Baja's central Pacific coast fishing fires up for summer;

Dorado come in close to Bahia de los Angeles

Mexico Fishing News, August 18, 2008

BAJA COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Juanchys Aguilar of La Bocana on the central Pacific coast reported excellent Baja fishing in clear 80-degree water outside the boca and a week's catch including released fish by his panga Karol with sportfishing anglers aboard of: 526 yellowtail, with 90 percent of medium sizes and 10 percent large, 90 bonito, 82 calico bass, 17 dorado, and 1 yellowfin tuna.

"The fishing for yellowtail is incredible 2 to 3 miles outside the estero and also for dorado 9 to 12 miles out," Aguilar said. "This is due to the high water temperature and the current from the south. Today we had no red tide and we had 100 percent water clarity. We have a lot of dorado now, but they are not being caught commercially for the cooperativa. They are only caught with sportfishing clients, the same for wahoo, tuna, and marlin. We are also catching white seabass of 8 to 10 pounds."

Fishing for yellowtail was with trolled aluminum jigs and cedar plugs. "We are also using live bait on 30-pound line about 30 or 40 feet down," Aguilar said. "This week, the fishing was super excellent in this Baja coastal area, although we did have some northwest winds after about 11:30 a.m. For the rest of August and for September, we're hoping for a lot of dorado and tuna. The inshore fishing season for halibut is passing by, although we are still getting up to 10 of them per day."

Information, Capt. Juanchys Aguilar, karol_36@msn.com.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Les Heil of La Bocana said, "La Bocana is wide-open! It has been long time coming. Warm water has moved in and it’s nice and blue. At our local fishing spot of Roca Ballena the water is 78 degrees and crystal clear. There are huge areas of small anchovy bait. The anchovies are being hammered by mackerel and of course the bigger fish like yellowtail, grouper, and other species are gorging on both. The local commercial pangueros have been getting tons of white seabass, yellowtail, halibut, and other species in the nets. I expect that tuna and dorado will not be far behind."

Heil noted the opening up of the local summer Baja fishing season a few weeks later than usual along the central Pacific coast. "We usually get good fishing here at the beginning of July but not this year," he said. "The water has been cold and dirty."

In last week's action, Heil said, "The seagulls were gorging themselves right on the surface in a miles-wide shoal of bait. The gulls could not get off the water as I went by because they were so fat. I’m afraid to say one didn’t move fast enough and I ran it over with my boat. I've just never seen sea gulls not able to fly before."

Heil noted the road in from Baja's Mex 1 Transpeninsular Highway almost complete to Punta Abreojos and plans to offer lodging services at La Bocana. "They are working on the last 10 kilometers," he said. "We have decided to open a bed-and-breakfast at our home. For a small fee you can feel like part of the family. Information, Bajablancales.googlepages.com, Bajabocana@gmail.com.

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Bob Lewis of San Jose del Cabo reported on a drive northwards up the Baja Pacific coast to San Juanico, also known as Scorpion Bay, for 5 days of beach adventuring and fishing offshore for good dorado action in 75-degree water. At one kelp paddy in green water with red tide conditions present, Lewis said, "There must have been over a hundred dorado biting everything we threw. We eventually tired of that and left them biting in search of yellowfin tuna. While trolling away, we were steadily knocked down by dorado, some of which were close to 30 pounds. Eventually we picked up some tuna at around 20 miles but only on single jig strikes."

During the outing, as guests aboard a 20-foot boat, a sea turtle was released from plastic debris and a greyhounding marlin was seen 50 feet from the boat. "It was a fantastic experience in an area that seems relatively untouched from a sportfishing standpoint," Lewis said. "The Mexican local commercials fish for sandbass and small yellowtail using traps that resemble lobster traps. Unfortunately, they also use a lot of gill nets."

Kayak fishing by Lewis and his son Austin produced sierra, 8-pound sandbass, and about 6 yellowtail under 8 pounds. "The yak fishing was a blast on 10 and 15-pound line and the yellowtail made great dinner," Lewis said. "Bait was scarce. Some guys made some macks, but the custom-poured Reebs plastics were bit every cast and most of mine are now missing tails. Thanks to OEX kayaks in Oceanside and Reebs for helping get us equipped."

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Mike Borden, cruising down the Baja coast aboard his boat Fish Magnet, reported lots of bonito caught at Isla Cedros, but fewer yellowtail than earlier in the summer. "We did catch some yellows south of Isla Natividad offshore on kelps," Borden said.

In other mainland Mexico and Baja fishing action this week:

ENSENADA FISHING REPORTS

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ENSENADA, MEXICO: Ivan Villarino of Vonny's Fleet in Ensenada said his pangas fishing at the tip of Punta Banda had another good summer week of action for calico bass, olive rockfish, bonita on the surface, lingcod to 26 pounds, plenty of mixed bottom fish, and several yellowtail of 15 to 25 pounds. "This week our pangas had very good fishing and plenty of bonita for the fish smoker," Villarino said. "Not bad."

