ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet at Ensenada reported Mexican bottom fish limits or near limits for all pangas fishing at Punta Banda during the week, with good counts of red rockcod, lingcod, chuckleheads, sugar bass, and some bonito. "This week Ensenada had good weather and good fishing," Villarino said. "The water is calm now and conditions are good at Punta Banda." Anglers fishing on the charter pangas Vonny I and Vonny IV with Capts. Beto and Hector included Juan Amaral of Los Angeles, and Jay Johnson and Brian "Calico" Foley of Ensenada.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas reported "dead light winds" off San Quintin and "great fishing for all bottom fish" found by boats going out during the week.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Jose Angel Pacheco of Cedros Outdoor Adventures announced the addition of fly-down trips to fish at Isla San Geronimo and the Sacramento Reef off the Baja coast southwest of San Quintin to the company's present schedule of fly-down trips to Isla Cedros. The Isla San Geronimo/Sacramento Reef trips will offer van service from San Diego to Ensenada, 1-hour charter plane flights to El Rosario just south of San Quintin, lodging at a bed and breakfast motel, and runs to the fishing area from Punta Baja on a 30-foot panga. "These packages include the same comfort, convenience, and quality as our Cedros Island trips," Pacheco said. "This fishing location is famous for the size of their calico bass, white seabass in summer, and many other species. We offer our clients service and comfort, and the quickest, safest routes to even the most remote destinations. We can arrange fly-in fishing charter packages to San Quintin, El Rosario, Bahia de los Angeles, Guerrero Negro, Natividad Island, and just about anywhere else in Baja. We will arrange to take you there at the best price. With Cedros Outdoor Adventures, you can fish in Baja the same day and every day of your trip." Information, 619-793-5419, info@cedrosoutdooradventures.com.

MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said a consistent halibut bite was found on Magdalena Bay shallows around San Carlos during the week. "Halibut could be found on almost any sandy beach with Punta Belcher the best of all," Graham said. Breezer yellowtail and sierra were caught at the San Carlos entrada. Fish counts in the Magdalena Bay mangrove channels included small grouper, corvina, pargo, and cabrilla at Devil's Curve and in the channels running north of Puerto Lopez Mateos. Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was clear in the high-80s, with water temperatures of 62 to 70 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Tracy Ehrenberg of Pisces Fleet Sportfishing reported a big jump in striped marlin releases for Cabo San Lucas fishing area boats as 48 percent of Pisces Fleet charters released stripers, 84 percent landed yellowfin tuna, 28 percent caught dorado, and 99 percent caught all species combined. "Striped marlin suddenly woke up and became hungry," Ehrenberg said. "From a paltry 8 marlin last week we had a healthy 87 stripers caught this week. The climb in water temperatures is certain to be a contributing factor, up as high as 74 degrees in some places. Several Pisces boats had 5 or 6 marlin in one day." School-sized yellowfin tuna counts of fish from 15 to 30 pounds were very high with 883 tuna landed and many tuna released in fishing for up to 40 tuna per boat. Boat counts also included 4 wahoo of 35 to 45 pounds and up to 30 Humboldt giant squid to 35 pounds. Local Cabo San Lucas inshore fishing produced sierra, bonito, and a few roosterfish. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was sunny, with water temperatures averaging 70 degrees, mostly light winds, and some chop on the Pacific side as Pisces Fleet boats fished both the Pacific and Cortez sides and found most of the striped marlin on the Cortez side.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 38 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo San Lucas sportfishing boats Fish Cabo and Fish Cabo I, with a catch including released fish of: 162 yellowfin tuna, 25 striped marlin, and 14 dorado. "Billfish counts are on the upward movement and fishing is picking up by the day," Edwards said. "Pacific-side cool sea temperatures of 67 to 68 degrees have driven most of the billfish around the corner toward the Sea of Cortez." Water temperatures were at 70 degrees locally and warming to 74 degrees running northeast as most boats fished the Cortez side. Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was near perfect in the low-90s. Caballito and mackerel live baits were in good supply.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Durance Lowendick of Marlin Masters Sportfishing said some blue marlin in the 400-pound class were released around the 95 and 1150 spots on the Cortez side. "Our boats are also encountering solid numbers of striped marlin in those same areas with most catches coming on live mackerel," Lowendick said. "We are also catching lots of school-sized 15 to 30-pound yellowfin tuna south of the San Jaime Bank in Pacific waters." Dorado were scattered, with a few fish of 20 to 30 pounds landed. Humboldt giant squid in large sizes were concentrated near the anchored cruise ships at Medano Beach. Other inshore catches included yellowtail, sierra mackerel, and several roosterfish.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Ramon Druck of the Cabo San Lucas charter sportfishing super panga Cheer's reported on 3 outings during the week with a total of 8 anglers, for a catch including released fish of: 3 Humboldt giant squid of 20 to 30 pounds, 13 sierra of 3 to 8 pounds, 5 roosterfish of 3 to 8 pounds, some small bonito to 4 pounds, and 29 yellowtail of 7 to 9 pounds. The Cheer's fished with lures and trolled live baits locally on the Pacific side beaches, near the Cabo San Lucas arch, and along beaches on the Sea of Cortez side, in water temperatures of 70 to 72 degrees and sunny, clear, and mostly calm sea conditions. Anglers fishing aboard the Cheer's included Lun Baley, Bob Trotman, Matt Trotman, Matt Mahr, Kevin Callaghan, Collin Perry, Kerry Shon, and Mike Perry.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Jim Dillon of Salvador's Sportfishing reported on 10 outings by the Cabo San Lucas charter boats El Budster, El Budster I, and El Budster II, with a catch including released fish of: 10 striped marlin, 72 yellowfin tuna of 10 to 20 pounds, 2 dorado of 20 to 25 pounds, and 2 sierra of 5 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported some northwest winds and rough conditions on the Pacific side with water temperatures as low as 61 degrees in spots, but water temperatures holding at 71 to 72 degrees on the Cortez side. "The striped marlin bite picked up this week outside the 1,000-fathom line and in the warmer water on the Cortez side," Landrum said. Most Cabo San Lucas boats running out about 30 miles scored yellowfin tuna limits. "The fish slowly moved to the east over the course of the week," Landrum said. "The bite was between 180 and 210 degrees during the start of the week and 170 to 140 degrees at the end."

