While recent heavy rains impacted sportfishing, particularly in Baja Norte, the fishing continued to be excellent in most locations once the storms subsided. Perhaps with more emphasis on the bottom fishing with various yoyo lures in different shapes and sizes.
The yoyo jigs are heavy irons dropped deep and used for fishing in deeper water. When buying a yoyo jig, you should consider things such as currents. A stronger current can make the fish bite better but also make it harder to keep your jig near the bottom. A heavier jig can help get your jig down faster and straighter. Search on Google for yoyo jigs for selection and tips on how to use them throughout Baja.
Imperial BeachPier
The best bass fishing has recently been for sand bass, with decent numbers of sculpin on the IB Pipe. Guys fishing the knocker rig with fresh frozen squid are the ones doing best. Be sure to work the bait SLOWLY right in the structure.
Coronado Islands / Rock Pile
There have been no signs of yellowtail or bonito along the weather side of North Island, Middle Grounds, South Island Spots, or the Rock Pile. However, rockfish action at the Rock Pile was decent, with anglers catching a few lingcod, sculpin, sheepshead, whitefish, and various red rockfish on bait and lures.
Ensenada
Excellent bonita fishing right now, plus lingcod red rock cod, sheepshead, and an occasional larger home guard yellowtail.
San Quintín
Deep water yellowtail, lingcod, and red snapper are all offered at various offshore high spots, weather permitting.
Bahía de Los Ángeles
Depending on the weather action here has been great for grouper, rock cod, and trophy-sized yellows. Recent visitors reported that scrambled egg yoyos were the most productive, weather permitting.
Guerrero Negro
Overlooked by many, this area has recently become one of the go-to spots for a handful of slow or fast-jigging anglers. These jigs always work!! Thanks to Chema Medina, Juan Cook, and Larry Hansen for your faith in Prohunter Jigs.
Whale Watching
It has been epic!!! Very calm and hot with whales everywhere and several whales had contact with us…things are heating up in Laguna Ojo de Liebre!
Bahía Asunción
Plenty of yellowtail and still a few dorado according to locals. However more visitors are interested in the whales.
Magdalena Bay (López Mateos)
There was still good live bait fishing inside Mag Bay this last week. Fat grouper, corvina, trigger and pargo.
Whales are showing up slowly but surely. Grey Whale Festival is Feb. 2, 3, and 4.
Cabo San Lucas
This past week, fishing out of Cabo San Lucas has been decent fishing for marlin and some dorado. Most of the lighthouse area marlin are caught deep on live bait. The dorado are relatively close to shore, chasing schools of small ballyhoo. Plus, some nice roosterfish are along the beaches just north of the lighthouse. All of the roosters were in the medium class with a few larger fish mixed in, but most of the fish we caught were perfect, fun-size.
Puerto Los Cabos
The fishing is primarily concentrated at the Iman Bank. Due to great supplies of sardina, the fleet was able to be very productive as we saw a better mix of species. The main target continues to be yellowfin tuna. The tuna bite was consistent throughout the week, though we saw better action later in the day. Many of the local guys fished in the afternoons and were able to catch their limit within a few hours. We are using live sardina with 40# fluoro. We do not recommend going any lower than that, as we saw bigger fish this week. The average tuna at Iman is around 20 to 40 pounds, though we did see a few ones over 70. The biggest one caught by the fleet this week was an 85-pounder. It’s a tough fight with the 30# line and the 40# fluoro.
Within the same area, anglers caught great numbers of dorado. As experienced throughout the last few months, these dorados continue to be nice-sized, with many surpassing the 20-pound mark.
We did see more bottom action this week. Most boats that focused on the bottom could catch good numbers of grouper, snapper, and amberjack while using live sardina and strips of skipjack.
East Cape
Recently, conditions at the East Cape were not very conducive for fishing. The winds closed the port for three days this week so that no boats could get out fishing. Before the heavy winds, there was good action for yellowtail. Most of the dorado and marlin have left the area of the East Cape as cold green water pushed into the fishing grounds. Before the wind, the yellowtail were caught either on jigs or by dead ballyhoo fished near the bottom. The port reopened, and looking at the forecast for this coming week, it seems like breezy to windy conditions until mid-week by the weekend; there are a couple of nice days that will provide anglers with great weather and, hopefully, good fishing.
La Paz
Highs in the 70’s. Nighttime in the low 60’s. Mostly sunny, but also can have gusting winds. Mostly off-colored water as the winds stir things up. The Key is to find blue warmer water. It’s best when the wind isn’t blowing.
Recent catches includedsnapper, cabrilla, tuna, yellowtail, amberjack, jack crevalle, pargo, roosterfish, and sierra.
Loreto
Early season yellowtail and excellent bottom fishing when the north wind quietens for a few days. Be patient. It does happen.
Bahía Concepión
The locals have reported a steady bite of yellowtail throughout the winter, weather permitting.
Punta Chivato
Like most of this section of the Sea of Cortez fishing, this time of year is north wind driven. However, local reports show that fishing in this area is great from shore and small boats for various fish, including dorado, roosterfish, corvina, pargo, and rockfish.
Gary Graham
That Baja Guy
thatbajaguy@gmail.com
With more than five decades of fishing experience – from light tackle and fly to offshore billfish – Gary Graham has experienced all aspects of fishing in the Southern California and Baja waters. His observations of species behavior, tackle and techniques are always from his unique perspective, earning him the respect of his peers as well as anglers who eagerly follow his Baja reports and features.
Gary maintained a home at East Cape in Baja Sur for more than 18 years and still spends nearly half of each year exploring the entire peninsula in his self-contained Roadtrek van. He observes everything Baja, from the mysteries of a tide pool on a deserted Baja beach filled with tiny sea creatures to the largest billfish in the sea.