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. Please make sure everyone on the boat has their form completed.
Forms Here
If you fish the Coronado Islands or anywhere in Baja (Norte),
please send reports and photos to gary.1940@gmail.com.
The Halibut bite in Imperial Beach has recently been the highlight here. Between that and some Whitefish, the fishing in this area has been rather slow. There has been some decent fishing for Halibut on the Imperial Beach Flats and along the edge of the Imperial Beach Pipe. Another spot for Halibut is around the Yukon Wreck outside of Mission Bay. They
are showing in as little as 10 feet of water, out to about 50 feet. Meter around and look for bait over the hard bottom, as Halibut is likely to be beneath the bait.
For example, the “Dolphin” ran a Halibut special on Wednesday with 45 passengers on board. They landed 21 Halibut up to 28, releasing 10 shorts.
Whitefish are biting well. Buoy #3 and the Whistler continue producing good results. Squid strips on small hooks with 8 to 12 oz. of lead is the most effective technique.
Sand Bass and Sculpin have been a slow pick at the IB Pipe. No signs of Yellowtail in over a month.
The best chance of scoring a legal-size Halibut along the coast appears to be on the Imperial Beach Flats and along the edge of the Imperial Beach Pipe. Another possibility is around the Yukon Wreak outside of Mission Bay. Meter around 40 to 80 feet of water and look for bait over the hard bottom; the Halibut will likely be under
the bait.
Whitefish are commonly caught around Buoy #3 and the Whistler. Squid strips
pinned on small hooks with 8 to 12 oz. of lead is the ticket for the Whitefish.
Sand Bass and Sculpin have been a slow pick at the IB Pipe, with the
Yellowtail among the missing. …Fish Dope
We looked at the Islands yesterday, but there were no signs of Yellows. The water
was 56 degrees and super green. The Navy was also out checking paperwork.
On Saturday, the island was found to be a dead zone, and fishing continued to be slow. Water temps were running between 54 and 56 degrees and were quite dirty. Bottom fishing was producing a handful of Rockfish and Whitefish.
There have been no signs of yellowtail at the Islands or the Rockpile for months. Some might be on the flats off Rosarito out to the Rockpile in 125 to 300 feet of water. There may be some south of there, as well, down towards the Upper Finger Bank, as this is where they usually show up when the water is cold like it is right now.
These yellowtail would be straight sonar fish in the lower third of the water column. The best bet to score will likely be with full-size Yoyo iron fished on a 40 to 50-pound test line.
Just in case you were wondering, the ‘San Diego’ will be back online for full day-trips targeting Yellowtail at the Coronado’s starting on Saturday, March 15th. We can’t wait to have you on board! full day-trips targeting Yellowtail at the Coronado’s starting,
Saturday, March 15th.
With so few boats fishing the Islands, reports are hard to come by. If you’ve fished the Islands recently, your report could make a big difference. Please share it with us at Reports@fishdope.com.… Fish Dope
recently, please shoot a report to Reports@fishdope.com. …Fish Dope
BAJA CALIFORNIA SPORT FISHING CALENDAR 2025
This program consists of events from now till December, which allows participants to fish in various locations including dams, and the open seas. Find out and take part at: https://bajasport.fishing/torneos/. The calendar includes a variety of fishing events such as bass challenges, beach tournaments, and more.
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
BAJA CALIFORNIA SPORT FISHING CALENDAR 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/
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
Wide Open Yellows on the Surface Iron on Monday. …K&M SPORTFISHING
No Report… …Meza’s Sport Fishing
No Report …Juan Cook
Bahía de Los Ángeles Bay:
No Report
Cedros Island
20th24 Season Recap
Shari Bondy is at Whale Magic Tours.
