ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet reported a good week of fishing for his beach launched pangas working the tip of Ensenada's Punta Banda, including a very good outing on Saturday by the Vonny I with Capt. Beto for 7 yellowtail of 20 to 30 pounds. The yellowtail were hooked on trolled X-Rap plugs by anglers Ray Angel and Ken Rangel of San Diego. "This week we had good fishing for those whopper home guard yellowtail," Villarino said, "and we also got some nice bottom fish." Ensenada fishing area weather was mostly clear in the mid-70s, with light winds, ocean swells of 3 feet, and the local water temperature averaging 56 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the boat Bad Dog at Ensenada's Marina Coral said 2007 San Diego Anglers club awards won by the boat while fishing in Ensenada waters included First Albacore of the Year and First Tuna of the Year by himself, and First Marlin of the Year and first place in the Woman's Division by his wife Gail Ross. Ross said this year's Ensenada fishing trips by the Bad Dog will include downrigger trolling for bluefin tuna. "I'm going back to a downrigger for offshore," Ross said. "I tried all last year to catch one bluefin tuna while surrounded by many seiners in a set. I tried all day and all night parked right next to them. While they net tons, I catch nothing. There's got to be a logical explanation, so this year I am trolling around them with my downrigger at 150 feet. Yeah, I know, more Humboldt squid down there."

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas at San Quintin reported continued low numbers of tourists visiting the San Quintin fishing area, but boats finding steady limits of larger rockcods and lingcod. A group of anglers was expected to arrive at San Quintin and fish with Pedro's during the week, Hillis said.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Stan Vath of Campo Lorenzo at San Quintin and the offshore boat Tinknocker said he hasn't been to the area for several months due to reports of carjackings and violence around Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, and Ensenada. "I spoke with Lorenzo a couple of days ago and he said San Quintin has been a ghost town," Vath said. "But he also said the Jardines Restaurant has just reopened. It appears things are improving on the roads and we will probably go down in a couple weeks."

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said more California gray whales arrived at Magdalena Bay last week during their annual migration down the Baja California coast. "There are plenty of whales now inside Magdalena Bay and frolicking in front of the San Carlos pier," Graham said. "Both San Carlos and Puerto Lopez Mateos are filling up with tourists who have traveled long distances to see the whales and their offspring."

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Jeff Petersen of Lopez Sportsman's Lodge at Puerto Lopez Mateos said he will have the artwork of Magdalena Bay painter Marco Antonio Aragon Velásquez available at the Fred Hall Show in Long Beach, Calif., on March 5-9, 2008. "We will have Marcos' work available at the Fred Hall Show and for those booking with us from October through December," Petersen said. Aragon Velásquez was born in Puerto Lopez Mateos and has worked as a Magdalena Bay fisherman and at fishing packing plants at San Carlos and Puerto Lopez Mateos. "As a young boy, I liked to draw," he said. "I began to practice my desire to paint and my impression was the talent that I felt. I began to paint my pictures and also signs for stores, pangas, and school buildings. I painted my first mural for the International Festival of the Gray Whale in Puerto Lopez Mateos. I was so excited to do a painting of such size and all the people who saw the mural taking pictures and videos. My murals can also be found at the entrance to town and at the beach. Today my vocation is a muralist and a 'rotulista' or sign painter and I put into practice what I feel and see. It gives me great pleasure."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 44 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo San Lucas charter boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 40 striped marlin, 17 yellowfin tuna, 1 mako shark, 1 yellowtail, 1 bonito, and 61 sierra. "The billfish bite at Cabo San Lucas has tapered off to about a billfish per boat day with the high boats at 2 to 3 per day," Edwards said. "Some boats have even reverted to inshore fishing as the sierra bite has been full of action and there is an occasional yellowtail in the mix." Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was mostly sunny in the high-70s, with water temperatures at 71 to 73 degrees on the Pacific side banks and cooler at 68 to 69 degrees at the Cortez side Gordo Banks. "The Golden Gate is still one of the better fishing spots but the billfish are moving about and there isn't any apparent concentration," Edwards said. Mackerel live baits were in good supply.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Mike Connolly of the Pisces Fleet boat Falcon said he did well at the Golden Gate Bank for 6 striped marlin releases in 2 outings, but a day fishing about 35 miles south of the arch produced just 1 needlefish. "It was our first shutout since, well, I don't remember the last one," Connolly said. "At the Golden Gate we got the stripers all on mackerel. The marlin are not really showing much. On the drift, tail-hooked mackerel has been working best for us. Mako sharks are everywhere, making capturing bait on the Lucky Joes difficult." The boat Happy Boy reported a 12-fish day at the Golden Gate Bank. The boat Success did well on dorado on flotsam and saw a broadbill swordfish about 50 miles out on a heading of 220 degrees. Yellowtail from small to about 20 pounds were around the arch and sierra were plentiful inshore. "There are thousands of sierra inshore and they are hungry every morning," Connolly said. "Small Rapalas are producing very well as are all the small feather types and surface lures."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Durance Lowendick of Marlin Masters Sportfishing said charter boat outings during the week found good numbers of up to 15 or 20 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 30 pounds while fishing on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas outside the Jaime Bank. About 1 to 5 striped marlin releases plus good numbers of mako shark in the 4 to 6-foot class were found in the Golden Gate Bank area and out to about 10 miles northwards. "On one trip this week our client wanted to target the makos and we had 15 mako and hammerhead releases," Lowendick said. "The bait is attracting the striped marlin and many mako sharks, so no swimming around the bait schools!"

