July 23, 2023

Another hot and humid week in Southern Baja, light crowds of anglers greeted with clear sunny days, no rain in sight for now, slight wells and variable afternoon breezes. Caballito remains the main bait source from the local marina, with jurelito, ballyhoo and slabs of squid also an option.

Sportfishing fleets are mainly concentrating on the grounds to the north, Gordo Banks to Iman and San Luis Banks, others are adventuring straight offshore and to south between Palmilla and Santa Maria. Overall action was tough, one factor being the 87 degree water temperature and the extremely swift current. Again there were a wide variety of species now in the area, just getting them enticed to biting is another story.

Dorado has been the most common catch, though about 80 % of them have been small 5 lb. and under juvenile females, with an occasional larger bull accounted for. They really need to implement length limits on certain species, particularly on these female dorado, which are filled with eggs, can grow up to five pounds per month and often never even get the chance to reproduce. Problem is when there is limited action many anglers want to put something in the fish box.

No yellowfin tuna or wahoo to speak about, except a handful of scattered open water yellowfin which were football sized. The coming months of August and September normally see more production for the nicer grade of tuna.

Bottom fishing was not easy at all due to strong currents, though we did see a few impressive catches  accounted for, dogtooth snapper, leopard grouper, amberjack and yellowtail being the highlight. Along the shoreline there are still some roosterfish to be found, a bit hit or miss, but a few over 40 lb. were landed and released.

Billfish bite is also very scattered, chances at sailfish, striped and blue marlin now, really it is also the time we see the first black marlin of the season, we have not seen them yet. Would be nice if more of the small sized tuna appeared on the offshore high spots, this seems to help attract the blacks.

Good Fishing, Eric