Anglers launching over the beach at Campo Villarino and fishing with Capts. Beto and Hector on the charter pangas Vonny I and Vonny IV included Luis Matheo of San Diego, Calif., Pam Shier of Lengueta Arenosa at Ensenada, Brian Foley, and Priscilla Van Dyke and husband Joe Van Dyke of Phoenix, Ariz.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Steve Ross of the Ensenada sportfishing boat Bad Dog at Marina Coral reported on an overnight offshore run, fishing around the Banda Bank for nada after an evening departure, 1 dorado, 1 mako shark, and 1 yellowtail on a kelp paddy at the 500-fathom curve, and yellowfin tuna mixed with dorado in 70.1-degree water the following day after drifting overnight on a parachute drogue. The Bad Dog's fish count for the trip was, Mexican sportfishing limits of dorado, 2 yellowfin tuna, 1 yellowtail of 15 pounds, and 1 mako shark. After fishing the first day, Ross said, "We deployed our sea anchor which went without a hitch in 1 to 3-foot seas blowing 15 knots. The current was so strong that we drifted 8 miles during the night while attached to our parachute which put us considerably downhill the next morning. At 0830 in 70.1-degree blue water we got a double on yellowfin tuna in the area of 31.35 117.02 around the 475-fathom spot. These two fish ate 7 Strands in petrolero and Mean Joe Green."

ENSENADA, MEXICO: For the previous week, Sammy Susarrey of Lily Fleet reported on a run to the 450 spot for good action on 6 to 10-pound dorado plus 3 yellowfin tuna at 20 pounds while trolling daisy chains with purple-black lures. "On the way back, we found more dorado 4 miles off Punta Banda," Susarrey said. "Mike at the bait barge only had small sardines, but we made nice medium-sized sardines and small mackerel outside Marina Coral." Offshore Ensenada fishing area water temperatures were at 69.9 to 70.4 degrees.

ENSENADA, MEXICO: Erasmo Carrizales of Ensenada Sportfishing Works reported on an outing by the charter boat Morgan James for a catch including released fish of 31 dorado, 3 yellowtail, and 1 yellowfin tuna, with all except the tuna caught on bait at kelp paddies. "We got about 60 macs and about 70 sardines on Lucky Joes," Carrizales said. "I have to hand it to our Capt. Foca. He knows his fishing." Two other outings by the Morgan James had a combined catch with anglers and divers aboard of: 8 yellowtail of 23 to 26 pounds, 3 dorado, and 2 lingcod of 13 and 14 pounds. Ensenada offshore fishing water temperatures were at 68 to 69 degrees, with deep blue water color.

SAN QUINTIN FISHING REPORTS

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SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Pete Hillis of Pedro's Pangas said San Quintin fishing conditions were stable, with calm seas, good numbers of anglers present, and most of them catching yellowtail and dorado on kelp paddies 12 to 15 miles off the point. Boats running south to Socorro continued to come in with white seabass plus lots of sandbass, calico bass, and large barracuda. "Large rockcods and lingcod were also being taken at Ben's Rock this week," Hillis said. Anglers fishing with Pedro's Pangas during the week included Frank Ballard and Dave Romero who went out with Capt. Pato on the charter boat Garron for good numbers of white seabass to 50 pounds plus mixed bottom fishing.

SAN QUINTIN, MEXICO: Gabriel Davila of Upland, Calif., reported on 2 days of fishing by his group with San Quintin sportfishing Capt. Jaime Garcia. Fishing to the south at Socorro the first day in windy and choppy conditions produced no white seabass but 3 yellowtail, 2 lingcod, a 35-pound thresher shark, lots of salmon grouper, and a few sandbass and calico bass. A second day in better sea conditions at the 240 spot found wide-open yellowtail action on fish of 12 to 20 pounds plus one 28 pounder. "We went looking for kelp paddies and dorado, but only encountered more yellowtail," Davila said. "We ended the day by catching a few more sugar bass and an 8-pound halibut inside the bay. Once again, Capt. Jaime provided us with excellent and friendly service."

Davila also noted no problems during the Baja drive south from the U.S. border. "The drive down to San Quintin was smooth and safe, and it seemed to be like all the past 'normal' years," he said.

MAGDALENA BAY FISHING REPORTS

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MAGDALENA BAY, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly said good fishing off Magdalena Bay last week was a possible precursor of the big fish pileup expected in the fall. "While it’s still too early to declare that the Magdalena Bay offshore fall fishing season has begun, the action has been great for dorado, tuna, yellowtail, and wahoo," Graham said. "The Mexican commercial fishermen working offshore of Magdalena Bay continue to report marlin sightings, but few of them have taken the time to focus on them."

At San Carlos, Enrique Soto said yellowtail fishing was productive at the entrada under birds. The Magdalena Bay mangrove channels produced a few small snook at Devil's Curve and some grouper and pargo at Boca Santo Domingo north of Puerto Lopez Mateos.

Magdalena Bay fishing area weather was mostly clear in the high-90s, with water temperatures of 60 to 76 degrees.

CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORTS

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CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 32 outings by Gaviota Fleet and the Cabo charter boats Fish Cabo, Fish Cabo I, and Tuna Time, with a catch including released fish of: 35 dorado, 16 striped marlin, 60 yellowfin tuna caught with porpoise about 25 to 30 miles out, and 1 sailfish. Edwards commented on the relatively weak action, saying, "The fish at Cabo San Lucas are scattered over a wide area. There doesn't seem to be any concentration. Catches were made from the Jaime Bank on the Pacific side to the Gordo Banks on the Sea of Cortez side, and from near shore to more than 30 miles out. It's no real bonanza."

