Bajabytes Sport Fishing Weekly Update 5.15.24
“LA CHINGONA” 46ft Viking MIGUEL/ GILBERTO/ OMAR
22 Striped Marlin 80-150 BALLYHOO 1150 SPOT
1 Dorado 10LBS BALLYHOO 1150 SPOT 05.15.22
Andy Moore, Chris Drew, Donnie Valentine, Jordan Funke, and Tim Nelson from Scottsdale Arizona
Brace yourselves, folks! The National Meteorological Service of Mexico has just rolled out its predictions for the 2024 hurricane season. It looks as though the Eastern Pacific (yep, that includes us) is in for a bumpy ride.
According to the forecast, we can expect between 15 and 18 storms this year. Here’s the breakdown—about 8 or 9 will be tropical storms, while 4 or 5 could escalate into one or two-category hurricanes. Even more intense, we might see 3 to 4 hurricanes reaching categories 3, 4, or 5.
The shift from the “El Niño” to the “La Niña” phenomenon around mid-June will likely heat things up, increasing seawater temperatures, particularly in the Atlantic, which could fuel more severe storms beyond the wind and waves. Remember, the real threat often comes from the heavy rains, which can flood our arroyos and wreak havoc. It’s time to dust off those emergency plans and get ready. Consider this your official “heads-up!”
Need a Mexican Fishing License?
https://app.sportfishingbcs.gob.m
Report from Joshua Flamand;
Friday, May 11. We fished in the morning in La Jolla until 13:00 with no luck. We had a school of birds and dolphin around noon just off Scripps and got solid marks at around 100 feet. We tried live bait and jigs with no luck. We saw only marks and surface action all day.
Then we moved to Point Loma from 15:00 to 16:00, and the bite was on! We got two halibut off the Rockpile area with a double dropper and live sardine (8-oz. torpedo). The first halibut was 38 inches, and the second was 37 inches. We also got one sand bass, one calico, two rock, and one sculpin. We pulled up a few chewed-up bait because no stingers were used.
——— Mexican Waters ————
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 song remains the same – 95% of the yellowtail caught here came in the late afternoon after 3 pm. The San Diego had a good day, scoring 15 yellowtail for 15 passengers. It was a wild afternoon for the passengers. The mornings were not showing many signs, but there was a lot of boat traffic. When the crowds go home, the yellows come to the surface and are caught on a well-placed, mint-colored surface iron or a slow-trolled sardine or mackerel.
South Island has been best, from the Lighthouse Kelp to SKR. Boats are also finding yellows in the Middle grounds and Rockpile areas.Other than that, it is all about rockfish at the Rockpile. The yellows are biting, and you also have a decent shot at a lingcod or two.
No barracuda or bonito yet. …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.
Bring all your surface irons – it is time to cast for these guys! They show up soon. Book now! We have dates available.
San Quintin
No Report
I recently had a boat full of doctors – my friends, Dr. Hung Liao, Dr. Andrew Chen, Dr. Alan Chan, and a fisherman who hires doctors to do his research, Mr.Leo Wang. The weather was great, and the water was blue, windless, and flat!!! We enjoyed two great days of fishing and, of course, the camaraderie, which is always good. It’s always good to see and fish with you and your friends, Dr. Hung!!! …Fishoooonnn, my friend! ….Juan Cook !! …Juan Cook
Bahia de los Angeles It was an excellent day of fishing. …Martin’s sportfishing
The 5th Annual MPE Tournament is this weekend!
2023’s MPE Tournament Payout was $802,100
On May 20-21, 2023, the4th Annual MPE Loreto Tournament maintained its record-breaking attendance and prize money for four consecutive years as fifty-eight teams competed for over $802,100 in cash prizes.
During the past four years, this event has established itself as one of the most popular
multi-species events in the Sea of Cortez, targeting striped marlin, dorado, and yellowtail.
This time of year, the Sea of Cortez’s ideal weather and fishing conditions produce notable catches in the dorado and yellowtail categories and the “catch and release” billfish category.
Last year’s event shattered its previous records with a remarkable payout of $802,100 in cash prizes, attracting 58 of the most respected teams on the “Baja Tournament circuit,” along with some newcomers.
The big winners included Team Bullrider in the Dorado Division for their 44.1-pound fish, earning them $118,550.
Team Los Cazadores (Fins Up) in the Yellowtail Division won First Place for the largest fish, which weighed 41.2 pounds.
“Another remarkable achievement was the number of billfish caught and released by the fleet for the 4th year in a row, which exceeded triple digits,” Director Enrique Salcedo commented. In that Division, adding their second Jackpot win over the past three events, was Team La Chingona, participating for the third time that year.
The following are the stats for 2023: Teams, 58; Anglers, 191; Billfish,159; Dorado, 27; and Yellowtail, 33.
