Hot and Humid Summer Conditions in La Paz
We are right in the middle of the hottest stretch of summer here in La Paz, and this week felt every bit like it. With full El Niño conditions in play, the weather has been hot, humid, and heavy, and the water has warmed up exactly as expected for this time of year.
Most of the water we have been fishing has been sitting in the 88 to 90 degree range, which is plenty warm. September is usually one of our most active hot-water months, so none of this is a big surprise, but it definitely changes the way the fishing behaves.
We have also seen a noticeable increase in thunderstorm activity. Around here, these small but powerful local storms are often called “toritos,” and they are something we take seriously. They can build extremely fast, turning sunny skies into full tropical storm conditions in a matter of minutes. That means we have to keep our heads on a swivel, watch the weather closely, and be ready to make quick changes of plan when needed.
Bait Has Been Steady
The good news is that bait supply has stayed pretty steady through the summer. Sardines have been the main bait source, and they have been available consistently. We are also still seeing some bigger baits around the high spots, which keeps options open when the conditions line up.
Having bait has not been the issue. The bigger challenge this week has simply been finding fish that want to cooperate in water that is this warm and with weather systems moving around the region.
Slower Crowds and Slower Fishing
Crowds have slowed down quite a bit, which is normal for this time of year. September is one of the slower months for visitors, and to be honest, fishing-wise we are not missing a big rush right now.
We only had a handful of trips this week, and overall the fishing was slow. There were some dorado around, but nothing big. One change we have noticed is that smaller dorado are now showing up in the area, which is something we had not really seen much of during most of the season.
It is good to see some life in the dorado department, but at the moment it has not turned into the kind of steady or quality bite we would like. Most of the action has been scratchy, and it has taken some work to put fish together.
There are also a couple of striped marlin around, but not in any real numbers. They are present enough to mention, but not enough to call it a consistent bite.
All in all, this has probably been the slowest fishing we have had so far this season. That is just part of fishing here during the peak heat of summer, especially in a special El Niño year. Some weeks give you a lot to talk about. Some weeks you tell it like it is.
Looking Toward the Fall Season
On the other hand, we are already getting ready for our fall season on both sides of the peninsula, and this year should be especially interesting. With El Niño conditions shaping the season, we are curious to see how things develop as we move out of the deepest heat and into the next transition.
For now, the honest report is simple: hot weather, very warm water, steady bait, light crowds, and slow fishing with some dorado and a few striped marlin around. Not every week is a banner week, but that is part of keeping these reports real.
We will see how things settle after this next round of weather, and hopefully a little change in conditions brings some better action back into the mix.