Cabo San Lucas fishing area weather was partly cloudy at the end of the week in the mid-90s, with excellent sea conditions and water temperatures ranging from 85 degrees on the Pacific banks to 88 degrees at the Gordo Banks. The live bait supply at the Cabo San Lucas marina remained good for caballitos.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: Ramon Druck of the Cabo San Lucas charter sportfishing super panga Cheer's reported on 2 outings during the week with a total of 2 anglers, for a catch including released fish of: 1 small skipjack, and 2 yellowfin tuna of 4 to 7 pounds. The Cheer's fished with trolled baits and lures on both the Pacific and Cortez sides of Cabo in extraordinarily slow conditions with water temperatures of 84 to 85 degrees and favorable seas. Anglers fishing aboard the Cheer's were Federico Solda of Italy and Miguel Hernandez of Cabo San Lucas. "The fishing was very sparse because of the high water temperatures," Druck said. "The weather was hot too."

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: 5 striped marlin, 4 sailfish, 7 yellowfin tuna of 20 to 40 pounds, 4 dorado of 20 to 30 pounds, 2 more dorado, and 2 roosterfish of 20 to 30 pounds.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO: For the week ending Aug. 10, 2008, George Landrum of Fly Hooker Sportfishing reported hot weather reaching 100 degrees, very calm seas, water temperatures stable in the mid-80s, and billfishing counts about evenly split between blue marlin, striped marlin, and sailfish. "The striped marlin are a bit of a surprise since Cabo water is this warm but they're nice to see," Landrum said. Some yellowfin tuna in the 150 to 200-pound class were found by Cabo boats running up to 40 miles out and outside the Jaime Bank. "But the fish were moving fast," Landurm said. "Smaller tuna of 35 to 80 pounds were found 30 miles out. It seemed that the fish were slowly working their way south out of our range."

SAN JOSE DEL CABO (LOS CABOS) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: Eric Brictson of Gordo Banks Pangas reported on 57 combined La Playita fleet pangas fishing out of San Jose del Cabo's Puerto Los Cabos marina, with a catch including released fish of: 238 dorado of mostly under 20 pounds, 66 yellowfin tuna, 4 sailfish, 2 striped marlin, 7 hammerhead shark, 4 amberjack, 3 grouper to 120 pounds, 22 roosterfish to 60 pounds, 16 jack crevalle, and 9 dog snapper to 55 pounds. San Jose del Cabo fishing area weather was hot, with calm seas and water temperatures of 82 to 88 degrees. "The San Jose del Cabo panga fleet has been consistently catching Mexico fishing limits of dorado and there were also more football yellowfin tuna in the fish counts," Brictson said. "Dorado action has been consistent off San Jose del Cabo. The majority landed were under 20 pounds, but there were also larger bulls over 30 pounds. More dorado were found within several miles of shore than further out."

SAN JOSE DEL CABO, MEXICO: John Snow of San Jose del Cabo reported on 1 surf fishing session and 4 panga outings with Capt. Pata of the panga Salome, fishing specifically for a wide variety of species, with a combined catch of 102 fish of 36 species, including 2 new species, the spottedtail goosefish, Lophiodes caulinaris, and the colorado snapper, Lutjanus colorado.

Other fish species collected or caught included: caballito, silverstripe halfbeak, flatiron herring, white mullet, Latin grunt, Pacific needlefish, longfin silverside, Pacific fat sleeper, flag cabrilla, dorado, short-tail conger eel, Pacific creolefish, Panamic graysby, leopard grouper, Pacific mutton hamlet, reef lizardfish, green jack, giant jawfish, Pacific moonfish, keel jaw needlefish, Pacific porgy, blue and gold snapper, red snapper, spotted rose snapper, yellow snapper, goldeneyed tilefish, finescale triggerfish, orangeside triggerfish, black skipjack tuna, balloonfish, spotfin burrfish, gafftopsail pompano, and sunset wrasse.

EAST CAPE FISHING REPORTS

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EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Gary Graham of Baja On The Fly reported excellent midsummer fishing weather at East Cape, with high air temperatures, flat calm seas, and perfect fish-spotting sea surface conditions, but fishing slow for all species, as water temperatures ranged upwards to 86 degrees. "Unfortunately, East Cape fishing action was scarce," Graham said. "A few billfish were sighted but there was little concentration. They were easy to spot, but tough to find. The porpoise were not much help with the tuna either. The tuna that were caught this week were barely bite-sized."

Graham noted dorado counts dominated by small fish. "All spring and summer at East Cape, big dorado were caught one or two at a time, and anglers whined about there not being any school fish," he said. "Well, the dorado caught lately qualify as ‘schoolies,' and some of them would barely qualify as meals for the few smaller blue marlin being caught.

"Even the larger roosterfish seemed to take the week off at East cape. Most of the roosterfish were under 10 pounds. An occasional ‘Bubba class’ rooster was sighted, but they were seldom hooked."

East Cape fishing area weather was cloudy in the mid-90s, with water temperatures ranging from 76 to 86 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the week ending Aug. 10, 2008, John Ireland of Rancho Leonero reported mostly calm seas at East Cape, water temperatures at 79 to 85 degrees, and fishing slower than normal for the week. "Some tuna and dorado were taken and fewer billfish were caught than usual," Ireland said. "Lots of dorado in the 10 to 15-pound range were taken but the bite slowed as the week progressed. Yellowfin tuna were spotty in the 5 to 20-pound class, and the billfish have been hard to find, with only a few sailfish and striped marlin released." Inshore, pargo and roosterfish were caught, and good supplies of sardina and mackerel bait were available. "Lots of sardinas are thick inshore and really spreading out the bite," Ireland said.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the week ending Aug. 8, 2008, Eddie Dalmau of Van Wormer Resorts reported on 360 East Cape charter fishing boats from Hotels Palmas de Cortez, Playa del Sol, and Punta Colorada, with a catch including released fish of: 15 blue marlin, 54 striped marlin, 26 sailfish, 1,200 dorado, 1,505 yellowfin tuna, 79 roosterfish, 4 wahoo, 12 cabrilla, 24 pargo, 48 triggerfish, 6 pompano, 16 skipjack, and 8 amberjack. East Cape fishing area weather was in the high-90s, with water temperatures of 78 to 85 degrees.