Dorado action was slower in cooling water temperatures. Inshore fishing produced good numbers of sierra, some good action on jack crevalle, a few scattered roosterfish, and some yellowtail holding around the rocks at land's end. "The warmer water band that formed up in the Sea of Cortez never proved to be a solid fish holder so most of the action is continuing on the Pacific side," Lowendick said. "There is also lots of whale activity in the Pacific and Sea of Cortez to keep Cabo San Lucas anglers entertained between hookups."

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Ramon Druck of the Cabo San Lucas sportfishing super panga Cheer's reported on 4 outings during the week with a total of 8 anglers, for a catch including released fish of: 20 roosterfish of 4 to 10 pounds, more small roosterfish released, 38 sierra of 4 to 7 pounds, 2 yellowtail of 8 to 10 pounds, and more yellowtail of 6 to 8 pounds released. "We also did whale watching and photography because there are lots of whales here now," Druck said.

The Cheer's fished in good sea conditions on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas from the beach to about 6 miles off Faro Viejo in water temperatures of 68 to 71 degrees. Anglers fishing aboard the Cheer's included Hall Dillon of Seattle, Wash., Mick Dixson and Debbie Williams of Texas, Victor Valdez of Cabo San Lucas, Jesus Quiñones and Rafael Basañez of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Ann Kennedy of Indiana, and Dawn Dixon of Pennsylvania.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 16 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 8 striped marlin, 6 yellowfin tuna of 15 to 30 pounds, 3 dorado of 25 pounds, and 3 boats with limits of yellowfin tuna of 15 to 25 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet Sportfishing reported slower striped marlin action at Cabo San Lucas, with 57 percent of fleet boats releasing billfish and 86 percent landing all fish species combined. "We had quite a slowdown on marlin," Ehrenberg said. "It was harder to find marlin this week and when found it was not easy to get them to bite. It was also a pretty slow week for anglers." Some yellowfin tuna to about 30 pounds were caught, but no dorado. Inshore fish counts were dominated by sierra. "The humble sierra was the fish most widely caught this week with 200 from 4 to 10 pounds landed by Pisces anglers and the larger amounts caught from pangas," Ehrenberg said. "We also had quite a lot of mako sharks ranging from 30 to 80 pounds, most released." For the month of January, Pisces Fleet released a total of 889 striped marlin and had a 98 percent marlin release rate.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather cool and cloudy in the high-70s, with local water temperatures as low as 67 to 68 degrees. "I did not see anything warmer than 70 degrees and most of that was a plume coming up from the south," Landrum said. Striped marlin were scattered and sluggish on the bite and few dorado were caught, but some yellowfin tuna of 15 to 30 pounds were found with porpoise as they fed on pelagic red crabs. "They have been feeding fairly heavily on crabs according to the guys who have opened them up," Landrum said. "As a result, the small hoochies in red colors have worked best on these smaller tuna." Inshore fishing was good for sierra. "Sierra have been the mainstay of the Cabo San Lucas panga fleet this week with most boats able to get at least a half-dozen or more," Landrum said.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 40 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing out of San Jose del Cabo's new Puerto Los Cabos marina, with a catch including released fish of: 92 roosterfish, 310 Mexican bonito, 88 sierra, 17 yellowtail, 5 striped marlin, 7 dorado, 2 mako shark, 28 pargo, 19 cabrilla, and 27 amberjack. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was pleasant in the high-70s, with variable winds and water temperatures of 65 to 72 degrees. "Anglers reported some quality yellowtail in the 30 to 50-pound class while working yo-yo jigs on rock piles from the Gordo Banks to Iman," Brictson said. "At times it was nearly impossible to fish due to the swift current. Close to shore, sierra and smaller sized roosterfish dominated the action and the best bet was slow trolling with live sardinas."

