As March fades to April the catch reports are beginning to drown out the usual winter wind chatter.. Mark Rayor excitedly IM's me that a couple of two-finners were spotted before the wind kicked up mid-week. Bet I know where he will be on the next calm day.

John Ireland, Rancho Leonero, was at Fred Hall Show all grins, describing the yellowtail bite not far from his hotel. There was plenty of variety, especially inside, not only the yellowtail, but also cabrilla, sierra, pompano, jacks and roosterfish attracted by large schools of sardina tight against most Southern beaches. One fly fisherman caught and released five different species late in the week.

The warmer water farther offshore is attracting more stripers every day. However, the new arrivals haven't settled down yet and are tough to get to bite.

Felipe Valdez, Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort, reported his boats had excellent catches of sierra before heading outside for a shot at the fickle marlin this weekend.

Up to the north the mossback-sized yellowtail dominated the action between the windy days near Las Arenas and the southern tip of Cerralvo island. A 20-pound class fish is small! According to Jonathan Roldan, most of these fish have been easily 30 to 40 pound sluggers and they're eating the yo-yo iron on the fast retrieve as well as live sardines with a little bit of weight to get them down. Also, some of the guys have been slow trolling mackerel-patterned crank baits like Yo-Zuri Magnums, Rapalas and Bombers over the shallower areas and getting strikes although they're losing a lot into the rocks, too!