March 11 Laguna Ojo de Liebre
9th Census of Ojo de Liebre Lagoon! March 10th, 2025
40 pairs – cow/calf
334 solo – whales
Total – 414 whales still playing with us @ 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
The whale-watching trips have slacked off. Both the Whales and watchers have thinned out, leaving us to focus on fishing. Yellowtail is biting early in the morning at both Coronado and Carmen Island. Lagrimas and Candeleros at Coronado Island gave up Yellows in the small-to-medium (12-pound) range. Bigger fish are being caught at Lobo and the “50 Spot,” although the current dictates how easy that will be. Jigging iron at Almejas and Pulpito scored Yellowtail and “Snapper.” The Snapper report translates to an 18-pound Pargo and a bigger fish-fight that ended in a break-off.
Closer to town and down the coast near the airport, there has been consistent action for “lengueda,” Flounder/Flatfish. Spoons and lead heads along the bottom have produced a hubcap and larger-sized models. Panga and shore-fishing are both good options. A little later in the spring, we should start to see the dreaded stingray showing up,
but for now, it’s the Baja Flounder! …Rick
Lopez Mateos – Mag Bay is amazing as always. The mangroves are magnificent and lush with Cormorants, Osprey, Great Egrets, Night Heron.
Fishing from Las Animas to Curva del Diablo for Snook, Palometta, Corvina, Pargo, Grouper, Trigger, and Halibut is great casting fun for us non-fly fishermen as well as fly fishermen.
Fishing outside the Soledad Boca in the Grouper Rock areas is already productive: California Sheepshead, Pargo, Huichinango, Grouper, and Trigger. Still a lot of whale activity as they are starting to head north. Come on over and check us out if you have never been here before…CHERI
The wind has been off again and on again, typical for this time of year. Inshore, the early morning calm waters, and the bait near-shore and along the beaches have provided the best opportunities to catch small Jacks, Sierra, and Roosterfish. Although the deep-water
fishing off La Ribera Banks has slowed down for Yellowtail, it is good to hear that the White Bonito are still providing some fair action. The water temperature has been around 68 degrees and slightly off-color, which might also affect the fishing conditions. …Jeff DeBrown
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
A few local pangeros reported big Yellowfin Tuna at the Inner Gordo on Thursday and Friday. Overall, five Tuna were landed on both days, all averaging 110 to 140 pounds; a few more fish were lost after long battles, and all were hooked on strips of squid. A couple of boats tried using the kite technique and were slow-trolling live skipjack or chiwili, but did not get any hits. A few more boats tried the Gordo but came in empty-handed. Wind conditions
were not ideal this weekend, as we had some North winds pick up early in the morning.
We are not seeing action on the jigs, but there is a good chance of landing a few nice quality fish if you put in the work and focus on multiple rock structures in the area. We had a nice handful of Amberjack,
Yellowtail, Grouper, and Snapper this week. We had one Amberjack that weighed nearly 80 pounds. Most of this jigging action came from San Luis, Vinorama, La Fortuna, and Palmilla. Most boats fished closer to shore this week with live and dead sardina. On most days, we were able to land limits of Sierra (Spanish Mackerel). Pompano, Snapper, and Grouper were also caught within the same area. The best action came throughout the shorelines of the Hilton, the Weston, and the Palmilla. Some Jacks and small Roosters were spotted in the mix while trolling live sardina and caballito. We see live sardina almost every morning. The bait guys continue to net them around the jetty rock structures adjacent to the marina. No Marlin or Dorado were reported in our area this week. …Good Fishing, Brian Brictson
The “BILL COLLECTOR,” a 32-foot Cabo Express, with Captain Niko and Mate Erick, Jr. took their clients to the Margaritas where they caught Two Yellowtail on cuchi. The anglers, Danielle Lincoln, James West, Lisa Soler, Michael Black, and Robert Cato, were excited about their day on the water because it was another day in paradise!”
Owen Sims, Paul Sims, and Savannah Varney chartered the “ANDREA,” a 28-foot Uniflite, run by the experienced Captain Fernando and Mate Marcelo D. They headed to the Cerro del Golden, where the anglers caught and released One 110-pound Striped Marlin on a mackerel, Fifteen Bonito, and One Sierra on cuchi. The weather was pleasant at 70 degrees, the fishing was productive, and the crew’s easy-going and fun nature added to their successful experience.
For more Cabo Fishing News, click here.
Author: Gary Graham
