La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Dec. 24-31, 2017
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO VERSION FISHING REPORT
THE BIG PICTURE FISHING REPORT
Surprising to still be getting dorado this late in the year, but there’s still some fun-sized fish hanging out close to shore in the bay.
Some good eating! Cabrilla are becoming more prominent now that we’re doing more inshore fishing along the rocks and reefs. These Mexican “seabass” can get pretty large and are all tough fighters to get out’ve the rocks!
Nice rack of fish this week from Muertos Bay! Dorado and cabrilla!
One of the nicer flat days this past week at Bahia de los Muertos produced this nice bull dorado!
Looks like the last fishing report of the year, everyone!!! Hope the holidays have been good to you!
The weather gods were surel good to us this week.
Wind wasn’t too bad of an issue and some great sunny skies for the snowbirds that are in town for the holidays. Biggest “problem” if you can call it that, is that most folks in town aren’t here to fish! But that’s OK too! It’s a nice time to just be in town to enjoy some warm sunshine, beaches and getaway from the cold places people come from!
For those folks who did get out fishing, there was decent action. Not great but still some fish to be caught. It’s winter and off-season. So, it’s nice to even be able to be out there!
I often have to keep in mind that the folks who fish this time of year, aren’t necessarily “fisherfolk” who have a lot of experience and are just looking for a nice day on the water. So, we don’t want get too technical with them and want to make sure they have a nice time and still catch some fish.
So, most of the fishing is closer to shore in the protected areas where we can get into some snapper, sierra, pargo, and cabrilla (seabass) as well as trigger fish. That way everyone has a good time and gets to pull on some fish and have some fish to take home. However, the bonus even in these areas, close to shore is that we have some dorado still in the area (decent 10-15 pounders). There have also been reports of some yellowtail around too, but all broken off or could have easily been something else big that took the anglers into the rocks and busted off! Still encouraging! But, at least there’s still some action to be had.
The coming week doesn’t look too badly. There’s some winds in the forecast, but should be fishable!
TAKING WHALE WATCHING RESERVATIONS! WHALES ON THE WAY!
Our whale watching season at Magdalena Bay is coming up! The big guys show up from January to March with February being prime time. Our reservations are filling up for day and overnight trips (you stay at a hotel on land!). We can set up whole packages including the tours, transportation, meals, and other activities! Let us know. Don’t miss out on an incredible experience. Just write to me directly at Jonathan@tailhunter.com and we’ll get you all set up!
TAILHUNTER ROAD TOUR 2018 COMING YOUR WAY!
We’re on our way! The van is packed with our booth…a zillion brochures…a zillion t-shirts…We’re hitting the road and our first stop will be the fun city of Denver, Colorado. We’ll be at the International Sportsmans Expo from Thursday to Sunday (January 11-14th). Come by. Say hi and let’s chat about fishing in La Paz this year. We had a phenomenal year…one of the best in recent history and it looks like 2018 is shaping up for another action-packed year!
If you’re in the Denver area, this is an event for the whole family! There’s over 600 vendors from around the world from Africa to the Arctic and from South America to New Zealand, not to mention Mexico and all over the U.S. from Alaska to Maine with hunting, fishing, camping, boating and more! Lots of activities and great food too.
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ VIDEO REPORT for WEEK of DEC. 14-24, 2017
THE BIG PICTURE FISHING REPORT
You can sort of see the little white caps in La Paz Bay from the north winds, but it’s a nice time to spend Christmas in the city with nice sunny weather. Muy tranquillo!
That’s some good eating! A few dorado mixed with some snapper/ pargo and seabass. Nothing wrong with this catch from inside of Bahia de Los Muertos within a few yards off the rocks.
Don’t forget! Whale watching season is coming up soon within weeks and by mid-February will be in full swing! We’re booking day and overnight trips (stay on onshore!) now so let us know of we can set a great trip up for you and the family! Contact us now as dates are selling out! Write us: Jonathan@tailhunter.com
It’s not too late for gift certificates. Even if you don’t know the dates yet! We’ll work it out later. We’ll customize a great trip for you! Get in touch with us: Jonathan@tailhunter.com
SUNNY CHRISTMAS WEEK
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Dec. 14-24, 2017
Feliz Navidad a Todos!
Not a bad week. Mostly sunny and warm with day time temps in the high 70’s to low 80’s and night temps in the high 50’s. Pretty much perfect for the snowbirds coming to town to spend the holidays. Towns getting busier and folks are bustling around for Christmas and it’s pretty festive, but not a lot of fishing going on. The snowbirds are here for…well…sunshine and not necessarily fishing and locals are pretty focused on Christmas right now with street fairs, shopping, religious posadas (parades). So, it’s been relatively quiet on the water…even though the wind wasn’t a big issue this week although there were moments when it gusted and kicked up waves.
Reports from the water were mostly from the Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Area and fishing at the north and south ends of Cerralvo Island (wind and waves permitting) and closer to shore near Punta Perrico and the old hotel Las Arenas.
From the island, some wahoo hook-ups (and lost) so wahoo are still around, but some yellowtail are starting to poke up their heads on live bait when you get it or on the same Rapalas that we’re using to slow troll for the wahoo. There was an unconfirmed report from commercial pangeros that there were still some tuna just off the south end of the island on the high spot as well. But, as I said, it wasn’t confirmed.