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 64 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing out of San Jose del Cabo's Puerto Los Cabos marina, with a catch including released fish of: 28 dorado, 27 yellowfin tuna, 285 Mexican bonito, 134 sierra, 126 yellowtail, 9 striped marlin, 33 Humboldt giant squid, 27 pargo, 9 cabrilla, 13 amberjack, and 56 roosterfish. La Playita panga fleets were fishing northwards at the Iman Bank as action off Punta Palmilla slowed during the week. "Palmilla action came to a standstill as even the bonito that had been schooling with the jacks appeared to have moved on and only the giant squid remained," Brictson said. "Pangas headed north to the Iman Bank where catches were dominated by Mexican bonito. Yo-yo jigs, Rapalas, and sardina bait are all catching fish. There have also been limited numbers of pargo, cabrilla, and amberjack caught off the bottom rock piles." Striped marlin activity increased 5 to 15 miles offshore from the Gordo Banks to Destiladeras. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was in the mid-80s, with north winds diminishing and fewer migrating humpback and California gray whales seen.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: San Jose del Cabo species fishing specialist John Snow reported good sea conditions but very slow action during the last week of March. "It was perhaps the slowest week I have had in 10 years, hampered by ugly green cold water," Snow said. "For panga fishing we tried everything from very shallow to very deep with the same results, nada!" Four surf fishing sessions and 4 panga outings with Capt. Pata on the Salome produced just 64 fish of 24 species, including Humboldt giant squid and 2 mobula manta rays of 50 to 60 pounds released. Four new species included the Clipperton grouper, Mexican rockfish, California scorpionfish, and smoothtail mobula.

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Bob Lewis of San Jose del Cabo reported continued cool early spring conditions, but seasonable changes in the offing. "We are seeing cool water and associated fish such as huachinango, bonita, and even a lot of giant squid in the counts," Lewis said. "The weather has been warming this week and expectations are that conditions will improve. We are approaching the time of year when things get going so reports should be improving."

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Jim Anderson of San Bruno south of Santa Rosalia said good tide conditions for yellowtail fishing were marred by an unusually heavy fog during the week. "We had pea soup fog that was just plain unbelievable," Anderson said. "It is a little scary to go out with only GPS and smell the diesel from the trawlers working the area, wondering if you are going to be caught up in the nets and ground into fish meal. But most days we opted to go fishing anyway. The life of a fisherman is hard." Yellowtail were keyed on small sardinita bait and slow to bite on larger mackerel. "I did throw a small Kastmaster and got hooked up immediately but the lure simply was not strong enough to land a big yellowtail," Anderson said. The annual Isla San Marcos Yellowtail Shootout fishing tournament was scheduled for May 17-18, 2008. "We hope to see a lot of fishermen show up to help support the sports program on San Marcos Island. This is a really great cause and a really fun tournament to fish," Anderson said.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Ed Duitsman of Hinkley, Calif., reported on 3 days of fishing out of Santa Rosalia aboard his boat Daycare with anglers Louie Prieto, Frank "Pancho" Ochoa, and Ruben Carmona, for a catch at Isla Tortuga of: 22 yellowtail of 8 to 25 pounds, with most between 19 and 24 pounds, 5 cabrilla of 5 to 10 pounds, 1 pargo of 8 pounds, a 1 grouper of 40 pounds. "We had trouble making bait at the usual spots around the Santa Rosalia marina until Jim Anderson of Moosea Boat directed us to 200-plus foot deep water east of Haystack," Duitsman said. "The fish seemed to be quite line shy and only 3 fish were caught on 50-pound test. Louie, Ruben, and Pancho used 30-pound and I used 40-pound test. We fished right up close to the north side of Isla Tortuga in 50 to 90-foot deep water. Louie uses 30-pound with a 3-foot fluorocarbon leader also only 30-pound test and that's what he got his 40-pound grouper on. Most everything was caught flylined with no weights at all." Duitsman reported Baja roads in good condition and no problems during the drive down.