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: For the previous week ending Aug. 1, 2008, Dalmau reported on 320 boats, with a catch including released fish of: 6 blue marlin, 76 striped marlin, 18 sailfish, 520 dorado, 985 yellowfin tuna, 120 roosterfish, 5 wahoo, 16 cabrilla, 16 pargo, 24 triggerfish, 45 bonita, 4 pompano, 22 skipjack, and 4 amberjack. East Cape fishing area weather was in the high-90s, with water temperatures of 77 to 85 degrees.

"East Cape fishing was good to the north from Punta Pescadero to Isla Cerralvo Island, and also to the south from Punta Colorada to Boca del Salado, with Mexican sportfishing limits being reached on tuna and dorado," Dalmau said, "but we did not see very many marlin come in this week."

EAST CAPE, MEXICO: Jim Sammons of La Jolla Kayak Fishing Adventures reported very good roosterfish action for his group fishing out of Hotel Punta Colorada in July, including many fish into the 50-pound class and a monster 75-pound class specimen landed from a kayak by angler Tony Adams. "Our July trip had the best big roosterfish fishing we have ever had," Sammons said. "The fish landed by Tony Adams was the biggest roosterfish ever landed from a kayak that we know of. We didn't get an exact weight because it bottomed out the scale of my 60-pound Boga-Grip. I contacted Boga-Grip and was told it takes 70 pounds to bottom out that model, so we are calling the fish 75 pounds."

LA PAZ FISHING REPORTS

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LA PAZ, MEXICO: Jonathan Roldan of Tailhunter International at La Paz said school-sized tuna led the fish counts again for his pangas fishing on the Las Arenas side. "The footballs keep jumping south of Punta Arenas," Roldan said. "Mexican sportfishing limits have been the rule. Most of the tuna are 10 to 15 pounders. They are punctuated by schools of breezing dorado that roll through. The tuna and dorado have been close to the Baja shore for about 3 weeks. They seem to favor the smaller live sardina baits, the smaller the better for the tuna, but the dorado love the larger baits." Roldan said light 20 to 25-pound fluorocarbon leader worked best with the small baits.

Along shore, 5 to 10-pound class roosterfish provided pangas with good light tackle action. "And larger fish are just off in the darker water," Roldan said.

In La Paz-side fishing by Tailhunter International pangas, dorado and tuna were the focus, with fewer dorado present but some larger fish being caught.

LA PAZ, MEXICO: Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said his pangas on the Las Arenas side south of town fished within sight of rain clouds over the mountains at the end of the week, with high summer air temperatures in the mid-90s, and equally high water temperatures of 84 degrees at Isla Cerralvo and 87 degrees outside at the 88 bank. "But we haven't had any bad weather for fishing," Hernandez said. "Our pangas have been fishing mostly in the same locations, at Las Cruces for larger dorado, and at Punta Pescadero for smaller tuna and medium-sized dorado."

Tortuga Sportfishing pangas running out to the 88 spot did not find big dorado, but blue marlin and sailfish mixed with striped marlin were in the area. "But the remoteness of this fishing area does not allow us to go there all the time, and our anglers were fishing more in the other areas," Hernandez said.

LORETO FISHING REPORTS

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LORETO, MEXICO: Patty Zapata of Loreto's Hotel Oasis said, "Loreto dorado fishing action continues excellent and in the same area, 4 or 5 miles north of Isla Coronado and at San Bruno. There is plenty of dorado. Everyone is tired but very happy." A total of 51 pangas fishing with mostly fly fishing tackle during the week released about 900 dorado plus 40 kept on conventional tackle and sardina baits. Loreto fishing area weather was hot and near-perfect, except for one night with a local tropical storm forming on the back side of Isla Carmen that prevented pangas from fishing the following day. Sea surface water temperatures averaged 84 to 85 degrees.

LORETO, MEXICO: Bill Erhardt of Loreto reported smaller dorado caught and fewer sailfish seen by his boat last week. "Schooling dorado can still be found north and east of Loreto but the fish are much smaller than those in the area a month ago. Last week's hot sailfish bite has also cooled significantly," Erhardt said.

Two outings by Erhardt's boat Soledad during the week produced 6 or 7 peanut dorado on trolled marlin feathers. "I also had a number of sailfish bites but brought none to the boat," Erhardt said.

Summer Loreto residents Don and Diane Lindeleaf experienced similar downward trends with dorado and sailfish, Erhardt said, but for the second year in a row they also scored on a big marlin released in the 400-pound class. "The big blue hit a trolled petrolero north of Isla Coronado," Erhardt said. "As with a black marlin of similar size last year that they boated east of Isla Coronado, the Lindeleafs photographed the fish at the boat and released it."

LORETO, MEXICO: Don Bear of Loreto reported continued very good catch-and-release fishing for dorado of 8 to 25 pounds within 20 miles of the downtown marina during 3 outings by Bear's boat with guest Giovanni Petronio of Italy and Loreto Capt. Paulino Martinez. "I would conservatively estimate our 3-day catch at between 70 and 100 dorado," Bear said. "It was really wild. They hit all kinds of bait as well as poppers, iron, plastics, and flies. Triple hookups were common. On Monday we hit 3 distinct schools all within 6 miles of Isla Coronado. All of our fish were located within 10 miles of Isla Coronado. Fly fishermen with the assistance of chummed sardinas were hooked up everywhere. Even Paulino picked up a fly rod and caught a few dorado."

