The arrival of Spring in 2025 will set the stage for some exciting fishing adventures. It seems like a mix of opportunities and challenges for the Coronado Islands and Rockpile. While weather concerns are keeping things quiet for now, the potential for yellowtail and other species is still notable. It’s interesting to see how techniques like slow trolling sardines or mackerel and using yoyo irons or surface irons come into play for yellowtail—staying mobile and adaptable clearly makes a difference.
The tip about targeting flats near the Rockfish and extending towards Rosarito in deeper waters adds a nice layer of strategy for anglers. And even if the yellowtail bite remains tough for now, the presence of bass, sculpin, sheephead, and whitefish offers great variety for those who enjoy reef or structure fishing.
Coronado Islands
Current Yellowtail Conditions: The water temperature is 58 degrees outside the Island, with clean water. There are no Yellowtail around the Islands now. Their possible locations would be the Flats off Rosarito, the Rockpile (125-300 feet deep), and south towards the Upper Finger Bank. Recommended Technique: There are likely sonar fish in the lower third of the water column. The Best Bet is to use a full-size, yoyo iron fish on a 40 to 50-pound test line.
Ensenada
This area boasts some of Baja’s most consistent year-round action for Yellowtail, usually deep this time of year. Other species on the catch list, known for their strength and considered a prize and a tasty catch, are Calico Bass, Barracuda, Bonito, White Seabass, and Halibut.
San Quintín
Recent reports indicate that Yellowtail action has slowed. However, according to Captain Juan Cook, Vermillion Reds, California Whitefish, and Lingcod were wide open.
Gonzaga Bay
First day on the water in GB was a good day out fishing with my friend Mr. Joe Abercrombie on a flat blue warm and beautiful day. We fished the islands first thing for 2 fish then out to the golden reef for 5 more tails all on Jiggs Came back inside to look for grouper but only caught 3 more yellows and got our butt handed to us by a big grouper that kept of rig and a little bit of our pride.
It was a great start to my season here in Gonzaga Bay. I’ll be fishing here till late June this season; I’ve got openings to fish on the Grady white.
Bahía de Los Ángeles
Puro Fierro Part 2 is happening this April in Bahía de Los Ángeles . Grab your gear and head down to BOLA for a 2 Day Tournament.
Contact @puro_fierro_tournament and sign up now. Registration starts at $300 per team.
Loreto
In April, you can expect to catch a variety of fish in Loreto, including Mahi-Mahi/Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Snapper, Grouper, Marlin, Sailfish, and Yellowtail.
La Paz
FINALLY, SPRINGTIME AND BOATS GETTING OUT! Mostly sunny with daytime highs into the lower 80’s. Still cool in the evenings and mornings down to the low 60’s and breezy. Overall winds are diminishing, but we’re not done yet! Still some windy days in store. Cool and cloudy water but getting better and warmer. Some dirty patches of cold water in some areas. FISH HOOKED THIS WEEK: Yellowtail, amberjack, small roosterfish, sierra, dorado, cabrilla, and snapper.
East Cape
There’s nothing quite like guiding a client into a roosterfish from the beach here in Baja. Watching that fish charge in from the surf and eating a fly right in the shallows? That’s a memory that lasts forever.
Gordo Banks
Water temperatures are warming up with most of our high spots averaging around 71-73 degrees. Offshore, in areas surrounding Cabrillo, water temperatures are up to 75-77. That said, we are finally starting to see more striped marlin coming in closer to our grounds. Many of the boats looking for marlin are fishing a few miles offshore from Gordo and covering the grounds in between towards Cabeza de Ballena. Many of our guys reported hooking into marlin as close as 6 miles from shore. These marlin were hooked on lures and rigged ballyhoo. A couple of dorado were also reported throughout these areas. We also had one wahoo at the fillet tables that hit on a marlin lure. We hope that as water temperatures remain in the mid to high 70s, we will start to see more dorado, wahoo, marlin, and tuna.
Cabo San Lucas
On the “BILL COLLECTOR,” Captain Niko and Mate Erick took their group from Henderson, Nevada, to the San Jaime Spot. Charles J. Milani, Charles P Milani, Christopher Milani, and Sue Milani had a successful fishing day. They caught and released One 100-pound Striped Marlin on a mackerel and three large (36.8- 37.5- and 63-pound) Wahoo on bait. They were thrilled with their choice of boat, captain, and mate, of course, but even more so with the trophy-sized Wahoo. More
Tight lines and fair seas to all!
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.