Fishing Report Archives 2010

Fishing Report Archives - 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

East Cape Fishing Report! 8/20/10
Fishing is running at full throttle right now on the East Cape. Virtually all of the big gamefish species are available for anglers to pursue. Just in the past two weeks we've had blue marlin caught approaching 600 pounds, yellowfin tuna across all size ranges with many fish exceeding 100 pounds and the largest at 246 pounds, and boatloads of huge bull dorado 40-50 pounds with the biggest weighed at 62 pounds. Nice wahoo averaging 40-50 pounds also are in abundance, with lots of nice striped marlin and big Pacific sailfish rounding out the offshore bite. Inshore, roosterfish are going crazy with lots of 50-60 pound fish available; a monster 88-pounder was weighed last week. Big jack crevalle averaging 30 pounds, and pargo in similar sizes ranges also are being caught.

If you like big fish, and lots of variety and nonstop action, pack a bag and get down to the East Cape for an awesome fishing vacation! There are some super deals on airfares right now.

East Cape Fishing Report! 7/31/10
Fantastic action for yellowfin tuna continues to lead the way in terms of our fishing reports. Many fish in the 50-100 pound class are coming to the docks daily, along with occasional bruisers of 150-200+ pounds. The action has been steady now for almost two months. Many schools are available, ranging across our fishing grounds, with some of the larger specimens coming from the edge of our fleet’s range. Anglers are using chunk squid to catch many fish, but trolled hootchies, cedar plugs, and feathers, as well as ballyhoo and sardines, also catch fish.

Big blue marlin having been showing up consistently. The average weight of the larger blues has been in the 400-pound range, and plenty of 200-300 pound fish also are swimming in East Cape waters. Additionally, numerous sailfish are in the area, and plenty of striped marlin action is keeping anglers busy when they aren’t fighting multiple hookups in the tuna schools. Trolled lures and ballyhoo are hooking the billfish.

Dorado action remains consistent, with ongoing variations in the average size of the fish. Some days produce many big bulls in the 35-45 pound range, and others we see average catches in the 15-20 pound range. These size fluctuations are normal when the water is so warm. The top three dorado weighed in the annual Dorado Shootout tournament at the Hotels on July 17th were 53.3, 50.1, and 49.1 pounds. Plenty of action for mahi mahi is keeping our anglers smiling!

Inshore, large roosterfish remain abundant, and big jack crevalle and pargo also are mixed into catches. Nice wahoo averaging 50 pounds also are being hooked on Rapalas.

Sea surface temperatures are in the mid- to high-80 degree range, and plenty of squid, ballyhoo, sardines, and jurelito are available for bait.

Fishing is awesome right now on the East Cape!

East Cape Fishing Report! 5/28/10
The quality of the overall fishing and the variety of species has spiked dramatically in the past two weeks! Big numbers of striped marlin have invaded the Sea of Cortez and our East Cape fishing grounds, with many boats in our fleet that are targeting marlin specifically catching and releasing as many as 6-8 fish per day. The stripers are ranging from 120-200 pounds and are biting on both trolled marlin lures as well as live bait. Plenty of live mackerel are available for bait.

The best news so far of the late Spring is the arrival of numbers of tuna as well as some bigger bruisers in the school. The biggest yellowfin hooked so far topped the scales at 187 pounds. This is a great fish for so early in the peak season for tuna. The fish hit a trolled cedar plug and managed to snap the angler’s rod during the fight! Numbers of 15-35# tuna also are being caught, with some boats enjoying limits. Several distinct schools are being contacted by our skilled captains—one major school is 40-50 miles offshore, while another is only 20 miles out. Easy access for great yellowfin tuna fishing! Trolling hootchies and cedar plugs through the schools is catching tuna.

Roosterfish have really accelerated in the past few weeks. Numerous 20-35 pound fish are being caught and released inshore, and some 50-pound class roosters have also been giving anglers quite a battle. A current absence of sardines for live bait is adding to the challenge of catching roosters in great numbers.

Dorado fishing has been steady but not spectacular. 15-35 pound do-do are in the mix, and a lone fish exceeding the whopping 50-pound mark was brought in recently. Trolled marlin lures are triggering most of the dorado strikes for anglers fishing striped marlin, and some fish are being spotted on the surface and being caught on live bait, just like many of the marlin.

Additional offshore action is being delivered by wahoo and a few blue marlin that are showing up in angler catches this week; inshore, opportunities exist for cabrilla, pompano, and some nice-sized pargo.

Rounding out the catch are an abnormally high number of hammerhead and mako sharks, species that we usually see only infrequently in the East Cape.

