Hot at ‪Loreto; expecting rain tonight and tomorrow -- ‪‎Hurricane Norbert Misery...Pam Bolles, Baja Big Fish Company

This week's fishing has been cut short by the approaching tropical storm, "Norbert." The afternoons have kicked up the seasonal south winds that have also limited time on the water.

We started out seeing dorado reaching larger sizes. Up from many twenty four inchers to fish in the 12- to 15-pound range that we have been catching...over and over.

Big change or what's different?

The bigger fish were caught in the same area that we have been working over for most of August. The "funnel" up by Coronado has been thick with tiny dodos, but now we ran into the mediums.

What was different this week was the use of sardina as bait.

Maybe the bigger fish have always been there; it's just they were waiting for the day's menu to change! Whatever the reason, I am changing to sardina and letting the yellowtail hunters keep the mackerel and big-eyes.

The shallow water bottom fishing has been consistently good for the smaller pan-sized reds, pintos and triggerfish.

Cut dead bait and frozen squid are the common offerings to take. Just about any natural chunk on a hook can get bit!

Save the unfortunately foul-hooked bonito and even needle fish to use for cut bait. They all work well and can save a day when the yellows and the dodos haven't cooperated with the live bait.

Trolled lures and news from the rooster hunters, it's all a little slim due to the short week.

As far as getting any help from the storm, I think it will not amount to much. A "good" storm will wash out trees and all kinds of debris into the near shore areas making productive and easily findable "trash paddies" for dorado to hang near.

We have had three short bands of rain alternating with sunshine.

No wind and that is a blessing.

It's early and four more days to go before this slow moving "Norbie" travels north.