Week Ending June 29, 2008

Water: 76-83 degrees. Afternoon, SE winds.

Air: Cooler than normal for this time of the year. Very pleasant, highs in the low 90's.


The fish are very spread this week. Schools of Yellowfin are under spotted porpoise 20 to 45 miles off Pulmo. Striped marlin and a few blue marlin are biting between 5 an 20 miles directly off the hotel. Inshore fishing has been very good with lots of jacks and Roosterfish released this week. The fish are so spread, anglers are having to commit to a specific species.


Yellowfin- Under pods of fast moving spotted porpoise, fifteen to forty five miles of Pulmo and Frailles. There are lots of boats chasing the tuna, those getting to the action first doing well. The average fish 10 to 15 pounds, largest this week 60#. Trolled cedar plugs and hoochies and live sardine all working.

Billfish- A strong consistent bite, the marlin are five to twenty miles off the hotel. Anglers staying with the striped marlin are releasing at least one per day with some boats catching two or three. We released two blues in the 200# class, this week.
Live caballito and trolled Ballyhoo, working best.

Inshore- Lots of schools of Roosters in the 10 to 20 pound range. Very active from the hotel south to the light house. Mixed with Jack Crevalle. A few fifty pounders released this week as well. We are catching some good sized Pompano from 10 to 15 pounds.

Thanks...John

Week Ending June 20, 2008

Water- 76-83 degrees, some wind early in the week. The water is warming rapidly.

Air- Unseasonably cool, with highs in the mid 80's.

The Yellow fin are finally starting to appear in the E. Cape. Some real quality tuna in the 30 to 40 pound range are being taken from under schools of porpoise. A better Striped Marlin bite than last week, with the marlin a lot further outside than last week. The Dorado fishing has slowed. Inshore fishing is very good with Rooster fish Pompano, and Pargo all very active on most Southern beaches.

Yellow fin- Under small spotted porpoise, 15 to 20 miles off Pulmo reef. The schools are very spread, and moving fast, with about half producing, thirty to forty pound tuna. Trolled hoochies and cedar plugs working, live sardine best.

Striped Marlin- More around than last week, but much further outside, fifteen to twenty miles directly off the hotel. At least one per boat, with some boats taking multiples. About half taken on live Cabalitto and the other half on trolled lures and Ballyho. A lot of the hotel boats are rigging and trolling dead Ballyho, this is new for the E Cape, and it is really working.

Dorado- Much slower this week. Very spread with most taken in the same areas as the marlin. Larger fish again this week from twenty to fifty pounds. The larger dorado are being taken on marlin lures.

Inshore- Lots of roosters in the ten to twenty pound class released this week The light house is producing the most Gallos. There are lots of Pompano in the same area. The Pargo fishing is very good for anglers staying inside and targeting snappers.

Thanks...John

Week Ending June 12, 2008

Water- 76-80 degrees. Windy afternoons.

Air- Warmer, highs in the mid 90's.

The fishing has been surprisingly consistent for the past six weeks. Again this week, Striped marlin and Dorado have been giving anglers most of the action. Real quality Dorado in the twenty to fifty pound range, are being taken. I haven't seen a Dorado under twenty pounds come in this week. The Lets Talk Hook Up tournament anglers took eleven Mahi Mahi in the forty pound class. Most boats taking one or two per day. Striped marlin are between five and thirty miles directly off the hotel. Anglers are seeing lots of jumpers and tailers, but as in the past few weeks, the billfish continue to be picky biters. Inshore fishing is very good, with quality Roosterfish, Pargo , Pompano, Cabrilla and even some big Sierra, biting aggressively.

Dorado- Some real quality fish. Most taken on Marlin lures. Very spread, the fish are biting both inshore and outside. The larger dorado are mixed with the marlin.

Striped marlin- A little slower than last week. There are still lots of billfish around and its not unusual to see forty or fifty tailers and jumpers daily. There is lots of squid and bait available making for some pretty line shy marlin. About half and half on live bait and lures. The fish are biting three to thirty miles directly off the front of the hotel.

Inshore- Lots of good sized Roosterfish this week. We had some released in the fifty pound range. Large schools of ten pounders moving up and down most southern beaches. Very good Pargo fishing as well, with quite a few taken in the ten to twenty pound class. Cabrilla, Amberjack, Sierra ( 0ne sixteen pounder!), and White skipjack, are all being taken.

Totals for the three day Lets Talk Hook Up tourney-

18 boats
47 anglers
Three days fishing, with one day inshore.
28 Striped marlin released.
55 Dorado, from 20#'s, the largest 49.7 pounds
28 roosters, 9 Pargo and 13 Pompano
Lots of Cabrilla, Amberjack and White skipjack.
1 16 pound sierra.

Thanks...John

Week Ending May 24, 2008

Water- 75-79 degrees. Flat early in the week, South Easterly winds from Thursday on.

Air- Hot early in the week, very cool and pleasant for the last couple of days.

