Baja Bytes update, August 21, 2024…At last, Ensenada and San Quintin report some productive bottom fishing action, primarily with an added incentive at Ensenada of some fat sheepshead. The dorado bite is on fire in Bahia de Los Angeles, and they are not the “dinks” being caught farther south. At Guerrero Negro, our buddy Chema Medina is having a ball with 220-grain Cyclops, and Beito Walker from Pro Hunter catching yellowtail. While farther down the Pacific side at Ascension Bay the Calisuenos Tournament held last weekend was a huge success. Farther down at Lopez Mateos ????? Back over on the Sea of Cortez side at Loreto, be sure to check out the variety offered. Although La Paz has been unpredictable, East Cape, Gordo and Cabo are all reporting great tuna and billfish action worth checking out. If you are fishing in Baja this week, “TELL ME A STORY” @thatbajaguy@gmail.com!
Do you need a Mexican Fishing License?
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FMM link: https://www.gob.mx/inm/acciones-y-programas/sport-fishing-and-nautical-tourism.
If you are having trouble with FMMs, here is an email for assistance:
bc pescadeportiva@inami.gob.mx.
When bringing fish back to the U.S. from Mexico, make sure to have your Declaration Forms filled out for everyone on the boat:
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My good friend Jr. put together a full-day fishing trip in Ensenada, including a two-night stay in a condo on the hill overlooking downtown and the Marina. We stopped for snacks and a coconut for me on the way down. Then, we had lunch at Bahia Seafood of Ensenada, a 6-story restaurant with killer grub! Our next stop was the Marina, where we met with our Captain to discuss the following day’s trip. At this time, we learned that yellowtail were caught at Todos Santos over the last few days. We were on the dock the next morning and ready to go at 5:30 a.m. Of the eight total anglers that went out, three went sportfishing with Sarah, and the other five went on El Horse and headed straight to the bait dock for live sardines before heading for the Islands. We trolled Rapalas as soon as we arrived at the islands, and before long, Gabriel and I had hooked two yellowtail. We trolled and fly-lined most of the day with Jr., leading the board with the most fish caught on the boat. We finished fishing for rockfish, where Jr. and Manny had landed some giant lingcod. I won the Pot for the smallest fish caught. Our total count was 11 yellowtail, three lingcod, three calico bass, one bonito, a grip of rockfish, and a few sanddabs. It turned out to be a fantastic day on the water. Angel, the deckhand, made us the most killer, fresh yellowtail Ceviche! Hats off to him and Captain Oscar for getting us on fish and ensuring everyone was catching and having an excellent time. …Arthur Pereira https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2802899469874484&set=pcb.1984453455334213
Good mackerel in the mouth of the bay for bait, yellows, and maybe tuna – and even some dorado around on the banks. White sea bass, halibut at the island, and calico on the kelps there if… So, a fly-line and dropper-loop setup for bait, 25 to 40 pounds. This can double for reds and lings if there is no pelagic action or limits – A yoyo setup, 60 pounds – an inshore setup, 20 to 25 pounds for chucking plastics! And a surf rig to hit the beach and chuck crabs. – Bring plastics from 4″ to 8″ and lead heads from 1/2 oz and up to 3 oz. Large plastics work on the big lings, which are also biting now. Are there other lures you’d use for calico and halibut to tuna? …Daniel Powell
San Felipe
No Report
Gonzaga Bay
No Report
Bahia de los Angeles
Dorado is at the top of the catch list NOW!
¡Ven a vivir la aventura este 𝟮𝟯, 𝟮𝟰 𝘆 𝟮𝟱 𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗼 en #GuerreroNegro, durante el fin de semana de pesca deportiva “𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝑾𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓”!
• Viernes 23: Torneo “Pescando Residuos” y Entrenamiento Infantil de Pesca de Orilla
• Sábado 24: Torneo de Orilla infantil, femenil y varonil
• Domingo 25: Torneo de Altamar de Jurel ¡Hay actividades para toda la familia!
Consulta los detalles en la convocatoria.
Informes e inscripciones a los teléfonos 615-110-1393 y 615-159-9325.
El Gobierno del Estado de BCS a través del FONMAR y el Comité de Pesca Deportiva de Guerrero Negro, te invitan.
