Sport Fishing Vacation Packages

Baja Sport Fishing Species

Sailfish - April through November: Inhabits tropical and subtropical waters near landmasses, usually in depths over 6 fathoms, but occasionally caught in lesser depths and from ocean piers. Pelagic and migratory, sailfish usually travel alone or in small groups. They appear to feed mostly in mid-water along the edges of reefs or current eddies. The most action is found where sailfish are located on or near the surface. They eat squid, octopus, mackerels, tunas, jacks, herring, ballyhoo, needlefish, flying fish, mullet and other small fishes. Its fighting ability and spectacular aerial acrobatics endear the sailfish to the saltwater angler, but it tires quickly and is considered a light tackle species. Fishing methods include trolling with strip baits, whole mullet or ballyhoo, plastic lures, feathers or spoons, as well as live bait fishing and kite fishing from boats using jacks, mullet and other small live baits.

Rooster Fish - Small Year-Round / Huge June through October:  Occurs in the eastern Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California to Peru, most commonly off Ecuador. An in shore species, it is found in the surf, over sandy bottoms, and in moderate depths. the maximum movement being about 300 miles (483 km). It is a predator of small fishes. When hooked or in pursuit of prey it will raise its dorsal fin like a flag and leap repeatedly, gray-hounding over the surface. Fishing methods are trolling or casting baits and lures, or live bait fishing from a boat or shore. The roosterfish has strong local commercial value. The flesh is tasty and of good quality.

Yellow Fin Tuna - June through November: Occurs worldwide in deep, warm temperate oceanic waters. It is both pelagic and seasonally migratory, but has been known to come fairly close to shore. The diet depends largely on local abundance, and includes flying fish, other small fish, squid and crustaceans. Fishing methods include trolling with small fish, squid, or other trolled baits including strip baits and artificial lures as well as chumming with live bait fishing. Yellowfin tuna are an extremely valuable commercial fish and hundreds of thousands of tons are taken worldwide annually by longliners and purse seiners.

 Dorado - Dolphin - Mahi-mahi - April through November: Found worldwide in tropical and warm temperate seas, the dolphin is pelagic, schooling, and migratory. Though occasionally caught from an ocean pier, it is basically a deep-water species, inhibiting the surface of the open ocean. Large males have high, vertical forehead, while the female's forehead is rounded. Males grow larger than females. There are no spines in any of the fins. The dorsal fin has 55-66 soft rays. The anal fin has 25-31 soft rays. They are extremely fast swimmers and feed extensively on flying fish and squid as well as on other small fish. They have a particular affinity for swimming beneath buoys, seaweed, logs, and floating objects of almost any kind. One skipper reportedly made some very good catches while fishing around a ladder found drifting in the water. Hooked dolphin may leap or tail-walk, darting first in one direction, then another. It is believed that they can reach speed s up to 50 mph (80.5 kms.) in short bursts. In addition to being a highly rated game fish, the dolphin is a delicious food fish.

Pargo - Year-Round - Live at Cerralvo: It is common throughout the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) from at least Laguna San Ignacio south to Panama, and probably Peru. It is an in shore Pacific species, frequenting reefs and caves from shallow waters to 100 ft (30 m) or more. It is a strong fighter and sport fish that can be caught on live baits, jigs, spoons, feathers, plugs, or pork rind fished or trolled at up to 5 miles per hour. It is an active night predator of smaller fish and crustaceans. It is excellent eating and is greatly prized as a sports fishing catch.

Wahoo - October through December: There are indications of seasonal concentrations off the Pacific coasts of Panama, Costa Rica and Baja California in the summer, off grand Cayman (Atlantic) in the winter and spring, and off the western Bahamas and Bermuda in the spring and fall. It feeds on squid and pelagic fishes, including small mackerel and tuna flying fish, puffers, and whatever appears desirable since few fish can escape. It is found around wrecks and reefs where smaller fish are abundant, but it may also be found far out at sea.

 Yellow Tail - January through April: Occurs in some abundance throughout the Gulf of California and along the pacific coast of North America from Baja California, Mexico to Los Angeles, California. The yellowtail is a coastal, schooling fish that sometimes enters estuaries. It has been reported to occur occasionally in very large schools in the Gulf of California. It feeds predominantly in the morning and late afternoon on small fishes, invertebrates, and pelagic crabs. Small to medium size fish generally undertake seasonal migrations. Larger individuals are more solitary and less migratory. The yellowtail is a fast swimmer. The strike is vicious and is followed by a long, hard run and sometimes two or three shorter runs before the fish is boated.

 Marlin - Striped Marlin: Year-Round, Blue Marlin: June through November: This pelagic and migratory species occurs in tropical and warm temperate oceanic waters. In the Atlantic Ocean it is found from 45 degrees N to 48 degrees N to 35 degrees S, and in the Pacific Ocean from 48 degrees N to 48 degrees S. It is less abundant in the eastern portions of both oceans. They are known to feed on squid and pelagic fishes, including black-fin tuna and frigate mackerel. A powerful, aggressive fighter, they run hard and long, sound deep, and leap high into the air in a seemingly inexhaustible display of strength. Fishing methods include trolling large whole baits such as bonito, dolphin, mullet, mackerel, bonefish, ballyhoo, flying fish and squid as well as various types of artificial lures and sometimes strip baits. The flesh is pale and firm and makes excellent table fare.

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