If you were to drive from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas, the area commonly known as "East Cape", you would encounter some of the best sportfishing in all of Mexico.
The mood is very "tranquilo" in this region, with
many quaint beachfront hotels offering relaxed and
affordable accommodations. Most hotels have their own private beaches and
ocean-view pools.The
sport-fishing fleet here is extensive with the majority
being the ever-popular 28- to 32-foot diesel-powered
cruisers.
The
fishing grounds off East Cape are very close offshore.
Occasionally, 15- to 25-mile runs will be needed to
reach the bite, but on most days you can hook billfish
just a mile or so off the beach where a few deep canyons
run adjacent to the coast.
In Bahia Los Frailes, the
100-fathom curve lies merely a few hundred yards
offshore. Billfish
can be caught here year-round, but a winter fish is an
uncommon occurrence. In March a showing of striped
marlin will get the season in gear. By May their numbers
increase to the point that hookups are the rule rather
than the exception.
Striped marlin here average 100 to
200 pounds, with water temps increasing to the high 70s
and low 80s. By June or July an influx of sailfish
arrives.
Typical of the Pacific stock, they average 80 to
140 pounds. The months of July through October are
considered prime time for blue marlin, which can venture
close to this coast in search of their preferred forage
of mackerel, skipjack tuna and small
yellowfin.
