Fishing in La Paz, Baja California Sur, continues to move in the right direction as we roll into early May. Conditions have been pretty comfortable overall, with some light south wind in the mornings, a little swell here and there, and several calm, sunny windows that made it easier to work different zones.
It’s still not wide open across the board, but the bite is showing more life. Bottom fishing has been the most consistent action, roosterfish are very active along the beaches, and we’re starting to see those early-season signs offshore, including a few dorado already in the mix.
La Paz Fishing Conditions This Week
Weather was mostly on our side this week. A few mornings started with a light south wind, and we had some north swell on one of the days, but overall the ocean gave us plenty to work with.
Water quality has been good in several areas, with some clear water and a mix of light blue to green-blue conditions depending on the zone. That’s pretty normal for this time of year, but the good news is that the water is starting to look more alive.
Bait has also been a big part of the story. Sardina and mackerel have been the main live baits, with pieces of bonito also helping when switching to dead bait or working the bottom.
Bottom Fishing Remains the Most Consistent Bite
Most of the steady action this week came from bottom fishing. Captains worked live bait, dead bait, jigging, and yo-yo techniques, and that mix helped produce fish when the bite was a little more technical.
Snapper and cabrilla were the main players on the bottom. There were some very nice cabrilla days, including several fish released, and the snapper bite gave us some good action as well.
We also had a couple of big cubera snapper bites that unfortunately did not make it to the boat. That’s fishing — sometimes the big ones win, and sometimes they leave you with a story that gets bigger every time you tell it.
Cabrilla and Snapper Put Fish in the Box
Cabrilla fishing was one of the highlights of the week. We had solid action on leopard grouper, especially while fishing structure with live sardina, mackerel, and jigging techniques.
Snapper also showed up nicely, with pargo caught on live bait, dead bait, and yo-yo. One of the better adjustments this week was switching to dead bait when needed, which worked well and helped keep the bite going.
That kind of flexibility has been important lately. The fish are there, but they are not always biting the same way every day, so changing bait, depth, and technique has made a big difference.
Yellowtail Are Still Around, but Not Easy
Yellowtail are still showing up, but they are not exactly jumping into the boat yet. A few fish were landed this week, mostly while working bottom structure with live bait and jigging.
After a slower-than-usual yellowtail season, it’s good to keep seeing them in the mix. The numbers are not huge, but the signs are still positive, especially as bait keeps holding better and water conditions continue to settle.
For now, yellowtail fishing is still a patience game. You have to put in the time, fish the right structure, and be ready when the window opens.
Roosterfish Are Very Active Along the Beaches
Roosterfish have been one of the better stories this week. We saw very good activity along the beaches and in the shallower zones, with live sardina and casting producing most of the action.
There are plenty of medium-sized fish around, and some larger ones are already starting to show. This is a great sign as we move deeper into the season, because the roosterfish bite usually keeps building as conditions become more stable.
For anglers wanting that classic Baja roosterfish experience, things are starting to get interesting.
Dorado Are Starting to Show Early Signs
We’re also seeing a few dorado already, which is always a fun early-season sign. A couple were landed while trolling artificials and fishing live bait, and there were also more dorado spotted during the week, even if they did not always commit.
It’s still early, so we’re not calling it a full dorado bite yet, but seeing them around is definitely encouraging. Offshore life is starting to wake up little by little, and that can change quickly this time of year.
Best Techniques This Week
The most productive approach this week was mixing it up. Live sardina and mackerel were key, especially for roosterfish, cabrilla, yellowtail, and bottom structure fishing.
Dead bait also worked well, especially pieces of bonito when targeting snapper and deeper fish. Jigging and yo-yo helped when fish were holding lower, and trolling artificials produced some dorado action.
The boats that stayed flexible and changed techniques throughout the day had the best results.
Final Thoughts: Good Variety and Better Signs Ahead
Overall, fishing in La Paz is continuing to improve. The bottom bite is giving us the most consistent action, roosterfish are getting active along the beaches, and the early dorado signs are a nice bonus as we move toward warmer-season fishing.
It’s not full speed yet, but there is definitely more life in the water. Bait is around, structure is producing, and each week feels like we’re getting closer to that stronger spring and early summer pattern.
That’s the scoop for now — good weather windows, solid bottom fishing, active roosterfish, and some early dorado showing up. Not bad at all, and definitely good vibes ahead.