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Kerry Murray of Cranbrook, British Columbia, reported on 2 outings with his son William Murray aboard Capt. Tony Miranda's charter panga Hooker for lots of bonita to 15 pounds, a couple of roosterfish to 10 pounds, 2 red snapper, and another session near shore for about 15 more roosterfish. "We went in just south of Punta Gorda and just off shore we had a blast with them," Murray said. Also fishing one day on the Hooker was John Voros of Calgary. Warren Millner, Rob Harris, and Gerald Dekker also fished on the charter panga Killer II with Capt. Chame for a catch of: 1 red snapper, many bonita, and 1 marlin released about 2 miles off Punta Gorda. An outing from Cabo San Lucas aboard the charter cruiser Rebelde resulted in no fish caught at the Golden Gate Bank. "We had a few chances at marlin but the trip ended up being an expensive whale watching tour," Murray said. "Other boats around us would chase after the marlin. I do not know if that worked or not, but it would have been more exciting anyways!"

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: San Jose del Cabo species fishing specialist John Snow reported on observing a Mexican commercial panguero casting an atarraya circular net onto a freshwater pond, with surprising results. "The first cast was for 4 fish, 3 blue tilapia and 1 largemouth bass," Snow said. "On the second cast he brought in 22 tilapia at an average of 2 pounds each. I had to help him get it out of the water. This was with only a 6-foot cast net!" At Todos Santos on the Baja Pacific coast north of Cabo San Lucas, Snow reported observing the catch of 4 Mexican commercial pangas: 10 mako shark of 60 to 100 pounds, about 300 very deep water bottom fish, about 100 sierra, and 1 good-sized striped marlin.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said fishing just off the beach produced good action for local tin boaters. "Sierra, ladyfish, and small roosterfish continue to lurk along the beaches providing some killer action in the early morning until the winds pick up," Graham said. "The tin boat fleet is trolling tight to the beach. A bit further out bonito can be found feeding on bait near the surface." Some larger yellowtail were reported north off Ensenada de los Muertos. East Cape fishing area weather was partly cloudy in the low-80s, with water temperatures at 62 to 68 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Torrance Eddy of Buena Vista reported on an outing aboard a 15-foot boat for a catch of 4 bonito-like fish locally called "white bonito" on trolled Jointed Rebel Fastrac lures about a third-of-a-mile from shore running northwards from Martin Verdugo's Beach Resort to El Cardonal. "I was using a 5.5-inch Rebel Fastrac," Eddy said. "I'm beginning to like that lure nearly as much as the 4.5-inch Fastrac because of the much heftier hooks. These bonita look almost like skipjack but they have vertical striping along with the horizontal. Sometimes the vertical striping is subtle. So careful observation is worth the effort because these fish are a delicacy. Unlike their cousins on the California Pacific coast, their meat is nearly as white and as delicious as that of albacore."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: John Ireland of Rancho Leonero said the hotel reopened last week after undergoing extensive renovations. "The hotel is open today," Ireland said on Wednesday. "It really came out well." Information, 800-334-2252.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the previous week, Jeff deBrown of The Reel Baja fly fishing guide service reported some very calm periods between persistent north winds that produced lots of sierra and jack crevalle, plus a few roosterfish. "One of my neighbors was out on Monday and said he caught his first rooster of the year and saw a few others," deBrown said. "For the most part you still need to get out early and fishing before the winds show up. If you do, you will have a good chance of something pulling on the end of the line."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Mark Rayor of the Vista Sea Sport East Cape diving service reported on a dive trip to the north end of the bay at Punta Pescadero, with observations of schooling yellowtail, stingrays, free swimming moray eel, and clouds of colorful reef fish. East Cape water temperatures were between 65 and 68 degrees at depth, with visibility at 30 to 50 feet. "February is normally our coldest month of the year and today was no exception," Rayor said.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Bruno reported improving weather conditions at Santa Rosalia but the local yellowtail bite taking a nosedive during the week. "Monday was pretty good but the fish were noticeably smaller than they have been all season," Anderson said. "Tuesday was much slower and anything over 20 pounds looked like a monster. Wednesday went totally in the tank and I did not see a yellowtail caught anywhere for the whole day. The pangueros even moved off the reef by 10:30 in the morning and by noon there was not a boat to be seen. The fish have all gone on vacation."

