Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing reported continued good fishing weather on the Las Arenas side south of La Paz, with air temperatures in the 80s following some days of north winds.Tortuga pangas fishing around Isla Cerralvo caught yellowfin tuna of 20 to 25 pounds, and some dorado at the island and off the Baja coast at Punta Perico."With persistent fishing at the south end of the island, you could also catch wahoo of 40 to 60 pounds, with a little fisherman's luck," Hernandez said. "We also have lots of smaller sierra."Good numbers of 10 to 30-pound roosterfish were present off Las Arenas-side beaches.

ENSENADA DE LOS MUERTOS--Some nice La Paz dorado caught out of Ensenada de los Muertos south of the city with Tortuga Sportfishing. Below, Matthew Louis of San Francisco, Calif., with a nice roosterfish caught along with wahoo, dorado, and sierra, while fishing with Tortuga.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing reported good fishing weather for his charter pangas on the Las Arenas side south of La Paz, with no wind, calm seas, and air temperatures in the 80s.Tortuga's pangas continued to fish at the south end of Isla Cerralvo and near the Baja shore at Punta Perico for a catch of smaller dorado, sierra, and assorted smaller pargos.Some boats ran to the north end of Isla Cerralvo, where fishing on some days produced good-sized yellowfin tuna, but slow action was found on other days."Sardina live bait fish were in adequate supply in all of our fishing areas," Hernandez said. "This helped our anglers avoid losing time and start fishing earlier."Hernandez also noted that information about Tortuga Sportfishing is available online at this newly reorganized website, TortugaLaPaz.com.

BEAUTIFUL PANGA DAY--In a scene that has been repeated an untold number of times all along the beautiful Sea of Cortez coast of Baja California, a sportfishing panga trolls along shore with a client angler from the U.S., here along the rocky bluff south of La Paz called Punta Perico. "This is where we have been working the last few days," said Tortuga Sportfishing's Gerardo Hernandez.

Tortuga Sportfishing News!

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz reported plenty of north winds during the week that prevented his pangas on the Las Arenas side from running out to fishing locations such as Isla Cerralvo, and also made catching bait difficult. Pangas also missed fishing for dorado at nearby locations such as Boca del Alamo, south of Ensenada de los Muertos, due to rough seas, and were limited to smaller snapper species very close to the shelter of Punta Perico. Hernandez also noted more information about Tortuga Sportfishing available at his new website, Tortugalapaz.com.

LATE SEASON DORADO--School-sized dorado were still available last week near the Baja coastline for the La Paz panga sportfishing fleet, as winter-style winds in cooling weather prevented boats from running far off shore, and this late-season mahi was photographed as it jumped for a Tortuga Sportfishing panga during fishing on the Las Arenas side.

Tortuga Sportfishing News!

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said La Paz fishing area weather on the Las Arenas side was cooler in the 70s, with calm seas and no wind. "The winter season is coming," Hernandez said. "There are few anglers at La Paz right now."

Panga outings around Punta Perico produced dorado of 20 to 30 pounds, and boats running out to Isla Cerralvo when winds permitted found yellowfin tuna to about 30 pounds.

Mexican commercial pangas fishing at Isla Cerralvo caught mainly huachinango.

POPEYE RARITY--Capt. Jorge Lucero of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz shows off a popeye catalufa rarely caught in Baja waters. Known as popeye semaforo in Spanish, it is a deep water fish that is usually active at night.

Tortuga Sportfishing News !

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing reported generally good weather and light winds for his pangas fishing on the Las Arenas side south of La Paz, but with heat lightning at night and some rain ending at dawn over the city. "We've also had some light rain in our fishing areas," Hernandez said, "and the season is changing, with some days producing lots of fish and other days very slow."Hernandez said pangas running out to the north end of Isla Cerralvo found very few fish. The best action was found close to the Baja shore off Punta Perico and Ensenada de los Muertos, where catches included dorado and some tuna.Good quantities of Humboldt giant squid and sardina baits were available. "We're hoping that the fishing improves in the next few days," Hernandez said.

CHINA DORADO CONNECTION--John Gimmie, left, of Shanghai, China Honeywell International fished at La Paz with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Nufo Green and landed this quality dorado.