Loreto fishing area water temperatures were at 84 to 85 degrees. Mackerel, jurelito, and sardina baits were all easily caught.

"Loreto weather has continued very hot and humid," Bear said. "Very few fishermen are going out, so pangas and captains are readily available for booking. It's been a great fishing week."

Another outing by Giovanni Petronio aboard Capt. Paulino Martinez' panga, the Dorado Fumador, produced more dorado plus mixed species on iron at Isla Coronado including black skipjack, triggerfish, tijeretas, and a 30-pound amberjack. "Paulino said they saw dorado chasing bait within 100 feet of Isla Coronado," Bear said. "Bonita blanca at midwater made it difficult at times to get to the bottom."

Another outing by Bear's boat, following an Arturo's Sportfishing report of good action at Bajo de las Boyas, produced just 3 trolled dorado to 25 pounds.

LORETO, MEXICO: For the previous week, Bear reported an outing by his boat with neighbor Charlie Licha and Capt. Paulino Martinez for release action on at least 30 dorado by noon, all caught on a single 30-hour stop about 5 miles northwest of Isla Coronado. "The entire outing was near-perfect," Bear said. "We caught 30 to 35 jurelito baits in less than 10 minutes only a mile from the marina. Every bait that hit the water was immediately struck by schooling dorado of 5 to 20 pounds." Loreto fishing area water temperatures were at 85 to 86 degrees.

Capt. Paulino Martinez also fished 3 times with clients from the Hotel Oasis for over 100 dorado to 40 pounds plus 4 sailfish, with all fish released. "Paulino said that on Saturday they kept count, with a total of 45 dorado and 1 sailfish," Bear said. "Fly fishermen are having a ball."

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES (L.A. BAY) FISHING REPORTS

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BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Roberto Ramos of Duarte, Calif., reported 12 dorado of about 20 pounds landed during a panga fishing trip by his group with Bahia de los Angeles Capt. Enrique Daggett of Daggett's Camp aboard the charter super panga Heidi I.

"We located the dorado's about 7 miles out from the bay heading toward the south tip of Isla Angel de la Guarda," Ramos said. "We located an alley of kelp beds and that was where a school of dorados hit.

"We caught mackerel for bait and trolled with feathers until we hooked up to one dorado. Once we found the first one the rest were caught with live bait. Capt. Enrique was very knowledgeable and patient with us four rookies. We caught our Mexican sportfishing limit in about two hours. It was the best fishing of my life. I made my reservation online with Ruben Daggett at rubendaggett@hotmail.com. We did not stay at Daggett's Camp because we did not know that they had air conditioned cabins available. We stayed at Villa Bahia."

Also fishing in Ramos group were Danny Morales, Manuel De Santiago, and Jaime Morales, all of Baldwin Park, Calif.

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Abraham Vazquez of Camp Gecko at the south end of Bahia de los Angeles village reported hot weather in the mid-90s, with humidity high at 70 percent or higher, clear skies, some rain, and winds from the southeast. Water temperatures were at 81 to 84 degrees. "The mosquitos are slowing down," Vazquez said. "We must have had a bunch that hatched at the same time. The fishing has picked up nicely. Yellowtail are scarce, but dorado are getting better outside of Punta Pescador. Large numbers of whale sharks are in the bay."

Vazquez noted the changes brought to Bahia de los Angeles by the new electrical lines to the village. "The beers are cold 24 hours per day now," he said. "In town it's funny to see all the air conditioning units now."

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: For the week ending Aug. 9, 2008, Vazquez said, "The mosquitos are as bad as I have seen them in 24 years at Bahia de los Angeles. I hope they go away soon. Fishing is kind of slow at the moment. Whale sharks are in the bay. I just got back from a whale shark conference and family vacation in Chiapas."

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES, MEXICO: Ed Duitsman of Hinkley, Calif., reported on a family-style kids trip to Bahia de los Angeles with his boat Daycare, swimming, snorkeling, whale shark watching, and generally fooling around, but also fishing with mixed methods including handlines for a catch around the bay that included: 1 dorado of about 10 pounds, 8 yellowtail to 8 pounds, barracuda, bass, cabrilla, a 12-pound gulf grouper, triggerfish, bottom fish, some unknowns, and an encounter with some 6 to 8-foot sharks at the north end of Isla Smith. "The sharks on the surface took my bait and cut my line three times," Duitsman said. "We left."

Duitsman's group caught its dorado on a single live bait hooked that day. "One morning we went outside of Smith Island with only one mackerel and caught the dorado within minutes," he said. "We could see them under the boat in the scum lines. We trolled every feather on earth and every lure ever made but they only wanted live macks. Other people back at camp caught dorado until their live mackerel ran out."

Also fishing in Duitsman's group were his son Cory and first-timers Tim Finch and Lee Tabor. "Guillermo's Hotel was full when we arrived, so we stayed at Villa Vitta Hotel," Duitsman said. "This was an easy kids' trip. We spent most of our trip anchored in tight little coves on the many islands around the bay."