SANTA ROSALIA, MEXICO: Louie Prieto of Ontario, Calif., said the fishing at Isla Tortuga aboard Ed Duitsman's boat Daycare also included "all the Humboldt squid you could want to catch." During making bait, Prieto said, "The mini-macks and jack mackerel called bigeyes would not school up for us so we decided to try our luck among the 60 or so Mexican pangas that were jigging for the big Humboldt squid. The row of panga lights stretched for miles. We tried to make mackerel the night before but the macks did not cooperate. Jim Anderson regularly posts Santa Rosalia fish reports online and in the Baja section of Western Outdoor News and we got the scoop from him. We headed to an area south of town called Haystack and made plenty of bait in less than 30 minutes. Thanks again Jim. You saved our trip."

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Lalo Munoz of Mas Atun Sportfishing and the charter boat Sueltame at San Carlos said, "Fishing in San Carlos has been frustrating, but with tons of bait in the water and many birds. We have been out almost every day and we can see the yellowtail boiling but not biting. Bottom fishing has been very good with 10 to 15-pound grouper and many cabrilla." The winning fish in the recent spearfishing tournament at San Carlos was a 45.6-pound yellowtail speared by Tyson Curtis of California. "And I shot my first yellowtail, a 15 pounder," Munoz said. San Carlos fishing area water temperatures were at 59 degrees, with poor visibility.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Jon Jen Charters at San Carlos reported a spotty spring bite in local waters during the week. "Right out in front we have boils everywhere and birds working," Jon Jen said. "Sometimes you would throw right into them and they wouldn't take anything. Fernando even tried a popper and did finally connect but then next day it was as if they turned off the switch, nada, not even a bird. We were out a couple of days ago and got just some small bottom fish and a squid." San Carlos fishing area weather was in the 80s, with light south winds.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 28 Aries Fleet charter boats fishing offshore out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 5 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 3 hammerhead shark, and 8 dorado. Ten inshore pangas had a catch of: 9 corvina, 51 baqueta, 25 cabrilla, 10 mojarra, 3 lengua, and 39 triggerfish. Mazatlan fishing area weather was sunny in the high-80s, with light winds, calm seas, and water temperatures at 72 degrees inshore and 74 to 75 degrees offshore. "Even with some improvement in water temperatures and conditions, the offshore bite at Mazatlan remains difficult for anglers and crew," Edwards said.

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Sportfishing articles, maps, and fishing report archives for Puerto Vallarta.

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said "Warm water has finally pushed up from the south of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, moving the cooler water out to beyond 50 miles. The fishing has been outstanding." Kunze noted that the warm current was occurring during the usually slow April fishing season. "This annual current is a full month early," Kunze said. "April is usually our slowest month of the year." Ixtapa sportfishing area boats averaged about 4 to 5 sailfish per outing. Angler Ludo Coen of Belgium fished with Capt. Martin on the panga Isamar and released 18 sailfish in 3 days. "The sailfish are only 12 to 15 miles out," Kunze said. "What would really make this a fantastic situation is if the rooster fish will soon follow."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported improved sea conditions and fish counts for Ixtapa Zihuatanejo sportfishing boats as 10 outings by Capt. Chiro on the boat Bloody Hook, Capt. Adolofo on the Dos Hermanos I, and Capt. Temo on the Secuestro de Amor turned in a combined catch including released fish of: 1 black marlin of about 300 pounds, 21 sailfish, 1 very large dorado, 1 additional dorado, 8 Spanish mackerel, and a few bonito. "Dramatically improved sea conditions along with a slight warming of ocean temperatures brought in a more consistent offshore bite," Edwards said. "The blue water has moved to within the 5-mile mark and most of the better fishing is occurring just beyond. Captains reported the fish much more aggressive as ocean temperatures become more favorable." Ixtapa fishing area weather was sunny in the high-80s, with water temperatures even and stable at 83 degrees.

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