This week slowed down a bit overall here in La Paz. That is part of fishing, especially this time of year — it cannot be wide open all the time. After a strong stretch of action, things backed off a little, mostly on the tuna side, but there was still life out there and a few good signs to keep an eye on.
The weather has been real hot and humid, with our first big storm sitting off Baja on the Pacific side and steering west. So far, that system has not brought any major effects into the Gulf of California, but it has kicked up big swell on the Pacific side and added to the heavy summer feel around town. We also had some small localized thunderstorms in the afternoons, locally called “toritos,” which are normal this time of year, especially when there are weather systems in the area.
Water temperatures also jumped up quickly this week. We are hoping it does not get too warm too fast, but for now, bait has not been an issue, and there is still plenty of life around.
Tuna Bite Slowed Down
The tuna bite was tougher this week compared to what we had been seeing. We struggled to find the better grade fish, and most of the tuna that came in were football-size fish, with only a couple a bit bigger.
That does not mean the tuna disappeared, but the quality was harder to locate. Some weeks the right school is easier to find, and other weeks the fish make everyone work for it. This was one of those weeks where the bigger tuna were not as cooperative.
The good news is that there is still bait around, and that usually keeps things interesting. We will be watching closely to see if the better tuna push back in or if the next change in conditions gets them moving again.
Blue Marlin and Striped Marlin Showing
One of the better signs this week was the amount of blue marlin around. There are good numbers of blues in the area, and with all the bait around, that pattern should hopefully continue.
Striped marlin also made more of an appearance this week, adding another option offshore. Having both blue marlin and striped marlin in the mix is always a good sign, especially when the tuna bite slows down a bit and the captains are looking for different opportunities.
Nothing about marlin fishing is ever guaranteed, but the presence of bait and the number of fish being seen gives us something positive to build on as we move deeper into the summer season.
Dorado Still Giving Us Action
Dorado fishing remained one of the brighter spots this week. Even with the tuna slowing down, there was still good dorado fishing to be had, and that helped keep some action in the mix.
Dorado are a big part of the summer program here in La Paz. They can turn a slow day around quickly, and they are always fun fish for guests — colorful, aggressive, fast, and great on light to medium tackle. This week, they continued to be one of the more reliable species available.
Final Thoughts
All in all, this was a slower week, but not a bad one. The better grade tuna were harder to find, the weather was hot and humid, and the water heated up quickly. At the same time, bait was available, dorado fishing stayed worthwhile, and there were good numbers of blue marlin around with more striped marlin showing up as well.
That is fishing in the summer. Some weeks everything lines up perfectly, and some weeks you have to work a little harder and take what the ocean gives you.
We will see what happens this coming week and keep watching the weather, the water temperature, and the bait. Hopefully things settle in nicely and we get another good window ahead.
Also, we are already filling up our Mag Bay season calendar, so give us a shout if you would like to get in on that amazing experience.
