La Paz – Las Arenas/ Bahia Muertos/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of April 5-12, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Great shot of Brenda Bovee with big smiles and a big yellowtail with Captain Pancho. Brenda came to see us from San Diego.
Taken on the troll, Jim finally got a yellowtail in the boat the last day and it’s a thick one.
More San Diego boys in the house! Mike Mauzy brought his buddies down for a day of fishing with us. Big yellowtail, again taken on the troll, this time on a Nomad lure on the way back from Cerralvo Island to Bahia Muertos as well as a tasty pargo. They were fishing with Captain Victor.
Keith and Mark from Washington with Captain Pancho took a nice box of yellows at the end of a slower day.
Nick and Brandy Wilks with Kim and Brett Kopchitz on the beach at Muertos with a nice day’s catch. Everyone is from Detroit.
Beautiful beach weather all-week for spring breakers and post Easter visitors with temps in the high 80’s and down to the 60’s at night. Actually, in the early mornings, it was rather chilly. All of us had sweatshirts and jackets on in the mornings and the fishing clients in shorts and t-shirts were laughing at us.
Despite the beach weather, it wasn’t always the best on the water.
Those problematic winter winds have been diminishing every week, but there are times when the winds dig their heels in and come roaring back every few days. Additionally, some days Las Arenas was calmer. Some days La Paz was calmer. It kept flip-flopping. If you were fishing with our Las Arenas fleet and you had a blustery day, the fishing was terrible to be honest. If you were fishing with our La Paz fleet, it would be calm and the fishing was much better.
The next day, it could totally flip-flop. Just a matter of being in the right spots fishing at the right time or the wrong spot at the wrong time.
Fortunately, most of our anglers fish several days and are flexible. Also, having fleets in both areas, it was pretty easy to flip folks back and forth depending on the wind forecasts. The biggest problem were the few days where the forecast said nothing about the winds and they roared up during fishing hours then just as quickly died down after a few hours.
Jim and Brenda Bovee, our San Diego amigos with yellowtail, jack crevalle, a big sierra and several tasty white bonito.
The other issue was with folks that were only fishing 1 day. No flexibility because of whatever…travel schedules…etc. so the weather was…what the weather was. Pot luck. Some did OK. Others, regretfully, not so much.
When the fish DID bite, the yellowtail were still the hot bite. Areas around Cerralvo Island were again productive especially the north and south ends of the islands plus the backside at Los Pilis. Fish were also found between Bahia Muertos and the Punta Arena lighthouse.
For our La Paz Fleet heading north to fish around the deeper drop-offs at Espirito Santo Island were the most productive especially on the eastern side of the island all the way up to the El Baja Seamount.
Interestingly the last few weeks yo-yo iron seems to produce more and bigger fish when it came to yellowtail fishing. However, this past week, it seemed that there were days when the fish were not interested at all in the jigs and would only eat live bait. Good size on these forkies…15-30 pound fish on the average.
Other species this week included both common bonito and the tastier white bonito plus a good bite of jack crevalle and rounded out with cabrilla, pargo, snapper, amberjack, sierra and even the occasional dorado. We’re seeing a number of wahoo, but they’re just not ready to bite. Could be any day as the waters warm up the deeper we get into the season.
BAHIA MAGDALENA REPORT
We had our first group of amigos head out to Bahia Magdalena to fish the mangroves around Lopez Mateos there on the Pacific Side. Two days of fishing with Captain Rigo produced a great variety of fish including halibut, spotted bay bass, pargo, triggerfish, croaker, snook and lots of corvina all on light tackle. Dr. Guy Nazareno and his daughters Bella and Nataly come with family friend, Verda Boyd, every year to whale watch and fish. Check out the photos!
Verda’s leopard grouper
Bella and Nataly with a table full of spotted bay bass.
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of March 21-27, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
The BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Great say to spend Spring Break…fishing! Miles Wagner from Colorado Springs CO, put this big mossback yellowtail in the boat off the back side of Cerralvo Island.
A great start for our long-time amigo, Darrell Manginelli, who started his 3 days of fishing with a spectacular day of 5 big yellowtail and a huge cabrilla. one yellowtail was caught on a sardine, but other fish fell for butterfly jigs.
Checking out a trophy catch! Campbell Grage has his hands full with a big-time barred pargo taken off the reef in shallow water. Check how calm the ocean is!
These two characters always get fish! Our Tailhunter amigo, Jimmy Williams and Bill McCarthy came back with 3 yellowtail and a big snapper using bait at the north end of Cerralvo Island, but Jimmy told me the fish were thick and so many of the powerful fish they could not stop on 60-pound-test!
Great to see Mike O’Neill on the water. Our amigo was jigging with light tackle for yellowtail and snagged this 140-pound striped marlin instead! Game on! Mike battled the fish for over and hour on the light rig. You can see the jig attached to the reel. First marlin of the season. The fish was not able to be released and meat was donated.
