Baja Bytes Fishing Report, JANUARY 22, 2025
This year’s International Gamefish Association annual auction, a highly anticipated event in the fishing community, features incredible international fishing destinations such as Australia, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Argentina, Guatemala, Canada, Brazil, and numerous others. These trips are a true angler’s dream and should interest the West Coast fishing community.
41st IGFA International Auction
Do you need a Mexican Fishing License?
https://app.sportfishingbcs.gob.mx
——— Mexican Waters ————
Mexican Permits AVAILABLE here: https://www.californiasportfishing.org/
FMM link here: https://www.gob.mx/inm/acciones-y-programas/sport-fishing-and-nautical-tourism
If having 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
A maintenance project is underway on the Imperial Beach Pier until the summer of 2025. Partial or complete pier closure (brief) may be necessary. For more information, go to portofsandiego.org/IBPierProject. Some sections may need to be closed temporarily, either partially or entirely.
The local sports boats have not been coming down there for quite some time. Most of the sports boats are now offline for winter maintenance. San Diego will be offline until March 1st. With rockfish season closed in US waters, the Rockpile might also be a good option; just make sure to have the appropriate paperwork.
Tip here … Collect all the legal paperwork for everyone onboard and store it in one large zip-lock bag. When the Mexican Navy stops you, you will have everything they want to see in one spot for quick inspection. They will appreciate that.
Report from Doug: Today was a successful rock fishing day at South 9-Mile Bank. A selection of large red rockfish, copper rockfish, Mexican chili peppers, spotted green fish, starfish, and sand dabs is available. All in all, there is some good fish taco meat! Just south of the border, year-round rock fishing! The day began with wind and swell, but by mid-morning, the wind stopped blowing, and the seas were calm. There was not much chatter on the radio. Get them! …Fish Dope
Ensenada is truly an angler’s paradise!
Todos Santos Island – the point is famous for its challenging Yellowtail and Calico Bass. The underwater structures and currents make it an exciting place for experienced anglers.
Punta Banda offers a variety of species. Halibut are plentiful, and you might find Sand Bass and Spotted Bay Bass lurking around.
San Miguel Reef – a rock fisher’s dream! The rocky terrain attracts diverse species, from Lingcod to Sheepshead, providing non-stop action.
Bahia de Todos Santos – with such a large bay, the variety of catches can be thrilling. Bonito, Barracuda, and Thresher Shark are impressive species you might encounter.
If you plan a trip there, make sure you’re geared up for deep sea and shore fishing to take full advantage of Ensenada’s offerings.
San Quintín truly has an electrifying fishing scene! The bay may offer Bay Bas Central, but it’s an angler’s dream come true once you venture beyond its entrance.
The high spots surrounding Isla San Martin teem have diverse marine life, including rock cod, yellowtail, lingcod, ocean whitefish, and many bottom species. The rocky underwater structures create perfect habitats for these fish, making every trip there an adventure.
If you plan to head out, ensure you have your gear ready for some serious bottom fishing. The excitement of reeling in these catches is incomparable.
You can catch rock cod, yellowtail, lingcod, ocean whitefish, and many bottom species. You’ll find rockfish, halibut, white sea bass, yellowtail, and grouper within the bay. And if you are there during summer, you might even reel in dorado, yellowfin tuna, or marlin — quite the impressive lineup.
Fishing is a fantastic activity to consider if you’re visiting San Felipe, as the town has a rich fishing history centered around fishing in the calm waters of the Sea of Cortez. Most vacationers opt for short, few-hours to half-day fishing trips, easily accessible by hiring a “panga” at the Malecon in downtown San Felipe. Head down Chetumal Boulevard until you reach the T-Junction onto Costero Street. There, you will find numerous pangas ready to take you out for fun, family-friendly fishing.
Gonzaga Bay offers an angler’s paradise with its rich diversity of inshore sportfish.
Cabrilla: A favorite among anglers, prized for their delicious taste.
Yellowtail: Fast and strong, making them a thrilling catch.
Mackerel: Abundant, a great bait fish, but fun to catch, too.
Calico Bass: Known for their aggressive nature and beautiful patterns.
Rock Cod: Perfect for those who enjoy bottom fishing.
Red Snapper: Delicious and often found near rocky structures.
Whitefish: Mild-flavored and a joy to catch.
Bonito: Fast and challenging, great for experienced anglers.
Barracuda: Their speed and sharp teeth make them a thrilling target.
Salmon Grouper: Known for their large size and strength.
Shoreline fishing is ideal for both experienced and beginning anglers. Gonzaga Bay’s calm waters and diverse marine life ensure a fantastic fishing experience.