Closer to shore, scattered dorado up to about 10 or 15 pounds are still hanging out which is surprising given the lateness of the year. But, no one is complaining. Along the rocks, the pargo, cabrilla and sierra, our more typical cold-water catches are getting more prevalent as well as jacks along the deeper drop-offs.
TAILHUNTER ROAD TOUR 2018
It’s show time again! Jill and Jonathan are hitting the road with their booth and will be on the road for the next 3 months and coming to a show near you soon to talk about La Paz fishing!
Here we go! On the road again for our 23rd year with Tailhunter Sportfishing in La Paz! We’ll be at a different fishing/ hunting expo every week and we’d love to see you and talk about fishing in La Paz. Our first show will at the Denver Convention Center for the International Sportsmen’s Expo! It runs Thursday to Sunday JANUARY 11-14, 2018.
It’s always a great show and Denver is one of our favorite cities with lots of friends to see and visit. Tons to see and over 600 vendors from all over the world with fishing, hunting, camping, boating and more .Come by with the family and say hi. You can get discount tickets at O’Reilly Auto Parts around the Denver and surrounding areas.
FELIZ NAVIDAD!
Wherever you are, from our Tailhunter Family to yours, may you have a safe, happy and peaceful holidays and Christmas!
That’s our story! God bless!
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO REPORT for WEEK of Dec. 3-10, 2017
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Weather – Sunny, but incredibly windy almost all week with rough water. Diminishing somewhat this week, but winds will still blow.
Water – Have to pick and chose your spots carefully. Waters can get rough.
Fishing – When you can get out, still blue water species hovering.
One one of the rare days that the wind wasn’t blowing, our amigo, Roger Thompson, got out and worked that north side of Cerralvo Island near La Reina and dragging a Rapala X-rap 30 deep hooked this hog wahoo that even he had trouble holding up for the photo! Still wahoo and tuna around just tough to get out this past week!
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure! With all the wind, the “calm” channel between Las Arenas/ La Ventana and Cerralvo Island is kicking up perfectly for the windsurfers that descend this time of year to catch wind!
WIND AND WAVES MAKE FISHING TOUGH
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Dec. 3-10, 2017
Not much to say this week. A good week for snowbirds to enjoy some beach time or shopping or hanging out in a restaurant watching the ocean because it definitely wasn’t the greatest week to be on the water. The strong devastating winds that plagued firefighters in Southern California with Santa Ana ferocity also blows down the Baja Peninsula and Sea of Cortez as well. Borders don’t stop winds! Maybe not as strong, but enough to kick up waves and chop and big swells, even in the normal calm waters inside La Paz Bay.
So, the window of opportunity for any fishing this week was limited to either hearty (crazy) souls who probably got beat up out there or earlier in the week. There’s still fish out there. Not much fishing north of town because the winds are from the north so almost all the fishing is out’ve Muertos Bay / Las Arenas/ Punta Perrico and Cerralvo Island where there’s some limited protection.
Some yellowfin tuna are still hanging out, but live bait is hard to come by. Dorado are still in the area up to about 15 pounds and we also had some wahoo chase the Rapalas closer to the island. Some of the wahoo ran 20-40 pounds or larger. Wind should be diminishing a bit this week. And town should start getting a bit more crowded as folks come in for the holidays.
ALMOST TIME FOR THE WHALES TO SHOW UP – BOOKING NOW and FILLING FAST
The whales should start showing up in about a month. Best times are January to early March with mid – February an ideal time to get close to these magnificent animals in the calm waters of Magdalena Bay. It’s a fantastic family experience. We can book the whole package for you as a day trip or overnight adventure including lodging, food, transportation and guided trips to the whales from La Paz. Just e-mail us at: Jonathan@tailhunter.com .
CHRISTMAS IDEAS!
Just saying…if you’re still stumped about a unique Christmas gift, how about a vacation trip to La Paz this year? You don’t have to know the dates right now. We’ll figure it out later! But what a great surprise to give a customized trip to the angler on your list or…every year we have fishermen giving a trip “to their wives and girlfriends.” (No, it’s NOT like giving them a vacuum cleaner!). And there’s plenty of things to do besides fishing in Baja! Just tell us what you want to do and how long you want to stay. Lots of options on activities and hotels!
Makes a great:
Wedding Gift
Graduation Gift
Employee Incentive Gift
Retirement Gift
Anniversary Gift
Just let us know and we’ll customize the trip for you and send you a gift certificate too! Write to: Jonathan@tailhunter.com . Or Jilly@tailhunter.com
That’s our story!
Best fishes!
Jonathan & Jilly
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ VIDEO FISHING REPORT for WEEK of Nov. 26-Dec. 3, 2017
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Weather – Nice beach weather. Sunny and warm, but breezy. No humidity. Perfect get-away if it’s raining or snowing back home where you’re from!
Water – Getting cooler and rougher. Some days very windy.
Fishing – Surprising that we still have bluewater species like dorado and tuna around!
THE BIG PICTURE FISHING REPORT
Miles Wagner from Colorado Springs CO staying at his dad’s place in Muertos Bay at the Rancho Costa Hotel, put this big-headed bull dorado into the boat just outside Muertos!
Kevin Shiotani from Thousand Oaks CA makes several trips a year to fish in La Paz and always does well. He poses with three nice dorado on the beach at Bahia de los Muertos.
Todd Stumpy and friends found some tuna and dorado fishing with us on a calm day in Muertos. Surprising to find tuna and dorado still around!