Speaking of “characters” most of you know our awesome drivers, Jorge and Esteban Romero looking like twins now that Esteban has grown a beard! They got in on the yellowtail bite as well this week and took two big forkies plus a nice dog-tooth snapper, a fat cabrilla and a huachinango (not pictured) that I think they gave to Captain Armando.
Great photo of a smiling Captain Pancho with amigo, Gary Wagner, owner of the El Rancho Resort holding the gaff on this slug yellowtail.
What a great week! Simple as that.
The winds cut us some slack. We had anglers on the water. The fish bit. All the planets lined up and what a week it was!
With general calm waters most of the week, we had probably the best week of fishing in many months.
It was also the best week of yellowtail fishing of the season.
On top of that, I’d have to say this is the best yellowtail season we have had in many many years.
That’s alot of meat! Yellowtail and pargo for dinner right after a quick beach photo.
Straight up, I’ll tell you that La Paz is NOT a big-time yellowtail spot. Areas way north of us such as Loreto and Mulege are traditionally the hot spots for yellowtail further up the Sea of Cortez. We’re known more for tuna, dorado, roosterfish and marlin.
But, what to make of these last 3 months? Yellowtail in numbers we have not seen in many years! I mean, we get our share, but nothing like what we’re seeing these days! I have no idea how long it will last. It could be over by the time you read this. Maybe the full-moon coming up will blow it apart. But, we’re sure enjoying it RIGHT NOW!
With fish scattered in a number of hot spots, yellowtail from 10-40 pounds were schooling up and chomping live bait, trolled lures and yo-yo/ stick jigs. Fish were stacked up at the north end of Cerralvo Island. They were at the south end of Cerralvo Island. They were caught as close as the rocks right outside of Bahia Muertos between Punta Perrico and the Punta Arenas lighthouse. On top of that they also came up to foam around Espirito Santo Island for the first time this year.
The fish were generally around structure, but about half of the fish were breaking off either from sheer power or from taking lines back into the rocks. One angler told us, that even with 60-pound-test, he had trouble stopping a number of fish.
One more day to go! Darrell had 3 days of fishing. Day 1 produced 5 yellowtail and 1 cabrilla. This is day 2…with three yellowtail and limits of cabrilla for him and Captain Pancho. All caught trolling Rapalas.
On top of that, we had big cabrilla also in the area and taking the jigs, the live bait and the trolled Rapalas. Dog tooth snapper up to about 20 pounds were also bending rods plus big schools of tasty white hard-fighting bonito, jack crevalle and even the occasional dorado.
Matt, Gary, Campbell with some chunky bonito.
We also got our first marlin of the season when one of our amigos was jigging for yellowtail and snagged about a 140-pound striped marlin he ended up fighting over an hour on crazy light tackle.
All-in-all a solid week and maybe the start of a great fishing season.
YELLOWTAIL LURES
Darrell got this mossback yellowtail to swallow a lively sardine.
Just a head’s up on what these yellowtail have been eating. No telling how long this bite will last, but wanted to pass along some info. There are 3 main ways to catch them. Live bait such as sardines always get the fish to bite.
However, slow trolling diving lures over the rocky areas is also very effective for these yellows as well as pargo, cabrilla and even wahoo. Lures such as this purple/black Rapala Xrap 20 is an example but other companies make similar lures such as Yo-Zuri and others. The numbers such as “20” represent an approximation of how deep these lures will “dive” when trolled or retrieved. So, the example below will get down to about 20′. They also make an Xrap 10, 30, and 40.
Another deadly method involves using “yo-yo iron” or “yo-yo technique. ”
Lip-hook on a jig with a powerful yellowtail and Jorge Romero on the jig rod.
One of the most exciting moments in fishing big sportfish is having one take your jig and slam it right in the jaw! It’s an electrifying strike!
This requires using heavy lures and casting or free-spooling them to the bottom. Then rapidly winding them back towards the boat. But, then stopping. Letting the lure flutter back down. Then rapidly retrieving again in a “Z” type pattern back to the boat. It can be tiring, but incredibly effective as all kinds of sportfish will often viciously slam the lure as it flutters down or as soon as the retrieve takes place.
Here’s some samples:
A number of companies make similar lures like Salas, UFO, Sea Strike, Daiwa, Diamond Jigs, Raider Lures and so many others. My favorite colors include blue and white; chrome combinations; scrambled egg; zuchino or dorado color; all white.
Some of the jigs in my tackle box. Looking busted up because they’ve been beat up and eaten by fish many times!
These are all Shimano lures, but so many other companies make similar lures. I’m not paid by Shimano or Rapala or any other company and am only using these as an example.
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Bahia Suenos Fishing Report for Covering March 1-9, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Kristina Ainsworth took this slug yellowtail on a sprinning rod just off Cerralvo Island in shallow water on some live bait.
This lady can outfish almost anyone! Donna Thompson can pull on fish all day long like this fat yellowtail that fell for a trolled Rapala.
