Many fly fishers have discovered the thrill of summertime dorado fishing in Loreto, Baja California Sur. Those who don't like the hot, humid weather, can't get away during the summer, or are just looking for something different should consider the outstanding, but less well-known, "other" season in Loreto. From October to May, you can catch a wide variety of species including roosterfish, sierra mackerel, yellowtail, leopard grouper, yellow jack, and Pacific dog snapper.
In addition to all the fish species you can catch, another incentive to fish Loreto is that it is still relatively inexpensive. Two anglers sharing a panga and a moderately priced hotel room can put together a five-day, four-night trip arriving on the Alaska Air flight on Sunday and departing from Los Angeles on Thursday with three days of fishing for about $600 U.S. per person not including airfare (currently about $260). All prices in this article are in U.S. currency.
Fish Species
During Loreto's other season the most common fly-rod fish are sierra, leopard grouper, roosterfish, bonito, Pacific dog snapper, and jack crevalle. Other possible sportfish include yellow jack, Mexican barracuda, paloma pompano, black skipjack, and Pacific permit, and there are rumors of black snook, shortfin corvina, and bonefish around the local estuaries.
Loreto offers a great winter getaway and the opportunity to catch a wide range of fish species such as roosterfish (above) and yellowtail (right).
During the cooler months, most conventional anglers target yellowtail using live bait or iron jigs over 80- to 300-foot-deep seamounts. While fly rodders are unable to reach these depths, schools of yellowtail crashing bait may appear as early as January. In late March or early April, they move to the surface to spawn. During the two-week spawning period yellowtail do not feed. Immediately after spawning, hungry yellowtail readily take flies as they crash bait at the surface. The 2003 and 2004 seasons both produced IGFA fly-rod world records during these post-spawn feeding frenzies.
The sierra bite is at the first hint of daylight. Get up early, start fishing in the dark, and use a short wire bite tippet to land this popular food fish. After the sierra bite tapers off, roosterfish appear.
Schools of bait fleeing in a mad panic often reveal the presence of roosters. Because of the roosterfish's keen eyesight and the extreme clarity of the water, you must choose your tactics carefully. They can be boat shy, and the best approach might be to land nearby and fish from the beach if they are feeding near shore. Use fluorocarbon leaders.
Inshore, unless there are sierra around, I fish without a bite tippet and tie my fly directly to a 10- to 16-pound-class tippet. Chances for roosterfish appear suddenly and evaporate quickly. The ability to make long casts in any direction is critical. Move the fly quickly with a two-handed retrieve and use flies that imitate the baitfish they are feeding on. Jack crevalle share many of the same habitats as roosterfish and hit the same flies.
Anglers catch bonito and skipjack tuna farther offshore than roosters and jacks. You can often spot schools crashing the surface with flocks of birds working over them. Drift and cast to the downwind side of the boat, allowing the fly to sink deep. The schools move around and the trick is to be in the next spot they make an appearance. When the fish come, strip your fly quickly and hang on.
For leopard grouper, dog snapper, triggerfish, and yellow jack, fish around rocky points, ledges, and drop-offs with sinking lines. Bounce the fly along the bottom or move it fast just over the rocks. Be prepared to lose a few flies and be ready--these fish like to dive for caves, cracks, and crevices when hooked. Because they are difficult to extract when allowed to fight from their home turf, try to turn them quickly and get them coming toward you.
Richard Nauman is a professional biologist and avid fly angler who lives in Portland, Oregon. This story originally appeared in the May 2006 issue.
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