Headed for the grill, Captain Jorge stuck this dorado!
Lots of bookings coming in for our upcoming whalewatching season that starts in January and goes through March. Get in touch with us and we’ll set up a whole package for you and the family! Contact us soon. Makes a great Christmas present!
LULL BETWEEN HOLIDAYS STILL HOLDS LATE FISH
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay / Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Nov. 25-Dec. 3, 2017
Not many fisher-folk in town right now. This is that “lull” between the holidays and it’s a really nice time to be in town. Sunny and relatively warm and good beach weather although not always great to be on the water fishing because it can still be windy and rough. But, onshore it’s really pleasant and compared to other places in the world where winter is already hitting, La Paz is a great place to be. Best of all, in-between holidays is one of my favorite times. No one is here! It’s almost like the clock got turned back about 20 or 30 years! It’s really quiet. There’s a few snowbirds around, but not quite yet and the boulevards and streets are empty sometimes and it’s just the ocean and palm trees and a good time to hang out in a restaurant or read a book!
As far as fishing, in between bouts of winds, this past week wasn’t too very bad, but like I said, not many folks are fishing. This coming week, the forecasts call for some very strong double-digit winds.
However, for the folks that did go out, the best fishing was from Muertos Bay where it’s a bit more protected and fish are closer. Given the time of year and winter conditions increasing, surprisingly the fishing isn’t bad. In fact, there’s still some nice dorado hanging out and remarkably some of the dorado are larger than the ones we were getting during the regular season. There’s also some billfish hanging out and scattered tuna here and there.
Besides the winds, the biggest issue is getting live bait as the waters get colder and waves batter the areas where we catch the schools of sardines. So, we’re relying on lures and dead bait like calamari which will become more prevalent as we head into winter. Still, it’s nice to get warm-water species this late in the season.
Inshore, there’s jack crevalle, small cabrilla, sierra, bonito and snapper for the light tackle folks which are a lot of fun.
That’s our story!
Best fishes!
Jonathan and Jilly
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor
MEXICAN MINUTE VIDEO FISHING REPORT FOR Nov. 19-26, 2017
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Weather – Getting cooler, but mostly great sunshine with highs in the mid-80’s and nights are in the mid-70’s. Getting breezier, especially the mornings and late afternoons.
Water – Surprisingly warmer than normal, but gradually cooling off
Fishing – If the conditions are right, there’s still blue-water species around like dorado, tuna, billfish and wahoo.
BIG PICTURE FISHING REPORT
Wow! Right in Muertos Bay, a November sailfish after a season of very few sailfish, young Miles Wagner, got caught and released this sail not far from his dad’s place at Rancho Costa there in the bay.
She just caught and released as striped marlin, but brought this nice fat yellowfin tuna back for dinner, Lisee Ferguson from Colorado Springs CO had a nice week of fishing. She’s there on the beach at Muertos Bay.
Not bad for one day of winter fishing for Peter Wiejaczka who got 4 similar dorado plus lost a wahoo.
Da head fella! It’s Gary Wagner with a yellowfin tuna no doubt to get ready for the dinner menu at his great place in Muertos Bay, Rancho Costa Resort.
LATE SEASON BLUE WATER SPECIES STILL HANGING IN THERE!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Report for Week of Nov. 19-26, 2017
Hope everyone had a spectacular, safe and happy Thanksgiving week!
Down here…
Still surprisingly OK fishing for blue-water pelagic species right now given how late in the season it is. It’s a simple formula. If the winds are blowing and it’s rough…as can be the case this time of year…it’s gonna be tough to fish. Or impossible. Or dangerous.
If the weather is cooperating, then there’s still some tuna, dorado, wahoo and billfish to be had. The biggest issue on those days, might be getting live bait. With the turbulent waters, it crashes on areas where the live bait is often holding which scatters the baits. With this happening every few days, it makes it hard to find the bait when the waters are calm and we have folks out fishing. So, often we’re using dead bait like squid or frozen baits…which seem to work OK.
Weather is nice, if you’re not out on the water and just coming to hang on the beach. It’s what a lot of folks are doing these days. Mostly a lot of snowbirds coming to enjoy the 80 degrees sunshine.
WHALE WATCHING SEASON COMING UP!
The incredible calm waters of Bahia Magdalena
Meet and greet time by the local visitors!
Whalewatching season kicks off in January and will extend through March. Best time is February as prime time to get close to these awesome creatures in the calm waters of Bahia Magdalena. It’s a fantastic trip for the entire family and not to be missed. Let us know and we can set up a trip of a lifetime. We can put entire packages together.
NOT TOO EARLY FOR 2018 SEASON RESERVATIONS!
Lots of ice chests full of fish went home last season after a great year in 2017. Lots of spots already filling for 2018. Don’t miss out! Check with us!
It’s not too early to be thinking about your 2018 La Paz fishing trip to visit us! After an incredible 2017 that saw some of the best fishing in years, alot of our anglers went right home and started booking for next year to get their favorite captains and hotel rooms. Let us know what we can do to set up YOUR 2018 La Paz adventure and we’ll set up the whole package for you.
Also, La Paz fishing trips make great gifts too! Contact us and we’ll put a package together and a gift certificate too!
That’s our story!
Jonathan & Jilly
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor
I’m sorry…I gotta skip this week. After almost 10 straight months of 16-20 hour days, my voice is shot and so is my brain!
