. "Everywhere you looked someone was hooked up all of the time," Anderson said.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: John Hilderbrand of Jon Jen Charters said San Carlos yellowfin tuna action was up-and-down as commercial fishing boats moved into the area. "We went out and loaded up on tuna, and then the tuna boats arrived with their helicopters," Hilderbrand said. "Bam, no more fish." Fish counts included a few small dorado, lots of bonito and sierra, and some scattered marlin. Yellowtail fishing was expected to improve as San Carlos fishing area water temperatures cool.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Lalo Munoz of Masatun Sportfishing said the charter boat Sueltame fished 23 miles out of San Carlos on a heading of 210 degrees on Monday, finding "countless" porpoise and humpback whales and a catch of: 2 yellowfin tuna to 26 pounds and 1 dorado. "We trolled through the porpoise for hours," Munoz said. "Finally, we hooked up." The Sueltame scored its fish in 78-degree water and calm seas, trolling Mean Joe Green and Zuker yellow-green feathers. Fishing aboard the Sueltame were anglers Jason Henault, and Bud Curtis and Brad Cobi of North Carolina.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Steve Calvert of Catch-22 Sportfishing said San Carlos boats did well on yellowtail tuna of 25 to 35 pounds on Wednesday about 20 miles out as the charter boats Catch-22, Catch-22 Pez Vela, and Catch-22 Rubina reported a total catch of: 23 tuna, 3 dorado, and 1 marlin. "The other 7 or 8 boats there all did well," Calvert said. San Carlos fishing area weather was in the high-80s, with the water temperature at about 79 degrees.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 55 Aries Fleet offshore charter boats out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 15 blue marlin, 26 sailfish, 1 striped marlin, and 199 dorado from small to 40 pounds. "It was another record breaker for blue marlin although most of them were less than 300 pounds," Edwards said. Seven inshore boats scored a variety catch of: 2 roosterfish, 22 jack crevalle, 3 dorado, 49 pargo, 1 corvina, 51 permit, 15 mojarra, and 70 triggerfish. Mazatlan fishing area weather was in the mid-80s, with light winds, partly cloudy skies, and the water temperature even at 83 to 84 degrees. Offshore boats fished mostly with rigged baits 22 to 30 miles southwest of Mazatlan.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Merle Erickson of Chicago reported a catch including a 295-pound yellowfin tuna weighed on a certified scale after it was landed aboard the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Marla with Capt. Danny Osuna. "It exploded on a cabbie that was skipping behind the kite late in the afternoon on Nov. 6th about 6 miles west of Corbeteña," Erickson said. "It was the best strike I have ever seen in person or on TV or video. The big vacona came all the way out of the water on the take and sent white water flying everywhere." In 3 days of fishing aboard the Marla, Erickson caught 8 tuna, including the 295 pounder and several over 100 pounds. For his 2007 Puerto Vallarta fishing season of several trips with Marla's Sportfishing, Erickson's record was: at least 10 tuna of 100 to 200 pounds, 1 small blue marlin, 4 black marlin including one at 500 pounds and 1 in the 700-pound class, and 3 big yellowfin tuna of 295 to 322 pounds. "Thanks one more time to Capt. Danny and first mate Alvino for a great season and memories that will last a lifetime," Erickson said. Puerto Vallarta fishing area offshore weather was ideal in the 90s, with light winds and blue-green water in the low-80s.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stan Gabruk of Master Baiters Sportfishing & Tackle reported 32 dorado of 35 to 40 pounds plus 2 sailfish caught during release action at Punta Mita by anglers April Brennan, Bob Haggerty, and David Brennan. "The dorado were caught casting goggle eyes in a boil of dorado at Punta Mita where the fishing has been on fire." Gabruk said. "They released a sailfish and came in with one after it was gut hooked and died. The hot spot has been just off the point at Punta Mita."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said 82-degree water was just off the beach again after a period of cold currents and Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing boats were again averaging about 2 sailfish per day plus some dorado. Inshore roosterfish action was slow in high surf conditions. "Large waves hampered our efforts to get tight to the beach where the roosterfish hang out," Kunze said. "The roosters are usually right at the wave break, but with high surf this week, it's too dangerous to get close to them. The migration of more northerly roosterfish is starting to move into the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo area. December is one of our best months for roosterfish, but this run is almost completely over by mid-January."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Earlier, Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said Capt. Temo reported the cold current moving blue water out to the 20-mile mark. "The cooler water does slow down the offshore bite and last week was no exception," Edwards said. "Several strikes from striped marlin were reported which is the norm in cold water conditions." Four offshore and inshore outings by Ixtapa sportfishing captains Temo, Adolofo, and Jose produced a catch of: 3 dorado, 21 bonito, and 8 jack crevalle.

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