Tadeo Arreola and Esteban Romero, Jr. live in La Paz and came out for a day that produced a fun mix of cabrilla, white bonito and even a dorado (Esteban!)
Oh yea…a legit pig yellowtail caught by Mike Ainsworth from Washington who dropped a butterfly jig (hanging from the fish mouth) on it. Mike is an experienced angler and fishing guide from Washington and owns First Light Guide Service. Check out his operation: https://firstlightguideservice.com/
Our own Esteban Romero who is one of our popular drivers and brother to Jorge Romero poses with a yellowtail off the Punta Perrico shoreline rocks.
Great photo of Hunter Ainsworth and Captain Pancho and a colorful dorado that got added to the box.
If you wanna see kids have some fun, turn ’em loose on some bonito. Hector Esteban on the beach at Muertos had a blast. Both live in La Paz.
Nothing like a big yellowtail to start the day for Hunter and his dad! Check out the crazy flat water!
Although it was generally pretty and sunny for visitors this week, the winds did come back up and knocked the bite and boaters off the water for a good part of the week. Everyone had been jumping on the great yellowtail bite the previous two weeks that had also produced a smattering of dorado, tuna and wahoo surprisingly.
However, with the winds came rougher seas and fewer boats. Hence, the counts were way down. Also, with the rougher weather, it was difficult to get to the backside of Cerralvo Island to the hotspot at Los Pilis because of trying to get across the channel. It also made it harder to get live bait with waves crashing in the shallows.
However, in those few days when the winds cut back…the fish bit…and when they bit, they bit hard!
That’s alot of meat to take home for the Ainsworth Family!
Anglers might not have been able to get to the backside of Cerralvo, but the south side of the island kicked out some really nice yellowtail. Some boats limited or broke off fish in the 20-30 pound class. Live bait like sardines or jigging with butterfly jigs were extremely effective, but absent that, the yellows also fell for trolling the big Rapalas.
Beautiful shot of Pancho ready to gaff another one!
When the yellowtail aren’t biting the inshore fish will usually chew. Dr. Rafa Santiago has a nice rack of cabrilla and snapper he pulled off the reefs.
For other species, especially closer to shore when the winds blew, there were sizeable cabrilla, medium pargo and snapper plus a really nice jag of white bonito.
La Paz Waters No So Good…
We sent out our first boat to fish out’ve La Paz this week. I generally advise against fishing this area during the winter because winds are just too problematic. Many of you know Captain Joel and he took the clients all around Espirito Santo Island. They worked bait…they worked jig…and nothing really came up except a few small cabrilla. According to Joel, alot of the water is still somewhat cold and off-color green. So, I think I’ll keep recommending that the few folks we have during this time of the year stay fishing with our Tailhunter Las Arenas Fleet.
COVID RESTRICTIONS EASED
In case you didn’t know, the authorities lowered the Covid restrictions from level 4 (orange) to 3 (yellow) this past week. That opened up many more businesses plus the all-important Malecon waterfront with fewer protocols and raised occupancy rates in restaurants and hotels to 50%. However, they decided to close the beaches during Easter Week from March 28-Sept. 3.
That didn’t go over so well so now they say the beaches will openwith 50% capacity, but no camping will be allowed. Everyone has to be off the sand by 7 p.m.
The Malecon (waterfront) has also been opened now, although with restricted hours.
MORE DIRECT FLIGHTS TO LA PAZ ADDED THIS SUMMER!
Until last December, La Paz did not have any direct flights from the U.S. That’s when American Air started doing flights from Phoenix and Dallas experimentally thought March to see how it would work out.
Apparently, it’s been good enough that they will fly into La Paz this summer!
From Dallas they will fly Saturdays to Saturdays beginning June 5 through Sept. 4
From Phoenix 3 days a week on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday beginning June 5 through Sept. 7
Great news! Let’s get you down this year to come fish with us!
La Paz/ Las Arenas/ Bahia Muertos Fishing Report for Feb. 18-27, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST OF THE STORY…
Jim and his buddy live in Los Barriles and came all the way up to get in on the yellowtail bite. Fishing with Captain Moncho they got a great load of yellowtail, cabrilla and even some surprise dorado.
Fishing with Captain Pancho, Dr. Santiago is a physician in La Paz and he and Pancho stuffed the fish box with some legit yellowtail on the backside of Cerralvo Island.
Our own popular Captain “Fettucini” Alfredo Gaxiola got out with his wife to fish around Cerralvo Island on one of the calmer days and he nailed this horse of a trophy cabrilla.
Lots of boats were on the hot spots at the backside of Cerralvo Island taking yellowtail like Dr. Santiago’s fish.
Our own Tailhunter amigos and popular favorite van drivers, Jorge and Esteban Romero took the spinning rods out to Bahia Muertos with the plastic jigs and took home a cooler full of tasty snapper and cabrilla. All fishing from the beach and rocks.