SAN CARLOS (SONORA) FISHING REPORTS

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SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Bryan Replogle of the San Carlos sportfishing boat Margarita V reported 4 dorado including 2 nice bulls plus 2 billfish missed during an outing with clients on Friday. "The guys were very stoked with the biggest fish of their lives and their 'trip of the summer," Replogle said. "If only one of the billfish had stayed on." The charter boat Catch-22 also reported 4 medium dorado and 3 sailfish during fishing around Isla San Pedro Nolasco.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: For the week ending Aug. 7, 2008, Replogle reported on an overnight run across the Sea of Cortez to Isla San Marcos in good sea conditions for a catch including released fish of: lots of dorado including a 35-pound bull, 1 sailfish, and 2 blue marlin of about 150 and 250 pounds. "Most of the fish were out in the center and we saw over a dozen nice marlin jump, with other splashes on the horizon," Replogle said. "The water was glass and we could see everything. It was a pretty quiet ocean with lots of flying fish and some life at times. We saw two brief tuna schools pop up, a few dorado, and lots of marlin jumping. We had six marlin tickle the lures."

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Craig Collins of Rio Rico, Ariz., reported active fishing water 13 to 17 miles out of San Carlos during an outing by his boat No Sniveling for a catch of 7 yellowfin tuna and 7 dorado of 20 to 40 pounds. "It was a great day of fishing in calm blue waters," Collins said. "I headed out of Marina San Carlos on a 210 degree heading. We stopped on a pair of tailing billfish, but no biters, so we continued on 210 to 215 degrees as the water became clear blue and the water temperature 87 to 89 degrees. We announced our find and position on the radio. It took a while for the first boat, then two, then three, to get there, but even though the tuna and dorado were still boiling, we never saw anyone else get bit. It was just our day to find the hot bite!" Also fishing aboard the No Sniveling was Collins' neighbor Mike Hawking of Rio Rico.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Jon Jen Charters of San Carlos reported variable fishing results during the week, with some "nada nada" runs by the charter boats JonJen I and JonJen II, and two other outings for a catch including released fish of: 2 sailfish and 2 dorado. Another run out to 30 miles by the JonJen II scored a double blue marlin release.

SAN CARLOS, MEXICO: Tom Boggess of Flagstaff, Ariz., reported on 4 outings from San Carlos aboard the boats Genesis and Flagstaff, fishing in settling seas for a catch including a first-ever sailfish release for his son Shelton Boggess, and steady action on at least 1 dorado and 1 billfish per day. "It was a good trip but fishing was spotty at best," Boggess said. "Some fish were very close, with fish in the spread at 2 miles and blue water very close."

Boggess also noted some very small juvenile roosterfish under 4 inches long that were caught on Kastmasters. "We saw baby roosterfish for the first time ever," he said. "We caught and released 3 of them but one didn't make it and I did some trick photography on it. Where are the big ones?" Also fishing in Boggess' group were Sean and Megan Hahn of Phoenix, Ariz., and Tom and Jonette Boggess of Flagstaff.

MAZATLAN FISHING REPORTS

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MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 30 Aries Fleet offshore charter boats out of Mazatlan's Marina El Cid, with a catch including released fish of: 4 blue marlin under 250 pounds, 3 striped marlin, 25 sailfish, 5 dorado, and 47 yellowfin tuna. Four inshore super pangas had a catch of: 1 sailfish, 11 dorado, and 30 triggerfish. "Offshore Mazatlan fishing has picked up a bit with Aries fleet reporting a little more than one billfish per day fished," Edwards said. "But inshore fishing action has slowed." Mazatlan fishing area weather was cloudy in the low-90s, with mostly calm seas and water temperatures of 88 to 89 degrees. Offshore boats fished 22 to 25 miles southwest of Mazatlan.

MAZATLAN, MEXICO: Tadeo Hernandez of Mazatlan's Flota Bibi Fleet said his boats found the best offshore action 15 to 25 miles out, fishing in very calm sea conditions and winds of 6 to 10 m.p.h. Outings by Capt. David and first mate Jorge aboard the charter boat Norma Patricia during the week included a trip with anglers Jaime Porras and his family of Chihuahua, Mexico, for a first-ever sailfish at 64 pounds caught on a trolled plastic skirt.

PUERTO VALLARTA FISHING REPORTS

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PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Merle Erickson of Chicago reported on the first outing of his 2008 Puerto Vallarta fishing season, an offshore run aboard the charter boat Marla with Capt. Danny Osuna for a catch including released fish of: 3 pargo of 40 to 45 pounds, 3 tuna of football size to 30 pounds, 1 dorado of 50 pounds, and a 200-pound class blue marlin released. "We had problems with the engine and the trip was cut short," Erickson said, "but I had a great mixed bag for my first day of the 2008 season. I'll be back down there in September for 5 days with Capt. Danny on the Marla."

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: Stan Gabruk of Master Baiters Sportfishing & Tackle reported a cow class yellowfin tuna caught offshore of Puerto Vallarta. "Capt. Richard and his first mate both reported to me that they boated a yellowfin tuna in the 250-pound range," Gabruk said. "This is huge for the sportfishing charter companies here in Marina Vallarta. Every year there are those who wait for the first monster tuna, or 'cow' as they’re called at Puerto Vallarta, to be boated before they’ll book a charter. Roca Corbeteña was a roller coaster this week but for the most part the fishing was great with smaller yellowfin tuna in the 40-pound range along with black and blue marlin and sailfish. El Banco is starting to produce monster yellowfin tuna, but not at the high spots. Like last year, with all the partial nets and buoy ropes from the seiners, the fishing has centered around the outside edges of the bank. This is where Capt. Richard came across his 250-pound yellowfin tuna."

IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORTS

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IXTAPA ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO: Ed Kunze, reporting for Baja On The Fly, said 82-degree blue water was just a couple of miles off the beach and fish counts were good for sailfish, but poor for other species including marlin, tuna, and dorado. "Most Ixtapa fishing boats are averaging 2 or 3 sailfish per day," Kunze said. Top outings during the week included the charter boat Nautilus with Capt. Martin and a quadruple sailfish release day.

Inshore fishing for roosterfish held steady, with no hard rains recently to cause heavy river runoff and muddy coastal waters. Jack crevalle fishing was also good.

Ixtapa Zihuatanejo fishing area weather was mostly calm at 90 degrees, with water temperatures at 80 to 84 degrees.

CANCUN FISHING REPORTS

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CANCUN, MEXICO: Larry Edwards of Cortez Yacht Charters reported on 18 outings by the El Cid Caribe sportfishing fleet at Puerto Morelos near Cancun, with a catch including released fish of: 3 sailfish, 4 grouper, 34 Atlantic barracuda, 10 king mackerel, 1 wahoo, 15 triggerfish, 7 Spanish mackerel, 8 bonito, 2 tuna, and 5 snapper. "Cancun sportfishing boats are catching a wide variety of fish including sailfish, which is unusual for this time of year," Edwards said. Cancun fishing area weather was cloudy and humid in the high-90s, with calm to moderate seas and water temperatures stable at 82 to 83 degrees. Offshore boats fished mostly with rigged ballyhoo, or halfbeak, baits.

MEXICO COASTAL FISHING REPORTS

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MEXICO: Dan Belling of Garden Grove, Calif., was leaving for a fishing trip at La Paz and noted the low-cost parking and shuttle service from San Diego's Otay Mesa border crossing to the airport at Tijuana. "This is a nice option for Southern California travelers heading south to Mexico by air," Belling said. "Save 350 bucks on the roundtrip airfare by parking right near the border in Otay Mesa at the new "Otay Park & Shuttle." They charge $5 a day for parking and $30 for the roundtrip taxi from their secured parking area to the Tijuana airport terminal, and then they shuttle you from airport back to the border where you can avoid the large traffic jam. Information, Otayparking.com.

Bahia de los Angeles, Mexico fishing photo 1

PANGUERO-STYLE FISHING--Cory Duitsman likes fishing Mexican panguero-style with a handline during trips to Baja with his family. He caught this spotted bay bass during a recent outing at Bahia de los Angeles. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED DUITSMAN.

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SCORPION BAY TRIP--Austin Lewis and his father Bob Lewis of San Jose del Cabo made a Baja run north up the Pacific side to Bahia San Juanico, also known as Scorpion Bay, for good dorado action offshore and these firecracker yellowtail mixed with big sandbass. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB LEWIS.

Baja fishing tournament poster, Mexico fishing photo 1

BAJA PACIFIC COAST TOURNAMENT--Shari Bondy of Bahia Asuncion's Baja Bed & Breakfast circulated this poster advertising this week's local segment of statewide Baja California Sur Governor's Cup Fishing Tournament with prizes for kids and adults fishing from the beach and on boats. PHOTO COURTESY OF SHARI BONDY.

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ENSENADA SUMMER CHARTER--Anglers aboard the Ensenada Sportfishing Works charter boat Morgan James with a nice mixed catch of summer fish including dorado, surface yellowtail, and yellowfin tuna. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERASMO CARRIZALES.

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FORKIES AT THE 240--Gabriel Davila's group ran into hot yellowtail action at San Quintin's 240 spot with sportfishing Capt. Jaime Garcia. Shown, from left, are Juan Eggli, Jose Maroquin, Davila, and Yannie Karpontinis. PHOTO COURTESY OF GABRIEL DAVILA.

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QUINTIN WHITE SEABASS--Frank Ballard and Dave Romano fished out of San Quintin with Pedro's Pangas' Capt. Pato on the charter boat Garron for full Mexico fishing limits of bottom fish plus these two white seabass caught during a run to Socorro south of the bay. PHOTO COURTESY OF PETE HILLIS.

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SLOW, HOT DAY--Miguel Hernandez of Cabo San Lucas when fishing aboard the local charter panga Cheer's with Capt. Ramon Druck, but trolling lures and live baits in 83-degree water on the Cortez side yielded just a couple of these bite-sized tuna. Said Druck in disgust, "The day was very hot, too." PHOTO COURTESY OF RAMON DRUCK.

San Jose del Cabo, Mexico fishing photo 1

GARROPA GRANDE--Gordo Banks Pangas skipper Capt. Chame Pino holds up an impressive 120-pound grouper, or garropa in Spanish, caught near San Jose del Cabo while drifting a whole live skipjack bait over rocks at Punta Palmilla. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

San Jose del Cabo, Mexico fishing photo 2

PERSONAL BEST--Jorge Giroud of Florida visited San Jose del Cabo and landed the biggest fish of his life, this hefty dog snapper, during an outing aboard the Gordo Banks Pangas charter super panga Katie with Capt. Jesus. PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC BRICTSON.

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San Jose del Cabo, Mexico species fishing photo 2

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BAJA FISHING ODDBALLS--Unusual fish caught during John Snow's continuing panga and surf species fishing adventures at San Jose del Cabo in recent weeks included, from top, the Pacific fat sleeper, spottailed goosefish, sunset wrasse, and keeljawed needlefish. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN SNOW.

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KAYAK FISHING GIANT--Tony Adams whipped this 75-pound class roosterfish during a July group kayak fishing trip to East Cape's Hotel Punta Colorada with Jim Sammon's La Jolla Kayak Fishing Adventures. PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM SAMMONS.