Legendary angler Martha McNab, owner of the “Retriever,” shared, “Unfortunately, we won’t be able to attend this year. We love this tournament! Everything about it is top-rate – the competition, the facility, and the beautiful location. The camaraderie on the docks among the owners, captains, and crew makes this event unique. I hope it maintains its quality and attempts will not be made to grow it beyond the facility’s capacity.
The MPE Tournament is fun. A lot of action is happening with the different categories — dorado and yellowtail and the “catch and release” billfish category, plus the Sea of Cortez in the Loreto area is beautiful to fish. The Marina has all the modern features to accommodate the vessels, and the staff does everything possible to make everyone comfortable. There is a lot of camaraderie among the different teams you can’t find in the larger tournaments.There is no other tournament like this one anywhere in Baja!”
Guerrero Negro
No Report
Bahía Asunción
No Report
Amazon flagged my Flat Falls for having MILF in the title (MILF Jigs). They are not allowing me to advertise. Great to have in your box or resell at this price! Comment MILF if you love to fish. …Nathan Burbey
It was great fishing with Mel Torres yesterday. The Torres Sport Fishing Family is the best, IMO. Always on the fish. They caught 13 and released 6. My buddy Brent had never caught yellowtail before and had his hands full! …Jerry Kendrick
MPE CatchStat
It’s all about Grouper and Halibut – inside Mag Bay and outside the Soledad Boca – with pink rapalas or sardines. Still very windy, but were able to sneak outside for awhile this last week for some larger Grouper at the Grouper Rocks. But not looking too good for getting out there again this next week….Cheri King
Hi Gary. I just got off the water. And there are quite a few small-to-medium roosterfish from Palmas to the Lighthouse. There are some larger roosters offshore in the Rincon area, along with the occasional dorado. Some dorado have been in and around the Rincon area, and we found a couple of Toro cruising today in the shallow water in front of La Ribera. There haven’t been any tuna, though there is a decent pompano bite in about 90 feet of water off the Lighthouse. There has been lots of bait around the Marina and up and down the shoreline. …Jeff DeBrown
San Jose del Cabo
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
May 12, 2024
The weather and temperature remain ideal for beach activities, with slight winds and hot sunny days. Our slow season is starting to reflect at our Marina as we see limited charters daily. Many local captains use their spare time to fish and scout different areas.
Our target species continues to be the yellowfin tuna. Even though the bite slowed, we continue to see them daily. We have been focusing on Iman Bank, where we have seen most of the activity. Many pangeros have been scouting different areas, such as San Luis and Vinorama, but have returned empty-handed. Most tuna were hooked on live and dead sardina, though some nicer-sized ones preferred the squid strips. The largest yellowfin we saw this week was slightly over 100 pounds. It was a long, difficult fight on 40# test. We saw more action this weekend as a few boats caught two or three earlier in the morning.
Many boats head closer to shore when the tuna bite slows to look for rock structures. Cardon seems to be the go-to Spot as we see a variety of great eating species such as yellow snapper, barred pargo, pompano, grouper, and Spanish mackerel. We have also seen schools of dorado while fishing in 20 to 30 feet of water.
Throughout most of our shoreline, we are seeing more roosterfish activity. We are seeing quality-size fish as we start to get mullet from the bait guys. The best areas for roosterfish are La Laguna, El Zacaton, and Secrets/Marriot Hotel. …Good Fishing, Brian
Cabo San Lucas
Pisces Fleet, Fish Report May 3 – 9, 2024
Author: Gary Graham
Date Published: May 10, 2024
Overall Catch Success Rate: All Species Combined 90.24%.
Billfish Catch Success Rate: Billfish, 68.29%, Dorado 7.32, Tuna 14.63%, and Other Species 39.02%.
Pisces fleet week 19, 2024, remained consistent with cookie-cutter weather, and a remarkable species list dominated by striped marlin, plus roosterfish, amberjack, sierra, jack crevalle, ladyfish, skipjack, bonito, dorado, grouper, red snapper, triggerfish, thresher, and silky shark.
An interesting tidbit is that the striped marlin averaged two per day average for the Pisces boats fishing the 19th week. Not bad for a season just getting started!
“MY WAY,” a45-foot Viking, with Captain Arturo at the helm, and Mates Daniel and Jose running the cockpit, and clients Hunter Summit, Jake Bastián, Jamie Winter, Josh Winter, and Serena Nelson were near Punta Gorda when marlin feeders surfaced around their boat! By the timethey had gone, the anglers had caught and released NINE striped marlin, estimated to weigh 90 to 120 pounds on fresh ballyhoo, plus two dorado and three grouper on sardina, at Punta Gorda.
Read more: Cabo Double Digit Releases Continue