WEATHER: We had some wonderful skies at the end of this week with almost (Monday through Wednesday saw some clouds) every day being mostly sunny to cloudless. The daytime highs were in the mid to low 80's and the nighttime lows to the low 60's. Winds were light and variable most of the time with an occasional few hours of winds to 10 knots from the southwest during the middle of the week.

WATER: Almost everything within reach of the fleets this week was between 75 and 78 degrees with the warmer water running from right off the point and to the southwest. The water was clean and blue as well. With light winds most of the week fishing conditions were great on both sides of the Cape.

BAIT: Mackerel were the bait of the week this week and they were the usual $3 per bait. Sardinas were available as well from bait boats up at the Palmilla area at $25 a bucket but some of them were reported as being really small.

FISHING:

BILLFISH: The bite slowed down close to home for the Striped Marlin this week. Last week it was a wide-open bite at the Golden Gate Bank. This week the Golden still held fish but they just were not as hungry as last week. A few boats ventured up to the Finger Bank and reported excellent action there. Scattered strikes were reported almost all over the place but the normal fishing areas for the Stripers still produced better than others, Golden Gate Banks, the ledges off of the lighthouse on the Pacific side and off of Red Hill in the Cortez as well as the point off of Los Arcos on the Pacific. Average catch this week was two to three releases per boat and good days were releases totaling 8 or more.

YELLOWFIN TUNA: The Inner Gorda Bank produced a few fish to 50 pounds on live bait early in the week and there were Tuna to 35 pounds found at the same time up in the Punta Gorda area. At the end of the week the fish had moved off and there were reports of some Yellowfin to 30 pounds being caught by blind trolling 10 miles south of Cabo. Other than that there was little to find out there. Perhaps in a few weeks things will pick up on the Tuna fishing.

DORADO: While Dorado continued to be slower than last months fishing there were some nice fish this week. The flats up off of Punta Gorda were giving up two to five fish per trip, the point off of Los Arcos had two days of excellent fishing with many boats getting their anglers limits of two Dorado each. The ledge off of the lighthouse on the Pacific also produced quality of averaging 15 pounds close to shore.

WAHOO: I actually talked to some people who caught Wahoo this week! There were fish to be found on the flats at Punta Gorda as well as a few from the rocky points on the Pacific side. These fish were not big, most of them 15 pounds or so. Trolling swimming plugs such as Braid Marauders had best results or Rapallas but there were a few bites on live bait.

INSHORE: Once again a repeat of last week, there has been very little change in the inshore fishery this week. The Sierra bite is picking up and the fish are very nice size, between 8 and 10 pounds when you find the right areas. There are a few nice Yellowtails starting to pop up occasionally off of the Rocky points as well as some Pargo to 25 pounds right in the rocks.

NOTES: I saw my first few Gray Whales of the year this week in very close to the beach in 30 feet of water. There are still plenty of Humpback Whales out there and the glass-bottom boat/water taxi fleet has been right on top of them, unfortunately. Yesterday there were two whales right out front that had 11 boats right on top, I thought one of the boats was going to hit one whale with its props, sigh. Overall the fishing this week was very good with plenty to choose from. I get to play golf this coming week; it's been so long that I am going to have to go to the range the day before! This weeks report was written to the music of "Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes" on the album "I Don't Want To Go Home", a 1976 Epic Records release.