In May, Imperial Beach offers an interesting fishing experience, on the pier where no license is required. While fishing on the beach and in the surf does require a license, the pier is an accessible option. According to the “Fishing and Hunting App,” The Solunar Table predicts the best fishing days in May are generally considered to be from the 1st to the 12th and from the 26th to the 31st.
Coronado Islands
Spring is an active time for fishing, with shifting conditions creating both challenges and fresh opportunities. The Coronado Islands and Rockpile have a lot of potential, even if the yellowtail bite hasn’t fully fired up yet. When the weather settles, those slow-trolled sardines and mackerel could be the key to finding more active fish. Yoyo and surface irons will also reward anglers willing to put in the effort, mobility and persistence really pay off.
Targeting the flats near the Rockfish and deeper waters toward Rosarito offering structure where reef species thrive. Sculpin, sheephead, and bass make for great variety when yellowtail play hard to get, keeping anglers engaged with steady action.
That’s a solid breakdown of the current conditions. The shift in yellowtail behavior is interesting—sometimes, chasing paddies beyond the islands can make all the difference when the bite is slow near structure. With cleaner water, there’s potential for a shift in feeding patterns, so keeping an eye on temperature changes could help predict when they get more aggressive.
The Todos Santos halibut action sounds promising, especially with mini macks working in that shallow range. Barracuda following anchovy schools under bird activity suggests there’s movement happening—surface irons are a great call when they’re actively hunting like that. The continued rockfish bite at Santo Tomas rounds out the options nicely, making it a reliable stop for bottom fishing. Are you seeing any signs or hearing of yellowtail warming up near the islands yet, or do they still seem hesitant? That could influence how anglers approach the next few outings.
Ensenada
The fishing opportunities in Ensenada for May include Offshore waters with strong potential, for Dorado, Barracuda, Yellowtail, and both yellow and Bluefin Tuna in the mix. As Bluefin Tuna activity ramps up in late spring and early summer, anglers who stay alert to temperature shifts and bait movements should be able to enjoy some phenomenal tuna action.
The inshore scene is equally promising, with Corvina, Perch, Seabass, and Calico Bass providing steady action. White Sea Bass and Halibut add to the variety, especially in areas like Estero Beach and Baja Cove. Those kelp beds should be productive for Croakers, Rockfish, and Barracuda, while Las Islas de Todos Santos remains a reliable spot for Cubera Snapper and Lingcod.
With offshore Yellowtail still active but spotty, surface iron will remain a strong choice, or will live bait be the better bet as the bite solidifies?
San Quintín
San Quintín in spring offers diverse fishing opportunities, with yellowtail, calico bass, and halibut being prominent local targets. Bottom fishing for rockfish, lingcod, whitefish, and sheephead remains productive, while yellowtail is available year-round. Beginning in May, the outer kelp line around San Martin Island can be productive for calico bass, yellowtail, and halibut. According to Cristian Catian the yellowtail is already settling in, and sea temps remain promising.
Gonzaga Bay
Out fishing with Mr. Craig Jacobs & Dillon Everett stayed local because of wind concerns fish Isla La Poma and Encantada yellowtail, sierra, trigger fish casting for cabrilla had several take down and lost several lures my friend could not stop this big fish..fun none the less…Ok…fishonnn! -Captain Juan Cook
Guerrero Negro
Fantastic fishing for Sierra, grouper, black & white sea bass in Guerrero Negro with Fishing Warriors Chema Medina & Julian Medina Espinoza. You can arrange a charter with Baja Magicmx.
Loreto
In April, you can expect to catch a variety of fish in Loreto, including Mahi-Mahi/Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Snapper, Grouper, Marlin, Sailfish, and Yellowtail.
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Bahía Sueños
TRANSITIONING TO WARMER CONDITIONS AND SPECIES
WEATHER – Mornings and evenings have really been windy, but then usually diminishing by mid or later morning to sunshine although there were some cloudy days. Day time temps around 80-85, but not much humidity. Nights are cool. About 60 degrees. Overall a really nice time to be down here .
WATERS – Real simple. If it’s windy it’s going to be bumpy. At times, even white caps if the wind is blowing strong enough. But mostly calming down when the winds cut back later in the day.
FISH HOOKED THIS WEEK: Yellowtail, amberjack, sierra, pargo, snapper, cabrilla, bonito, jack crevalle, pompano, triggerfish, roosterfish
BAIT: Live sardines and mackerel most days.
East Cape
San José del Cabo
Some boats continue to do the long run out looking for yellowfin tuna. They are finding porpoise schools 40-55 miles out on most days. Most of the tuna caught this week with the porpoise schools were footballs in the range of 5-15 pounds. Due to the long run and size of these tuna, many of the local pangeros decided to try areas closer by in search of bigger quality fish.
Towards the end of the week, the fleet was able to land a handful of nice yellowfin in the Vinorama and San Luis area. Even though the bite is not hot, we are seeing 2-3 quality size tuna at the fillet tables almost every day. Most of these tuna were in the 50-90 pound class; the biggest one caught this week was 138 pounds. These fish were hooked on strips of squid and live caballito. One tuna was reported on a dead sardine. While drifting sardines and squid for tuna, we were also able to land white Bonita on the jigs.
Within the same area, we also saw a handful of wahoo and dorado. Some of these wahoo were 60-70 pounds. 3 of these wahoo came from slow trolling live caballitos, one drifting sardines, 3 on Rápalas/Nomads, 2 on ballyhoo, and one on a jig. A handful of striped marlin were reported in the same area as well.
Cabo San Lucas
Successful Trips 80.60%, Billfish 41.79% Dorado 4.48%, Other 35.82%, Tuna 20.90%, Roosterfish 2.99%, Wahoo 12.99%
The waters have been nearly perfect, with calm seas and temperatures ranging from mid-60 to mid-70°F. Our Pisces Fleet anglers had a fantastic week, with each boat landing at least two Striped Marlin. However, some boats outdid themselves, with one boat catching double and even triple that number, along with a whopping 259.5-pound Swordfish, the first of the season, around 50 Yellowfin Tuna, several Yellowtail, a Hammerhead Shark, a dozen or more Roosterfish, Bonito, and more. The diverse range of fish kept the anglers intrigued and excited, making it a memorable fishing experience.
Tight lines and fair seas to all!
Gary Graham
That Baja Guy
thatbajaguy@gmail.com
With more than five decades of fishing experience – from light tackle and fly to offshore billfish – Gary Graham has experienced all aspects of fishing in the Southern California and Baja waters. His observations of species behavior, tackle and techniques are always from his unique perspective, earning him the respect of his peers as well as anglers who eagerly follow his Baja reports and features.
Gary maintained a home at East Cape in Baja Sur for more than 18 years and still spends nearly half of each year exploring the entire peninsula in his self-contained Roadtrek van. He observes everything Baja, from the mysteries of a tide pool on a deserted Baja beach filled with tiny sea creatures to the largest billfish in the sea.