Relatively speaking the winds cut us some slack again this past week and we probably had the best week of fishing in the last 2 or so months. While the United States was largely wrapped in ice and snow, things were reversed in La Paz which is normally windy and generally quite windy this time of year making it difficult to fish.
With temps in the high 70’s to low 80’s, sunny skies and mostly moderate seas, anglers were able to get in on that hot yellowtail bite that’s been going on for the better part of two weeks. There aren’t many tourist anglers as this is off-season, but captains, their families and locals from La Paz and as far as Los Barriles (the East Cape) far to the south were jumping on boats to get on top of these fish. Last weekend on Saturday, as many as 80 pangas and other assorted vessels were sitting on the honey-holes taking limits. On Sunday fewer fish with about half the boats counted. But, that’s to be expected when there’s that much traffic on the water. However…
It’s maybe one of the best yellowtail bite we’ve see in years with fish running 10-25 pounds and taking a variety of jigs including yo-yo and knife jigs plus sardines when around. Some reported larger fish are also being lost as these fish are generally in heavy structure and the waters are not especially deep. Therefore, if you can’t turn their heads, these bruising fish are busting anglers off in the rocks.
Hot spots included the areas around Bahia Muertos (Suenos) up to Punta Perrico and then to the areas just around the Las Arenas lighthouse at Castilla. Another spot that has been on fire is Los Pilis which up the backside of Cerralvo Island about 2/3 of the way up the island. One of our Tailhunter captains counted “at least” 40 boats there one day.
But, the travel has been worth it. Boats are landing limits or near limits of the feisty fork tails. I saw photos of the parking lot at Muertos and you would think there was a rock concert going on. There were no parking spaces with all the trucks, cars, boat trailers and vans parked there.
Additionally, there have been white bonito (tasty) plus jack crevalle, cabrilla, snapper, Sierra and pargo mixed in as well.
The biggest surprise was that a few respectable tuna have mixed in and some wahoo and dorado also showed up this week. These are normally warmer water fish and we don’t see these until later in the year unless these are hold-over fish from last season.
At the time of this writing, winds were already starting to ramp up again so hopefully the return of the winds doesn’t knock the bite back down. We know the fish are surely there!
SHALLOW WATER…LIGHT TACKLE…Great results!
Not much going on right now for driving so everyone’s favorite guy and driver, Jorge Romero went out a 2nd day later in the week. In the photos above, he was just out walking the beach with his brother, Esteban. This time he got out on one of the pangas. Still recovering from neck surgery he had at the end of last season, he didn’t want to try tangling with a big yellowtail, tuna or dorado…doctor’s orders! However…
He got in a quick 4 hour trip. It was late in the afternoon. There was not even live bait available. But using dead bait and poppers on light line and light tackle, he had a pretty epic day. All in shallow water close to shore in and over the rocks. A big pompano and lots of feisty tasty cabrilla in the box!
Trophy pompano for Jorge. We usually don’t see these guys until later spring, but I guess some warm water has moved in. These are fun fighters and make great table fare…especially sashime!
This is an epic day on light tackle in shallow water! The cabrilla heads are especially prized for soup and the meat is tender white and highly prized.
Cabrilla that fell to a surface popper.
GOOD NEWS ON COVID FRONT
This past week, the authorities lowered the covid restrictions from orange (level 4) to yellow (level 3).
This allows all work activities again with occupancy increased from 40% to 50% for places like hotels, restaurants and other businesses. The La Paz Malecon has been re-opened with restricted hours that will be monitored.
Also, since the CDC implemented the new rules requiring all international travellers entering or returning to the U.S. (like American tourists coming home from Mexico) to show evidence of a negative covid test within 72 hours of travel, Mexico has really ramped up it’s efforts to construct facilities at hotels, airports, and around the various cities, especially those that see a large influx of international travel.
After one month, Cabo San Lucas (where most folks fly to get to us) has had more than 60,000 international travelers. Of that, only 50 persons tested positive and none of them ended up exhibiting symptoms.
They were not allowed to fly, but hotels now have special discounted rooms, dining and services for those that get detained. They are given a new covid test every 2 days and as soon as they test negative, they are allowed to leave!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Jan. 15-25, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST OF THE STORY
For the past 25 or so years, I’ve done these reports religiously almost every single week. I think I can only count about a dozen weekends that I missed and one of them was the weekend Jill and I got married 13 years ago when she told me to put away my computer that weekend.
It’s just that with covid happening and then alot of bad weather and no one really fishing, well…I hate sounding like a broken record although I know alot of folks look forward to getting the reports regularly.
I promise things will get better. I has to!
Winter doesn’t last forever and the warmer weather, water and big fish will show up. Like they always do!
They’ll get a handle on Covid too. I have to believe that and have some faith.
But…here you go…to be honest…
Not a whole lot to report. Opportunities to fish have been few and far between with very few anglers around and not many chances for anyone to fish. For almost two weeks it has been cold, windy, rough, rainy or wet. Or a combination of any two of those conditions. The thermometer has been all over the place with temps as low as the lower 30’s and as high as the high 60’s. It’s quite erratic.
