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

Some very good tuna action this past week leading up to the WON Tuna Tournament that reflected fish to 140 lbs. coming from the Pacific side of Cabo. The "Gaviota VII" and "Gaviota IX" both had fish that exceeded the 100-pound mark, along with some other fine quality pelagics in the mix. There is simply no question to where the better fishing is right now, which is the Pacific side of Cabo. We had 3 boats fishing in the Gorda Banks region this past week that left all three blanked for the day. The following day, the same 3 boats fished the Pacific side for good mixed-bag catches that included billfish, tuna and dorado in the mix. The overall catches for a total of 44 days fished reflected 1 blue marlin @ 250 lbs., 8 stripers released 1 sailfish released 1 wahoo, 71 yellowffin tuna, (many in the 50-100 lb. ranges) and 181 dorado. Roberto Marquez, owner of the Fish Cabo Fleet, commented that the big tuna were readily available but were being unusually difficult getting them to bite.

Cabo Climate: Looks like a picture perfect time frame for the WON Tuna Tournament with sunny and warm days and temps that ranged from
65 nights to 89 daytime highs and light, tropical surface breezes.

Sea Conditions: You can fish in any direction with good water and stable conditions and sea temps from 81-83 on the Pacific side, from the Finger Bank south and around the corner at Cabo and up to Gorda Banks. The area round the Cabrillo Seamount was the warmest water at 84-85. No distinct temp breaks.

Best Fishing Area: The Pacific side was most productive from the Golden Gate Bank to Herradura and the Jaime Bank was the tuna hot spot during the week.

Best Bait/Lure: The billfish were best on the live bait as were the larger tuna. However, the tuna were not eager to bite anything and were overly picky. Dorado biting the artificials well and some of the tuna, (mostly the smaller fish) were biting the feathers and cedar plugs.

Live Bait Supply: Remained good for most of the boats for the caballitos but the sardinas were not overly available.
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THE MAZATLAN FISHING REPORT FOR THE ARIES SPORTFISHING FLEET

The dorado counts are still leading the action for both the sportfishing cruisers and super pangas and the better dorado activity remains around the offshore buoys. We are beginning to see some changes in the inshore fishing with a wider variety of fish that reflects the fall fishing season is approaching rapidly. The chances for a billfish are running about 50-50 for landing one but the
opportunities for a billfish strike or two are considerably higher.
This past week we had a total of 19 offshore fishing days that reflected 1 blue marlin, (estimated at 225 lbs.) 8 sailfish released,
4 red sharks, 61 dorado and 27 yellowfin tuna, (25-54 lbs.). The inshore catches for 7 days fished produced 4 black snook, (15-
pounders) 1 corvina, 1 palometa, 5 red snappers, 10 yellowfin tuna and 25 dorado.

Mazatlan Climate: Mostly sunny and warm, pleasant days with temps from 61 nights to 91 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Mostly calm to light surface breezes at 5-10 mph and stable sea temps at 85 inshore to 87 offshore and good clarity at 15 miles and beyond.

Best Fishing Area: Out to the southwest of the Marina El Cid, 20-29 miles for the billfish and tuna, along with scattered dorado and at the FAD buoys.

Best Bait/Lures: The sailfish mostly on the rigged trolling baits, (Lisa aka mullet) dorado on rigged baits and shrimp at the buoys, tuna on the feathers and cedar plugs.

Bait Supply: Continues to be readily available for both, live bait and rigged baits.
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THE IXTAPA-ZIHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT SPORTFISHING FLEET

A terrific weather week that provided a calm ocean and a defined clarity line that resulted in some very good fishing for the anglers. According to Captain Temo Verboonen, owner of the "Secuestro De Amor", the hot fishing area this past week was in the 14-20 mile zone and especially along the current lines that held floating logs and debris that were holding good numbers of bigger
dorado, (some fish to 50 lbs.) and eager to bite at the live baits.
There was good sailfish action throughout the week and most of the boats had multiple chances on each fishing day, adding to their dorado action. The inshore action has picked up considerably as the jack cravelle arrived in force, along with Sierras and bonito. The inshore water clarity is still a bit on the murky color side and most of the roosterfish that were caught came from the area some 30 miles south of Zihuatanejo Bay. Overall, it was a fun fishing week that provided sustained surface action for the anglers, both inshore and offshore.

IZ Climate: Mostly sunny and pleasant days with an occasional passing cloud and temps that varied from 74 nights to 93 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Calm seas and excellent surface temps from 85 inshore to 87 offshore, with good clarity at about 14 miles.

Best Fishing Area: Beginning at the distinct clarity break at 14 miles and on out to about 20 miles.

Best Bait/Lure: The rigged baits were hot for the sailfish and live bait was the ticket for the bigger dorado.

Bait Supply: All bait was readily available through the week.
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THE PUERTO MORELOS FISHING REPORT FOR THE MARINA EL CID SPORTFISHING FLEET, (CANCUN TO COZUMEL AREA)

According to Armando Gutierrez, the fleet's manager, Hurricane Rina had down graded to a tropical storm before reaching Puerto Morelos and while she dumped plenty of rain on the area, their was nothing more than a tree or two blown over. The sportfishing fleet and the Marina had no damage from the storm which was great news from that end of the line. The boats are back to fishing and the overall
weather has returned to the T-shirts, shorts and sandals mode.
During this past week, following the adverse weather, we had good fishing throughout the area that provided a 10 fish species for 25 fishing days that included 16 blackfin tuna, 129 bonito, 17 Atlantic barracuda, 16 king mackerel, 1 wahoo, 10 triggerfish, 8 snapper, 21 grouper, 8 soapfish and 9 banana fish.

PM Climate: Partly cloudy days with periods of intermittent sunshine and temps that ranged from 63 nights to 84 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Back to calmness and stable temps at 82 degrees and light and variable surface breezes.

Best Bait/Lure: The prime bait for this area continues to be the everyday availability of the ballyhoo that are provided for each fishing day for all of the boats.
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Larry Edwards
CORTEZ YACHT CHARTERS
619-469-4255
email: cortezcharters@sbcglobal.net
website: www.cortezcharters.com