Fishing Report Fall Fishing in Loreto

Bill Erhardt · Sep-25-2008, 08:33 AM

Yesterday, fishing alone north of Islas Coronados, I caught 5 sailfish, 2 striped marlin and 4 dorado. All were caught trolling marlin feathers. This is about a normal day of fishing out of Loreto right now. It is about as close as you will ever find to a sure thing for billfish. Most are sailfish, but about one in four is a striper. The dorado are not as big as they were a month ago, but about normal size for this time of the year. The biggest I caught last week was around 30#. So, if you like billfish and can get away, buy a ticket and get on down here. You will never find it any better than it is right now. Attached is a photo of a cloudy sunrise over Carmen this morning, and a sail and marlin that I released last weekend. Usually I released them while still in the water, but I was fishing in the last tournament of the year and points were given for catch and release billfish. A hand sign was assigned to be included in photos for verification. I could not figure out a way to get photos of the fish and the signal with the fish in the water and not get my camera splashed in the process, so I slid them in the tuna door for a photo op, and then back out.

PescadorJim · Sep-25-2008, 11:30 AM

Bill, that is a great report and I hope we get through with doctors "reel soon" and get to come back to baja. I agree with you on taking the fish out of the water and I get my blood pressure up when I see all of the fish who someone has drug up on the back deck of their boat to get a picture and then they drag the fish back off and think they are conseving fish and "releasing them" By the time they drag off half of the slime and scales on the side of the boat, a high percentage of those fish are going to get skin infections and probably end up dying. I will not let newbies drag a fish up for a photo any more and insist that they can lift the fish out of the water enough to get a good photo without causing damage to the fish.

Bill Erhardt · Sep-25-2008, 11:45 AM

Yes, Jim, I'm with you. My normal drill is to get the fish close to the boat and get a shot like this one I took yesterday, then remove the hook and send him on his way. I use feathers rigged with one hook and billfish are almost always hooked in the bill or the corner of the mouth. It is usually 15 - 20 minutes from hook-up to release and the fish is on his way little the worse for wear.

Bullshipper · Sep-26-2008, 04:10 PM

Thanks for the tip Bill. You're living the good life.