Baja Bytes Sportfishing update February 19, 2025
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. Make sure everyone on the boat has their form completed. Forms Here
Bass fishing has been slow for a while now, although sculpin and whitefish continue to be consistent.
For those targeting halibut, there have been some shows in the Imperial Beach area. The IB area will be your best shot at sand bass, sculpin, and halibut. Look along the Pipe and the Flats near the Pipe.
Whitefish have been your best bet for a solid bite in this area. There have been good scores coming from the Buoy #3 area. A two-hook dropper loop rig with small hooks and squid strips is the way to go. 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 need to be closed temporarily, either partially or entirely…Fish Dope
Lower 9 Mile Bank
There continues to be good bottom fishing for various Rockfish. These include big Reds, Boccaccio, Mexicans, Chili Peppers, Lingcod, and more. The best action was in deeper water, around 450 to 700 feet. If you’re targeting Lingcod, try using sand dabs for bait. There were plenty on hard sandy bottoms near the 9 Mile Bank in 400 to 700 feet of water. A live mackerel also makes an excellent Lingcod bait.
The cold, dirty water here needs to improve before gamefish arrive. With US Rockfish season closed, consider the Rockpile for Rockfish and Lingcod, but ensure you have the proper paperwork. …Fish Dope
Yellowtail were around, but the bite was inconsistent. They were being found from Punta Banda down to Isolete, showing up under the birds. Surface irons and yoyos were working. Last word, there was also some Halibut biting in the Estero Bay area in 25 to 75 feet of water. Mini-Macks were working well and can usually be found near Punta Banda.
If you’re after Rockfish, the bite has been outstanding at Santo Tomas and San Jose. This occurs in 300 to 400 feet of water. Big Reds and giant Whitefish are the main attraction. …Fish Dope
BAJA CALIFORNIA SPORT FISHING CALENDAR 2025
READY TO START WITH THE EXCITEMENT OF THE ROD AND REEL? WITH THE NEW “OFFICIAL CALENDAR OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SPORT FISHING TOURNAMENTS 2025.”
This program consists of events from now till December. Allowing anglers to join in #beachtournaments, in #kayak in inland waters (dams), and the open seas. Find out and take part at: https://bajasport.fishing/torneos/
22feb231ST STAGE LOW BASS CHALLENGE STATE SELECTIVE Carrizo Dam, Tecate, BC
March 29-30
2ND STAGE OF THE STATE SELECTIVE BASS CHALLENGE Carrizo Dam, Tecate, BC
March 30th
BEACH TOURNAMENT, BEACH EL BEBÉ, STATE SELECTIVE – STAGE 1 Baby Beach, Rosarito BC
Epic day on the open sea with Team AB Fitness GYM (last week) Thanks, Cap@beer Bertoldo Garcia….Garcia’s Pangas Sportfishing
Fishing in February in San Felipe is excellent but beware of the wind. The best Reef is the Golden Reef. You can find Great White Sea Bass there. Black Sea Bass and sometimes Yellowtail are also found at Golden Reef. Be sure to check the weather. Rocky Point has great Grouper fishing in early March and April. It’s about 25 miles out. Use Bay Bass with Mac for bait to fish the Grouper. Make sure to use no less than 80# test line.
Gonzaga Bay is an angler’s paradise with its rich diversity of inshore sports fish and stunning scenery. Here’s what you can expect:
Popular Species:
Cabrilla: A favorite among anglers, prized for its delicious taste.
Yellowtail: Fast and strong. They make for an exciting catch.
Mackerel: Abundant and great as bait fish, plus fun to catch
Rock Cod: Perfect for those who enjoy bottom fishing.
Red Snapper: Delicious, often found near rocky structures.
Whitefish: Mild-flavored and a joy to catch.
Bonito: Fast and challenging, great for experienced anglers.
Barracuda: Speedy with sharp teeth, a thrilling target.
Salmon Grouper: Known for their large size and strength.
Shoreline Fishing: Ideal for both experienced and beginner anglers. Gonzaga Bay’s calm waters and diverse marine life guarantee a fantastic fishing experience.
Bahía de Los Ángeles Bay:
NO REPORT
Cedros Island
20th24 Season Recap
Shari Bondy is at Whale Magic Tours.
I am so thankful for a perfect day of Whale Love in Laguna, Ojo de Liebre. We all gazed into many whale eyes. We caressed several sweet whales. Bumper tossed us playfully about again today! We observed a beautiful mother and calf. Then some males tried to mate with her, so we saw the Pink Floyd, too! We marveled at many majestic Spy Hops and breaches on this gorgeous, hot, sunny, glassy, calm day! 10 out of 10…Shari Bondy
For reservations, visit the Package tour page on www.whalemagictours.com
The yellowtail continues to be the main attraction for local and visiting anglers-…Shari Bondy
La Bocana offers Inshore, Offshore, and Estuary fishing. Fish in the area include grouper, calico bass, and spotted bay bass. Others are sand bass, halibut, and snook. You can also find triggerfish, yellowtail, and sheepshead. The list goes on with white sea bass, black sea bass, and tuna. Additionally, there are wahoo, dorado, and marlin, along with sailfish, rock cod, and ling cod. Finally, there are whitefish and Sierra macs.
