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

The "Gaviota XI" had the most billfish for the week, releasing 2 stripers and a sailfish for 4 fishing days and rounding out their catches with 15 dorado and 4 yellowfin tuna. The "Tuna Time", (appropriately named) landed the largest yellowfin tuna for the week by the Gerald Meyer group, (Oregon) that checked in at 130 lbs., (This could have been a qualifier for the up-coming WON Tuna
Tournament) The fish was taken on an artificial trolling away from the porpoise, having not had any success near the animals that were traveling southerly on the Pacific side. Overall, dorado were the fish of the week and most of the boats had ample opportunities to add to their catches with most of the fish in 12-15 lb. ranges and an occasional larger fish to 25 lbs. or so. The overall fish counts for a combined total of 25 days fished reflected 3 blue marlin released, (all in the 200-225 lb. range) 4 striped marlin released, 1 sailfish released, 1 wahoo, (about a 35-pounder) 13 yellowfin tuna and 93 dorado.

Cabo Climate: Mostly sunny and warm days with a few passing clouds and temps that ranged from 71 nights to 96 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Overall, very good conditions on both sides of the peninsula. Pacific side, from the Finger Bank south to the Golden Gate, sea temps stable at 85-86. From Golden Gate Bank, wrapping Cabo and up to the Gorda Banks and beyond, the temps were stable in the 87-88 degree ranges.

Best Fishing Area: The Pacific side remains the best area and continues to produce 99% of the catches, which is normal for this time of year.

Best Lure/Bait: Overall, live bait was best but several of the billfish were taken on artificials. The tuna were liking the feathers and cedar plugs and dorado were happy taking both.

Live Bait Supply: Plenty of caballitos available throughout the week.
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THE MAZATLAN FISHING REPORT FOR THE ARIES SPORTFISHING FLEET

The Fraser Family from Kansas City, MO, reported a fishing day result of 8 dorado to 41 lbs., fishing aboard the "Aries II" and added the overall day was near perfect, including calm seas, lots of porpoise, sea birds and even a couple of sea turtles. That's really not too bad considering there were a couple of port closure days due to adverse weather conditions that were just 1-day events. Still a little slow on the billfish bite and this week provided only a couple of sailfish, but the quality of the dorado had improved considerably. The overall offshore catches for 11 days fished reflected 2 sailfish and 71 dorado and the 1 inshore fishing day from the super panga reflected limits of dorado.

Mazatlan Climate: Partly cloudy days with sunny intervals and
temperatures that varied from 70 nights to 91 daytime highs.
Humidity levels a little high at 89%.

Sea Conditions: Other than a couple of odd days of wind and rough seas that resulted in port closures, it was excellent for the remaining week's fishing effort. Sea temps were ii inshore and fell to 86 degrees for the offshore waters and gentle tropical surface breezes of 2-5 mph.

Best Fishing Area: The billfish are still in the area of 22-25 miles out to the southwest of the Marina El Cid but the best dorado bite for the week came from the buoys.

Best Bait/Lure: Billfish and dorado both taken on rigged trolling baits. Bigger dorado taken on slow trolled live bonito around the buoys as well as live bait from the bait vendor.

Bait Supply: Excellent for both, live bait and trolling baits ________________________________________________________________________
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THE IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO FISHIN REPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT SPORTFISHING FLEET

According to Captain Temo Verboonen, skipper/owner of the "Secuestro De Amor", it was a very good fishing week for the few boats and anglers that fished the area and he commented about some really good blue marlin fishing at the 20 mile mark and premium roosterfish catches just to the north of Ixtapa. The offshore fishing started at bout 9 miles out front of Zihuatanejo Bay, where the water clarity
was near perfect and the temps were holding stable at 86 degrees.
Lots of sailfish and dorado strikes in this area, slow trolling the rigged baits up & down the coast. One of the super pangas reported 70 roosterfish of different sizes were released for 4 fishing days just north of Ixtapa and out at the rocks were good for the grouper,
African pampano and big eye jacks, using the deep running Rapalas.
Best of all, the rains seem to have subsided for the season, allowing the area to return to the good fall fishing.

IZ Climate: Partly cloudy days with temps that varied from 73 nights to 94 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: A near perfect fishing week with excellent water temps, (85 inshore and rising to 86 offshore) excellent clarity starting at about 9 miles and mostly calm seas with very light tropical surface breezes.

Best Bait/Lure: Rigged baits working terrific on the sailfish and dorado, live bait and poppers for the roosterfish and Rapalas for the grouper, African pampano and bigeye jacks.

Bait Supply: Continues to be excellent for bait, both live bait and dead trolling baits are readily available.
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THE PUERTO MORELOS FISHING REPORT FOR THE MARINA EL CID SPORTFISHING FLEET, (CANCUN TO COZUMEL AREA)

Another wide-variety report from Puerto Morelos that reflected an 11 fish species in the catches that included another off season sailfish in the mix. The fishing from Puerto Morelos continues to offer anglers an excellent mixed fish catch within minutes of the marina El
Cid, due to the rapid drop-off just outside the mouth of the Marina.
Game fish come in along that deep wall in search for the small bait fish and offer fun fishing within a half-mile of the Marina entrance. Overall catches for the past week reflected 1 sailfish, 4 dorado, 7 blackfin tuna, 21 bonito, 21 Atlantic barracuda, 11 Spanish mackerel, 31 triggerfish, 14 grouper, 4 snapper, 1 banana fish and 1 amberjack.

PM Climate: Partly cloudy days with temps that ranged from 65 nights to 92 daytime highs and a 50-50 chance of showers and high humidity.

Sea Conditions: Good sea conditions throughout the area with stable temps that held at 85 degrees with light & variable tropical surface breezes.

Best Bait: The bait of choice for this area continues to be the rigged and un-rigged ballyhoo baits that are caught fresh on a daily basis.
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Larry Edwards
CORTEZ YACHT CHARTERS
619-469-4255
email: cortezcharters@sbcglobal.net
website: www.cortezcharters.com