I’ll give a round up next week! Oh…and my video camera is on the blink too! Thanks for understanding! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Weather – Can’t really ask for more pleasant weather. Love this time of year. Daytime high 80’s. Nights are high 60’s low 70’s. Really pleasant time to be in town. Lots of sunshine which is why all the snowbirds are flocking back to town and tourists are escaping colder climes.
Water – It’s the wind. Nice to be in town, but winds are getting stronger. Many days rough water and not so good to be out on or under the water
Fishing – Not bad if the winds aren’t blowing.
Cary McDermott from Las Vegas squeezed in one day of fishing with his buddies, Mike Devine and Jim Stephenson with Captain Armando and picked one day when the winds were down and got one yellowfin and a 1/2 dozen dorado between 8-16 pounds. Nicely done!
LATE SEASON TUNA DORADO AFTER WINDS
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Nov. 12-19, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hope you have a safe, happy and peaceful holiday week! Gracias a Dios!
Mostly a lot of snow-birds coming to town now and not so many vacationers/ fishermen although this past week we had a full-house in La Paz with the Baja 1000 coming to town and a lot of fun. However, the majority of visitors now aren’t coming to fish. Maybe a day-or-two. Like I said, many are snowbirds visiting from colder places, not coming specifically to La Paz because it’s a fishing destination . They’re coming because even though it’s “winter”, it’s still a great sunny place to hang out in 80 degree temperatures!
But, just as well, because from November to April or so, is our off-season and north winds are already blowing stronger and stronger making it less than stellar conditions to be out on the water. Great to watch from a beachside cafe eating tacos and beer or with your toes in the sand, but there are days when even our tranquil little La Paz Bay is a cauldron of white-caps splashing spray on cars passing on the waterfront.
Even when the wind isn’t blowing especially hard, it’s blowing down the entire Sea of Cortez and it generates some big waves and swell. Large enough that either it’s simply too rough to be out there or impossible to get out and off the beach.
We’ve already suspended our Tailhunter La Paz Fleet fishing for the season because of the erratic weather so we’re fishing only with our Tailhunter Las Arenas Fleet out’ve Muertos Bay where the bay faces south and we can launch right off the beach and, if it is especially rough, we can fish closer to shore.
Earlier this week, it was pretty windy out there and fortunately, no one wanted to fish, but later in the week, we got some folks out and surprisingly, for this late in the year, we still hung some nice football tuna of about 10-15 pounds and good numbers of dorado. There were also bonito, cabrilla and some sierra, so a nice variety and good action, especially since these were folks who were visiting town and really only had one day to go out on the water.
The fish weren’t too far off the beach, so no long boat rides even though there was some swell. This coming week, it looks like early in the week, we’ll have a carbon-copy of last week with the windier days early in the week and better conditions later from Thanksgiving Thursday on.
WHALE WATCHING SEASON COMING UP!
Time to start checking the calendar for whale watching season coming up. Best times are late January to early March. February is perfect! Come get up close and personal with an incredible experience for the the entire family in the calm waters of Magdalena Bay. We have complete packages to set up for you!
Contact us at: Jonathan@tailhunter.com or Jilly@tailhunter.com
HOLIDAY THOUGHTS?
It’s not too early to think about booking for 2018. We had a spectacular year this past season and lots of our anglers went right home and booked new dates for 2018. Dates are filling so let us know if you’re looking at visiting us next year or want a particular hotel or especially a particular captain!
We also can put together gift packages as well. How about a gift certificatefor a 2018 La Paz fishing trip with Tailhunter? Let us know! We’d love to have you visit.
That’s our story! God bless you and your family for Thanksgiving! Best fishes!
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ VIDEO FISHING REPORT FOR WEEK of Nov. 5-12 ,2017
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Weather – Sunny with highs in the high 80’s to low 90’s. Evenings very pleasant in the high 70’s to low 80’s. Some of us already are using sweatshirts and jackets and talking about blankets at night. (It’s all relative!). But is IS getting windier and windier with some days winds blowing double digits from the north.
Water – It’s changing. As the winds blow more, the waters are getting greener and cooler. Half the days this past week the waves were too large to be out there fishing and we got pretty beat up out there.
Fishing – Good when the winds didn’t blow.
Catching – Same answer as above.
THE BIG PICTURE FISHING REPORT
Mike and Anne Hawks just had one day to get out with us recently come to La Paz from Phoenix, Arizona. They were out with Captain Gerardo on one of the calmer days this week and got 2 tuna and 4 decent-sized dorado!
Our good friend, John Ehlers, has already fished with us earlier in the year, but came back with his son, Cary, to fish with Captain Pancho. They had 2 good days and one crazy windy day, but started the week with a handful of tuna and dorado. They’re from Aurora, Colorado.
From the Sacramento CA area, Wayne Kurahara shows off a couple of his yellowfin tuna.
Pat and Bill were out late in the week and picked up two yellowfin.
Their last day out with us, Cary and John Ehlers hang lots of dorado, releasing and giving away most of them and keeping a few for the ice chests.
IT’S GETTING ROUGH OUT THERE!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Oct. 5-12, 2017
Basically, it’s bigger wind. Bigger waves. Fewer fishermen. Essentially, pretty typical for this time of year as we get closer to the holidays and the seasons change on us. Mostly snowbirds starting to filter in from colder places in the world to enjoy some sunshine and not necessarily fishing plus racing teams starting to fill the town for the popular Baja 1000 race that hits La Paz this week. So, not a lot of fishing going on.