In the small windows for opportunity have arisen, it’s mostly local captains or local residents. Mostly sustenance fishing to put something on the table or frig.
Sierra like this are great fun on light tackle and are incredible on the table cooked or a local favorite as ceviche. There’s some nice schools of sierra around La Paz right now.
Our amigo, Keith “Jimmy” Williams went out and caught a mess of sierra and I asked him for a photo I could use. I expected a typical fishing photo. Instead, he sends me this photo of his fish cooked at our Tailhunter Restaurant…which might be even better! Alot of good things going on here…sierra sauteed in garlic…crispy french fries…poblano chili en cream sauce…fresh tortillas…a shot of tequila…a Heineken…a bottle of Topo Chico. He’s got it going on full turbo! Thanks, Jimmy!
Most of the catch has been inshore as not too many folks want to venture very far when the waters are so rough and winds are blustery. It also makes it difficult to catch live bait. So, catches of cabrilla, snapper, common and white bonito, pargo and some nice-sized sierra have made up the majority of the catch.
CDC BIG NEWS – IMPORTANT FOR MEXICO TRAVELERS (MUST READ)
Big news dropped on us last week when the CDC announced that it will now require proof of a negative covid test to enter the U.S. by air. Alternatively, medical documentation that you have recovered from covid is also valid. Needless to say… It sent everyone from airlines to hotels to charter operations and anyone involved in tourism scrambling to find a solution to this since the new restrictions begin promptly on Jan. 26th.
As it turns out a number of hotels in Cabo San Lucas already have testing facilities and more are being set up in that city as well as other cities. The Mexican government is setting up facilities at Cabo San Lucas Airport, La Paz Airport as well as airports in Tijuana, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and others.
The test seems like it will only take about 15 minutes and results online in about an hour. Costs range average about $20-25 dollars with the government trying to obtain further discounts. They’re doing their best to make this as convenient and easy as possible, but ask that you arrive at the airport an extra hour earlier than normal.
For us in La Paz, we’ll keep you posted about facilities at La Paz Airport, but there are plans for some hotels to offer the test and in checking around the city, we found at least a half-dozen labs offering the tests. As this only applies to air travel at the moment, that means “international flights” so for many of you folks that arrive on Volaris from Tijuana, I don’t think any of this will apply to you since you will be returning through Tijuana and not FLYING back to the U.S.
This is a developing story and fluid issue.
As mentioned, this just dropped like a ton of bricks about a week ago. Most of our fishermen don’t even start showing up until April or May so many things could change as this goes into effect and Mexico steps up to meet the challenge of the vital tourism industry. Also, we can only hope that with new measures plus the vaccine, things will get under control.
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Bahia Suenos Fishing Report for Week of Jan. 4-12, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Crazy variety for a few hours of morning fishing for Fernando, his brother and son. On the rack…dorado, big sierra, snapper, pargo liso and cabrilla.
They’re early! The big pargo liso (mullet snapper) normally don’t start schooling up until spring-time but they’re already here and hunkered in the rocks and reefs and will bust you up!
It’s January, but yes, those are wahoo on the cutting board along with dorado, cabrilla and tasty white bonito.
Some big sierra crusing around right now like this tasty fella caught by amigo, Gary Wagner, from his Rancho Costa there in Bahia Muertos.
Nothing wrong with these items. Tasty cabrilla (Mexican seabass) posed with Jason and Alisa..
Not many folks fishing post-holidays, but town is pretty busy with escapees from the colder weather in the U.S. and Canada. However, this contrary to the gusting winds normally associated with this time of year, there were some incredibly pretty days right out’ve a postcard this past week. Winds settled, skies cleared and day-time temps reached into the 70’s. We could not have asked for better weather and a great window to get on the water.
That being said, it allowed folks to get out in the bay to swim with the whalesharks finally. The shallow water just inside the bay has been holding 6-10 baby whalesharks to swim with, but often it’s too windy and choppy to find them.
With the fishing, it’s been confusing and mixed…in a good way!
Normally, this time of year, when we can get out, we’re hitting mostly cold-water species inshore because well, the waters are cooler and it’s often too rough to get too far out.
However, not only did anglers find the cooler water species like cabrilla, snapper and some unusually big sierra, but a bit crazy because they also hit dorado, white bonito, wahoo and even a few marlin were seen and hooked!
This is indicative of some warm water still holding over so maybe these species will stick around. It’s making for a great variety of fish. Also with abundant sardines for bait, the fish are ready to chew.
One noticeably event seems to be that the big pargo liso (mullet snapper) that we don’t see until later in the spring have already shown up and are schooling over the rocky areas like Cerralvo Island and Punta Perrico. These tough fish are really difficult to wrestle out’ve the rocks and can test both angler and his gear, but are spectacular fighters and great eating and look like giant goldfish.