#FonmarBCS #PescaDeportivaBCS #SportFishing
I have a nice Sardinian buck from a few days ago with my Safari G2 and my 220gr Cyclops from Pro Hunter. Bring all the crazy yellowtails of this Beito walker from our friends at Pro Hunter. …Chema Medina
The first “Calisueños” shore fishing tournament was held today with 142 participants registered. Many thanks to FONMAR and the State Government, our sponsors Mercadito El Escondido, cooperative Laws of Reform, abarrotes León Floriani, Mercadito Bay, warehouse laws of Renovation, Assumption Bay caps, lic. Raúl Zepeda, and to all of you!!! The first of many tournaments was an immense success! …Shari Bondy
Punta Chivato
No Report
Bahía Concepción
No Report
It has been a crazy season so far in Loreto. I must resort to opening the excuse bag and pulling out the “El Niño” explanation! There is a fantastic full moon this week; however, we usually fall back on that excuse in the colder months. Any body of water near shore seems choked with some open-water jellyfish of the long and stingy variety. No moon jellies or the little blue blobs that can visit the area. Lots of beachgoers, but few are in the water. The optimistic words from the local captains are bright, with striped and blue marlin out near Punta Lobo and a big dorado further out. Yellowtail and baqueta have been hitting bait and iron at “Lágrimas” off the lighthouse on Coronado. Further north at “almejas,” there is consistent yellowtail and pargo action. A handful of the local “gringo” anglers are doing their fishing over at Lopez Mateos this week. No results have trickled down to this reporter so far. Things are less predictable that way! “Good fishing, just don’t get too close to the water and no splashing” is the report this week from down south!.…Rick Hill
It’s still insane Tuna Fishing out of Lopez Mateos. The water was 78.5 degrees. Still using cedar plugs, we had 14 fat Yellowfin Tuna on board in 3.5 hours, full of baby lobster. The weather is great and hardly anyone is here. ‘ Ten miles out, we found 33+ pound Yellowfin Tuna and one small Dorado. At the 23, there was 60+ pound Yellowfin Tuna, but no sight of Wahoo yet. There were 60+ pound Yellowfin Tuna with Bill Erhardt and Ruben Duran caught at the 23 on Tuesday. Lopez Mateos Sportfishing on YouTube, too. Cheri King, Lopez Mateos Sportfishing +52 613 114 8044, <sannichick@gmail.com>
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ FISHING REPORT from Tailhunter Sportfishing for the Week of June 18-25, 2024
The Wahoo Gold Cup and Tuna Shoot Out tournaments will be combined into one spectacular competition! Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 21, 2024, and prepare for an unforgettable fishing day.- Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
– Entry Fee: $600
Registration day is September 20 at Hotel Palmas de Cortez from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.- Grand Prize: A Brand-New Volkswagen Polo for the heaviest Wahoo or Tuna catch
– Optional Jackpots: $200, $300, $500, $1,000, $2,000 buy-ins for Wahoo and Tuna (each one)- Reserve your spot today for a day of exciting fishing, camaraderie, and big prizes!
San Jose del Cabo
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
August 18th, 2024
We continue to see small crowds of anglers at our marina. This time of year, many visiting tourists opt out of fishing due to the heat and humidity that can be experienced on the water. We closely monitor weather forecasts, a priority during this peak season for tropical storm development. We had no issues with the weather this week, and it seems it will continue to be clear for the next week or so.
This week’s highlight was a 447-pound Black Marlin caught on one of our 26-foot super pangas. This fish was caught on “The Killer II” with Captain Maury. It was hooked on a small live skipjack at around 7:30 a.m. at the inner Gordo. The anglers were fishing the bottom for a chance at a dogtooth snapper and thought it was a giant shark or yellowfin since it did not jump for the first 2 hours. We encourage catch and release for all billfish; unfortunately, this fish tired out and died after a lengthy battle. They landed it at around 11:30 a.m. This marlin fed a big part of the community. Besides this marlin, we heard reports of 2 other Black Marlin hooked and lost between the inner and outer Gordo.
Throughout the surrounding areas of Gordos, the 1150 Bank, and Cabrillo, we hook into striped and small blue Marlin. Most of these Blue Marlin are averaging between 150 and 200 pounds. Within the same area, there is a chance of hooking into a few dorado. Not a lot of numbers are reported for Dorado. You might get lucky to catch a couple.
Many local pangeros and private boats are focusing on chasing porpoise offshore. Most reports were potting schools of porpoise 30 to 45 miles out, within the surrounding areas of 1150 and Cabrillo. We did hear of a few schools coming closer to outer Gordo. A few lucky boats could catch their tuna limits. Others were not so lucky, putting in long days for 1 or 2 fish. Most of these yellowfin are averaging 25 to 35 pounds, with a handful of 80-pounders in the mix.
There was little action at Vinorama, Iman, and La Fortuna. Some boats have tried jigging and drifting bait on different rock structures, though the current and green waters have not been favorable. A few yellow and red snappers were caught on the jigs early in the morning. Most of the boats that tried this area transitioned into trolling lures offshore…Good Fishing, Brian Brictson
Cabo San Lucas
Giant Yellowfin in the Neighborhood
All in all, the week produced outstanding fishing. The weather has been in the 80s, and the fish have been spread out. There are not as many boats in the different areas and no competition. You can target almost anything on your bucket list, especially if you are looking for a Striped or a Blue Marlin. There is also plenty of Tuna around, plus this week, there was a nice-sized wahoo caught, along with Dorado, Sailfish, Skipjack, Silky Shark, Grouper, Bonito, Ladyfish, and Needlefish.
August 9 to 15, 2024 Overall Catch Success Rate, All Species Combined
Catch Success Rate 94.74%, Billfish, 65.79%, Dorado 13.16% Tuna 34.21%, Other Species 15.79%