When there is fishing, it’s all dependent on the weather right now. At least half the days this week weren’t even worth going out. Winds from the north are now pushing big swells into us and at times, even calm La Paz Bay is filled with little whitecaps or larger surges that throw spray onto the waterfront and passing cars. Even days when it seems not to be blowing, the surge and swell can still crash in and it’s just a miserable rough day to be out on the water…even if the sun is shining and it’s a pleasant 90 degrees! These are just days when it’s nicer to hang out on the beach or find some friendly cantina to pour a cold one and wrap your hand around a fish taco.
We were personally out recently and one of the days we picked we headed to a spot we had just caught a mess of tuna and dorado. It took us over an hour just to get out’ve the bay going against the big swell! When we got to the spot of the SE end of Espirito Santo Island, the wind wasn’t blowing, but huge rollers pushed us around and beat us up and when the waves came up they were larger than the panga! So we retreated to fish back in the bay near Mogote and only managed two small dorado and a sierra. Even then, it was still howling!
We came in early!
On the days when it’s calm enough and there’s no winds, there’s still some surprisingly decent fishing. Waters are definitely getting cooler and not quite as blue and a little more cloudy and green as the winds turn it up. However, there’s still some spots of 10-20 pound tuna and some nice schools of dorado in varying sizes. However, with the cooler waters, we’re seeing more cooler water species like sierra, snapper, pargo, cabrilla, and amberjack.
The bite is also directly related to having live bait. If it’s rough, it’s hard to get live bait and even the bait sellers aren’t out there knowing it’s futile so anglers are left to use dead bait, cut bait or find/ catch their own bait.
That’s our story!
Jonathan and Jilly
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ FISHING REPORT for WEEK of Oct. 29-Nov. 5, 2017
Apologies for the sound quality this week. The wind was blowing pretty hard and I recorded it outside!
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Weather – Daytime high 80’s to low 90’s and mostly sunny or high clouds. Very very pleasant unless you’re on the water one of the days that the winds are blowing. Nighttime temps a nice 75 degrees
Water – It’s changing and getting cooler, but I’m still registering 82 on the surface and went scuba diving this week and at 30 feet down it was 74 degrees. Waters are less blue and a little more green and cloudy from the winds in some places.
Fishing – When the winds don’t blow, it’s still pretty darned good. Tuna, wahoo, dorado still the main catches.
Catching – Despite the full moon, everyone getting what they came for!
THE BIG PICTURE FISHING REPORT
He’s an ace! Roger Thompson and his wife, Donna (photo below) got 4 nice wahoo fishing with Captain Hugo off the south end of Cerralvo Island. Check out the nice size of this ‘hoo. The wahoo like the dark Rapalas.
Two hours of fishing with Captain “ten more minutes” Chito, resulted in limits of dorado and 7 nice tuna for Jill and Jonathan at the SE end of Cerralvo Island. We could have easily had many more. All the fish was donated.
Our Atlanta buddy, Leif Dover, squeezed in two quick days of fishing. Day one resulted in a box full of good quality dorado at the buoys off Bahia de los Muertos.
He came to get his big rooster this year and Travis Millspaugh from Roy, Washington, hooked and released this quality fish just off the arroyo outside Bahia Muertos.
Donna Thompson always gets quality fish! Nothing wrong with his quality wahoo across her lap!
Yes, they even let me fish this week. Tuna going into the box. The guy still has game!
Just a quick one-day trip for Brandon and Nick from San Diego who passed through on a surf trip and took one day to fish resulting in a big box of yellowfin tuna.
Day 2 for Leif Dover resulted in only 1 nice bull dorado…but 6 nice yellowfin tuna which is what he wanted.
Nice mix of fish for Greg Scialampo and Captain Armando posing on the beach at Suenos with tuna and dorado headed to the ice chest!
FULL MOON FISH BITE HARD SO DO NORTH WINDS
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Oct 29-Nov. 5, 2017
The full moon didn’t seem to do much to dampen the fishing down here. There’s just not that many folks fishing these days which is fairly typical as the holidays get closer; families are doing other things but also as northern winds start to blow here and make it a big rougher to be out on the water. Things are definitely changing as the breezes get stronger; waters get cooler and and the days are shorter.
But, the fishing still remained strong…and not much traffic out there to get in the way!
Tailhunter Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay Fleet
I was worried with more winds and if the full moon would affect things, but apparently not! I had thought that the massive tuna bite of the last few months was finally over as we had a lull in tuna the previous week. However, with a few exceptions, if you wanted tuna, they sure seemed to be there with legs 15-30 pound fish willing to bite live sardines, dead sardines, chunked bonito or lures. The south end of Cerralvo Island, Punta Perrico and then Castillo not far off the Punta Arenas lighthouse were all good spots to find the yellowfin.
What’s really come on are the dorado. If you wanted the mahi-mahi, not only are they free-swimming around the bays and drop-offs, but just go to the shark buoys and there’s all the dorado you want. I had boats releasing 10-20 fish a day and some of them pretty decent size too! It was a case of easy limits then catch-and-release as much as you want for fun or go chase other species, especially wahoo that seem to get more active this week. Nice size ‘hoo at the south end of Cerralvo and near Punta Perico were willing to hit the dark-colored Rapalas but also hitting bait on wire with fish running 30-60 pounds.
