Weather:
Our weather is a cycle, cold, warm, cold again. This week it warmed back up and our coldest morning was only 61 degrees while the daytime highs have been in the high 80's, once in a while touching 90 degrees. There were no clouds this week and plenty of sunshine!

Water:
The water, just like the weather, changes every week! Where we had very cool water on the Pacific side last week it has warmed up to 71 degrees, and gotten a bit less green. On the Cortez side of the cape it has warmed just a bit as well so that we are now seeing blue water almost everywhere, but 68 degrees inside the 1,000 fathom line. Once you are at the line, outside the 1150 area it warms up to 72 degrees. Surface conditions have been great with small swells and light winds all week, not glassy but perfect for fishing.

Bait:
No change in the bait availability. Caballito, a few Mackerel and a scattering of misc. other large baits could be bought at $3 each and if you were quick and lucky you could get a scoop of Sardinas for $25.

FISHING
Billfish:
Last weeks fishing was decent for Striped Marlin, but it dropped just a bit this week as the fish moved farther offshore following that 72 degree water. Fish were found at a distance of 35 miles to the east, but not in large concentrations. A lucky boat might have had two hook-ups out of four or five fish seen, most boats were happy to have seen a couple of Marlin to throw bait to. There were still some scattered fish up the Sea of Cortez around the Punta Gorda area as well as the Gorda Banks, but nothing to base a trip on. Boats that went to the Pacific side to look for Marlin did not have a great deal of luck but there were still a couple of fish caught. On a nice note, there was a big Swordfish reported being caught not far out from the lighthouse Friday morning. It was said to be in the range of 300-400 pounds, a very nice, rare fish for our area.

Yellowfin Tuna:
In a repeat of last weeks action there were still Yellowfin Tuna to be found in the Gorda Banks, Inman Banks, Punta Gorda area. Most of them were still small fish at 10-20 pounds but there were several fish to 50 pounds caught as well. Just like last week the kite fishing worked on the larger fish and a few boats also caught some of the nice ones using down-riggers with large Sardinas. Surface drifting fly-lined Sardinas was the best method for catching fish, but mostly footballs. Farther offshore there were scattered schools of fish found, but you had to be the first or second boat n them, either that or stay until everyone else had given up! There were a couple of fish reported in the 100-150 pound class but I did not see them. With the water moving the fish were moving as well and schools were found scattered along the temperature break at the 1,000 fathom line on both sides of the Cape, outside the 1150 and south of the San Jaime.

Dorado:
A few flags were flying this week, but just like last week they were mostly for smaller fish caught by boats fishing right along the beach for Sierra. If you stomped on them they might have been stretched to 21 inches and weigh 3 pounds, sigh.

Wahoo:
New moon and I had no reports of Wahoo this week, but I am sure there were some caught somewhere, most likely around the Punta Gorda area.

Inshore:
Well, just when we thought the inshore fishing had gone wide open, it started to shut down. Early in the week things were good with plenty of Sierra and good numbers of Yellowtail showing up in the fish boxes. At the end of the week we had clients who were lucky to come back with Trigger fish and a few Sierra. It may be the change in water temperature, while not large, was too abrupt and they moved overnight, or it could be something else. Whatever, the inshore bite really dropped off late in the week. There were some Roosterfish still biting and a few of them were nice fish to 25 pounds, with most in the 10-12 pound class, and there were Bonito as well. Many of the Pangas ran all the way to San Jose to try and get in on the Yellowfin action, but it was a long run up and back for just a few fish. Hopefully as the water change settles down the bite will come back on!

Notes:
Quilt back off the bed! Still not going to tempt fate by putting it away, but the warmer evenings have not required it. There are still plenty of Whales to be seen out there, but not for long. Normally we have them here from Christmas through Easter, so if you want to smell one up close and personal, get out there now! Spring break is starting and the town is filling up in the evenings, the beach during the day. Folks everywhere walking, shopping and sightseeing. If you are coming down and plan on eating out at one of the more popular places, reservations are a very good idea. I am still looking for full or part time work here, and have a good crew for deliveries up and down the coast, so if you know of anyone looking for a Captain, let them know I am available, please! My music choice for this week was Leo Kottke from his 1987 RCA release "A Shout Toward Noon". I also was wowed while watching TV this week by a blues singer from Britain named "Adele", first I had heard of her, guess I have been out of the loop as she has been around for a few years, but man o man, what a great voice!

Until next week, tight lines!