Santa Rosalía offers a unique diversity and abundance of fish species. It’s incredible to think that you can find everything from an acrobatic blue marlin to a powerful wahoo. Each fish has its unique challenge. This makes every trip incredibly exciting. Do you have any favorite spots or stories from fishing in Santa Rosalía to share?
Punta Chivato
No Report
No Report
Casa Concepción
The weather in Loreto looks to be improving. We’ve seen signs of a return to the “winter wind cycle.” It brings rough days followed by blue skies and calmer seas. I was snooping out info on where the hottest yellowtail spots were and was unable to find solid answers. All I got was everyone showing me their videos of whales and dolphins. I am not sure how the dolphin assault will affect the fishing. They have to be eating some baitfish but will there be anything left for the resident fish to eat? The dolphin are thick and everyone is commenting that they have never seen so many…foaming water everywhere they look! Stay tuned!… Rick Hill
Weather: Cold and windy, with heavy fog most mornings, clearing up by 8 to 9 a.m.
Outlook: Optimism for better fishing conditions next week as festival activities wind down…CHERI
We experienced mostly nice weather this past week, although it has been very windy for the last day or so. The North Wind can also be expected to come and go this upcoming week. Fishing-wise, most anglers are jigging or using bait in deeper waters off the La Ribera Banks, targeting Yellowtail. However, the Yellowtail action has slowed compared to last week. This past week, three shrimp boats in the area might have influenced the fishing activity. Alongside the Yellowtail action, some White Bonito on the banks provide fair-to-good action for anglers.
Inshore, there are still decent schools of bait with some small Jacks and Sierra, and on calm mornings, you might see the occasional roosterfish chasing them. Fishing is slow, and the water remains cold and slightly off-color, with an average temperature of around 68 degrees. …Jeff DeBrown
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
As the previous week showed improvement in the fishing, we expected this one to be more productive. However, we could not drift for tuna or efficiently jig as the wind and currents were not ideal towards La Fortuna, and the fleet was forced to fish closer to shore or towards the Palmilla area to avoid some wind.
Action towards Palmilla/Cerro Colorado this week was significantly slower. The boats landed a few nice bottom fish. However, you had to work on the jig for a chance at a few fish. They saw a few nice Yellowtail, Amberjack, Grouper, and Snapper among the mix caught in this area. Closer to shore, they also saw some Sierra on jigs and some Roosterfish if you have live sardina or caballito. Most Roosters are small (around 5 pounds), though they did see a handful in the 15 to 25-pound range. The bait guys continue to struggle with the sardina supply on most days. They are netting a few throughout the shorelines of Cabo Real, though not enough to supply most pangas.
This weekend was much better in terms of wind. Our fleet focused on the areas of Vinorama and San Luis. The captains reported nice, clear water, averaging temperatures of 70 degrees. While jigging, one of the boats landed a nice 25-pound Grouper on a strip of Skipjack while losing another quality fish. They also caught two nice Yellowtail and a handful of Red Snapper throughout the weekend. Most of these fish came on jigs and live sardina early in the morning. A few small Tuna were caught this week on live and dead sardina and squid strips at La Fortuna. The only big Tuna came in on Monday, weighing 97 pounds on a dead sardina.…Good Fishing, Brian
Variety vs. Quantity Challenges Pisces Anglers…Gary Graham
Pisces Fleet Weekly update from February 7 to 13, 2025
Catch Success rate 81%.
Billfish, 20.25%; Dorado, 7.59%; Tuna, 21.52%; Wahoo, 2.53%; Roosterfish, 7.59%; and Other Species, 46.84%.
The seas were calm all week. The waves made for a pleasant boat ride. Yet, most people weren’t out for a boat ride. They were out to fish. The Water Temp was 68 to 70 degrees F, and the Air Temp ran around 69 to 73 degrees. There were a few Striped Marlin spotted occasionally. A couple of large Wahoo were caught by the lucky anglers in the right place at the right time. But the real adventure was in the variety of catches. Sierra was caught in the numbers. A few Dorado, Jack Crevalle, Skipjack, Roosterfish, and even some Grouper were caught.
“LA BRISA,” a 31-foot Bertram, took the two brothers, Jake and William Gilbert, out to the Migriano. Captain Orlando M and Mate Jesus Winkler guided them. There, they caught a variety of fish. They caught eighteen Sierra on bait. They also caught three Grouper on chum and three 20-pound Jack Crevalle on cuchi and Rapala. Additionally, they caught fifteen Ladyfish and one 25-pound Sheepshead on chum.
For more Cabo Fishing News, click here.
Author: Gary Graham