Tailhunter La Paz Fleet
Earlier in the week, with the full moon, the winds also hit making it really rough to head north of the city, but then the waters laid flat for a few days and the bite took off
That area just east of Bonanza Beach near the south end of Espirito Santo Island held not only good number of dorado but for the last two weeks or so, several schools of 20-25 pound yellowfin tuna and wahoo as well. The fish are loving live and dead sardines and it wasn’t uncommon to get easy limits of dorado plus release a dozen more and catch a handful of nice yellowfin as well. Chunked and slow trolled bonito also worked well. Schools of foaming tuna like this haven’t been seen in years.
2018 Bookings!
After such a great season, alot of our anglers went right home and booked new dates for next year and dates are already filling. If you’re thinking about fishing in 2018; want certain hotel rooms or want certain of our Tailhunter captains, don’t hesitate. We’d love to have you visit us! E-mail us at: Jonathan@tailhunter.com . Or Jilly@tailhunter.com
That’s our story!
Jonathan and Jilly
Jonathan Roldan’s Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ VIDEO FISHING REPORT for WEEK of Oct. 22-29, 2019
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Weather – Getting windier every week as northern winds increase. Calm days are becoming the exception. Some days almost too windy to fish. But, when the wind dies down, it’s pretty nice. Sun is still out and great to be on the beach.
Water – Getting cooler as the seasons change. Not so humid. Pleasant. Still blue…for now.
Fishing – It all depends on the winds. If the winds are blowing, it makes it tougher and the counts are down. When the wind lays down, the bite increases.
Catching – Still pretty good. Great variety. Tuna…roosterfish…wahoo…dorado…pargo…cabrilla…billfish…bonito…and more!
Travis Millspaugh from Roy, Washington, had 4 wahoo come off or break off before finally landing one and it turned out to be a beast estimated in the 60-pound class. (Looks smaller but believe me it was FAT FAT FAT! Just look at the size of the head! ). They had hooked the big fish just off Punta Perrico not far offshore. Travis said the fish took them down into the backing several times before coming to gaff.
Our amigo, Mike Schoder, is an Alaska bush pilot but tries to make it to La Paz every year. He fished several days and caught and released numerous species on the flyrod. But, he also kept a couple one day including these nice tuna and dorado. Great fighters on the fly.
Damon Harvey worked the flyrod hard all week and got tuna, dorado and other species, but shows off one of the nicer bull dorado here. Great colors. Many fish released.
From Alaska, Jeff Schoder is a grizzly bear hunting guide and bush pilot for Extreme Expeditions in Anchorage and came to fish with Tailhunter Sportfishing to get some sunshine. He spent 5 long hours with his flyrod working a popper for a rooster fish and finally landed this 20-pounder near Muertos Bay! This well-earned fish was released.
Thumbs up from Mike Pilkington from San Diego with another yellowfin tuna while dad, Gary, battles one in the stern. They had two outstanding days of tuna with us. Cerralvo Island in the background. Dad’s from Orangevale CA. Dad’s been with us many times. It was Mike’s first trip. They also got to try scuba diving with us for the first time.
Wow! Big load for Captain Archangel who hefts a huge roosterfish for a very happy Dwight Smith from Montana. The fish was released.
You can tell the water is cooling when we start getting mullet snapper (pargo liso) a delicious reef fish that we normally get in the winter and spring. John McLucas pulled one out’ve the rocks this past week along with a number of other species on light tackle.
After many years of being away, Otha Livingston and his dad, Ray, came to see us again for a quick getaway and got into some great dorado action.
The dorado action north of La Paz has been very good to excellent most days, when the wind isn’t blowing. Mike Pilkington with another mahi, but note the waves in the background from the wind.
More of our good Alaska, amigos! Jason Bontrager and John Daly pose with some of their catch from the first day.
Captain Gerardo with our nominee for the “Most Interesting Man” in the world for Tecate Beer. Terry Cartee spent his first week down here getting his Scuba certification. His next week, he took sailing classes on a live-aboard sailboat getting his sailing certifcation. Then, his 3rd week he spent it fishing with us!
Julie Millspaugh is a gamer. Four straight days on the water hanging fish! Check out the color on this nice dorado with Captain Pancho!
Just another great shot of Jeff Pralle working the flyrod hard all week for dorado and a bunch of other species. He did great.
Underwater tuna shot from Gary Pilkington and his GoPro! Sweet!
Another of Gary’s shots with his GoPro and another yellowfin!
Mark Bonsack took this great yellowfin shot getting an above/ below surface shot using his GoPro and a new dome lens. Incredibly super shot!
Captain Pancho and a big smile from our good amigo, Bill Lee from Capitola CA, and another dorado for the ice chest.
Lots of folks don’t know we also book scuba and snorkelng trips as well. Mike Pilkington got to try out scuba for the first time and got to play at the sealion colony. With waters at 85 degrees, it’s a great time to be in the water.
TUNA SLOW- WINDS RAMP UP – DORADO TAKE OVER!
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Report for Week of Oct. 22-19, 2017
I’m going to officially call the warm-water season over. In addition to the time-change (Daylight savings time) down here, the weather has officially turned and that’s the best indicator. Normally, we have hot-balmy days and then a cooling breeze in the late afternoon. Now, the calm days are the exception. The winds are blowing more-often-than-not in the mornings and it’s the afternoons that are windless.