As you can see from this fishing report, fishing action has really exploded in the Sea of Cortez! It’s an excellent time to visit the East Cape to enjoy so awesome multi-species action. Sea surface temperatures have already zipped past 80 degrees, and some of our fishing grounds are boasting 83 degree water temps. With daytime highs of 90, and evening breezes cooling onshore to the low 70’s, it’s a fantastic time to sip a cool drink down our way!

East Cape Fishing Report! 4/30/10
Fishing is great here on the East Cape! Striped marlin and sailfish are available for anglers heading offshore, and some dorado are mixed in as well, although not yet approaching peak summer size and numbers. Anglers are encountering some packs of roving fish, especially schools of sailfish, so multiple hookups are not uncommon. Likewise for the stripers, which are feeding heavily in preparation for the spawn. Trolled marlin lures and live bait presentations are competing for the attention of the fish with deepwater schools of calamari. In addition to these bite-size squid that keep the marlin fat and happy, some Humboldt Squid still remain in our East Cape waters. These four-footers are fun to catch and make for a good chunk bait.

Inshore angling has really picked up. The best action has been to the north near Punta Pescadero, Punta Perico, and Bahia de Los Muertos, where anglers can find commercial bait Pangas selling sardines. Hoards of sierra mackerel are being caught on light tackle, a species that makes delicious table fare. Numbers of juvenile roosterfish also are being caught, but some much larger specimens are available, with some fish topping 40 pounds. We typically don’t see these big bruiser roosters until mid-to-late May, so El Nino really has accelerated the angling timetable so far in 2010. Sea surface temperatures in most of our fishing grounds are already in the 74-78 degree range. Cabrilla and pargo also have been caught in good numbers by inshore anglers.

Another benefit to the above-average water temps for this time of year is an early resurgence of the yellowfin tuna bite. Last year from July to early November we had a gangbusters bite for giant yellowfin (many 100-200 pound fish and some topping 300#), and we’re hoping for another hot bite in 2010 to follow. Currently, tuna from 15-25 pounds are leading the catch reports, but within the schools of porpoises and tuna, some of our captains are seeing some much larger specimens blasting bait on the surface, so anyday now we should start seeing 50-pound plus yellowfin showing up in catches. This is always a good thing!

Rounding out the fishing report are a few mako sharks caught on live bait, and one nice hammerhead shark. The 2010 fishing season is in full swing here on the East Cape!

East Cape Fishing Report! 3/30/10
After mostly calm seas for the first two weeks of March, we had some windy days later in the month that meant fewer boats on the water. Despite that, striped marlin fishing season has begun in earnest here on the East Cape. Lots of marlin are in Sea of Cortez waters, with more fish arriving daily. After a good burst of both dorado and yellowfin tuna numbers early in March, both species tapered for the middle weeks. In the past few days, dorado fishing has seen a resurgence. The dorado are averaging 15-20 pounds. The biggest yellowfin tuna thus far have been in the 60-pound range, which are some dandy ahi for so early in the season! After our awesome tuna bite last fall, with numerous 100-200 pound fish and some even exceeding 300 pounds, seeing yellowfin of 60-pounds-plus in March certainly bodes well for the entire 2010 tuna fishing season.

Striped marlin continue to lead the way, with most boats catching and releasing 1-3 fish per day, with a few sailfish mixed in. Fish are striking trolled marlin lures as well as being hooked on dead ballyhoo and live mackerel. Numerous marlin are seen resting (on calm days) or tailing the wave crests (when breezy) on the surface.

Dorado fishing has picked up, and a few wahoo are starting to show up in catches. Inshore, sierra mackerel fishing is excellent, and a few pargo and cabrilla are being caught as well.

Sea surface temperatures are 71-73 to the north and straight east, with warmer temps of 74-75 degrees to the south. The Spring fishing season is in full swing, and it’s a great time to find yourself on the East Cape!


East Cape Fishing Report! 3/1/10
Fishing has started to ramp up bigtime here on the East Cape! With water temperatures to the east and north running 71-73 degrees, and our fishing grounds to the south reporting sea surface temps as high as 77 degrees, fishing is really cranking up!

The striped marlin have begun their annual Spring migration to the Sea of Cortez in preparation for the spawn. They are feeding heavily on mackerel as well as squid. Good reports are coming from boats trolling artificial lures as well using bait-n-switch techniques with mackerel. With the preferred water temps for stripers in the 74-76 degree range, we are on the verge of our annual season for one of the hottest striped marlin bites in the world!

Dorado also are numerous. Typical of this time of year, the fish are running 10-25 pounds and are being caught on trolled hootchies and feathers as well as live bait.

Inshore, hoards of sierra mackerel are along the entire coastline from Buena Vista to the lighthouse, and points further south. Sardines and trolled Rapala #11 Magnums and also X-Raps are catching most of the sierra. This species makes for delicious table fare.

With the primary fishing season kick-starting, it’s a great time to be planning your trip to Baja’s East Cape!


 
 
 
 
 
 

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