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HISTORIC BAJA RENEWAL--East Cape's historic Rancho Buena Vista, one of Baja's original fishing resorts established more than half a century ago, has undergone recent renovations and continues its great tradition as a resort and Baja fishing lodge. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TAMMY GAUSSOIN.

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LA PAZ FOOTBALL LIMITS--Leo Dunn and Mitch Kawamoto of Los Angeles, Calif., hold up some of their Mexican sportfishing limits of yellowfin tuna taken on live bait near Las Arenas south of La Paz during panga fishing with Tailhunter International. Below, Joey Fuschetti of Irvine, Calif., with a real nice, gold-plated dorado caught with Tailhunter on the La Paz side while fishing at Isla Espiritu Santo. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JONATHAN ROLDAN.

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DORADO AT LA PAZ--Joseph Song and his son Patrick of Fullerton, Calif., fished on La Paz' Las Arenas side and hooked into tuna plus dorado like this one aboard a Tortuga Sportfishing panga with Capt. Jorge Lucero. PHOTO COURTESY OF GERARDO HERNANDEZ.

Loreto, Mexico fishing photo 1

GOOD & STEADY DORADO SEASON--This summer's very good dorado season at Loreto continued to produce good results last week. Hotel Oasis anglers, from left, Jeff García, Brian Higa, and Larry Higa fished about 4 miles east of Isla Coronado with Capt. Abel Davis Jr. PHOTO COURTESY OF PATTY ZAPATA.

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ANOTHER BIG RELEASE--Loreto summer resident Don Lindeleaf, fishing north of Isla Coronado with his wife Diane on Saturday aboard their boat Gottafish, caught and released this blue marlin estimated at 400 pounds. This is the second year in a row that the Lindeleafs have caught and released a 400-pound class marlin while fishing out of Loreto. PHOTO COURTESY OF DIANE LINDELEAF.

Bahia de los Angeles, Mexico fishing photo 2

BAHIA DE LOS ANGELES DORADO--Roberto Ramos' group fished Midriff waters with Capt. Enrique Daggett of Daggett's Camp at Bahia de los Angeles for good results on dorado held to the boat with bait about 7 miles out while fishing toward the south end of Isla Angel de la Guarda. From left are, Danny Morales, Manuel De Santiago, Jaime Morales, and Ramos. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERTO RAMOS.

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FAMILY TRIP TO BAJA--Ed Duitsman's recent family trip to fish and have fun at Bahia de los Angeles with their boat Daycare included, from left, Tim finch, Holly Duitsman, Lee Tabor, and Cory Duitsman in front. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED DUITSMAN.

Bahia de los Angeles, Mexico species fishing photo 1

WHAT IS IT?--Carlos Molina of San Diego sent this photo of an unusual fish, possibly a whitesnout sea robin, caught by a friend during fishing at Bahia de los Angeles. The fish hit a small chunk of needlefish used as bait about 200 meters from shore and about 150 feet deep. PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLOS MOLINA.

San Carlos, Mexico fishing photo 1

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SAN CARLOS SUMMER--Sean Hahn of Phoenix, Ariz., with a nice dorado caught 2 miles off the famous peaks of San Carlos, Sonora. Below, Sean and Megan Hahn, and Tom and Jonette Boggess of Flagstaff, Ariz., enjoy a great summer evening on the Mexican Sea of Cortez coast. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOM BOGGESS.

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SAN CARLOS FOOTBALL--Craig Collins' boat No Sniveling found active fishing water and a catch of dorado and these tuna during fishing 13 to 17 miles out of San Carlos, Sonora. PHOTO COURTESY OF CRAIG COLLINS.

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MAZATLAN FISHING--Jaime Porras and his family from Chihuahua, Mexico, landed a first-ever sailfish during fishing off Mazatlan with Flota Bibi Fleet. They trolled plastic skirts aboard the charter boat Norma Patricia with Capt. David and first mate Jorge. PHOTO COURTESY OF TADEO HERNANDEZ.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico fishing photo 1

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VALLARTA SEASON OPENER--Merle Erickson of Chicago fishes several times a year at Puerto Vallarta and had a good first trip for the 2008 season as he caught some tuna to 30 pounds, dorado to 50 pounds, a 200-pound class blue marlin released, and 3 of these big pargo with Capt. Danny Osuna of the charter boat Marla. Erickson was scheduled to return to Puerto Vallarta for the big cow tuna season in September. Below, the Marla's Capt. Danny Osuna, left, and first mate Alvino Osuna. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MERLE ERICKSON.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico fishing photo 3

SEASON'S FIRST BLACKIE--The Master Baiters Sportfishing & Tackle charter boat Wahoo Wacko scored its first black marlin of the 2008 summer season while fishing in improving offshore conditions off Puerto Vallarta last week. Shown with the prize catch are, from left, Jaime Mendez, Stan Gabruk of Master Baiters, Alonzo Alverez, Wahoo Wacko first mate Juan, George Alverez, Wahoo Wacko Capt. J.J., and Arturo Millian. PHOTO COURTESY OF STAN GABRUK.

San Carlos, Mexico tiny roosterfish photo 1

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MINI-MINI ROOSTERS--Tom Boggess and his group ran into a "bite" of some very young roosterfish while tossing Kastmasters at San Carlos, Sonora, and released several of them, but this super-mini gallo could not be released and was saved to document the unusual species encounter. PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOM BOGGESS.

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