Baja North
Press Release June 13, 2023
Sportfishing Association of California
New Baja Portal
Point Loma … Captain Ken Franke, President of the Sportfishing Association of California (SAC), invited Baja California authorities Lic. Victor Hugo Mendez, Head of Sport Fishing of the Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Government of the State of Baja California; Lic. Ramón Inzunza Gallegos, Coordinator of Planning and Advice of the Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Government of the State of Baja California, and SAC Assistant Edwin Reyes to attend the “Let’s Hookup” radio show in the SAC offices in San Diego, Calif., Saturday, June 10, in the port of San Diego.
The two-hour broadcast featured the unveiling of the new “Fishing in Mexico” portal with Visit Baja California. This portal advertises the fishing tournament series in Baja as well as a new fishing license purchase point with all revenue staying locally in Baja.
Portal Links. https://www.californiasportfishing.org/
Let’s Talk Hookup
Hour one
Ensenada
The top local story is the barracuda! The bite is pretty good right now – actually, they are the best they have been all year! They are seen as jumpers, up under the birds, in the lee of Todo Santos Island, and up the coast at Salsipuedes. These appear to be the migratory fish we expected to see; let’s hope they spread north into U.S. waters soon. Fishermen are getting them here by throwing iron.
It is fun fishing! These ‘cuda are said to be running from about 27 inches up to around 40 inches. A 40-inch barracuda weighs in at about 7 or 8 pounds. Best of all, there appears to be a few yellowtail and the odd seabass mixed in with these ‘cuda. …Fishdope.com
San Quintin
A little grouper in the shallows, a lot of fish, food, and families!!! …Garcias Pangas
Bahia de Los Angeles
Mr. Olin de Antonio – yellowtail fast pitch! fishonnn&onnn! …Captain Juan Cook
South (Baja Sur)
Santa Rosalia
Mulege/Conception Bay
The season is changing but Nice Grade Yellowtail are still here. Went out this morning and focused on Fast Pitch Jigging. 8 yellowtail by 9 am with a few lost in the rocks. I love this style of fishing. They seem to be right off the bottom as the water temp is nearing 80F. We saw some Dorado swirling as we went out to the pinnacles. Some Spearos stayed with me this week at Casa Concepcion and had great diving at the islands. Both beat their previous records on Almaco Jack securing a 73lb and an 80lb. People are getting ready for Punta Chivato Bulls Only Tournament this coming weekend. Some bigger Dorado being caught. I think we will have a great summer with Pelagics. This week over 35,000 Totuaba we’re released at Playa Santispac. They have released 210,000 in the last 9 years…Nathan Burbey
Loreto
I have a little over a week before I go down to Loreto. However, I received a call from a buddy who lives down there, and he said his friend caught a 57-pound dorado on bait! That’s a monster! They also have many roosterfish, billfish, and tons of dorado! If you need more information, call me! …Carl Blackledge
Cedros Island
Photo 1 Liz with our very first-ever Calico Bass.
Photo 2: An Elephant Seal Colony.
Photo 3: Double hookup with Liz and Modesto on Yellow Tail.
I am in Cedros now. Arrived here yesterday and will be here until Friday. Surprisingly, it is very mountainous. Mule deer are here, but goats have all been taken off the island. Fished today with Capt. Balam on the ZamMar3 . . . it is an incredible panga design. Very comfortable and a great ride!
Caught calico bass and yellowtail today and lost one big halibut.Tomorrow going for cabrilla, and who knows ??? This is the exact opposite of Lopez Mateos!
We are not here with an outfitter. We are staying in the hotel in the middle of town, walking everywhere. We arranged our lodging, Capt. and panga, etc., ourselves. Very friendly people here, and it is “island life” (with everyone knowing everyone in 5 minutes).
