Giant Dorado

[Carl Blackledge]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9azeCCC6G_M

[mems]

https://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/065-1.jpg (https://s15.photobucket.com/user/mems15/media/065-1.jpg.html)
Aloha Carl, I know you have caught some big do-dos. Here is my largest, 70lbs on 50lb test and the shimano trevella rod in my hands. Big mahi are so much fun. Dennis Braid's is unreal, they thought it was a marlin at first. Mems.

[Carl Blackledge]

Mems,

Outstanding Dorado . My largest on a fly was 48 pounds, I have hooked larger but never landed.

I have caught over a hundred Tarpon in the 100 pound range on the fly and even some larger and I still believe that a 50 Dorado could pull a 100 pound Tarpon backwards then turn around and eat it. I think the Dorado is the best fly rod fish ever.
my 2 cents

Carl Blackledge

[McFish]

Thank you, Carl and right on. Dorado are prolific, eager fly eaters, live near the surface, pull hard and jump. Once you get one to bite, he excites some of the others who are then likely to bite too. The clues to their location are easy to read, even for novices. The only problem is they taste so good; overfishing can be a problem.

[Baja Fly Fisher]

nice fish mems

[Darian]

McFish, I agree. The MX government has removed protections from commercial fishing for Dorado. The result is that Dorado (Mahi) is on the menu of a lot of restaurants in MX and Calif. There is a limit on the number of Dorado taken by recreational fishermen but I'm mot sure how well it's enforced. So, even tho Dorado grow rapidly and are prolific, it must be tough to keep the fishery going....

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Lefty Kreh said that 'schoolie' Dorado are a suicidal fish......



Many fly fishers have been going to Loreto, Baja, Mexico in the mid-summer for Dorado for many decades now.

Carl Blackledge would be our expert for fishing there if you have any questions.

La Paz and Loreto are still the best bang for the buck for inshore / off shore salt water fly fishing.

Dorado, Roosterfish, Jack Crevalle, Skipjack, Yellowfin tuna, sailfish and marlin are some of the species.

Jay Murakoshi would be our expert on La Paz.

[Carl Blackledge]

Bill,

With a lot of the regular fisheries going to hell the past few years, Mexico is even brighter then ever. Also the Peso has fallen to 20-1 which makes our trips even cheaper if you pay for everything on your CC with no foreign exchange fees.

The last 3 years have better each year and especially with this year and the large hold over of bait and Dorado. 2019 will be off the hook. Most of the regulars have already booked for even longer periods of time and are bringing new people. The more people the more fun.

Carl Blackledge

[Carl Blackledge]

Darian,

In Loreto where I stay and fish the Mexican government declared most of the surrounding area where we fish as a Marine park and off limits to long liners and other guys who come in and net our sardines. Since that time our fishing has really improved and the past few years has shown great results, Now after saying that the bill-fish don't seem to be affected one way or another we always have tons of bill-fish and the giant rooster's we have will all die of old age.

Carl Blackledge

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks Carl

What is your favorite time to go to Loreto for Dorado?

I guess the Oasis is your favorite place to stay?

I am guessing that people are using 9' 4 pc #10 to 12 weight outfits?



I am sure if anyone here wants to go down there the same time Carl and his buddies are there he could help you get set up.

[Carl Blackledge]

Bill,

I usually go the last 10 days of June and the first 2 or 3 weeks of July the majority of the run will peak some where in that time frame. If I get the word that they showed up in good numbers early It wouldn't bother me to jump on a plane and go earlier.

The Oasis hotel which is located right on the beach front and is geared up for the fisherman is the absolute best place to stay and is also the only hotel in Loreto that will serve you breakfast an hour be four daylight. after breakfast we walk less then 300 feet and jump in the boat. The Oasis is famous for there fisherman's breakfast and lots of fisherman from other hotels come and eat there also

Bill your right about the 12 wt rods I carry two in the boat plus a 16 wt Sage for trolling the Chicken fly . The most popular flies are Crease flies or the newer Belly Dancers used with a floating line plus we use a 26 foot sink tip with sardine looking flies for fishing about 6-8 foot deep. I would guess 90% of what eats our flies is right off the top, kinda like Tarpon fishing where you get to see the whole deal go down, or perhaps like dry fly fishing for trout. LOL

I don't sell trips however I do sell saltwater flies. I would be glad to point anybody in the right direction for the best and cheapest way to fish Loreto and also pass on information I have collected over the last 20 years fishing down there

carlblackiedge@aol.com

PS I forgot to mention, on the departure trip the airplane fly times for 2019 makes it possible so the last day of the trip you can fish a full day then eat lunch and jump on the plane and fly home, it's a five dollar cab ride to the airport.