Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said his charter pangas fishing on La Paz' Las Arenas Side found midsummer weather reaching the mid-90s, with some clouds but no rain or wind to hamper anglers. "We continue to catch good numbers of dorado of 25 to 35 pounds in the area around Las Cruces," Hernandez said. "Good quantities of dorado are also at Punta Pescadero. In this area, the dorado are mixed with yellowfin tuna." Tortuga Sportfishing charter pangas running out to the 88 Bank off Isla Cerralvo did not find dorado, but released both blue marlin and sailfish. Fishing near the Baja coast around the Punta Arena de la Ventana lighthouse produced continued good numbers of roosterfish including some big ones.

CLOUDY DAY FISHING--Matt Curley of Encino, Calif., fished under cloudy summer skies but good sea conditions for a catch including this nice bull dorado with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Rigo Lucero. Curley also scored on a bunch of yellowfin tuna.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said his charter pangas fishing on the Las Arenas side found some periods of complete calm seas, as full summer conditions prevailed and air temperatures averaged about 95 degrees. "For this period, our boats found the best fishing at Las Cruces," Hernandez said. "In that area they caught dorado of 20 to 30 pounds around the buoys. To the south at Boca del Alamo, we caught medium-sized tuna in good numbers, and also some dorado. Along shore around Boca del Alamo we also caught some smaller roosterfish. The bigger roosterfish were caught around the Punta Arena de la Ventana lighthouse."

LAS ARENAS PANGAS--Carrie, Lynn, Reed, and John Barnes of Santa Clarita, Calif., fished aboard a couple of Tortuga Sportfishing pangas on La Paz' Las Arenas side south of the city for good action on tuna plus these dorado caught with Tortuga Capts. Jorge and Rigo Lucero.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz reported typical summer fishing weather on the Las Arenas side of the hill, with air temperatures in the 90s, some cloudy but rainless skies, and panga fishing at the 88 Bank offshore buoys producing dorado to 45 pounds plus striped marlin. "The bigger fish were caught by anglers arriving at the bank early and fishing with small barrilete baits," Hernandez said. "There's a lot of sea weed around Las Cruces, and many smaller dorado of 30 to 35 pounds are located there." Big numbers of medium-sized roosterfish were also located at La Ventana and southwards to the Punta Arena de la Ventana lighthouse. "We've got a large quantity of sardina bait at Isla Cerralvo and this helps the fishing very much right now," Hernandez said.FULL FILLET TABLE--Ken Faunce of San Francisco, Calif., and John Steintz of San Diego, Calif., filled the fillet table on the beach south of La Paz after a panga outing with Tortuga Sportfishing that produced these quality dorado.

July 21, 2008

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said his charter pangas fishing on the Las Arenas side south of La Paz had some cloudy mornings but without rain during the week and found good numbers of dorado of 30 to 40 pounds on buoys about 15 miles out. "We also found large dorado out at the 88 bank, and smaller ones of 15 to 25 pounds north of Punta Arena de la Ventana," Hernandez said. Black skipjack and small greenjack or cocineros in Spanish were being used for bait at the offshore buoys. "We are finding these baits right at the buoys so we can start fishing early," Hernandez said. "For fishing close to Isla Cerralvo, we're using sardina baits that we find in that area, and we're still catching snappers there, but they are smaller now."

LA PAZ PANGA FISHING--Sam Mills of Huntington Beach, Calif., with a nice La Paz dorado caught aboard a Tortuga Sportfishing charter panga with Capt. Rigo Lucero. "This dorado is typical of the ones being caught now at La Paz," said Tortuga's Gerardo Hernandez.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said his pangas fishing the Las Arenas side south of La Paz had some days of completely flat sea conditions, with summer temperatures in the 90s, and continued action close by off Bahia de la Ventana for dorado in the 20 to 30-pound class. Dorado of 35 to 40 pounds were also caught by pangas running to Las Cruces, and some big fish were caught at the buoys. "Some boats also found big ones at the 88 Bank buoys," Hernandez said. Pangas fishing near shore at the south end of Isla Cerralvo found good action for amberjack, pargo, and some yellowtail.

IT'S DORADO SEASON--The southern Sea of Cortez north to Loreto has had a good early summer dorado season this year and Mark Stoner, left, of Huntington Beach, Calif., hooked this nice bull out of La Paz' Las Arenas side while fishing at the 88 Bank with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Adrian Lucero.