Bahía de Los Ángeles Bay: Nestled in the Sea of Cortez, known for its excellent fishing and stunning scenery. The diverse marine life and strategic location make Bahía de Los Ángeles Bay a top spot for anglers.
Bahía de Los Ángeles Bay offers an outstanding fishing experience. The variety of fish you can catch here is quite impressive. Here’s a quick guide:
Popular Species: Yellowtail, White Sea Bass, Sheepshead, Grouper, Cabrilla, Spotted Cabrilla, Dorado (seasonal), Marlin (seasonal), and Sailfish (seasonal).
Best Bait/Techniques: Scrambled-Egg Yoyo Jigs: Particularly effective for trophy-sized yellowtail and grouper. Seasonal Considerations: Summer Months: Prime time for larger pelagic fish, like dorado and marlin, providing thrilling fishing opportunities.
When fishing at Cedros Island, expect to target large schools of yellowtail, primarily, as they are considered the main attraction, with the possibility of catching other species like calico bass, white sea bass, halibut, and occasional pelagic fish like yellowfin tuna, all while experiencing fast-paced, “run-and-gun” surface iron fishing in small pangas, often with visible feeding frenzies near the island’s rocky structures and kelp beds; most anglers will catch significant numbers of yellowtail ranging from 15 to 30 pounds each day, with the potential for even larger fish.
Species: Yellowtail – considered the “King” of Cedros Island fishing, often caught in large schools through surface iron techniques.
Fishing style: Primarily “run-and-gun” surface iron fishing, you actively search for visible bait schools and feeding frenzies.
Other potential catches are the Calico bass, white sea bass, halibut, barracuda, bonito, and occasionally pelagic fish like dorado, depending on the season.
Boat type: Small pangas with experienced local captains, adept at finding fish.
The best time to visit is in the summer (June – September) for the most consistent yellowtail action.
Shari Bondy is at Whale Magic Tours.
Our season’s opening tour in Laguna Ojo de Liebre was terrific! There were about 20 whales in our area. After a few mating trios and a couple of juveniles, we got close to six mothers with calves. One mom and baby came over to us and under our panga several times to show us her baby! On Jan. 13, the census count was 67 whales in the lagoon, with more coming in every day!
For reservations, visit the Package tour page on www.whalemagictours.com
Bahia Asuncion seems to be the place for fishing enthusiasts seeking the big tuna and bluefin right now. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of reeling in those giant fish. It must feel like you’re on top of the world with all that success!
If you’ve got any tips or stories from your recent fishing adventures there, I’d love to hear them. Hearing someone share their stories about their hot spots and big catches is always exciting. Tight lines, and here’s to many more successful fishing trips!
For room and panga reservations, contact infoasuncion@gmail.com.…Shari Bondy
La Bocana offers Inshore, Offshore, and Estuary fishing. Fish in the area are grouper, calico bass, spotted bay bass, sand bass, halibut, snook, triggerfish, yellowtail, sheepshead, white sea bass, black sea bass, tuna, wahoo, dorado, marlin, sailfish, rock cod, ling cod, whitefish, and Sierra macs.
Santa Rosalía offers a unique diversity and abundance of fish species. It’s incredible to think you can encounter everything from an acrobatic blue marlin to the powerful wahoo – each fish has its unique challenge, which makes every trip incredibly exciting. Do you have any favorite spots or stories from fishing in Santa Rosalía to share?
Punta Chivato is another unusual spot seldom mentioned! The yellowtail are great warriors, especially when caught using iron. Using live sardina, strips of skipjack, and 40# fluoro, they are also great for targeting those who prize them.
Fun Fishing Today! Nathan Burbey
Casa Concepción
9 Yellowtail with Late bite all on MILF Jigs. Young Boy is Hooked for Life. Couldn’t get a smile off his face…Nathan Burbey
Due to the weather, most fishing has been focused on the coastline near the town or Coronado Island.
Swarms of Sierra and small Roosterfish are hitting cast and trolled lures, anything shiny!
Yellowtail mainly feed in the early morning for the day boats. Lagrimas and Candeleros are the productive spots, cut bait, and iron are the best options.
