La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay / Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of April 13-20, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO FISHING REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
A great first day for Sue and Bobby Stanley from the San Diego area on their first trip to La Paz with a nice yellowtail and some great action on some big boy cabrilla.
Johnny Enright from Lemon Grove CA shows off our first roosterfish of the season taken on a live bait near Bahia Muertos. The fish was released. Schools of roosters are now showing up in the shallows.
YEOW! This is a huge pompano…a member of the jack family like yellowtail, roosterfish and jack crevalle. Great eating! Captain Moncho handling the great pose.
Great way to start the day! First sardine in the water produced this big yellowtail for Nancy fishing out’ve Bahia Muertos with Captain Pancho.
Our Salt Lake City amigo, Robert Pettit with his favorite Captain Arcangel and a crazy variety of fish including two big yellowtail, cabrilla, white bonito and a big pargo as well.
Cabrilla, sierra and two kinds of pargo…a pargo liso (mullet snapper) and pargo perro (dog-tooth snapper) for John and Nancy on the cutting board.
Captain Blas with another yellowtail. This one taken near Espirito Santo Island.
Two of our new San Diego friends, Cindi Rice and Howard Cook have two huge sierra, some white bonito and some of those big cabrilla that went off last week.
Alla Cazier is all smiles with her thick yellowtail she hung north of La Paz near Espirito Santo Island. Alla came to visit us from San Antonio, Texas.
The mornings were cool and jackets were recommended, but honestly, we could not have had better weather this week. By the time the sun came up, it broke into clear blue days that weren’t too hot and flat calm waters mostly. They were the kind of days to spend on the beach and the Chamber of Commerce loves to taut.
So, what happened to the fishing?
The better part of the week, for lack of a better word, it STUNK!
Compared to what we had in the previous weeks, it was almost like a liquid desert out there! I don’t know if this was the whole Sea of Cortez, but I even had guys from Loreto drive down because they said fishing up there was really slow. I had guys on the East Cape asking if our fishing was any better than down there because they were wondering if they should drive up and fish our waters instead.
Gotta be honest, but everyone really had to work hard for the few fish that were taken. That includes both our Las Arenas and our La Paz Fleet.
Sure, there were occasional flurries or some boat would get lucky and everyone around them would be getting blanked, but for the most part, it was less than stellar fishing we we picked through pargo, cabrilla, snapper, bonito and even some sierra. Some boats even struggled to catch a few bonito.
Then, it was like a switch was thrown the latter part of the week. In fact, most of the photos for this week’s fishing were from the last few days of the week.
Yellowtail bit again, maybe not as crazy as previous weeks, but alot better than earlier in the week. We got our first roosterfish of the season. Dog-tooth snapper and pargo liso bit. In addition to some hefty pargo, bonito and cabrilla, we got pompano, huge jack crevalle and some mega-sized sierra for quite a variety.
It saved our week for a number of anglers who had been having a tough time! (And lowered our own anxiety levels!)
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 28-April 4, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
All the way from Detroit for one day of fishing and she made the most of it. Brandy Wilks and her husband Nick fished with Captain Victor and crushed the yellowtail and even a dorado in the box! They generously gifted all the fish to everyone too!
This is called a “good start” to 3 days of fishing. Eric and Mark.
Great shot of Captain Victor sticking the gaff for Kim Kopchitz from Michigan on one of several big yellowtail.
On the spinning rod, another fat yellowtail on a Rapala for Darrell Manginelli.
Captain Pancho with Mark Diegert and a feisty jack crevalle. Great tough fish on light tackle. The fish was released.
Lures like this little Rapala mackerel pattern were deadly on the cabrilla slow trolled over the rock as Darrell found out and took alot of cabrilla home with him.
Sheer joy! Mark Bonsack and Eric Deigert from Washington jigged up 6 big yellowtail before 8:30 a.m. Mark said they saw an 80-pound wahoo swim by but couldn’t get him to bite!
OH yea…some good eating there on the cutting board. Big cabrilla for Brad and Eric plus a nice amberjack.
The week started started slow with a return of those blustery wintry winds really tearing up the waters. Each week conditions get better, but winter still isn’t quite done with us and it kicks and screams from time-to-time.
Even when the winds cut out, the waters were still a mess. Temps had cooled and the cooler murkier water knocked down any kind of bite that we had.
However, as the week went on, things cleared up significantly with the yellowtail again returning to centerstage with fish up to 30 pounds eating live sardines, yo-yo iron, knife jigs as well as trolled Rapala-style lures.
The areas were spread from Punta Perrico and Bahia Muertos (Suenos) up to the Las Arenas lighthouse and across to Cerralvo Island where fish blew up at both the north and south ends of the island as well as on the backside at Pilis.
Cerralvo Island showing north point. Facing south. Las Arenas way in the distance haze. Pilis is about 1/3 down the left side (eastern side) of the island.
Wahoo were seen, but wouldn’t chew. However, big cabrilla, snapper, pargo, jack crevalle and lots of bonito rounded out some good solid action the latter part of the week. There was also a stray dorado or two (waters getting warmer) and some early amberjack.
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Bahia Suenos Fishing Report for March 11-20, 2021
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE and the REST of the STORY…
Omar and Fay live in La Paz and took the afternoon to fish with Captain Pancho and had a good few hours on the water with nice-sized cabrilla and a trio of yellowtail using yo-yo jigs.
If the conditions are right, limits of slugger yellowtail were not uncommon. Jimmy got these at south point.
Our amigo..Jimmy Williams got out on a flat day before the winds and was able to make it over to Cerralvo Island and took a limit of yellowtail including some big-shouldered ones like this one that jumped on a live sardine.
Nothing but smiles for Paco. He’s taking home this yellowtail headed for the grill.
An uptick in the winds and chillier weather chased off alot of the local folks that were fishing earlier in the month. No question, there was much less traffic on the water. Not so many vacation anglers around, but many locals had been fishing getting in on the good yellowtail bite we’ve had over the last few weeks.
However, in those interim moments when winds slacked off, yellowtail to 25 pounds were still to be found…sometimes alot of them…in the usual hot spots around the backside of Cerralvo Island as well as south point of the island over the high spots. As well, fish were taken just outside of Bahia Muertos and ranging up towards the lighthouse at Punta Arenas following the beach to the north.
The fish took a combination of live sardines; slow trolled lures or yo-yo jigs. Lots of fish getting lost in the rocks. The strong fish need to be turned quickly to keep them from heading back to their structure.
On the windier days or when it’s difficult to get to the yellowtail spots, there’s some occasional dorado biting, but inshore along the shallows, especially over the reefs and rocks, there’s a decent bite of nice-sized cabrilla mixed with snapper, jacks, pargo and sierra.
Town is getting a little more crowded, but mostly just folks coming for Spring Break or Easter vacations. Not many fishermen visiting yet.
FIELD & STREAM
First issue 1899…a different time.
Just 35 cents in 1963!
…and 2014…times have changed!
We were recently interviewed by one of the most iconic outdoor publications, Field & Stream, which has been in print for over 100 years. It was pretty cool. The interview was published about a week ago. Here’s a link to the edition. Hope you enjoy it.
We were not able to do our usual shows these past 3 months because they were all cancelled. However, bookings have been coming in heavy to make reservations for this 2021 fishing season. Many dates are already sold out or your favorite captains have already been taken. Don’t miss out. Get in touch with us ASAP so we make sure we have you covered. You can write me directly at tailhunterfishinglapaz@gmail.com.
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/ 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.
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 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!
Tailhunter Fish Report 