From the Coronado Islands to the tip of the Baja Peninsula, the BajaBytes features are extraordinary. Trophy-sized “run and gun” yellowtail are found on the Pacific side, and on the Sea of Cortez side (Gonzaga Bay and Bahia de Los Angeles), great catches of grouper and yellowtail up to 30 pounds are not uncommon. There are more reports of white seabass at Guerrero Negro, while Concepción Bay offers limits of yellowtail on artificials. Fonmar is hosting a “Grouper Tournament” this coming weekend at Lopez Mateos. East Cape is “on fire” as north winds finally subside, and dorado and roosterfish are on the prowl. Down at the tip, large yellowfin, grouper, and striped marlin have taken up residence at Iman, Gordo, and 1150 Banks. Underscoring the excellent striped marlin bite, 11 boats from the Pisces Fleet racked up 49 striped marlin releases
Bajabytes Sport Fishing Weekly Update 4.24.24
Need a Mexican Fishing License?
https://app.sportfishingbcs.gob.m
Fishbrain reports Imperial Beach Pier lists the following species caught in the region: Pacific chub mackerel, Thornback guitarfish, California Barred sand bass, Pacific shovelnose guitarfish, Haller’s round ray, Bat eagle ray, and California halibut.
——— Mexican Waters ————
Mexican Permits AVAILABLE here:
FMM link here: https://www.gob.mx/inm/acciones-y-programas/sport-fishing-and-nautical-tourism
If you have trouble with FMM, here is an email for assistance: bc_pescadeportiva@inami.gob.mx When bringing fish back to the US from Mexico, make sure to have your Declaration Forms filled out for everyone on the boat. Forms Here
The Islands and the Rockpile are heating up! There are promising signs of yellowtail at both locations, and the fish are excellent grade, with most being around 15 to 25 pounds.
These are found mainly by sonar as schools and coming in on the yoyos, although some are seen under birds.
The best zone in the Islands is from Pukey down the weather side of North Island, where there are cleaner conditions. However, a few fish have metered in the lee of South Island. Remember that conditions such as water color, current, and tide play a significant role in these fish biting. Yesterday, it was slow until the tide changed in the afternoon.
At the Rockpile, the yellowtail were metered down around 175 to 250 feet, and boats found more a few miles south of the Rockpile, where they are also seeing good fishing for red rockfish, sheephead, whitefish, and a decent number of lingcod.
Report from Dale and Brennan on the Gilded Lady:
“We went out to the Coronados yesterday. We started at South Island and looked along down the Lighthouse – it was lifeless (minus some calicos). Then we worked down the ridge looking for yellows but didn’t find anything, so we fished the Rockpile for bottom fish for a while.
There were no signs of gamefish until about 4 p.m., just coming out of slack low tide. We saw 2 or 3 small schools of nice yellows (more like wolf packs of maybe a dozen or more fish), just barely puddling/nervous water, under birds, within a few miles of the Rockpile proper. Only one came under the boat, and the others kept their distance. The window lasted maybe 30 minutes, then disappeared. Water through the Middle Grounds was off-color but a little better, cleaner, green outside North Island.”
Report from a member:
“It was a great day at the Rockpile with limits of rockfish and a good grade of yellowtail on the mint surface iron!”…Fish Dope
**** ATTENTION ****
You must stay at least 250 meters (820 feet) away from tuna pens. If you don’t, you risk losing your boat and landing in a Mexican jail.
Click here for more details on this subject.
Salsipuedes/Ensenada/PuntaBanda/SantoTomas/Isolete
There continues to be some good surface iron fishing for 15 to 25-pound class yellowtail in the Punta Banda area. The local boats also say there are yellows at Salsipuedes and down the coast at Isolete. One sports boat scored 51 yellowtail and 75 rockfish at Isolete yesterday.… Fish Dope
Travis Bryant and Matt Sewell joined me on a fine, windless day. We arrived at the Golden Reef to find no current and no fish showing. I looked in deep water for deep-water bass and got lucky. I found a spot full of giant, hungry fish, and we had a great time pulling on some of the biggest gold-spotted bass I’ve ever seen! Okay…fishonnn! …Juan Cook
We are more than ready for this first edition of the PURO FIERRO sport fishing tournament, we are waiting for you this 2-4 May to live the experience of a different tournament and of course, you can’t miss the big party.