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Mike Kanzler of Isla San Marcos reported improved weather in the mid-70s during the week in the Santa Rosalia fishing area, with mostly fishable conditions but water temperatures still very cool at 58 to 59 degrees, water color a clear dark green, and visibility about 40 feet. "Fishing is getting better but is still spotty and inconsistent," Kanzler said. One outing on Tuesday produced 5 yellowtail of 18 to 25 pounds plus some lost in the rocks for anglers aboard Kanzler's boat including Chuy Aguilar of the COMSA mining company on Isla San Marcos and David Walker of Houston, Texas.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Jon Jen Charters at San Carlos reported generally slow yellowtail fishing, with north winds and cold water temperatures at 57 degrees around Isla San Pedro Nolasco. Catch-22 Sportfishing boats had catches including good counts of goldspotted bass plus some grouper as the 3-day second annual Rescate Yellowtail Tournament was scheduled to begin on Feb. 15, 2008.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 29 Aries Fleet offshore charter boats out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 7 striped marlin, and 147 yellowfin tuna. Eight inshore super pangas had a catch of: 6 pargo, 49 red snapper, 20 lora, 11 sierra, 5 triggerfish, and 87 jack crevalle, mostly released. "Finally, the yellowfin tuna have shown up in Mazatlan offshore waters and provided the boats with some great tuna action," Edwards said. "While the fish are not monsters, there are sufficient catches in the 20 to 40-pound range to keep anglers on their toes and happy." Mazatlan fishing area weather was sunny in the high-70s, with water temperatures at 65 degrees inshore and 67 to 68 degrees offshore. Mazatlan boats found the best tuna action on feathers 24 to 34 miles west and southwest with porpoise.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Ernesto Quintana of Neto's Fleet at Mazatlan said the charter boat Valeria with Capt. Rigo fished along the coast northward to the Marmol area for a catch including about 20 rockfish on shrimp baits, mostly grouper of about 5 pounds, and 3 jack crevalle of about 10 pounds released on the troll back. Capt. Gabriel on the charter boat Hortencia fished offshore for a catch including bonito and a mako shark of 40 pounds. "It was not the very best day but it is a good start for 2008 since January was one of the worst months ever due to the terrible weather," Quintana said. Anglers fishing with Neto's Fleet included Erik Curtis and his sons Colton and Garret of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and John Gregule and Lou Vogl of Michigan.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stan Gabruk of Master Baiter's Sportfishing & Tackle said the charter boat Terminal Blues with anglers Janett Hidalgo and Vanessa Arriola released several roosterfish in the 40-pound class during a run to Puerto Vallarta's Islas Marietas. "Trolling goggle-eyes and looking for the birds turned out to be the trick this day," Gabruk said. "The water last week was a little dirty which has changed with warm waters migrating up from the Barra de Navidad area. Roosterfish, while out of season, have been showing up at their favorite haunts. El Morro, Marieta Islands, and the Sayulita area have all been strong."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Danny Quinonez of PV Marlin Sportfishing said the Puerto Vallarta charter boat Lorena has been out of the water for annual maintenance. "Things were getting a little slow in January so we took a couple of weeks off fishing to get the boat in shape for the coming season," Quinonez said. "With the coming of March we will be awaiting the arrival of the striped marlin. Last year in March we had an amazing catch of striped marlin. They stayed until late June and then the big blue and black marlin came along and tuna moved in, not as many tuna as we would like to see, but we did get 6 fish over the 300-pound mark."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said Ixtapa fishing action offshore continued relatively slow as charter boats averaged 1 or 2 sailfish per day, plus about 1 dorado per 4 outings. "The fishing is continuing last week's trend," Kunze said. "Reports are that yellowfin tuna are out beyond the 25-mile mark in decent numbers and we are waiting to see if anything will develop." Blue water was 18 miles out of Zihuatanejo bay. Inshore fishing at Ixtapa Zihuatanejo produced improving action for jack crevalle plus a few sierra. Ixtapa fishing area weather was clear in the high-90s, with water temperatures at 80 to 84 degrees.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters said most offshore boats moved out to the 25 to 30-mile mark in changing water temperatures and green inshore water conditions. A combined 20 offshore runs by Capt. Temo of the Secuestro de Amor, Capt. Chiro on the Bloody Hook, Capt. Miguel on the Tijereta, and Capt. Alberto on the Tarpon produced a catch including released fish of: 26 sailfish, 4 dorado, 2 chula, 2 sierra, and 1 bigeye jack. One inshore fishing day by Capt. Arturo on the Janeth had a catch including released fish of: 15 jack crevalle, 1 roosterfish, 4 sierra, and 1 pompano. Yellowfin tuna of 20 to 30 pounds were reported seen with porpoise. Ixtapa fishing area water temperatures ranged from 77 degrees inshore to 82 degrees offshore.

HUATULCO, MEXICO: Eric Weissman of Explore Fly Fishing said water temperatures at his Puerto Escondido fishing location on the southern Mexico Pacific coast near Huatulco were at 80 to 88 degrees, with very heavy plankton and bait fish concentrations hampering the bite. "Sea turtles, porpoise, and whales are feasting on an abundance of bait from 1 inch to 15 inches," Weissman said. Game fish available in the area included marlin, sailfish, dorado, shark, jacks, salema, black skipjack, sierra, pargo, and tuna. "Tuna are busting on tiny baits and are proving very hard to catch," Weissman said. "Yesterday we were surrounded by 8 miles of birds and tuna and could only hook a few in the 30-pound range. Local fishermen on live baits and jigs had a tough time too, but fish are being caught and the numbers of fish showing up are increasing. The next few weeks should be crazy!"