A slow start for marlin earlier in the week, with the bite really improving daily from Thursday on. The water was very flat and still early in the week, and the marlin bite was slow. On Thursday we started getting winds out of the East, and the fishing really turned back on. On Thursday, Jack Nilsen, Ben Seacrest, and the Accurate crew, fishing on Luna Sea released two stripers, and had another seven or eight on the lines. The Dorado fishing improved along with the Marlin, some real quality bulls in the forty pound class were taken. The fishing has been very close to the hotel, off Punta Arenas Light House one to three miles off the beach. Our first real quality tuna of the year came in yesterday. Inshore has been so so this week, some nice Gallos in the thirty pound range have been released. Very light fishing pressure inside.

Striped Marlin- A slow start this week. The bite steadily improved as the week progressed, and from Thursday on has been wide open. The marlin are just off the light house, a lot released within shouting distance of the beach. The fish are one half to three miles offshore. Live mullet and caballito working, but trolled squid colored lures working best. A couple per boat per day from Thursday on.

Dorado- In the same areas as the marlin, and they are be biting at the same time as well. Big bulls in the forty pound class, and lots of smaller dorado in the ten to fifteen pound class. One or two per boat per day, after Thursday. Lures are working best.

Yellowfin- We are seeing Yellowfin schooling under the Porpoise for the first time this year. One boat on Saturday caught nine tuna in the twenty pound range. Trolled hoochies, and cedar plugs working.

Inshore- Very light fishing pressure. Nice roosters in the twenty to forty pound range were released this week. Some yellowfin in the fifty pound class are being taken close to the beach right off the light house on Mackerel.

Angler of the week

Tyler Williamson, from Orange County, celebrated his twenty-first birthday at the ranch.
2 striped marlin released.
He and his family caught a number of Dorado in the 35 to 40 pound range, and
8 Yellowfin in the twenty pound class.

Thanks...John

Week Ending May 17, 2008

Water- Warmer 73-80. Clear, flat.

Air- Highs in the low 90's. Very pleasant spring weather.

Lots of billfish and dorado are very spread throughout the E. Cape. Very consistent striped marlin, sailfish and dorado fishing again this week. Inshore fishing has been very good, with lots of big pargo being taken and roosters biting along most beaches. The water has warmed another couple of degrees.

Billfish- Lots of stripers mixed with a few sails are biting from Las Arenas lighthouse all the way to Cerralvo Island. Slower mornings, with the action picking up later in the day. Still a little picky on the bite. Most boats scoring at least one billfish per day with some releasing up to five or six. About half and half, taking live bait and trolled lures.

Dorado- Big bulls in the forty pound class, mixed with lots of ten to fifteen pounders. Most being taken on lures. One to three per boat, daily. In the same areas as the billfish.

Inshore- Very light fishing pressure. Lots of quality Pargo, off the hotel and south beaches. Average fish is about five to ten pounds. Both Barred and Dogtooth Pargo are biting aggressively. The moorings off the hotel have been holding schools. Hotel kayakers are really scoring. Live mullet working best.
Roosterfish- The Gallos are getting bigger. Inshore anglers are releasing quite a few roosters in the thirty pound class. Live mullet working best.

Thanks...John

Week Ending May 10, 2008

Water- Clear, flat, warming rapidly, three to five degrees in one week. 73-76 degrees.

Air- Warmer, highs in the low 90's.

The good strong consistent billfish and dorado fishing continues. Lots of striped marlin mixed with sails and larger dorado are being taken north of Pta. Pescadero to Cerallvo Island. The billfish and dorado are very spread. Jumpers and tailers are everywhere. The marlin in particular have been very line shy, they are feeding on large schools of squid. Most boats are picking up at least one striper or sail, with a few multiples. We have had some big bulls come in this week, a few in the fifty pound class. Inshore fishing has been very good for roosters on beaches south of the hotel and off Cardonal, very light pressure.
The water in the Cortez is really warming, with a jump of five degrees in one week. This warmer water should keep the squid around and hold the marlin.

Billfish- Tailers and jumpers everywhere. About two stripers for every sail. Feeding on squid, very picky on the bite. Almost all taken on cast live mackerel and small jacks. North of Pescadero best.

Dorado- Lots of big bulls mixed with the billfish. Taking trolled and live bait, one or two per boat per day.

Inshore- Most of the boats are fishing north. The roosters are biting off Cardonal, but the better fishing is off the beaches south of the hotel.

Check out our fish photos.

Thanks...John

Week Ending May 04, 2008

Water- 70-73 degrees clear, flat.

Air- Highs in the low 90's, cool mornings, very pleasant spring weather.


Another strong week for billfish and dorado. Good inshore fishing with roosterfish, pompano, jacks, and small yellowtail all biting inside. We are averaging one billfish per boat per day with some boats releasing as many as five or six. Mostly striped marlin, with every fourth or fifth release a sailfish. Quality dorado mixed with the marlin, very few under fifteen pounds, lots of twenty to fourty pounders. The water temps., are the same as last week. Lots of both sardine and mackerel available for bait.

Billfish- Both sailfish and striped marlin plentiful from the 88 off Cerralvo Island south, to the Las Arenas light house. The fish are concentrated five to ten miles off the beach, mixed with dorado. Very visual fishing with lots of tailers and jumpers. Most fish taken on cast, live mackerel.