Some days, are really bumpy already and just on the verge of being “too windy” to fish. Those days will increase as we get closer towards December.
Shadows are getting longer and the air temperatures have dropped. Water temperatures have dropped as well.
And the fishing has changed…somewhat! Still tuna and dorado around, but some other cooler water species also popping up.
TAILHUNTER LA PAZ FLEET
For all intents-and-purposes, this is probably the last week for fishing out’ve La Paz. We’ll mostly shut down our La Paz fleet shortly. The Northern winds are already starting to blow and make it really bouncy and ugly outside. Even when it looks calm in the bay, once you get out, it’s not real pleasant. Other times, even in the bay, it’s kicking up white water so you can imagine what it’s like outside. The calm days are the exception right now and it’s only going to increase.
But, anyway, the fish are still biting. When the winds settle down, the dorado are still willing and eager. Lots of smallish fish around, but some nice sized 10-20 pounders are in the mix as well. No shortage of dorado if that’s what you want to catch.
The biggest surprise, however, is the tuna schools that showed up off the south end of Espirito Santo Island not far off from Bonanza Beach. These are nice-sized fish up to about 20 pounds and are boiling around the boats. In more than 20 years here in La Paz, I’ve never seen so many tuna out’ve La Paz.
TAILHUNTER LAS ARENAS/ MUERTOS BAY FLEET
At least when the winds are blowing, this area is a little more protected and the fish are closer. The winds have a direct correlation to the bite. When it’s windy, the counts are down. When it’s not windy, the fishing is much much better.
I’m going to officially call the “Great Tuna Bite of 2017” over. It’s been the best in 3-5 years the last 3 months. Incredible tuna fishing just off the beach and fish ranging from footballs to 100 pounders.
We still have tuna, but not in the numbers we had even a week or two ago. But, there’s still fish around. Just not as many as the waters cool down.
However, there’s no lack of action!
Dorado have taken up the slack. We’re suddenly seeing sailfish and striped marlin. We’re getting pargo, cabrilla, yellow snapper and sierra. Wahoo suddenly perked up too! Roosterfish aren’t as big as before, but 10-40 pound fish are still lurking! So, lots of variety.
RESERVATIONS ALREADY FILLING FOR 2018
After an outstanding fishing year and closing out strong, lots of folks are already setting up their trips for 2018…much heavier than normal! Don’t miss out. If you have some specific dates; want specific captains; want specific room, condos or villas, or just have questions, don’t wait! A few dates are already sold out. Write to us at: Jonathan@tailhunter.com or Jilly@tailhunter.com. Or call us at 626-638-3383 from the U.S.
Ice chests full of fish headed to the airport!
GRATEFUL BEYOND WORDS
Every week our fisher-folk bring down suitcases, boxes, duffle bags and ice chests full of awesome donations to our Tailhunter Outreach Program that helps benefit several charities here in La Paz. Over the course of the 9 months of the season, it has amounted to SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS a WEEK of clothes, shoes, school supplies, hygiene items, medical supplies, toys, sports gear and more. On behalf of those who can’t say thank you directly to you, your big hearts do more than you know! For this week, take a look at the photos. Also, there are many more of you that bring things and I don’t get a chance to take photos…or you donate money…we are no less grateful!
Dana Milano and his guys hauled down school supplies and clothes!
It’s hard to tell from this photo, but the Summers DROVE down SEVEN full suitcases of clothes, toothbrushes, hygiene materials and more. There’s a whole tableful of suitcases behind them!
Chris Wellons from San Diego with Jilly posing with some great kids clothes that will come in handy for the coming colder months!
Have a great week!
That’s our story…
Jonathan and Jilly
Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ VIDEO FISHING REPORT FOR WEEK OF OCT. 15-22, 2017
WEEK at a GLANCE
Weather – Nice. Warm. Great beach weather. But, seasons are changing. Getting cooler. More winds could be problematic for fishing. Waters getting cooler too.
Water – Definitely getting cooler. Fishing could start changing any time. Hard to say. Could keep blazing strong. We’re in a transition for sure.
Fishing – A bit sticky and picky earlier in the week when it was windy. Winds calmed down and fish were right back on it. Good tuna. Good dorado. Frosting-on-the-cake with big roosterfish, wahoo and billfish.
Catching – Bigger fish lost, but everyone catching fish!
THE BIG PICTURE FISHING REPORT
WHOA! That’s alot of roosterfish to hold up for a photo! Our Captain Chito (“Ten more minutes!”) of the Tailhunter La Paz Fleet watches Mike Shea try to hold up a huge roosterfish he caught just north of La Paz on a live bait. The fish was estimated at 80-90 pounds and was quickly released and swam away strong!
Kirk Shandrew from San Jose CA got his first-ever tuna and it was a gem! he fought this 50-pound class fish for almost 1 1 /2 hours before getting it to the boat. One of the larger tuna landed this week (alot were lost!).
Our Canadian amigos, Luke Beggs and John Lang from Manitoba locked into a nice rack of tuna and dorado their first day fishing with us out’ve Muertos Bay.
One of the prettiest photos of the week! A huge long wahoo taken in the early morning hours by Marty Sering who gets a hand from his son, Taylor. They’re from the Portland OR area.
Idaho, amigo, Tom Mullican fishes with us several times a year and finally got his first marlin and and said it pretty much beat him up after battling it on light tackle for 2 hours with Captain Pancho. The fish could not be released and Tom donated the meat.