July 7, 2008 -- Fishing News

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said his La Paz south-side pangas found full summer fishing conditions by the end of the week, with warm temperatures, calm seas arriving, and catches of large dorado at the 88 Bank outside Isla Cerralvo leading the counts. "Other boats that fished close to the south end of the island did very well on pompano, amberjack, pargos, and wahoo," Hernandez said. "We also found marlin, sailfish, and lots of roosterfish that were released. The best roosterfish action was on the Baja shore at Punta Perico." Live bait supplies continued good at Isla Cerralvo, helping to increase fishing time on the water for Las Arenas side pangas.

NICE LA PAZ FUERTE--Mike Madeksho of Huntington Beach, Calif., shows off a nice La Paz amberjack, or pez fuerte in Spanish, caught while panga fishing on the Las Arenas side with Tortuga Sportfishing. At right, trip partner Matt Potter reveals their secret big fish bait, looking suspiciously like a greenjack, or cocinero in Spanish.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said his Las Arenas side pangas fished in variable winds with good action on mixed species including summer season yellowtail, pargo lisa, pargo perro, some pompano, and amberjack and wahoo of good size. "We're feeling the heat now with air temperatures to 95 degrees," Hernandez said. "Water temperatures have been up to the 80s at the 88 Bank, and 78 to 80 degrees close to Isla Cerralvo. We had some large swell outside that made it hard for pangas to fish at the buoys." Tortuga pangas found their best dorado counts on medium fish at Las Cruces, and some dorado to 40 pounds were caught at the buoys on days when pangas were able to get outside.

NICE LA PAZ WAHOO--Crissy Teichman of Huntington Beach, Calif., whipped this trophy-sized wahoo during panga fishing at the south end of La Paz' Isla Cerralvo with Tortuga Sportfishing.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing reported a week of windy and cloudy conditions for his charter pangas fishing the Las Arenas area south of La Paz, at Punta Arena de la Ventana, and also at the offshore buoys when winds permitted. "We had less action for dorado this week due to problems reaching the buoys," Hernandez said. "But we still caught pargos around Isla Cerralvo and fishing on Wednesday was good for larger dorado at the buoys, although few pangas went out to fish for them. Most pangas are fishing the south end of Isla Cerralvo and finding some wahoo and pompano also. Fishing conditions are improving and we are feeling summer temperatures in the 90s." Sardina baits continued in adequate supply in the southern La Paz fishing area.

LA PAZ PANGAS--Michael Hatate of Montebello, Calif., with a pair of quality dorado caught south of La Paz while fishing on a panga with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Hugo Lucero.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing reported a week of variable weather on the Las Arenas side of La Paz that reduced fish counts and kept pangas from going offshore on some days. "The winds kept us from always having good fishing," Hernandez said. "Especially on Wednesday, the boats had to come in early." Before the wind hit, Tortuga captains found dorado including a few to 48 pounds at the buoys. Bait fish continued in good supply at Isla Cerralvo. La Paz fishing area weather had pleasant temperatures in the 80s. Anglers fishing out of Ensenada de los Muertos with Tortuga during the week included Bob Nishida and Erik Saiki, who caught marlin, pargos, roosterfish, and some large dorado with Capt. Hugo Lucero.

LA PAZ BIG BOYS--This beautiful brace of big La Paz bull dorado in the 50-pound class was caught by anglers Bob Nishida and Erik Saiki during a panga session on the Las Arenas side with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Hugo Lucero. They also landed roosterfish, pargo, and marlin.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said some strong north winds kept his pangas fishing close to Ensenada de los Muertos but with good results on pargo lisa and mixed inshore species, plus very good results on offshore dorado of 35 to 45 pounds at the buoys on mornings when the wind permitted pangas to run out. "Those anglers that arrived at the buoys had very good fishing," Hernandez said. Sailfish and marlin were also caught and released by offshore pangas at the buoys, but out at the 88 Bank mostly small dorado were caught. La Paz fishing area weather was at 90 degrees. Good quantities of sardina baits continued to be available along the Baja shore at Punta Perico and also at Isla Cerralvo.DORADO FULL TABLE--Jerry and Eduard Clements of Foothill Ranch, Calif., fished out of La Paz' Ensenada de los Muertos on a Tortuga Sportfishing panga and loaded the fillet table with some beautiful dorado, plus good results on pargo, with Tortuga's Capt. Martin Lucero, center.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said the La Paz fishing area had wind on some days last week that kept Las Arenas side pangas from going out to the offshore buoys or Isla Cerralvo, as pangas were able to fish near shore areas for cabrilla and pargo lisa. On some days, dorado of 25 to 35 pounds plus some marlin and sailfish were caught at the buoys. Good quantities of sardina live bait continued to be available on the Baja shore at Punta Perico and also at the south end of Isla Cerralvo.

