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Dorado, Wahoo, Tuna Bite as Fall Season Starts ~ October 9, 2022

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October 9, 2022 

Latest storm threat of Hurricane Orlene did not amount to much locally, as this system shifted course to the southeast, striking the mainland below Mazatlan. Local Port did close Monday morning as a precaution, but was then reopened later that same day, never felt much wind, had no rain and swells only increased slightly. Weather is now changing to the normal fall pattern, cooler mornings and this next week forecast is for some increased north winds. Water temperatures have averaged in the 82 to 84 degree range, some warmer currents also further offshore and towards Los Frailes.

Crowds of anglers were increasing as is normal for this season. The bait available was sardinas, slabs of squid, ballyhoo and limited caballito. Most sportfishing charters are concentrating on the grounds from Cardon, Iman, San Luis and north to Vinorama.

The main action has been for surface species, such as dorado, wahoo and yellowfin tuna, as well as quite a few sailfish and a few striped marlin. Most numerous were the dorado, mixed sizes, average in the 5 to 10 lb. range, with a few bulls up over 20 lb. Limits were common, with lots of catch and release going on.

The yellowfin tuna action was more sporadic than last week. Striking best on strips of squid and at times on the sardinas. Vinorama, San Luis Banks were a couple of the better areas for these tuna. Sizes averaged 10 to 50 lb., a few larger specimens were brought in. Bite changed a bit everyday, as for when and where these fish would show up.

Wahoo were found on the same grounds, but more so around Cardon, a small area where boats congregated, putting heavy pressure on these already elusive gamefish. Bite was hit or miss, some charters landing up to three wahoo, largest we weighed in was a 42 lb. fish. They were striking on rigged ballyhoo and trolled rapalas.

Sailfish up to 80 lb. were mixed on the same grounds as well. Not much bottom action being done now, as most anglers are targeting the surface action.

Good Fishing, Eric–

Tuna Bite Breaks Open ~ October 2, 2022

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October 2, 2022

New month now is starting out with larger crowds of anglers and continued tropical weather patterns. Everyone that is now arriving from out of town is commenting on how lush green the desert landscape is due to September rains. We all followed Hurricane Ian this past week and its destruction of Cuba and then Florida, hoping people can recover as quickly as possible.

Locally we are now following the rapidly strengthening Hurricane Orlene, this system has wandered in different directions and has been hard to determine the correct path. It looks as though Southern Baja will be spared of much impact at all, though presently at hurricane 4 rating, this is an extremely powerful storm, fairly small in general size, but people in its path, near Mazatlan and to the south will need to brace for its flurry, life threatening floods are expected with all of the mountainous regions being impacted.

The good thing is that our fishing was very good this past week. The yellowfin tuna went on a big bite on the grounds from Iman, San Luis and Vinorama Banks. The tuna ranged in sizes from footballs up near 200 lb. Most common sizes were 20 to 60 lb. Many boats accounted for limits. The yellowfin were being taken while drift fishing, striking on strips of squid and both live or dead sardinas. Of course the word traveled quickly and over the weekend the fish became more elusive and finicky.

These same grounds were producing wahoo and dorado. The Wahoo were striking best on trolled rapalas and ranging in sizes up near 40 lb., though average were 15 to 30 lb. No huge numbers, but some charters were landing a couple of wahoo.

With water temperatures still very warm, in the 84 to 87 degree range, this activity should become more consistent as water temperature cools off in the coming weeks. The majority of the dorado were now smaller in size, but we are seeing a few impressive sized bulls as large as 30 to 40 lb. mixed in, they are few and far between.

Main billfish activity we saw was for sailfish, found on the same local grounds, striking various baits and trolled lures. Off the bottom the highlight was a few nice dogtooth snapper, also a mix of cabrilla, pargo and bonito. Though more anglers were now concentrating on the surface action.

Good Fishing, Eric

Storms Pass, Action Picks Up ~ September 25,2022

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September 25, 2022 

With fall season now officially here we are feeling cooler mornings, though days are still quite warm and humid with the passing of all the rain the past few weeks. Last weekend we had TS Newton pass within a couple of hundred miles off to the southwest, all Port activity was closed for Sunday and Monday, though we never felt much from this system besides higher ocean swells, scattered rainfall on Monday and some south wind with some gusts close to 30 mph. Presently the forecast looks good for next week, it feels as though the storm season is now past us, but with ocean temperatures still in the 82 to 85 degree range you can never be certain, we will hope for no late season disasters.

After this latest storm passed the ocean did quickly rebound, water cleared up within a couple of days, even the sardinas which had scattered returned and other bait options were caballito, ballyhoo and slabs of squid.

The majority of local fleets are fishing on the grounds from Cardon, La Fortuna, Iman and to San Luis Bank. We saw more numbers of anglers arriving, anticipating some early fall action.

Most common catches were for smaller sized dorado, though there were a few nicer sized bulls up to 40 lb. found mixed in. Many of the smaller dorado were being released, which is a good thing since these are one of the fastest growing fish found and females are always filled with eggs, giving them a chance to reproduce. These fish were striking on various lures and baits, not too finicky.

A handful of wahoo were accounted for, fish in the 15 to 30 lb. range, striking on rapalas and ballyhoo, though still not very active in the warmer water, should become more active as water cools off a few degrees. Billfish were found scattered throughout the region, though not that numerous, we saw sailfish, striped  and blue marlin landed from local charters.

There was encouraging news that the yellowfin tuna were biting better the last few days, drift fishing with strips of squid on the Iman Bank was the most successful. We saw tuna ranging from sizes of 10 lb. up to 90 lb., average were 20 to 50 lb. A couple of charters accounted for up to five fish, though overall numbers were not high, you had to be patient and be at the right spot when the bite was on. Best action was found early in the morning.

Off the bottom we saw a few nice amberjack, red snapper and bonito, though this action was not consistent. On Friday everyone was excited when a large pod of killer whales appeared early in the day as boats were on their way to the grounds, very agile and fast, chasing boats at high speed, right up into the prop wash and some great videos were taken.

Good Fishing, Eric






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