Also, flights are now coming in directly from the United States to La Paz now for the first time in 14 years. American Airlines from Dallas and Phoenix has been bringing folks now for almost a month.
Nice to have American Airlines now flying directly from Phoenix and Dallas to La Paz. First time we’ve had direct flights in over a decade. No more long drives up from Cabo. The flights have been very popular since they started a month ago. Easy flights into the uncrowded La Paz Airport then it’s just a few minutes to your hotel.
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Bahia Suenos Fishing Report for Week of Dec. 25, 2020 – Jan. 3, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Find the right spot and there’s still some water water areas holding dorado between 5-15 pounds as waters get cooler.
An incredible experience to get in the water and snorkel with the whalesharks in La Paz Bay.
It’s been rather quiet and subdued this past week for the holidays. It still has been festive, but like much of the world, things are just at a lower key and lower volume. Most folks coming to town are not looking to fish. They’re just spending vacation time for the holidays and hoping for a little sunshine and and put their toes in the sand!
The glitch in that this week was that it was actually been a bit chilly along with the normal seasonal gusty winds from the north. In fact, it’s been that way for well over a week now. Daytime temperature struggling to get out’ve the 60’s. Night temps dropping to the crazy 40’s! Yes, even in Baja, it can get chilly.
Tourists are still in their shorts and t-shirts, but La Paz residents are talking about 2-3 blankets at night and folks are wearing long pants and jackets.
For fishing, there’s still some dorado around. Most 5-12 pound school-sized fish indicative of the probably the last patches of warm water still lingering around. Inshore, there’s a good smattering of snapper, jacks, seabass (cabrilla) and some barred pargo. For most folks simply looking for a day on the water and a bit of action, these fish are perfect and alot of fun. Plus provide some good fish to take to a local restaurant. Everyone is happy.
Honestly, most folks coming to town intent on some time on the water are mostly here for either swimming with the whalesharks in the bay or headed to a whale-watching trip.
The whalesharks in the bay are mostly 10-12’ juveniles in shallow water only minutes from the Malecon. The only problem is that if it’s windy and choppy it can be difficult to find them.
In the shallow waters of La Paz Bay, the whalesharks are usually 10-15′ long “babies”.
On the other hand, the official start of whale-watching season has started as the annual migration of grey whales has seen them starting to arrive over at Bahia Magdalena where they’ll enjoy the warm shallow water, breeding and calving before heading back north to the Bering Sea around March.
So, we’re booking trips now for the grey whales, swimming with the whalesharks and the occasional fisherman.
THE NO SHOW – NO SHOWS in 2021!
We will surely miss the packed aisles of friends this year!
Normally this time of year, we’re hitting the road beginning our 3 month road-tour to all the biggest and best fishing/hunting expos in the western U.S. With our Catlyn (our rescue cat); the booth, thousands of brochures and lots of winter clothes and tire chains; our road vehicle is packed floor-to-ceiling and right about now we’re on our way to our first show of the year at the Denver Convention Center…then followed the next week in Sacramento at the State Fairgrounds. Each week, a different show to see all of you!
We’ll see you for a cold one in La Paz in 2021!
In 2021, that’s not to be the case, unfortunately, as Covid restrictions have shut down all the shows. So for the first time in about 30 years, regretfully, we won’t be in our booth.
That just means, you’re all staying safe and you’ll have to contact us directly to book trips ( jonathan@tailhunter.com) and come visit us in La Paz!
NICE TIME TO BE IN LA PAZ – BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOR FISHING
EVERY DAY!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Bahia Suenos Fishing Report for Week of Dec. 15-23, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE from Our Family to Yours!
Jill and I just wanted to send the best blessings of the season to your family from ours. It’s been a tough year, but we’re hanging in there as we hope you are. All things aside, we are blessed to be together and to have you as our friends and extended Tailhunter Tribe and Family. Best fishes and Felices Fiestas!
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Long-time amigo, Tom Rautert from Arizona brought his son, Fred who lives in Manteca CA for the first time to La Paz to fish with us. As luck would have it, on the one and only day they had to fish, Fred outfished dad as they found a nice school of dorado.
Thumbs-up for Fred with a nice winter-bull dorado. Usually, we don’t find dorado when the waters and temperatures start to get colder in December.
For most folks visiting La Paz these last weeks, the town has been pretty perfect. It’s a great time to be in town. Beaches aren’t real crowded. Restaurants and hotels aren’t real crowded. It’s been about 73 degrees in the day and 60 at night. Nice breeze. It beats being in New York or N. Dakota or Canada this time of the year.
Not alot of hard-core fishers in the groups. If anyone wants to go out, they want to go maybe a day and that’s it.
Regretfully, as nice as it is on the shore, on the water, it’s not always so accommodating. November to April, there aren’t alot of fishermen because it can be pretty windy. Northerly winds blow down the Sea of Cortez this time of year and it can be incredibly and deceptively rough. There are times, when it’s impossible or worthless to even go out.
