La Paz – Las Arenas / Muertos Bay Fishing Report for Week of July 26 to Aug. 1, 2015

August 3, 2015 by riplipboy

Big smile from amigo and hunting guide, Ken Chaplin from Oregon, who finally made it down to visit us and was able to check several boxes off his bucket list including “big roosters.” It was a good week for it. Ken caught and released several.

Wade Ralston is a pro fishing guide and light tackle expert from Washington (Happy Birthday, amigo!) and he had a kick on the light rods with dorado, big fast bonito and a bunch of other species out’ve La Paz Bay.

Dave Schneider was on his first trip with us here in La Paz from San Jose CA. He’s here with Captain Victor and a big roosterfish. He caught several this week and released them all, but this one swallowed the hook and couldn’t be released. He donated the meat. Roosterfish rocked alot of anglers this week!

Big rooster for Dustin Chaplin from the Seattle WA area. Dustin came down with his dad and they got into some nice roosters this week and caught and released several nice ones like this with our Tailhunter Las Arenas fleet.

Texas in the house! Long-time amigo, Dave Hill spent the week parked on the dorado out’ve La Paz and poses with another fish while fishing with Captain Boli.

The man behind the mask is our amigo, Larry Barnard, from El Segungo CA! Larry got into the roosters this past week and shows off another fish he released.

He visits us every year! Captain John Seidensticker with our own Captain Jorge and some of the better grade dorado from Bahia de Los Muertos.

First-timer from the Bay Area, Joe Hill had a blast this week catching his first dorado fishing all week with our Tailhunter La Paz fleet and Captain Boli.

ROOSTERFISH…MARLIN…DORADO IN THE FULL MOON

La Paz – Las Arenas / Muertos Bay Fishing Report for Week of July 26-Aug. 1, 2015

Fishing was steady this week, if not spectacular. Everyone got fish, even with the big blue moon full on. There were some blustery days and a bit of swell generated by a big storm far to the south, but no rain or bad weather at all. On the contrary, it was hot and humid. Waters looked good. Like I said, everyone got fish with the three main species being roosters, dorado and marlin. The good thing is that for the most part, if you were hunting for a certain species and had a day or two to pursue them, you got what you were looking for. So, the folks that wanted a marlin, got a marlin…or a rooster…or had fun with dorado! That’s all good!

LAS ARENAS

Again, this is why they call it the rooster fish capital of the world. The roosters generally, did not disappoint. The “smaller roosters” this week were in the 30 pound class. The larger ones were good-sized 50-60 pounders with larger roosters lost! Most days, if you were looking for a rooster, you got one…or two…or three! Great to check off the bucket list! The only days when the roosters were tough were the days it was windy and it was hard to get bait.

And that’s the issue. Bait is still tough to get out there. The larger baits like caballitos, mackerel and lady fish are great and most days you can get a handful to try for a rooster or marlin. But the smaller baits like the sardines are hard to come by.

So, beyond the roosters, we’re getting some OK-sized 10-15 pound dorado. Many are the 5 pound class. There’s also small roosters in Muertos Bay around 5 pounds that are a hoot on light tackle or flyrod. There’s also some smaller pargo, cabrilla, triggerfish and such along the rocks that are great eating.

LA PAZ

If you want to put fillets in the ice chest, fishing with our La Paz Fleet is best. Most days, it’s limits or near limits of dorado around the areas north of La Paz and around Espirito Santo Island. The fish are slow to get bigger. Lots of dinks unfortunately, in the 5-10 pound class, but some are getting bigger. We finally got into a few in the 20 pound class, but few and far between. This is more like May fishing than August fishing! But, in terms of just action, it’s hard to resist a school of hungry dorado slamming around the panga.

Actually, the big bonito are larger than the dorado and surely a zillion times more powerful. Lots of 10-15 pound bonito around that are just beating the heck out’ve our light tackle guys mixed in with some 25 pound jack crevalle.

I think because we have so many little dorado around, it’s also keeping the marlin around as well. Like I said earlier, if you’re looking for a marlin, this past week was a good one to get it off the bucket list. Everyone who wanted a marlin at least had a hook-up or two and all fish this week were released. Most of the marlin were stripers going 100-150 pounds. We did have two blue marlin on for awhile that might’ve gone 200 pounds before they busted off.

There’s still some decent action on pargo and cabrilla in the coves around the islands and reefs although not sure how much longer that will last with the warming waters. Guys have a kick this week on the light tackle trying to pull them outta the rocks.

I BLEW IT!

Last week, I incorrectly said this was my amigo, Larry Barnard , holding the big rooster. FAIL! It’s Matt Iacabelli from Florida who was on the boat with Larry! Apologies to both amigos! Nice fish, Matt! It’s still an awesome photo! Larry is actually pictures above!

PACK FOR A PURPOSE

Shout out to Joe and Dave Hill who brought down a bunch of stuff for our kid’s charities. Thanks guys. Also, to Dave Schneider who brought down an ice chest full of stuff as well, but I didn’t have my camera with me! You guys are all great!