The water finally made the change we had been waiting for, and the fishing responded in a big way.
Cleaner, warmer water moved into the La Paz area this week. The water is now blue and sitting in the mid-80s, and once it arrived, the bite picked up across several fisheries.
We also had great weather. Winds were light in the mornings, and after about 10:00 a.m., the water often went flat like a lake. The summer heat is definitely here, but the beers are cold.
Big Dorado and Better Tuna Fishing
Big dorado have not slowed down. If anything, they seemed even more active this week.
Live bait worked well, but we also had good action on stickbaits, cedar plugs, and trolling lures. With the cleaner water in place, the dorado were aggressive and willing to chase.
Tuna numbers also improved. Most of the fish around structure were on the smaller side, but they provided steady action. The larger tuna, mostly in the 50- to 70-pound range, were found running with porpoise.
Those bigger fish required patience, good positioning, and solid tackle, but they offered some of the hardest fights of the week.
Big Snapper and Billfish in the Mix
There was also good fishing for big snapper for anglers willing to put in the time and effort.
These fish are powerful and know exactly how to reach the rocks, so you have to stay on top of your game from the moment they are hooked. There were definitely some heartbreaks, but landing one of these brutes made the effort worthwhile.
Billfish were also around for anglers who wanted to target them, adding another solid option to the week.
Bait, Conditions, and the Week Ahead
Mackerel remained available in the bay, while sardines could still be found through the local bait suppliers.
Overall, this was a strong week with clean blue water, good bait, aggressive dorado, improving tuna numbers, big snapper, and billfish in the area.
More southeast wind is predicted for the coming week, so we will see how conditions develop and work with what the Sea of Cortez gives us. If the clean water holds, everything still points toward an excellent summer in La Paz.
That is the scoop for now—summer heat, cold beers, blue water, and plenty of fish in the mix.
