YELLOWTAIL YES!  BUT TUNA IN FEBRUARY? 

La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Bahia Suenos Fishing Report for Week of Feb. 9-16, 2021

MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO FISHING REPORT

THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…

William McCarthy and Jimmy Williams had a banner day with big yellowtail and nice cabrilla on sardines on the backside of Cerralvo Island. Jimmy tells me they lost some larger yellowtail in the rocks!

Yeow? Tuna in February? Misael stuck this YFT not far off Bahia Muertos on a sardine.

William has one for the camera and the fish box.

This tuna estimated at 100 pounds landed at the north end of Cerralvo Island by commercial panga fishermen.

Headed for the dinner table, Christian got a couple of yellowtail as well as the big sierra.

For the second straight week, the winds diminished a bit. It was still windy, but at least there were a few days for folks to get on the water or if not for the whole day, at least for the mornings to squeeze in some fishing time before the winds came up.

With temperatures daytime in the low 70’s and mostly sunshine, conditions were not too bad and fishing was surprisingly decent.

Captain Efrens catch. Six legit yellowtail.

Yellowtail between 5 and 25 pounds were the main highlight with fish hitting sardines when available, but also yo-yo jigs worked over the rocks. Knife jigs were especially effective. Hotspots included the areas right outside Bahia Muertos around the point and up to Punta Perrico and Punta Arenas.

Hog yellowtail for our amigo, Jimmy.

As well, there were some big boys taken around the backside of Cerralvo Island on the days you could get across the channel. That same area was also holding some big cabrilla.

Nice variety for this time of year…sierra, yellowfin tuna and a yellowtail!

The big surprise was that tuna are in the area. Very unusual for this time of year. While yellowtail prefer cooler waters which are normal right now, tuna are generally warmer water fish. However, we’ve had reports of tuna moving fast here-and-there with the porpoise schools, but this week a commercial panga horsed in a 100-pounder at the north end of Cerralvo Island and there are some 15-30 pound fish mixed in with the yellowtail outside of Bahia de los Muertos.

Additionally, the fish boxes came back with a nice mix of the usual fish this time of year that included sierra, pargo, cabrilla, and white bonito.

Not many tourists at all or fishermen. Mostly locals fishing.  Looks like winds might be kicking back up this week.  We’ll keep you posted.

WHALE WATCHING SEASON

The dimished winds this past week also allowed us to get some folks out to Bahia Magdalena for some whale watching.  John Sayre and his wife, from Florida got in two nice days with the whales.  The whale migration usually lasts through March.  Let us know and we’ll set you up!

LA PAZ NEWS

After being closed for quite some time, the authorities have re-opened both sides of the Malecon to foot traffic.  The ocean/ beach side of the boulevard had been closed to prohibit gatherings and to promote social distancing.  However, Covid cases are diminishing so for now, they have re-opened both sides of the street.

In response to the new CDC rules implemented Jan. 26th, covid testing labs are popping up everywhere.  Many of the hotels in Cabo now offer the services and there is a facility now at Cabo Airport.  Now, a facility has been set up a the La Paz Airport as well.

The requirements mandate a negative Covid test within 72 hours of your flight and is required for ALL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT flying INTO the U.S.  You do NOT need a test to fly out of the U.S. into Mexico.  There are no quarantines involved.

The test takes about 15 minutes and you get results in about an hour.  Cost is a minimal $22-24 dollars.

That’s my story!