Most yellows are small to medium, with the larger models close to 15 pounds. Pinto bass and various snappers round out the catch where the yellows have been feeding. Better fishing will pop up in the fish count when the weather evens out and the winds get predictable. It’s been a crazy time going back to the first of December. …Rick Hill
Pretty slow around Lopez Mateos – Mag Bay right now. Between the fog, frigid temperatures – 43 to 42 in the mornings and 64 – 68 in the afternoons, the winds and seas. . . Inside the Mangroves fishing is pretty slow even with live bait shrimp or Monterrey Sardines. A few Pargo, Grouper and Corvina is all that have been showing up. Those fishing have been averaging 8.5 lbs – 11 lbs per day. If you can get outside to the Grouper Rocks a little better. But the big seas play havoc with outside fishing. One boat did get 20 miles out 1 day and the juvenile yellowfin tuna are still out there biting on just about anything you throw at them. That is a Lobster panga that got tied up in the surf yesterday while pulling traps. ..Cheri King Lopez Mateos Sportfishing
We had wind the last few days. Overall, it was slow fishing in the East Cape this past week. …Jeff DeBrown, The Reel Baja
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
January 12th, 2025
Another slow week of fishing. This week, we saw colder water than in previous weeks throughout most of our fishing grounds. Earlier in the week, the fleet reported temperatures around 65-66 at Vinorama, San Luis, Iman, and Gordo, with a combination of green water. Temperatures towards the end of the week were at the 67-68 mark. We did not see much production from these grounds throughout the week, but a few nice bottom fish – grouper, amberjack, snapper, and yellowtail, were the highlights, though the numbers were not good. A handful of small football tuna were also caught at Vinorama this week on squid strips, and a couple were caught on the jigs. We only saw a couple of small dorado at the fillet table while trolling ballyhoo or lures, looking for clear water.
The main highlight this week was Palmilla Point. More quality fish were seen at Palmilla while jigging than at any other spot. The numbers were not great either, but you had a good chance of landing a few quality fish if you put in the work with the jig. We saw a variety of yellowtail, amberjack, grouper, snapper, white bonito, and Sierra. On Friday, one of our boats landed three yellowtail, one grouper, five bonito, and one Sierra while jigging most of the morning. They also lost a couple of fish while trolling live caballito.
The bait guys continue to struggle to find live sardines consistently. They have been getting some small caballito on most days. A couple of days this week, they found a nice-sized school of sardina next to the bocana, near our marina. If sardina are available, we have seen good Sierra action throughout our shoreline, with the best action coming from Cerro Colorado and Palmilla. A few small roosterfish have also been caught. One of the local guys caught ten big Sierra at Cerro Colorado in a couple of hours on Thursday, all on jigs. Most of these Sierra were 8 to 12 pounds, plus, they lost over 15 more fish. Many boats tried for Sierra the next day but were only able to land a couple. The bite has been spotty, though there is a good chance of landing a few good-eating fish.
Good Fishing, Brian
Pisces Fleet enjoys a week filled with Sportfishing adventures
Date Published: January 17, 2025
Catch success rate 94.90%.
All species combined comprise 23.47%; Billfish, 33%; Dorado, 7.32%; Tuna, 66.67%, and; Other 31.57%; Including striped marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, thresher shark, yellowtail, roosterfish, Sierra, bonito, and dorado.
The “TIBURON,” a 31-foot Bertram, with Captain Jesus Romero and Mate Carlos Santos, headed to the Golden Bank where their anglers, Ángel David, Elizabeth Galvez, and Ruth Magpoc, caught and released Two 80 to 100-pound Striped Marlinon mackerel. The fight was intense, the marlins putting up a good struggle before being released back into the ocean. What a day! They came into the dock with smiles, recounting the thrilling experience.
Eric Schroff, Kelly Harper, Tom Laitala, and Tyler Collins embarked on the “TRACY ANN” with Captain Julio Castro and Mate TracyAnn Raul Leal to the San Jaime Bank. Their day was filled with laughter and enjoyment as they caught Eight 15-pound Yellowfin Tuna on lures and bait. They had a successful day of fishing and a great time on the boat with their crew, Captain Julio and Mate Raul Leal. They were eager to return for more fun-filled fishing trips.
The “LA CHINGONA 2,” a 64-foot Viking with Captain Tony and Mates Tony, Jr. and Luis, headed straight to the Golden Bank with their group, Ken Luce, Madison Alexander, Nancy Luce, and Robert Luce, where they caught and released Three Striped Marlin in the 90 to 100-pound range on bait, and One 30-pound Wahoo on Ballyhoo.
On the “BILL COLLECTOR II,” a 35-foot Cabo Flybridge, Captain Juan C. Lopez and Mate JC Martinez enjoyed meeting their group from Lakeville, Minnesota, and the Lakeville group liked their crew immediately. Brent Buumlex, Greg Diblik, Jay Piper, Jeff Bafir, Scott Meyer, and Tom Gonzales were thrilled to catch Six 10 to 14-pound Yellowfin Tuna on bait as they ran 12 miles outside the Lighthouse. Those tuna never stood a chance. The Minnesota anglers had the tuna into the boat in moments, laughing while they pulled on them. It was a fun day.
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