East Cape Fishing Report!
12/1/10
For this month’s fishing
report, we’ll focus on some specific numbers
that illustrate the AMAZING fishery we are
blessed with here in East Cape waters, as well
as the ongoing benefits of “catch-and-release”
for topline predators such as marlin and
sailfish. Most of the fish we target in the
Sea of Cortez are adult, spawning fish in the
6-10 year age range, and are quite literally
the future of the big game fishery. When loads
of dorado, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo can be
caught for delicious table fare, it’s better
to let the billfish swim.
Here
are some stats from recent “fun” tournaments
organized by repeat guests (with 100% release
policy on all billfish), to add more thrills
to their East Cape vacations:
East Cape
Classic (37 boats, three days’ fishing): 134
sailfish, 72 striped marlin, 19 blue marlin,
and one black marlin;
Dove Island
Picklefest (6 boats, 3 days): 128 billfish;
Dark of the Moon (5 boats, 2 days): 50
sailfish, 26 striped marlin, 46 dorado, 11
tuna;
Salt
Patrol (20 boats, 3 days): NEW ALL-TIME RECORD
for 20 or fewer boats fishing out of our
hotels in a tournament!! 221 sailfish, 112
striped marlin, 4 blue marlin, and one black
marlin.
Suffice it to say, if you seek
great big game fishing, East Cape Resorts is
the place to be. Hope to see you down our way
soon for some fishing and relaxation!
East Cape Fishing Report!
11/1/10
The remarkable stretch
of amazing and excellent fishing we have
enjoyed on the East Cape this year continues.
Leading the way in the past month was an
incredible run on big blue marlin, enhanced by
hot action for striped marlin and some huge
Pacific sailfish averaging 100 pounds.
Many
blue marlin were caught and released in the
250-500 pound range by anglers in our fleet.
Down in Cabo, the annual Bisbee’s Black & Blue
Marlin Tournament had some monster fish
caught, as well as some real brutes that shed
the hooks during the protracted battles. Fish
to 700 pounds were on the hook, and a
spectacular 890 pound blue marlin that would
have secured the top cash prize of $2.7
million was bumped from the winner’s circle
due to the boat returning to the scales late
by eight minutes.
In a mini “fun”
tournament enjoyed by some of our Hotel Palmas
de Cortez guests, six boats tallied 128
billfish caught and released in three fishing
days! The mixed bag of sailfish and striped
marlin kept the anglers busy, and numerous
dorado, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo were
included in catches as well. The best
individual boat caught and released seventeen
sailfish in one day.
Dorado fishing was
up and down all month, but showed a resurgence
in the past week with some huge bulls to 55
pounds being weighed. Some boats were catching
as many as six of these big dorado in addition
to releasing 6-10 billfish per day. Talk about
hot fishing!
Angling
for yellowfin tuna continues to be remarkable
as well. As absence of live bait to the south
has been confining our fleet to the north
fishing grounds, with two key areas holding
most fish. The typical fishing day involves
the fleet running north to Ensenada for
buckets-full of sardines to add to the live
mackerel and dead ballyhoo available from bait
boats adjacent to our hotels. These baits work
as pitched baits for the billfish, and the
sardines are for chumming dorado, tuna, and
even more billfish that are invariably
following hooked fish looking for morsels.
Boats also are catching and bridle-rigging
small live bonitos for billfish and big
dorado.
Punta Pescadero offers anglers
shots at 40-60 pound wahoo as well as
roosterfish to 20 pounds. Further north, the
88 Reef (Ocho-Ocho) is congregating numbers of
sailfish, striped marlin, dorado, and schools
of tuna. Multiple hookups on sailfish are
common. Last week, a huge school of tuna with
fish ranging from football-size up to 150
pounds was circulating. Boats hooked numerous
50-70 pound tuna and had shots at the bigger
brutes. Thousands of porpoises and seabirds
added to the feeding frenzy taking place on
the surface.
The continued effects of
an El Nino weather year are making 2010 a
fishing year to remember here on the East
Cape. Sea surface temps in the mid-80’s, and
daytime highs in the low 90’s, are making for
some HOT fishing. Make plans to experience
Baja’s East Cape soon!
East Cape Fishing Report!
9/30/10
Fishing continues to be
tremendous here on the East Cape as we turn
the page and enter one of our most popular and
high-demand months of the year—October. While
we typically see few “events” each year in
terms of hurricanes or tropical storms, it
seems our peak season has passed without any
disruptions. We did have a very minor storm
(35-45 mph winds) graze us two weeks ago,
interrupting our fishing rhythm for a single
day, and now we are out of the warning zone
for another year!
It
really doesn’t matter what species you target
right now—fishing is excellent for most of our
available gamefish species. In the past few
weeks, blue marlin catches have actually
matched the numbers of striped marlin, which
is quite remarkable. While all billfish are
apex predators, it’s unusual to see so many
nice blues around, and actually experience
fishing for blue marlin that tops that of
striped marlin or sailfish. Many of the blues
are awesome size as well, with many fish being
reported from 250-550 pounds. Many of these
topline predators are being released by our
angling guests—good job!
The yellowfin
tuna bite continues to be off the charts in
terms of both overall numbers and average
size. Our fleet is averaging over 600 tunas
boated per week right now, and while many of
the fish are football-size, we are also seeing
numerous specimens exceeding 100 pounds. Fish
over 200 pounds continue to appear also. The
East Cape is one of the world’s finest
destinations for multi-species big game
fishing, but we like to think our yellowfin
fishing is second-to-none.
Even more
remarkable is how close the fishing is to our
hotels. Some of the best fishing is just a few
miles offshore, with the seamounts out from
Punta Colorada really producing a lot of fish.
Numerous distinct schools are scattered far
and wide across our fishing area, so it really
doesn’t matter which way you point the
boat—you’ll catch fish.
“Dorado
catching” is also excellent. Let’s call it
“catching” instead of “fishing”, since the
mahi mahi action is so wide open right now. As
with the tuna, fish across the size spectrum
are being hooked, with many nice bulls of
30-40 pounds available. Tremendous stuff!
Fresh fish is most definitely on the menu at
our hotel bars right now! Over 300 dorado per
week are being caught by anglers fishing with
our crews.
The list continues: loads of
wahoo, pompano, cabrilla, amberjack, some
beautiful cubera snapper, lots of triggerfish,
nice numbers of roosterfish, and even some
black marlin are rounding out angler action
here on the East Cape.
If you’ve not
been down our way recently, or are considering
a visit to Baja’s East Cape for the first
time, you owe it to yourself to get down this
way!
East Cape Fishing Report!
8/31/10
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 35-45 pounds
with the biggest weighed at 62 pounds. Most of
our charter boats are limiting out on tuna
with fish of above-average size. 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. With our sea surface temperatures in the
high 80’s, lots of the offshore action is
actually happening close to shore right now.
Some of the tuna schools are only 3-6 miles
out, with some of the nicest fish about ten
miles out from Punta Arena. The most
consistent blue marlin action has been 6-12
miles straight east of Punta Pescadero and
8-12 miles offshore from Cabo Pulmo on the
perimeter of the canyons.
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 abundant 15-20# pargo in
similar sizes ranges also are being caught. A
giant 40-pound dogtooth snapper was brought to
the docks recently, among the biggest we’ve
ever seen from these waters.
The
tuna action has been going strong for three
months with virtually no let-up. A number of
distinct 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.
The best
fishing of the year is happening right now on
Baja's East Cape!
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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