No, need to know anything about the place other than the Outfitters, which did not fit our requirements. We went with the independent investigative program, and we are delighted! We are reporting from Cedros Island! …Cheri King
Mulege
Season is changing but Nice Grade Yellowtail are still here. I went out this morning and focused on Fast Pitch Jigging. 8 yellowtail by 9 am with a few lost in the rocks. I love this style of fishing. They are right off the bottom as the water temp is nearing 80F. We saw some Dorado swirling as we went out to the pinnacles. Some Spearos stayed with me this week at Casa Concepcion and had great diving at the islands. Both beat their previous records on Almaco Jack securing a 73lb and 80lb. People are getting ready for Punta Chivato Bulls Only Tournament this coming weekend. Some bigger Dorado being caught. I think we will have a great summer with Pelagics. This week over 35,000 Totuaba we’re released at Playa Santispac. They have released 210,000 in the last 9 years…Nathan Burbey
Loreto
I have a little over a week before I go down to Loreto. However, I received a call from a buddy who lives down there, and he said his friend caught a 57-pound dorado on bait! That’s a monster! They also have many roosterfish, billfish, and tons of dorado! If you need more information, call me! …Carl Blackledge
López Mateos
Have fished Baja extensively over the years and have always heard about the unspoiled paradise that is Mag Bay. My dad and I finally decided to give it a go, and here’s the report from 5/28 to 6/1 …
The Bad
There wasn’t much wrong at all. We flew Volaris from TJ into Loreto and drove the two hours to Lopez Mateos – we stayed at a small local hotel (the Whale’s Nest), which wasn’t much to write home about, but was clean/cheap, and the staff was great! The only issue was the weather was off (according to the locals) by at least 10 degrees – both the Water (the Bay was 62 vs. 72) and the air (the high in the 60s vs. the 70s). Plus, it was windy as a “Murtha” (10-20 mph) all day, which made it tough to fly fish, even throwing weighted lines!
The Good
Despite below-average weather, the fishing was as advertised! We fished exclusively inside the Bay and caught at least a hundred fish from 8 different species (corvina, broomtail grouper, bay bass, snook, sculpin, pargo, diablo, bonefish!) all on the fly (7-9 weights). Two of the nicest, most capable guides I’ve ever met made it possible. We fished with the Garcias (Father- Sergio, and Son-Rodrigo) for three days. Their platform was meticulously decked-out, seemingly new super panga configured perfectly for fly anglers. The Garcias were awesome. They put us consistently on fish even in harsh conditions, pulled stuck fish/flies out of the mangroves, and always with a hoot and holler after each good hookup (otro mas!!!). We met them through Mike Riser (fly guru from the East Cape). Shoutout to Mike for the hookup.
Hopefully, the pictures tell the remainder of the story. C Dread Pirate Roberts can’t wait to go once again when the fishing’s really good! …Dread Pirate Roberts
La Paz
https://youtu.be/gWz8YasUdPo
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ FISHING REPORT from Tailhunter Sportfishing for the Week of May 26 -June 2, 2023
Muertos
We picked up a boat in San Jose Del Cabo and fished there for two days for YFT, jack crevalle, and marlin. We found lots of marlin on the 1150 Bank. Got the tuna off Los Barriles and then moved to La Ventana. We fished off Cerralvo Island down to El Cardenal and found tuna, dorado, marlin, shark, and wahoo. Some boats had dorado weighing around 50 pounds. Great weather, with water temp from 78 to 81. Roosterfish were biting well off Muertos Bay and Los Arenas.
No flat tires, no shakedowns, and the roads were pretty good overall. …Pedo Viejo
East Cape
This past week, we have seen the weather turn from warm to hot, and fly fishing as well!
Link
Puerto Los Cabos
Moving into June, we are seeing variable transitional weather patterns. Northern winds remained predominant, but shifting breezes from the south were present and unpredictable. We have been waiting for patterns to stabilize some, but that has not happened; strong currents and enormous ocean swells came through last weekend. Mostly clear sunny skies, some scattered light clouds at times, highs of about 85 degrees, ideal conditions to visit now, before the real summer heat kicks in next month.
Moderate numbers of anglers are now in town. However, the local La Playita area of Puerto Los Cabos Marina was extremely busy with their annual traditional Dia de La Marina Fiesta going on through the weekend. This yearly fiesta has occurred for as long as some residents can remember, at least four decades. The deal is that the area is much more congested now, built up with businesses, sportfishing fleets, Resorts, local homes, etc., and there is insufficient space to accommodate the event in the same locations as in the past. As residents are used to it, there is never any thought of this being a public inconvenience, and organizers are determined to keep the location where it has been for tradition’s sake rather than being more accommodating and peaceful, not creating such frustration.
We have not seen the large schools of mullet move along the beaches yet. In the marina channel, caballito and jurelito are being netted, but there is no source for sardina at present. Most fishing occurred towards La Fortuna, Iman, and San Luis, straight offshore towards the 1150 Spot. This is the time of year for trolling close along the beach while targeting roosterfish, jacks, and other species, which have been a bit hit-and-miss. However, we have seen a handful of excellent roosterfish released.