So, anyone that wants to fish, we try to ask them to be flexible with their dates so we can check the forecasts to see which days might be better than others. This time of year, maybe 2-4 days per week might be OK. Other days, the winds can howl!
So, we did have some folks out and surprisingly, it wasn’t that they caught fish. It was the quantity and quality of fish! Normally, but this time of year, we’re into the inshore species like cabrilla, snapper, jack crevalle and pargo. But, apparently, there’s still some warm water spots here-and-there holding schools of quality dorado, wahoo and even some billfish.
The biggest issues, really is that with so few boats on the water, it’s tough to find some spots sometimes. When there’s alot of boats on the water like during the regular season, word gets out and spreads about the hot spots. When there’s only 1 or 2 boats out, it’s a different story! Fortunately, we are able to jump into the good areas and hit the bite this past week.
This coming week, looks pretty gusty with winds up to 25 knots per hour as the day goes on. Maybe two days look promising. Check with us!
TIME TO BOOK! NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS TO LA PAZ FIRST TIME
Probably the biggest news of the week has to do with flights!
Finally! We hope others will follow up and add more routes!
Water cannon salute for the first plane!
Knuckle bumps from Governor Carlos Mendoza-Davis to the first arrivals!
It’s hard to believe it has been that long but for the first time in over a decade, we have direct flights into La Paz from the U.S. American Airlines inaugurated direct flights from both Phoenix and Dallas! The first flights were greeted by governor Carlos Mendoza-Davis with water cannon salutes and knuckle bumps from the head man!
We are hopeful that American Air will add more routes and even moreso that other airlines will jump aboard as well. American has some great rates too and statistics are showing that even with the pandemic, Americans are flocking to Mexico and finding it’s an easy and quick get-away.
For us at Tailhunter, alot of reservations are rolling in daily for 2021. Don’t wait! I’m not kidding. If you have a favorite hotel or captain or time-of-year, dates are filling up and some are already sold out. Get in touch with us so we make sure we have you covered! Write me directly at: tailhunterfishinglapaz@gmail.com
NO SPORTSMENS SHOWS THIS YEAR!
Me, Catlyn and Jilly driving to the next big show. We’ll miss seeing you this year!
Our booth…sort of a 10 x 10 home-away-from home for 14 weeks each year. I will NOT miss setting it all up and taking it down!
Those icy drives through Wyoming, Idaho and Montana were grueling, but an adventure.
For the first time in almost 30 years, we will NOT be on the road from January to March. All of the fishing & hunting shows where we see so many of you have either been cancelled…will be cancelled…or it just doesn’t make economic sense to travel that far for only one show. Normally, it’s a different show every week for 14 weeks!
We will miss all our friends and seeing YOU especially. It is what it is, regretfully.
However, all the more reason to get in touch with us to lock in your spots for fishing in 2021. Everyone is booking online with us so don’t wait! We don’t want to miss you!
That’s our story!
Be well. Be safe. Hug each other and Merry Christmas!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Bahia Suenos Fishing Report for Week of Dec. 4-14, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
It’s not very long this week and to be honest, I recorded it while Jill and I were flyfishing on the Guadalupe River. Our anniversary and not much happening in La Paz so we took off a few days to check on the kids and then a surprise trip to the Texas Hill Country. As good a place as any to do the report!
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY….
John Nagy from Los Angeles had some fun with one of his dorado and Captain Hoel. John was able to get in some fishing, but said mostly by noon, the winds were too strong to keep fishing. He was fishing with the Tailhunter Fleet from La Paz and the fish was caught outside of Bahia Muertos
About the only folks in town right now between the holidays are folks here to find some sunshine from colder places in the world. And indeed, the sun has been out mostly although relatively speaking, we think it’s been on the chilly side. However, I guess it’s definitely sunnier than places in Canada, Alaska and Montana. However, even that wasn’t guaranteed this week as we actually had FOG! That’s right…real FOG.
Yup! Sunny La Paz!
Just like the travel brochures pictured it!
I think in my 25 years in living in Baja, I’ve seen fog only a handful of times and that was up in the mountains. However, a thick London-style fog actually descended on the city that really made it look pretty eerie. Of course, then the sun came out and cooked it all away.
Likewise, as is typical this time of year, the winds did blow, especially as the days wore on with some gusts to 25 knots. For fishing, there aren’t that many anglers around anyway, but for those that went out, it was either pretty rough making it hard to get to fishing grounds and get bait or, they were getting blown off the water by the late morning and early afternoon.
That being said, there’s still some dorado around running up to about 20 pounds. Some wahoo were hit at the south end of Cerralvo as well and commercial guys still keep seeing some big tuna north of the island, although the fish are moving too fast and not taking any hooks. Inshore, cabrilla and snapper as well as jack crevalle provided action when there was nothing further out.
Although fishing isn’t drawing many folks right now, swimming with the whalesharks on those days when the winds aren’t churning the waters in the bay is very popular.