Tortuga Sportfishing News

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said his pangas on the Las Arenas side were fishing in dawn air temperatures in the 80s, and with some seasonable north winds beginning in the La Paz area. "In our area, north winds have begun, sometimes making trips to distant fishing locations such as the north tip of Isla Cerralvo a little difficult," Hernandez said. "We have been catching very nice tuna of 30 to 40 pounds out there. We are getting some smaller tuna around Punta Perico and southwards every day, and we are also catching dorado of 15 to 30 pounds."Tortuga pangas concentrated fishing in nearby areas around Ensenada de los Muertos that were also holding sardina bait fish on days when north winds were blowing.

LA PAZ PANGA FISHING--Karen Matthers and her family fished on La Paz' Las Arenas side with Tortuga Sportfishing and landed dorado plus these good-sized yellowfin tuna.

We are returning to fishing

Gerardo Hernandez of La Paz' Tortuga Sportfishing said rough seas from the passing to the north of Hurricane Norbert knocked out panga fishing on the Las Arenas side for a few days, but boats were going out again by midweek. Pangas fishing near the Baja shore at Punta Perico and south of Ensenada de los Muertos caught dorado of 20 to 30 pounds, and some marlin were hooked near the shark buoys. Sardina baits were available at Ensenada de los Muertos and just outside.La Paz fishing area weather was cooler in the 80s, making it more comfortable on the water. "After this storm, we are returning to fishing in this part of Baja California Sur," Hernandez said.

FAIR WEATHER DORADO--In a fishing week with hampered by distant Hurricane Norbert, Cirio Alvarez of Los Angeles, Calif., found good weather and sea conditions south of La Paz and this nice dorado during panga action with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Rigo Lucero.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said La Paz fishing area weather on the south side of the hill was very hot to 98 degrees, with scattered rain on some days over the entire region including the city itself. "But the sea has been calm. The water temperature was about 88 degrees at the buoys," Hernandez said.Tortuga Sportfishing pangas found lower water temperatures at about 84 degrees in other areas on the Las Arenas side as dorado action slowed down on fish of 15 to 25 pounds. Some yellowfin tuna were also caught."This week, the fishing picked up for dorado around Punta Perico and Ensenada de los Muertos," Hernandez said. "Only dorado are being caught in this area, and we are using squid for bait because the sardinas are small."

DORADO FOR ALL--This group of anglers from Huntington Beach, Calif., led by Crissy and Pete Techman found consistent dorado action while fishing the Las Arenas side of La Paz with Tortuga Sportfishing.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said weather conditions for his pangas fishing on the Las Arenas side were cloudy at 90 degrees, with plenty of humidity for 3 days running, but without any storms. Water temperatures south of La Paz were at 80 to 83 degrees as Tortuga Sportfishing pangas worked the nearby Baja coastline areas around Punta Perico and Ensenada de los Muertos for dorado to 35 pounds and yellowfin tuna of 15 to 25 pounds."We haven't run out to the famous 88 Bank or to the north point of Isla Cerralvo for the past few days," Hernandez said. "There are no reports of marlin, sailfish, or other larger fish from out there."Along the Baja coast, Tortuga pangas caught good-sized roosterfish into the 60 and 70-pound class. Sardina bait fish were in adequate supply, but were small and were being used for tuna. Giant Humboldt squid were also present and being caught for dorado bait.

GOOD LA PAZ TRIP--Phill Schenck and daughter Gale went panga fishing south of La Paz with Tortuga Sportfishing for a catch including dorado, tuna, and some giant Humboldt squid.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz reported some days of wind on the south side that kept his pangas fishing close to shore for catches around Ensenada de los Muertos of medium-sized dorado and yellowfin tuna, both of about 15 to 25 pounds. Some pangas ran offshore to the 88 Bank east of Isla Cerralvo and found larger fish. "We're hoping now to catch some larger dorado," Hernandez said. "Recently, we've been using squid bait for the tuna. We also have good quantities of sardina bait available." La Paz fishing area weather was cooler in the 90s.






