Category Archives: Baja Report

Swordfish Float at Los Cabos

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) recently announced the release of the highly anticipated 2021 World Record Game Fishes book, the world’s most definitive publication of recreational angling records, and the organization’s signature membership benefit.

MPE Tournament Kicks Off 2021 Baja Season

It was a long wait since the First Marina Puerto Escondido Tournament took place in 2019. Team “TAG,” the overall winner of first place in 2019 returned seeking a repeat performance only to be nudged out of the “release” top spot by the time of catch in the release division by newcomer “Team La Chingona.”

Baja Summertime’s Here

There are also some big schools of nice jack from Punta Colorado to La Salina and a ton of “micro” bait that they have been feeding on. Most of this has been taking place a little later in the day. On most days it has started around noon and lasted until about three. If you see the birds, you will find the fish. They are from about 1/2 mile to 2 miles out. Throwing sardina to the fish seemed to work for some groups as they wanted the bait, but others didn’t. You could tell a few groups were more in the spawning mode, but those that wanted to play were overly aggressive. 

Almaco Jack Attack

“Gary, Have you ever tried to explain that amberjacks are extremely rare in Baja? And that all the fish being identified as amberjacks recently are really Almaco jacks?” texted Steve Crooke, Scientific Adviser for the Sportfishing Association of California (SAC) providing biological assistance for both State and Federally managed fisheries and who worked for the California Department of Fish and Game for 38 years.

Almaco jacks are much more robust, shorter, and stockier in their bodies, plus they feature a dark bar that extends through the eye to the base of the dorsal. The few amberjack Crooke has seen, traveled down the Mexican coast and to the south. He did count a few gill rakers to be sure.
Regardless of what you call them Amber or Almaco, they are biting now!

Springtime Roosterfish

Couldn’t be more stoked for my buddy @thehawgfather for landing his first big rooster this morning!!! He’s been chasing this fish for five years and we got lucky and spotted a school of them and Mike fired his @fishlabtackle lure into them and managed to connect with this beauty. We got a couple of nice pictures and got him back in the water for a safe release…Wesley Brough, Cabosurfcaster

Baja Grouper Steal Show

At Gonzaga Bay, the big grouper to near 100-pounds have nudged yellowtail, cabrilla, and pargo farther down the catch list, while yellowtail continue to be big news up and down Baja from BOLA to Muertos Bay. As April rolls in, the north winds are subsiding and larger numbers of billfish, dorado, and yellowfin tuna are beginning to show up in more catch reports.