The action was sporadic off the bottom due to north winds and swift currents. We saw mixed success on species such as red snapper, yellow snapper, amberjack leopard grouper, and bonito. The best chances were early in the day. After that action slowed, and most charters would search out surface action.
We saw more quality-sized dorado moving in; impressive 50-pound bull dorado were landed, not in huge numbers, but decent chances now of catching a couple of the trophy-sized fish scattered throughout the offshore grounds, although there is no particular hotspot.
Offshore the striped marlin action continued to be very good. Most activity was found 10 to 20 miles out, and stripers were seen free jumping and tailing on the surface and would readily strike dropped-back bait and lures. The sizes were excellent, up to 140 pounds.
Yellowfin tuna were encountered farther offshore, traveling with porpoise, hit or miss, and most of the time 15 to 25 miles offshore – not a typical deal for a morning charter unless you make advance arrangements and pay fuel surcharges. The sizes for these tuna were up to 40 pounds in recent days, much larger than the previous weeks. The yellowfin tuna did not want to bite on the nearby Iman or San Luis Banks, but there is a better chance now among the porpoise.
Only a few wahoo strikes are reported, most incidentally while bottom fishing. However, they are in the area, and you never know with the ‘hoo. They have their own personality when they feel in the mood to strike. .…Good Fishing, Eric
Cabo San Lucas
Pisces 46′ La Chingona takes 3rd Place Release + DailiesThe 9th Annual Pelagic Rockstar Tournament concludes with over $400,000 USD in winnings, with Pisces boats making it into the Top 3 Winners once again this year!
Pisces 46’ La Chingona put in some MAJOR work on Day 2 to Release 23 Billfish – the most Billfish released by a single boat in this tourney – and land themselves 3rd Place Overall with 36 Released, plus they took the Daily Billfish Release Jackpot.
Pisces 40′ Coronita with Team Listo takes 3rd place Dorado
BILLFISH RELEASE Team Cloud Nine, 1st Place Billfish Release + Jackpots with 39 Releases – $123,424 USD Team Santana, 2nd Place Billfish Release with 38 Releases
1st Place Release for Cloud Nine!
SPECIES: Blue marlin, striped marlin, skipjack, dorado, grouper, bonito, sierra, needlefish, ladyfish, sheepshead, jack crevalle, yellowtail, and roosterfish.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: The seas were clear and calm, with three-foot waves. The conditions were also clear, with wind from 8 to 16 kts.
WATER TEMP: 72 to 79 degrees F.
AIR TEMP: 70to79 F.
BEST LURES: Palos lures, tigrillo, live and dead mackerel, caballito, ballyhoo, Lisa, and hoochies.
BEST LOCATIONS: The 1150 Spot, Punta Gorda, Cabrillo Mt. Abajo del 95 Spot.
Baja Norte (North)
Bull Ring
Some decent halibut fishing is still happening on the Flats and near the IB Pipe in IB. A few guys are getting some by bounce-balling. Sand bass is biting okay in IB at the Pipe, also.
Coronado Islands / Rockpile
No report today, but yesterday we got intel of some signal of yellowtail along the weather side of North Island and along the ridge running through the Middle Grounds.
Yoyo iron accounted for a few, as did fly-lined sardines.
Some barracuda are in the lee of South Island and the Lighthouse Kelp and South Kelp. These were all surface iron jig-fish. Trolling mag rapalas or DTX minnows should work well, too. Stay tuned!
Calico bass are now biting at the boiler rocks in the Middle Islands area. Throw swimbait right up into the boiler rocks and wind them out at a medium speed.
Evening Report from SDWhaler17;
Late start at the island arriving around 9am. Fished the North end of N.Island going south on the weather side for nothing. Slow-trolled sardine, no biters, but saw fish on the meter, plenty of bait around. Fished middle grounds for nothing, going west. West of the middle grounds, just south following birds, found large schools of legal barracuda.
Fished big barracuda, every cast for 30 mins before we drifted off the action. They bit almost everything we threw jig-wise – surface irons, Zakana jigs, big, small, everything. Every cast.
Went south to ribbon kelp for a calico, not much else.
Coming back north, stopped at a school of birds, the same place as before for barracuda. 15 mi.…Fishdope.com