Dorado- They are getting bigger every week. Lots of bulls in the twenty to fourty pound class are being taken. the larger dorado are mixed with the billfish, smaller fish are biting closer to shore. Hitting both lures and live bait. At least one or two per boat per day.

Inshore- Larger roosterfish this week. Most gallos in the five to fifteen pound range with some bigger fish mixed in, to thirty-five pounds. Some big pompano taken this week. Smaller yellowtail in the five pound range have also been taken all week. Lots and lots of jacks are mixed with the gallos.

Thanks.....John

Week Ending April 27, 2008

Water- 70-73 degrees, clear, flat.

Air- Highs in the 80's, cool mornings beautiful spring weather.

Excellent wide open fishing this week. Striped marlin, sailfish and dorado are all biting aggressively. We have had as many as eight billfish on one boat, released in one day! Anglers are guaranteed at least one billfish per boat per day. There are tailers and jumpers everywhere, really exceptional fishing. The billfish are concentrated from Punta Colorado north to the 88. There is warmer water north holding more dorado, mixed with the billfish. Anglers are taking some real quality mahi mahi in the 20 to 40 pound range. There are lots of roosterfish around in the five to ten pound class, with better fishing north in the warmer water. Very light pressure, as most anglers targeting the billfish and dorado. The water temps., are a little cooler than last week, but it hasn't hurt the fishing.

Billfish- There are more striped marlin than sailfish, about every fourth billfish a sail. It is very visual fishing, with lots and lots of jumpers and tailers. Most fish being taken on live mackerel. Most boats are releasing three or four a day! The billfish are two to ten miles off the beach, very spread all the way north to Muertos Bay.

Dorado- One or two per boat daily. Quality fish in the 20 to 40 pound class. About half and half taken on lures and bait. The dorado are mixed with the billfish, with a better fishing north in the warmer water.

Inshore- Lots of gallos, especially north in the warmer water. Almost no fishing pressure, anglers that are going for the roosters are enjoying wide open fishing, until the bait runs out, as many as thirty or fourty fish released daily, in the ten pound class. All on live sardine and mackerel, they are also biting flies aggressively.

Check out the fish photos on our website

Thanks...John

Week Ending April 20, 2008

Water- 73-74 degrees, clear, flat.

Air- Highs in the 80's, very pleasant.

The fishing is very similar to last week. The bill fish bite has improved, early in the week lots of tailers around but very picky biters. As the week progressed the billfishing really picked up. We have had as many as five per boat, with all boats releasing at least one per day. The sailfish, marlin and dorado are five to seven miles directly off the front of the hotel. There are lots of good sized dorado mixed with the billfish. Lots of bulls in the thirty pound range are coming in, at least one per boat per day. Lots of roosterfish in the ten pound range on most south beachs, very light fishing pressure, as most anglers are targeting the billfish outside. The water continues to warm a degree or two a week. The water temps. and the fishing is pretty normal for this time of year.

Billfish- At least one per day per boat. Five to seven miles directly off the hotel. Taking both lures and bait. Three or four striped marlin for every sailfish released.

Dorado- Getting bigger every week. One of the most consistent early spring bites, I can recall in the last ten years. Taking both lures and mackerel.

Inshore- Very light pressure. Lots of jacks and roosterfish. Sierra and pargo are also biting.

Check out www.rancholeonero.com, for daily fish photos.

Thanks...John

Week Ending April 6, 2008

Water: 71-74, Warming, clear, one day of wind this week.

Air: Highs in the 80's, beautiful spring weather.


The East Cape is finally seeing a consistent marlin bite. The late winter we have been experiencing is finally changing to more normal fishing conditions for this time of the year. As the water warms the yellowtail bite is slowing, with the marlin, sailfish and dorado fishing really picking up. The billfish are much closer, most boats scoring at least one marlin per day. In the same areas as the billfish, dorado are abundant and biting aggressively. Inshore, the roosterfish bite is wide open, with larger gallos this week. There are large schools of mackerel and squid everywhere. Lots of surface action, with the dorado and billfish feeding on the schools.

Billfish: Striped marlin mixed with sailfish are abundant, 10 to 15 miles off the lighthouse. At least one per boat per day. Lots of billfish feeding on the surface. Live mackerel best, trolled squid colored lures working well.

Dorado: Mixed with the marlin in the warmer water. Medium sized fish three to twenty-five pounds. Big schools, some boats catching and releasing as many as twenty. Live mackerel, sardine best. Bright hoochies working.

Roosterfish: The gallos are bigger this week. One angler released twenty in one day on the fly. From La Ribera south. There are big schools of sardine on most of the beachs south of the hotel. The sardine are holding schools of roosters. Live sardine working best.

Yellowtail: Not as many as last week. The bite is slowing with the warming water. That said, we have had quite a few quality fish in the fourty to fifty pound class at our cleaning table. Live mackerel on the bottom working best.

Check out our angler of the week photos on the RL website.

Thanks...John