SOUTH SIDE PARGOS--Paul Humpers and Shon Logan, both of Roseville, Calif., got into good pargo action with this trio of mullet snappers while fishing south of La Paz on a Tortuga Sportfishing panga with Capt. Nufo Lucero.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said the week's weather was cooler and windy, but fishing by pangas on the south side out of Ensenada de los Muertos produced good numbers of large bottom fish. A big mix of fish species caught by Tortuga clients included mullet snapper or pargo lisa, dog snapper, barred pargo, pompano, cabrilla, and amberjack around the south end of Isla Cerralvo. The Baja coastal fishing area around the Punta Arena de la Ventana lighthouse produced good numbers of roosterfish releases in the 30 to 70-pound class plus wahoo of 35 to 50 pounds. Pangas able to run out to the buoys found dorado of 20 to 40 pounds and striped marlin released. "La Paz fishing has been as good with Rapalas as bait and we have enough bait right now," Hernandez said.

LA PAZ ROOSTER RELEASE--Alan Davis landed and released this nice Baja roosterfish during action out of Ensenada de los Muertos south of La Paz. Davis and his group fished on pangas with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capts. Nufo Green and Rigo Lucero.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said summer-like weather prevailed on the south side of the hill last week as his Ensenada de los Muertos pangas fished in air temperatures in the 90 with good humidity and some days with wind. Pangas fishing at Isla Cerralvo caught pargo mulato or barred pargo, pargo lisa or mullet snapper, pargo perro or dog snapper, cabrilla, and some amberjack. Around Punta Perico on the nearby Baja coast, Tortuga boats scored on pompano, and at the buoys, striped marlin, sailfish, and some dorado were caught. "We've been fishing with Rapalas sometimes," Hernandez said, "and they have been working for those fishermen coming here to La Paz." But we also have a good supply of live bait and that has also been working as always. Bottom fishing has been excellent the last few days."

LA PAZ VARIETY--Capt. Hugo Lucero, left, of La Paz' Tortuga Sportfishing shows off a great mixed catch of amberjack, dog snapper, and a big pargo found for Chris Ginocchio and Treme Patton of Orange, Calif., during a panga trip out of Ensenada de los Muertos that also produced a striped marlin release.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing reported south side La Paz fishing weather in the high-80s, with water temperatures of 76 to 78 degrees at Isla Cerralvo and also at Las Arenas and Punta Perico on the Baja shore. "This week, we are now in the hot weather season," Hernandez said. Tortuga Sportfishing pangas at the offshore buoys found good numbers of dorado of 25 to 35 pounds plus many marlin mixed with sailfish. "We're releasing as many sailfish as marlin," Hernandez said. "Pangas fishing nearby areas brought in pargos of 20 to 35 pounds." Live bait was available in all fishing areas in seas that were completely calm at times. Anglers fishing on Tortuga pangas out of Ensenada de los Muertos included Tom Wong of Taiwan, his son Jerry Wong of Rowland Heights, Calif., and Don Rockefeller of Huntington Beach, Calif.

LA PAZ DORADO--Tom Wong, left, of Taiwan, and his son Jerry Wong of California fished on a panga south of La Paz in good action that produced dorado like this beauty caught with Capt. Jorge Lucero of Tortuga Sportfishing. Below, Don Rockefeller with a nice La Paz pargo lisa caught out of Ensenada de los Muertos with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Rigo Lucero.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said his pangas launching out of Ensenada de los Muertos south of La Paz ran into a super abundance of black skipjack, or barrilete in Spanish, at the north end of Isla Cerralvo that hampered yellowtail fishing. "Because there were so many barrilete, we could not get to the yellowtail," Hernandez said. "But the fishing area at Isla Cerralvo still produced lots of pargos, cabrilla, and sierra, and there were lots of roosterfish at Las Arenas." Tortuga Sportfishing pangas fishing south at El Cardonal found dorado both near shore and at the offshore buoys. "The whole area has good fishing," Hernandez said. "Everywhere, we're seeing big numbers of marlin and some big dorado. We have enough bait at Punta Perico and at the south end of the island."


LA PAZ PANGAS--Frank Quiñones, right, and his group fished aboard a Tortuga Sportfishing panga at La Paz for a variety of fish fillets to take home including this dorado caught with Tortuga's Capt. Rigo Lucero.