Regulations prevent us from getting too close for the safety of the animals, but it’s a crazy cool experience to be in the water with these gentle animals.
Swimming with the whalesharks in the shallows of La Paz Bay usually runs October to April. There can be as many as a dozen or more “baby” whalesharks at any given time.
Let us know and we can set up a trip for you to include transportation, lodging and of course…a chance to swim with the whalesharks!
We are setting up trips daily weather permitting so get in touch with us: Jonathan@tailhunter.com
We are also getting ready to kick off our whalewatching season over on the Pacific side in Bahia Magdalena. Season runs about mid-January to March when the whales swim back north to the Bering Sea. Don’t miss out!
NOT TOO EARLY TO BOOK YOUR LA PAZ FISHING for 2021!
Dates are already filling up with lots of folks who missed out on 2020. Come enjoy some “coastal distancing” and we’ll set up your entire itinerary for your next La Paz fishing trip. We can put the whole thing together. We’ve been here in La Paz 26 years and we will customize your ideal fishing vacation package. Check us out: http://www.tailhunter.com
A number of dates are sold out or getting close to it. If you have a favorite captain or hotel room, get in touch with us ASAP. We don’t want to miss you in 2021! Click here: tailhunterfishinglapaz@gmail.com
LOS CABOS TUNA JACKPOT ANNOUNCED Nov. 3-6, 2021
As some of you already know…
For 2021, I’ve been named as the new director for the Los Cabos Tuna Tournament.
Last year was the 22nd year to “FISH HARD…PARTY HARDER!” The Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot for 2021 will be Nov. 3-6. We’re already getting entries and boats are getting booked up for charters! Even with the protocols in place, we still had a great event with 149 teams and over 600 anglers and almost 1000 of our “closest friends!” More than $1 million dollars was awarded! We’re expecting an even larger field for 2021!
La Paz – Las Arenas / Muertos Bay / Bahia Suenos Fishing Report for Week of Nov. 26-Dec. 3, 2020
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
The Big Picture and the Rest of the Story…
Marcus Yoo from Cupertino CA has fished with us numerous times and unfortunately picked two of the roughest days of the season to come out with his flyrod. With all the wind, that was pretty much impossible. He’s a gamer and stuck it out and at least he got some nice cabrilla and pargo to take home and had to do quite a big of fishing from the beach.
Some tasty rock fish was what we had to fish for when we could get out
Not much to tell this week. Thanksgiving week normally doesn’t produce many anglers. Mostly it’s folks in town looking for some sunshine during the holidays. Maybe, they’ll try to get in a day or two on the water fishing, snorkeling, swimming with the whalesharks in the bay or just hanging out on the beach.
The week started well. Good temps. Good water conditions and hungry dorado up to 20 pounds were pretty easy to find and catch. They were spread over a number of areas. If you found the spot, you could go crazy right there and not have to look any further to catch limits. Quite a few smaller fish were released. I heard commercial guys saw big tuna breaking at the north end of Cerralvo Island, but no one could get them to bite.
As the week went on, conditions diminished. Skies got hazy and winds gradually increased. Dorado go a bit harder to find so fishing went inshore for cabrilla, pargo, snapper, jack crevalle and sierra.
However, by the latter few days of the week, the winds were blowing strong enough from the north with gusts up to 20 mph that La Paz Bay was almost completely white water and the surge was creating rideable small waves. Consequently, for safety reasons, the port captain shut down all water activities. No fishing. No snorkeling. No diving, etc. We had to cancel a number of bookings.
It wasn’t just the winds, but add in a full moon; extremely strong currents; colder waters; and really strong tides and it was too much to overcome.
Even as the winds calmed down a bit, it was just better to advise folks to stay ashore and enjoy their vacations rather than bounce around and not have fun.
These winds are seasonal north winds that start up about now and will continue on-and-off through the winter months.
SWIMMING WITH WHALESHARKS and WHALE WATCHING TOURS – BOOK NOW!
Whalesharks are in the bay now and the season is open to swim with these gentle giants. An incredible experience in our shallow bay waters.
Also our whalewatching season in Bahia Magdalena will start up in about 6 weeks from about mid-January to mid-March as the grey whales are migrating down from the Bering Sea to spend the winter months in the warm Baja waters of Bahia Magdalena to mate and calf.
We can book your entire trip to La Paz with activities, lodging and transportation. Write me directly at tailhunterfishinglapaz@gmail.com
2021 BOOKINGS FILLING FAST
Ice chests full of fish headed to the airport!
Our bookings for 2021 are filling fast, especially from folks who had to cancel 2020 fishing trips. According to the news, Mexico is the #1 get-away destination for Americans and record numbers of folks are flying in or booking trips. In November, tourism was up 179% over what it was last year. Baja is especially easy to get to; it’s close; and it economical.
Check your calendar and get in touch with us so we make sure we get you on the books. We’re using 2020 prices until the end of the year! We’re looking forward to seeing you on the water with us.
Tailhunter Fish Report 