La Paz Fishing Report / May 1st
With spring break over and summer vacation just around the corner La Paz in general is quite peaceful. In my opinion this is a great time to come down enjoy what Baja has to offer without bumping into thousands of tourists.
Most days the Coromuel winds are up til mid morning laying down around 10am. This makes for brisk mornings and nice following seas as you head out to the fishing grounds. Definitely bring a couple of layers of clothes or a hoodie. Something to break the morning chill as you head out.
By afternoon the winds stop and the temperature climbs up quickly.
The water conditions are changing fast, inshore we still have some cooler off colored water, but as you head east offshore the water is warming up and blue. I think we’re a little early for these conditions. Perhaps another sign of El Niño conditions building up.
Bait is still widely available both Caballitos and sardines. As we advance into summer we will start stocking up on ballyhoos and calamar as well.
Over all fishing is good. The cooler water around the islands and seamounts are still holding yellowtail, Cabrilla and Pargo. These fish are scattered all over the water column. Best bet is try a little of everything. Live bait on down riggers, sardines on the surface or jigging all seems to be working. This week’s yellowtail were a bit on the smaller size but the grouper made up for that. We caught a lot of pre spawn Cabrilla, these fish are fat and ripe for the taking, fortunately we had a lot of kind hearted anglers that understand and released most of their grouper catch so they could spawn and keep the world turning.
I’m a bit surprised that the AmberJacks haven’t made a bigger showing. Usually by now that’s what we’re talking about. Perhaps any day now.
Most boats are picking up a couple Dorado. Mostly around the sargasso paddies and current lines. Slow trolling sardines or casting into the paddies are producing fish in the 20lb class.
There is definitely an increase in Striped Marlin activity. Pods with as many as a dozen are spotted tailing around the El Charro sea mount. Not many are being caught but I believe that’s due to not many people are fishing for them yet. Not much happening on the tuna front. It’s still a bit early, as they really don’t start migrating north until July/August. Hopefully the government will keep the seiners in check down Cabo way which will allow the schools of yellowfin to migrate further north into our waters. Will have to wait and see.
Short of that it’s a great time to get warm and have a cold beer.
That’s all I got
Keep the faith
Scotto