ANAHEIM BOMBEROS--A big group of firefighters, or bomberos in Spanish, found good panga fishing action for dorado at La Paz with Tortuga Sportfishing captains. Ralph Moreno, below, shows off a roosterfish mixed in with the group's offshore catch that included yellowfin tuna as well.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing said tropical weather cells provided more action than the fishing on the south side of La Paz during the week as wind and rough seas prevented his pangas from reaching offshore fishing zones for dorado and yellowfin tuna."Tropical Storm Lowell affected the La Paz fishing area this week," Hernandez said. "Some boats still fished near shore and caught some smaller tuna and dorado. The weather is normalizing now. At La Paz, the rain we got was more beneficial than damaging."

LAS ARENAS SIDE--Henry Barrios and Daniel Escalera show off some football yellowfin tuna caught while panga fishing on La Paz' Las Arenas side south of town with Capt. Rigo Lucero of Tortuga Sportfishing.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said his pangas launching on the Las Arenas side found improved action for medium dorado of 15 to 25 pounds while fishing north off Las Cruces following last week's rough tropical weather. "We also caught yellowfin tuna to the south off Punta Pescadero," Hernandez said. "They're still small, but they have been consistent for the past several days. We haven't caught anything big in recent days, but we're waiting for them to come."La Paz fishing area weather was cloudy and humid in the mid-90s, with some periods of rough seas but no rain. "There is plenty of bait around Isla Cerralvo, but sometimes it's difficult to get it," Hernandez said.

LA PAZ SUMMER MIXER--Under uncertain summer tropical skies filled with powerful clouds, Joshep Holtz and his sons fished south of La Paz with Tortuga Sportfishing's Capt. Jorge Hirales for a mixed species panga catch of dorado, football tuna, and triggerfish.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said his pangas were already fishing again, for a few dorado on the day after the passage of Julio. The day after that, yellowfin tuna were found again by pangas running out to Isla Cerralvo and the 88 Bank. "But there is a lot of current, and we didn't catch dorado out there," Hernandez said.

Fishing conditions on La Paz' Las Arenas side were returning to normal by midweek. "We really don't have any complaints about the tropical storm," Hernandez said. "It was more of a benefit than a problem."

At midweek, pangas running to the south point of the island were beginning to catch some dorado in addition to tuna. But pangas checking the action at the north end of the island scored zeros.

HARD BATTLING SAILFISH--This good-sized sailfish died during the fight after being hooked south of La Paz by Larry Klein and his family group who were fishing aboard a Tortuga Sportfishing panga with Capt. Rigo Lucero.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said his pangas on the Las Arenas side south of town fished within sight of rain clouds over the mountains at the end of the week, with high summer air temperatures in the mid-90s, and equally high water temperatures of 84 degrees at Isla Cerralvo and 87 degrees outside at the 88 bank. "But we haven't had any bad weather for fishing," Hernandez said. "Our pangas have been fishing mostly in the same locations, at Las Cruces for larger dorado, and at Punta Pescadero for smaller tuna and medium-sized dorado."Tortuga Sportfishing pangas running out to the 88 spot did not find big dorado, but blue marlin and sailfish mixed with striped marlin were in the area. "But the remoteness of this fishing area does not allow us to go there all the time, and our anglers were fishing more in the other areas," Hernandez said.

DORADO AT LA PAZ--Joseph Song and his son Patrick of Fullerton, Calif., fished on La Paz' Las Arenas side and hooked into tuna plus dorado like this one aboard a Tortuga Sportfishing panga with Capt. Jorge Lucero.

Gerardo Hernandez of Tortuga Sportfishing at La Paz said his pangas on the Las Arenas side south of town fished within sight of rain clouds over the mountains at the end of the week, with high summer air temperatures in the mid-90s, and equally high water temperatures of 84 degrees at Isla Cerralvo and 87 degrees outside at the 88 bank. "But we haven't had any bad weather for fishing," Hernandez said. "Our pangas have been fishing mostly in the same locations, at Las Cruces for larger dorado, and at Punta Pescadero for smaller tuna and medium-sized dorado."Tortuga Sportfishing pangas running out to the 88 spot did not find big dorado, but blue marlin and sailfish mixed with striped marlin were in the area. "But the remoteness of this fishing area does not allow us to go there all the time, and our anglers were fishing more in the other areas," Hernandez said.

DORADO AT LA PAZ--Joseph Song and his son Patrick of Fullerton, Calif., fished on La Paz' Las Arenas side and hooked into tuna plus dorado like this one aboard a Tortuga Sportfishing panga with Capt. Jorge Lucero.