Saltwater Fishing Reports

THE CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT FOR THE GAVIOTA SPORTFISHING FLEET
AND FISH CABO FLEET

It was a superb marlin action week from Cabo San Lucas for the "TUNA TIME" and "FISH CABO", as the billfish continued to chew on the bait and the artificials. While only two of the boats from Fish Cabo Fleet provided this report, the results were exciting and the anglers were rewarded. Captain Roberto Padilla, skipper of the "Tuna Time", released 12 stripers for four fishing days and rounded out his catches with 15 yellowfin tuna and a single dorado. The "Fish Cabo", skippered by Captain Gil Marquez, reported the release of 3 stripers for his 2 fishing days. The mainstay of the action remains close to Cabo San Lucas and continues to be the area from 2-6 miles or so outside the arch and around to Chileno Bay, (the old Cabo San Lucas Hotel area) just minutes from the Cabo San Lucas Harbor. (We have been unable to obtain the fish report from the Gaviota Fleet for the week at the time this information was compiled, but we may have a later-in-the-day update that will be forwarded if it does arrive).

Cabo Climate: Cooler & windier days in the early week that changed to warm, sunny & clear days as the week progressed, offering temps that ranged from 71 nights to 94 daytime highs & light, variable, surface breezes.

Sea Conditions: As the week progressed, the sea conditions became near perfect with water temps that ranged from 79 inshore to 74 offshore from Cristobal Point to Jaime Bank on the Pacific side. From Cabo Falso and around to the Gorda Banks, on the Sea of Cortez side, temps ranged from 76-80 degrees with a gradual change from Cabo. Above the Gorda Banks to Las Frailes, temps at 80-82 degrees. Lots of clean, blue water throughout the area.

Best Fishing Area: Just outside of Cabo, from Cabo Falso, 2-8 miles off and around to Chileno, 2-8 miles off.

Best Lure/Bait: Live bait was best when available and rigged baits working very well, too. Aritficials were also producing well in a myriad of colors, including the Petrolero and mackerel colors.

Bait Supply: Just mediocre at best. Lots of junk bait mixed in & not recommended unless nothing else. Rigged ballyhoo, when available, working very well.

THE MAZATLAN FISHING REPORT FOR THE ARIES SPORTFISHING FLEET
The sailfish are starting to move into the Mazatlan area a little better than the past few weeks and the dorado bite continues to offer continuous fast action that has provided limit fishing or the anglers. Also reported was a near 500 lb. blue marlin, taken aboard the private yacht, "Tourbillon", skippered by Captain mark Hanson, from California. The Aries Sportfishing Fleet reported in for 13 offshore fishing days that resulted in 8 sailfish, (7 released) limits of dorado and many dorado releases (the dorado remain in the 20-plus ranges) and a single yellowfin tuna. The inshore super pangas, reporting for 3 days fished, reflected limits of dorado for their anglers and many releases. According to Fleet/Marina Manager, Geronimo Cevallos, FAD (fish attracting device) buoys are all holding good amounts of dorado in the 20-plus pound ranges and they are now spaced from 7 to 20 miles offshore, making for excellent light tackle and fly fishing possibilities for the anglers.

Mazatlan Climate: Warm, a little humid, with scattered passing clouds and periods of intermittent sunshine. Temps from 66 nights to 89 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Warming up and cleaning up to near excellent conditions. Temps from 81-82 inshore and extending to the offshore with stability and deep blue color starting at about 12-14 miles or so.

Best Fsihing Areas: The outer buoys are holding the bigger dorado, but all of the buoys holding plenty of dorado action. The billfish are coming from the area south of Marina El Cid in the 20-30 miles zone.

Best Lure/Bait: Trolled ballyhoo best for the dorado and rigged mullet best for the sailfish. Best lure colors for the sails have been in the orange/yellows.

Bait Supply: Bait supply remains very good at Mazatlan and provides live bait, ballyhoo and mullet on a daily basis.

THE IXTAPA-ZPHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT
SPORTFISHING FLEET

Captain Temo Verboonen, skipper of the "Secuestro De Amor", reported "very exciting fishing this past week along the coastline that produced good action on the jack cravalle and roosterfish. The fish were schooling and chasing the bait balls all over, from the Valentin River thru Guamilule Point, (near the White Rocks). It was especially good fishing for the spinning tackle enthusiasts and the fly fishing anglers". Still not very many boats getting out, but for those that do, the fishing has been terrific for both, inshore and offshore action. Anglers wishing to catch sailfish and marlin in the blue water, should consider being here this month for the fast action that continues to produce multiple billfish release opportunities each day.

IZ Climate: Partly cloudy days with intermittent periods of sunshine. Weather is warm and comfortable, ranging from 73 nights to 93 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Excellent from inshore to offshore and throughout the week with stability at 85-86 degrees and blue water at the 8-mile mark and beyond.

Best Fishing Areas: Inshore action best from Valentin River to Guamilule Point and the White Rocks area. Offshore starts at about 8-miles at the edge of the blue-blue water and continues outbound from there.

Best Lure/Baits: The pencil poppers continue to work very well as does the Luna Lures and live bait for the in-shore fishing on spinning tackle and 8-insh streamers for the fly fishing anglers. The rigged mullet for the billfish in the offshore areas.

Bait Supply: Continues to be readily available on a daily basis.

THE PUERTO MORELOS FISHING REPORT FOR THE MARINA EL CID SPORTFISHING
FLEET, (CANCUN TO COZUMEL AREA)

The weekly variety catch continues to pour in from Puerto Morelos, with the Marina El Cid Sportfishing Fleet and this week reflected 17 different fish species reported that included a new critter for the books, called a "cucha", which is a bottom fish that has a similar look to a cabezon or sculpin from the Pacific and generally is a smallish fish in the 1-4 lb. ranges. The fleet provided 25 offshore days that reflected 1 smaller blue marlin, 2 white marlin, 5 sailfish, 12 dorado, 4 king mackerel, 3 shark, 10 Atlantic barracuda, 14 bonito, 2 blackfin tuna, 2 snapper, 9 grouper, 2 jack cravalle, 1 soapfish, 1 amberjack, 8 triggerfish and 4 cuchas. Whether its surface fishing or bottom fishing, the opportunities for a different fish with each cast is ever present and adds to the daily fishing excitement for the anglers in this Caribbean fishing port. The angler can literally catch a billfish on one bait and a grouper on the next, fishing the same spot.

PM Climate: Mostly cloudy but warm days and nights with temps ranging from 74 nights to 92 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Overall, it's been a good week with most days very fishable and productive. Water temps stable at 83-85 degrees throughout this area and crystal clean.

Best Bait/Lure: The Ballyhoo, both skirt-rigged and non-rigged baits are working systematically perfect.