THE MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ FISHING REPORT for WEEK of MAY 14-21, 2017
THE WEEK AT A GLANCE (SCALE of 1-10)
Weather – 7 if you like sunshine. 2 if you like wind
Water – 8 if you’re from a cold place. 3 if you’re fishing. (colder than normal)
Fishing – 3 at best . (read below…it’s worth it!)
Fish Catching – 3 at best . (keep reading…it’s really worth it!)
Happy fella! What a day for the Damron family from Oregon! BIG ROOSTERS! Scott Damron got FOUR huge fish. Dad Dale and cousin Cody nailed another TWO! All fish SIX released strong! Several others broke off!
Former Oregon charter captain, Dale Damron and nephew Cody Johnson caught and released two big roosterfish off the Las Arenas lighthouse and had another bust off.
First-time Arizona amigo, Dan Cherry caught two of the larger dorado of the season fishing with our Tailhunter La Paz fleet north of the city near El Coyote.
Brian Hoff had a good day pulling cabrilla out’ve the rocks! Nice chunks of the fish ended up getting grilled up at our Tailhunter Restaurant.
Another of Scott Damron’s four big roosterfish on the same day. The Las Arenas lighthouse in the background. All fish released.
Big smiles for Dan Cherry and another big cabrilla.
Dan Cherry and Betty Woods posing with more of their cabrilla.
BUT WAIT…LOOK WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST DAY! Just as I was going to print!
Nice pair for first -timer Mike Miller and return Tailhunter tribe amigo, Dave Codding and some sweet mahi mahi meat and Captain Armando!
Our buddy, Tom Ames, with Captain Jorge and some of the largest dorado we’ve seen this year! Tom is from Idaho and has fished with us several times over the years. Always good to have him back!
Tom Mullican, our amigo from Idaho who fishes with us several times a year and is about as hard-core as they come, with another dorado!
Brent and Amy Hyde from Montana with their first dorado fishing with Captain Victor!
Captain Ramiro got his guys from the Hoppa Group into the dorado too!
TOUGH WINDS – TOUGH CURRENTS – TOUGH FISHING…(Until the last day!)
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Fishing Report for Week of May 14-21, 2017
Winter just won’t let go. Just like in so many spots in the U.S. where winter continues to cling or come back and brought snow, winds and rain this past week, we’re just as affected down here in La Paz. We had viscious winds early in the week that forced us to cancel two days with our Las Arenas fleet and fish everyone out’ve La Paz. Even when the winds diminished, it was still breezy and left us with green water and strong currents that made fishing difficult, unpredictable and with areas of green cold water.
The result, generally speaking, made for some difficult fishing. Strong current made it tough to get bait. When we did have live bait, the fishing areas changed from one place to the other. A spot that was hot one way would go totally slack the next day. Areas that were like a desert one day without any sign of life would suddenly hop with fish. An area that was blowing wind and choppy would be calm the in an hour and areas that were flat calm would suddenly be buffeted by double-digit gusts of winds. I think even the fish are confused!
Having our two fleets in two different areas helped because we tried to remain flexible to move folks to whatever fleet was doing better, but Mother Nature always has the last word and all we can do is make educated guesses.
TAILHUNTER LAS ARENAS FLEET
It was one of the more difficult weeks in the early season for this area. The first two days, of the week, it was again blowing so hard, we couldn’t even get in the pangas. Just not worth it. When we did get out, the currents were rolling so strong and fast that we had trouble getting any live bait. Even the commercial guys couldn’t catch any to sell.
We got some sierra, bonito and hooked a few dorado and that was pretty much it. Scratchy fishing at best.
Then, later in the week, conditions came together better and we rebounded with some of the best roosterfish of the season with some big trophy fish in the 30-80 pound class right off the sand at the Punta Arenas lighthouse. All the fish caught on big live ladyfish (sabalo).
Some billfish were also hooked as striped marlin and sailfish seemed to finally wake up.
LA PAZ TAILHUNTER FLEET
This is the area that had been really scratchy the last few weeks while the better fishing had been at Las Arenas.
However, true to form, everything flip-flopped this week! We actually had far better fishing north of La Paz.
Early in the week!
Near the islands and outcroppings we hit some big cabrilla and pargo. Lost even more big fish in the rocks including yellowtail and amberjack. Made up for it with good action on big triggerfish and fat bonito. Not great fishing, but decent action and a lot of fish lost! And we also have live mackerel and big sardines which makes a difference.
Around the peninsula near Coyote and Las Cruces we found some schools of 15-25 pound early season dorado! Some of the largest dorado that we’ve seen all year.
Then late in the week, things flipped again. Strong currents shut down the bite. And things went slack again. Just as the Las Arenas fleets started to find fish!
It’s a guessing game every week.
BREAKING NEWS!!!! (SEE THE DORADO PHOTOS ABOVE!)
Go figure. Just as I was going to print with the weekly report, our La Paz fleet turned in some big cabrilla, lots of action on triggers and other great reef fish . BUT WHOA!!!! Suddenly DORADO go off for our Las Arenas Fleet at Muertos Bay! Best dorado bite of the season and larger than any dorado we generally saw last year!
So, just when I’m whining….Mother Nature has another laugh on me! SUNDAY was a good day of fishing! We were due!
A WORD ABOUT FLYFISHING
We really haven’t had many flyfishers yet this season and generally most of our flyfishers don’t come in until later. But, we’re good friends with some of the flyfishing outfitters who don’t live here, but come to town for a a month or two and bring only flyfishers to fish here.
With all the winds and lack of bait, they’re not doing well. Several are canceling parts of their season or seeing a big drop off in their bookings. Or their fishermen are having to fish conventionally. These are outfitters who ONLY do flyfishing.
If you’re coming with a flyrod, my suggestion, as it has always been is to bring the flyrod, but be ready to fish conventionally. Have fun. We don’t mind if you grab one of our conventional rods or bring your own. If the opportunity presents itself, by all means throw the flies. But, if not, there’s no sense in just sitting in the panga bored or wearing out your arms.
Early indications show it’s not going to be a great flyfishing season so I’d rather be honest than blow smoke and mirrors at you.
Have a great week!
That’s our story!
Jonathan and Jilly
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
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