Amigos, Jack Eichhorn and Zach Milano rocked their first day on the water to start a week of solid fishing with a load of yellowfin tuna and a dorado.
Captain Pancho with Gary Pilkington who came back to see us this year from Orangevale CA and took this great shot with one of his yellowfin.
First time visitor…first wahoo for Paul Bunch from La Jolla who was out with our Captain Chito and crazily caught this 42-pound wahoo (he’s holding our IGFA certified scale showing the weight) on light tackle and a sardine!!! No wire! Captain Chito gives the thumb up!
Our Oregon fish brothers, Craig Brown and Bob Layko visit us every year to celebrate Bob’s birthday and fish with Captain Armando! The guys show off some of their tuna for the camera on the beach at Muertos Bay.
Another of our fish brothers who visits us several times a year, Jeff Sakuda from Cypress CA with his favorite Captain Jorge spent 3 days bent on tuna and dorado.
Nothing but smiles! Mike Shea dropped iron down on the reef and while it fluttered down, this huge grouper smacked it and went right back into the caves where Mike skillfully worked it out and miraculously didn’t get the line sawed off on the rocks. Quite a catch. Captain Archangel gives a rare smile from one of our best and most popular captains. Dave Delprato is in on this too!
San Francisco Treat…(just had to do that Kim and Ken!). Ken Cereghino from SF with a nice fat yellowfin tuna in the boat just south of Cerralvo Island.
Great shot of Captain Adolfo with Shane Knox and Pete Klinowski after a great day of fishing and more tuna and dorado to put in the freezer.
First time here visiting with his dad, Mike Pilkington spent two days hanging fish like this in the tuna schools, plus got to scuba dive for the first time!
Part of our good amigos at the San Diego Anglers Club, Dave Ameika and Paul Bunch started off a quick two day fishing trip with 4 yellowfin and 3 dorado.
Shelly and Ali Zauner have been friends for many years and we finally got them to come down. They were fishing with Captain Ramiro and brought home a load of tuna and dorado in the coolers. Shelly’s fish is almost as big as she is but she battled it tough!
Pete adds another nice bull dorado to the boat! The dorado are getting thicker at Las Arenas.
John McVay fishes with us every year and always fishes with Captain Jorge who did him good with great bites like these tuna on his first day!
Love this photo of Shane from Canada and his catch of the day!
SEASON HEADING TOWARDS A STRONG FINISH AS WINDS INCREASE
La Paz -Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Oct. 15-22, 2017
The seasons are changing. You can feel it in the water; the lower angle of the sun; the air temperatures and the increasing north winds. Next weekend we go to daylight savings time down here. It’s starting to affect the fishing a bit, but as we roll down the homestretch to the end of our busy season, it looks like we’re going out with a bang and bent rods. There’s a lot of variety out here in our waters.
TAILHUNTER FLEET LAS ARENAS/ MUERTOS BAY/ SUENOS BAY
We have had almost 2 months of some of the best tuna fishing in almost 3 seasons. Fish running 10-30 pounds not far off the beach and stretching from the lighthouse at Punta Arenas to the north down along Punta Perico…into Bahia de los Muertos and then south to Boca De Alamo plus both north and south points of Cerralvo Island. Additionally, add in the occasional 50-100 pound toad tuna and 3-10 fish per day and they’re causing some sore arms, backs and big smiles.
In addition to the tuna, there’s an occasional wahoo; some big rooster fish, dorado, pargo, cabrilla, jack crevalle plus several species of bonito. Plus, we hooked a few billfish this week also that were prowling through the tuna schools. Great fun fishing and it’s almost all fun live-bait style.
As we roll into fall, we’re seeing more wind and more chop out there. Most days are calm, but earlier in the week, it was bumpy. Hope the fishing holds up a few more weeks!
TAILHUNTER LA PAZ FLEET
I was a bit worried earlier in the week. We’re definitely getting more north winds making it increasingly bumpy and rough to fish out’ve La Paz and within a few weeks, we’ll shift our action almost entirely to our Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay fleet. It will just get too unpredictable as the winds increase in intensity. Early in the week, I thought the winds had finally arrived. It surely slowed down the great dorado bite.
However, by about mid-week winds started to diminish and the bite turned right back on with good to excellent dorado fishing north of the city. Lots of small links, but occasional 20 pound fish in the box with lots of smaller fish getting released. If you hit the right spot, it can be crazy nuts off-the-chart dorado fishing as fast as you can get baits into the water.
In addition to the dorado, however, we had some rare schools of tuna show up plus some decent wahoo and rooster fish action as well.
HEAD’S UP for 2018!
It has been an awesome year! We have had such a great season that alot of our anglers are already booking spots for next year and certain dates are already filling up or getting tight.
If you think you’d like to come see us again next year or have some dates in mind, let us know. We’ll customize a great trip for you. Also, if you have a certain of your favorite captains, let us know. They get snapped up fast!
Don’t wait! E-mail us at Jonthan@tailhunter.com or Jilly@tailhunter.com. Or call the U.S. number 626-638-3383.
That’s our story!
Jonathan and Jilly
Jonathan Roldan’s Tailhunter International
TAILHUNTER FISHING FLEET #1 Rated on Trip Advisor
TAILHUNTER RESTAURANT BAR Top 5 – Rated in La Paz on Trip Advisor
Tailhunter Fish Report 