A late season resurgence of dorado was a nice surprise this past week. Although wind is still an issue, in between flurries or on the days when the winds lie down, dorado were coming up around Cerralvo Island in pockets or warmer water. Nothing big, but some fun 10-20 pound fish were caught like this one that was photo'd just before it was released and caught east of Ventana north of the Las Arenas lighthouse.
Again, it's pretty late to see wahoo pop into the counts, but after waiting all year for wahoo in what has been one of the poorest wahoo season in many years, a few of the big skinnies were taken sporadically off the north and south end of Cerralvo Island. Fishermen in the areas said it wasn't consistent and if you go there be ready for some possibly rough water and wind as both areas take currents from all directions which can be exacerbated if the winds are blowing. As one of our anglers said, "We were soaking wet, but it was worth it to finally get a wahoo." Our amiga, Sue Paul, holds up one that she took at north point.
LATE SEASON SURPRISES!
La Paz/ Las Arenas Fishing Report for Week for Nov. 27-Dec. 4, 2011
As I’m writing this, it’s raining in La Paz. It’s been an up-and-down week for weather which has reflected in the fishing. Although this is the first real rain, it’s been threatening some days. Other days it’s windy. Other days it’s bright sunny perfect.
This is pretty typical for the change-in-season ,but I had to say, it’s gotten cooler faster than I remember. Many of us locals are already wearing jackets and long pants and it never hurts to keep a sweatshirt handy if the winds come up and it gets a little chilly (chilly for us!…the tourist think we’re nuts!).
Anyway, the fishing is pretty much dictated by the weather conditions which obviously dictate the water conditions.
I’m not so worried about a little bit of rain. Yea, it’s cooler and you might get a bit of wet…it never lasts long. But, even when it rains, normally, there’s not alot of wind so you can still get into some decent fishing. If there’s wind, that’s when things are not so good. Wind churns up waves and chop. Wind brings surf and turns up the water, especially in the areas where we have to look for bait in the shallow areas.
If the winds are over a few days then the water can get really turned up and green and cloudy. Not so good for fishing…at least not for pelagic species like the dorado and billfish and maybe even some tuna that are still out there…if you can get to them…if the conditions are right…if the water is not turned up and if you can get bait! That’s alot of “if’s”.
But even when it’s windy, at least there’s some good inshore fishing to be had. This past week, we still got into good numbers of sierra, cabrilla and snapper. Some of the sierra this year are already some of the larger sierra I think I’ve seen in awhile. I kid you not when I say, they look like baby wahoo! Teeth and sleek! Some 5 pound sierra are not uncommon. That’s a nice sized fish, especially on light tackle. We’re seeing more and more pargo as well…mostly the barred pargo and yellow pargo/ snapper, but all tough in the rocks and great eating.
There were some nice surprises. A few times, we still got into dorado. Good spots are east of Espiritu Santo Island; the south end of Cerralvo Island and around Punta Perrico especiallly on the south end in the ensenada curve by the old Hotel Las Arenas. If you can’t get bait, then trolling smaller feather or skipping the small plastic hoochies on the surface chop gets the strikes. If you only have a little bait, then get a hookup on the trolled lures or feathers then draw the fish in with the live bait!
Also, if you’re willing to “go long” and maybe “get wet and bounced,” the north and south end of Cerralvo Island has kicked our some wahoo. That’s a big surprise since this year the wahoo have been around, but just not biting. I think this year we only saw a handful. However, the last week or so, there were a few caught, but everyone talked about the long bumpy ride out there and the erratic seas and strong winds while trolling around. For some…it was worth it!
Hope your Holidays are off to a good start!
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Jonathan and Jilly
Jonathan Roldan’s Tailhunter International
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