READY YOUR RODS AND PACK YOUR BEST SIGNS!
The first tournament is underway for the Pink Promise Torneo Pesca Femenil Loreto this May 4th & 5th!
FONMAR and Onco Loreto signed the collaboration agreement to carry forward this noble
event to benefit Ayuntamiento de Loreto BCS in support of women with cancer.
#TorneoPinkPromise #FonmarBCS #FishingInTheFive24
White sea bass in Baja? …Chema Medina
Bahía Asunción
Windy season is upon us, and water has dropped into the low 60s. Some yellowtail and, of course, calicos are around. …Shari Bondy
The Tug is the Drug! MILF Throat GOAT!Ultimate Speed JIG …Nathan Burbey
When you get tired of catching yellowtail, go fill the freezer with these beauties. We love Loreto! …Pedro Slunaker
.And now, “the powers that be” have decided to have an ‘Inside the Bay’ Grouper Tournament on April 27 at 7 a.m. Registration will be held on April 26 from 1 to 6 p.m. ……Cheri King – Lopez Mateos Sportfishing.
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ FISHING REPORT from Tailhunter Sportfishing for the Week of April 11-18, 2024
Tony Tran is with Anibal Miranda and 3 others.
April 21st, 2024
We are heading into the peak of our slow season. The number of charters within our marina has significantly decreased, and we are experiencing cool mornings in the high 60s and hot days in the mid-80s. Fishing has remained consistent and productive throughout most of the week.
Surprisingly, we continue to see big yellowfin daily, which is unusual for this time of year. We primarily target tuna at San Luis and Iman Banks with live and dead sardina. Most of the Captains confirmed that the bite was earlier this week. According to multiple reports, the best chance to hook a tuna was before 9 a.m. A few boats had up to 3 or 4 hookups before that time. One of the boats within the fleet had seven nice yellowfin yesterday (Saturday). We are fishing 50- and 60-pound test lines, and bringing some of these fish to the boat has been tough. This week’s biggest tuna weighed 193 and 149 pounds, were caught on 50-pound test lines, and took dead sardina.
Within the same tuna grounds, there is a chance of hooking into a few dorado, wahoo, and striped marlin with live sardina. The bite can be hit or miss on most days. A handful of wahoo have been picked off while casting jigs on the surface.
Bottom action continues to be consistent. The best action and most productive rock structures come from Cardón. We are catching amberjack, grouper, and various snapper, mainly yellow snapper. The best bottom action is coming from live sardina, but there is not a lot of action on the jigs. We continue to find good Sierra (Spanish mackerel) action closer to shore. If you prefer to target a roosterfish, there is a good chance of hooking into a few nice ones. We are targeting roosters beginning in front of the Secrets/Marriott Hotels and going to El Zacatón. Most of these fish are averaging 10 pounds, though there are some nice 20-pounders in the mix!…Good Fishing Brian Brictson
Pisces Fleet, Fish Report April 12-18, 2024
Pisces Report – The 16th Week of 2024,
Overall Catch Success Rate, All Species Combined 84.21%.
Billfish Catch Success Rate: Billfish, 70.18%, Dorado 10.53%, Tuna 10.53%, Other Species 21.05%.
Our 16th week of 2024 began with clear skies, 8 to 10 knots of wind midday, 5 to 6-foot seas, and ocean temps holding at 70+ degrees. Judging from the daily catch reports for Friday, April 12, 2024, all seemed ideal for striped marlin.
Striped Marlin 49
Bonito 3
Grouper 4
Ladyfish 12
Mako shark 1
Skipjack 1
Total Caught 70
“MY WAY,” a 45-foot Viking with Captain Arturo at the helm and Josue manning the cockpit while Derek Cole, Joseph Evans, and Shawn Pierce, from Oklahoma, caught and released 4 Striped Marlin at Punta Gorda.
Amid the “Striper Frenzy,” some of the crews and their anglers found time to add other species to their daily catch list.
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