Coronado Islands/Rockpile
Fishing is excellent at the Coronado Islands, with Yellowtail, Bluefin Tuna, and Rockfish among the most caught species. October counts show crews catching dozens of Rockfish and Yellowtail, along with occasional Bluefin Tuna.
Imperial Beach Pier
Species Available: Common catches include Halibut, Surf Perch, and Corbina.
Best Times: Early morning and late afternoon are typically the most productive times for fishing.
Tide Influence: Fishing is often better during incoming tides when fish are more active. Understanding and fishing during these times can significantly improve your catch rate.
Bait Recommendations: Use sand crabs, bloodworms, or artificial lures for best results.
Weather Conditions: Review the local forecast; tranquil conditions are preferable for optimal surf fishing.
Ensenada
October fell within Ensenada’s peak fall fishing season, when warm waters attracted a variety of game fish.
Techniques: Surface irons and fly-lined sardines work well for Yellowtail and Bluefin. For offshore fish like Tuna and Marlin, boats have had success trolling jigs.
Tackle: Heavy spinning gear is recommended for targeting Yellowtail, while live bait is a good option when the bite is slow.
San Quintín
On a half-day fishing trip in San Quintin, we ventured into the Pacific with 6-to-8-foot swells and caught over 90 fish among the three of us!
The fish included Red Snapper, Sea Bass, Calico, White Fish, and a couple of other types. By far, it was the best fishing trip I have been on! … David Partridge
Cedros Island
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Guerrero Negro
Amazing!!! The Cavicucho (White Sea Bass) had an impressive burst of energy in the shallow water. This animal can put up quite a fight. The weather was unfavorable as we had some wind that helped the fish. However, we managed to win the battle, and here is the great trophy. Amazing!!!
Our Pro Hunter Nervio rod did an excellent job (a comfortable, light rod with plenty of power), along with our favorite lure, the 220g Cyclops from Pro Hunter, added another magnificent catch to the list. … Chema Medina
Loreto
We had a wonderful time fishing out of Loreto. We hooked one Blue Marlin that weighed over 200 pounds and broke the line (which was sad), but we did catch a Sailfish and five Dorado. Thank you, Juan, captain of Mijito Sport Fishing. We have fished with this man for 13 years, and he has never disappointed us. … Pat Ann Tenborg
Bahia Asunción
The Yellowtail bite is ON in Bahia Ascensión! Lots of big
Calico Bass, Bonito, Whitefish, Sheepshead, and some Grouper. The Tuna are at the Polaris Bank about 30 miles out, and they have been catching Wahoo and Billfish there as well…Shari Bondy, La Bufadora Inn.
La Paz – Las Arenas/Muertos Bay/Sueños Bay Fishing
FISHING KICKS BACK IN AS SEASON COOLS
WEATHER: This is my favorite time of year. Daytime highs are in the 80s, with nighttime temperatures in the high 60s–just great weather. Humidity is much lower than it was two weeks ago. Nice breeze most of the time. Like a postcard. The only problem is that the north winds are starting to blow and will get stronger as we go forward. Nice to be on land, though not necessarily a good time to be on the water.
WATERS: Still warm but cooling down as indicated by some of the cooler-water species we have started to catch. It can get bumpy and rough in the afternoons now that the north winds have started. As the waters cool, the fishing will change.
Recent trips have been successful, with a variety of fish caught, including Tuna, Yellowtail, Dorado, Sailfish, Striped Marlin, Wahoo, Black Marlin, Sierra, Pargo, Snapper, Dogtooth (Cubera) Snapper, Roosterfish, Cabrilla, and Triggerfish. This bodes well for future trips and the potential for a great catch.
East Cape
As we move into early November on the East Cape, the first hints of the north winds are beginning to show. While it is not blowing every day yet, there are enough to indicate that the fall transition is underway, and our season is starting to wind down.
Offshore, Tuna are scarce, and Marlin appear only when bait is available, as the bite continues to slow.
Dorado are currently dispersed, and although some may still be present, their presence has become increasingly irregular as water temperatures have gradually cooled.
The needlefish are thick, making it almost impossible to get a clean shot at Roosterfish without interference. The bait is here, but those long, toothy nuisances dominate the action at present.
San José del Cabo
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Heavy Pressure, Finicky Tuna Action!
The Bisbee tournaments have wrapped up, and our captains are eagerly anticipating the Tuna Jackpot tournament on November 6th. Unfortunately, none of our captains brought any fish to the scales during the recent Bisbee tournament. Most of the Blue and Black catches weighed 200 to 250 pounds. Actually, most Marlin in the tournament didn’t meet the minimum weight. Congratulations to the team, Magic Touch, on taking home $2.4 million. This team landed a 344-pound Blue on Thursday, and a 459-pound Blue (the heaviest of the tournament) on Friday.
Early in the month, our fleet focused on the Vinorama and San Luis areas. Tuna were consistently present, but on some days, skipjack schools dominated.
Most of the Yellowfin we caught weighed 5 to 10 pounds. We did see five Tuna weighing 45 to 80 pounds from this area.
For bait, live/dead sardina and strips of squid were the go-to. We also saw a few small Dorado in the mix. We only saw a handful of Wahoo at the fillet table this week. We had boats specifically try for Wahoo, but most were unsuccessful. On Wednesday, a single boat caught three Wahoo while fishing in the area from Vinorama to the 25 Spot. No other boats landed any Wahoo that day.
On Wednesday and Thursday, we noticed the tuna bite slow down significantly at Vinorama and San Luis. Many tournament boats targeted small Yellowfin for Marlin trolling. At one point, some captains reported upwards of 40 boats at the Vinorama Spot. As a result, many boats began fishing the Iman bank. The tuna bite slowed down towards the end of the week as we were only seeing 2 to 5 per boat this Saturday and Sunday.
Some boats salvaged their day by landing one or two Dogtooth Snapper. They used chunks of skipjack for bait. This week, the current presented variable challenges; on some days, the bait descended directly, while on others, the conditions were not conducive to efficient drifting. One boat landed with a 25-pound Rainbow Runner while slowly trolling a live bulito. This was quite a surprise as we tend to see a rainbow under five pounds in our area. …Good Fishing, Brian Brictson
Cabo San Lucas
Pisces Fleet Weekly Report
Catch success rate: 08.40%; Billfish, 31.08%; Dorado, 33.78%; Other, 9.46%; Tuna, 39.19%; Wahoo, 6.75%.
The vibrant bite rolled on this week with a strong showing of Dorado and Yellowfin Tuna, plus a handful of Striped and Blue Marlin to round out the action. Captains and crews earned high praise for their flexibility and tactical shifts, helping anglers zero in on their preferred targets. Early in the week, several boats reported standout catches, with many guests hitting personal bests in both size and volume.
This dynamic approach—mixing techniques, adjusting locations, and embracing a variety of species—created a rewarding rhythm on the water. The result? A shared sense of pride and connection between anglers and crew, fueled by teamwork and the thrill of the chase.
That Baja Guy
Gary Graham
https://bajabytes.com/about/
Cellular (760) 522 3710
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.