Climate for Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Climate in Loreto | Moon Phases | Tide Chart | Conventional Report | Fly Fishing Report

July: Air temperatures- high 82-100(F), lows 68-81(F). The air is hot and the humidity will usually have already kicked in. Hot and humid, just what the Dorado like. July is the peak of the peak season in Loreto and the most heavily fished time of the year as all of the summer species are on the hot bite. In early July the water is typically very calm and the sargasso should be thick all around us but by late July we will usually have experienced at least one chubasco* which will kick up the waves offshore and send the sargasso under or break it apart. As the summer progresses, not only will the air temperatures rise but so will Sea Surface Temperatures (SST). As the SST's get above 86(F) we notice a general pattern; the small schooling Dorado tend to leave for cooler water and the large lone bulls stick around. Late July is when the Dorado generally are larger in size, but fewer in number. The heat buildup throughout the day brings on the formation of impressive thunder clouds, Cumulonumbus over the mountains to our West. These will cool the air because the sun will become shaded behind them as the late afternon progresses. Sometimes we will even get some rain in town, but rarely- unless it's a wet year. If the water is calm and winds cooperate, then late afternoon and evening fishing is ideal and peaceful at this time (no pressure from other boats). Expect Dorado, Sailfish, Marlin (blues, blacks, and stripers), Cabrilla, Pargo, Grouper, Triggerfish, Giant Needlefish.

*chew - BAH - sko -sudden storm

Sailfish are a common catch in July

This is a huge August sized Dorado!!

August: Air temperatures- high 85-105+(F), lows 71-85(F). The dog days of summer are with us for the entire month. It is both hot and significantly humid and the Dorado are typically sparser in number but larger in size. If a large Dorado is your goal, then August is the month to come. The seas are glassy calm in the mornings and into the early afternoon, then the south winds start to kick up and cause a good surface chop. It is typical of summer in general, that the winds build in the late afternoon. They bring on a welcome cooling effect if you're near or on the water. By the time August is with us, the offshore sargasso will have typically broken up, submerged or have otherwise disappeared. This makes August a more technical month to fish for Dorado than July or June. There are still Dorado in our area, but remember they are fewer in number. Your captain will need to draw on his skills and recognize the signs to find them. The 2003 season marked the first time that the town's Pangueros* banded together to set anchors with floating debris. This worked better than expected in holding the Dorado. These buoys were blown apart by storms but others were set out in late June of 2004 that worked equally as well. Notable about August is that the frequency of summer storms is higher than in July. Since our operation has been in business, we experienced August storms in 1997 (chubacsos), 1998 (chubascos), and 2003 (Hurricane Ignacio). During August afternoon thundershowers are common over the mountains to our west. Often they bring rain to Loreto but more typically it precipitates over San Juan, San Javier, or the foothills before it makes it to town. When fishing Loreto in August, expect Dorado, Sailfish, Marlin, Cabrilla, Pargo, Grouper and others.

*pan - GARE - ohs -the name for the local captains, literally translates to "one who works a panga"

September: Air temperatures- high 85-109+(F), lows 73-85(F). September is generally our hottest and/or our stormiest month. Did that make sense? Let me explain the trend and some general rules of thumb; if August sees some late afternoon thundershowers, and they remain into September, then we will probably have a stormy and hot month. If we see little rain or thundershowers in July and August, then September may become stormy- but if it does not, then we'll be in for a long, hot humid month that even the Dorado will want to escape from. Plan September on a whim because you never know what the weather will do. We can see hurricanes form on the satellite from one to two weeks before they get near our area. We tracked Hurricanes Ignacio and Marty for two weeks until they hit us in September 2003. We watched Hurricane John form then brush by us in 2006 and Henriette in 2007. When we do get storms, especially hurricanes that fill dry riverbeds, the fishing picks up immediately afterward. This is because the debris that has gathered in the riverbeds over time- such as dead trees, discarded styrofoam coolers, cans, palm leaves, etc.- gets washed out to sea when they are flooded by the rain. The debris floats, moves offshore with the currents and attracts and holds Dorado as well as sargasso does. Times like these can always be predicted and can be very rewarding. Because tourism is at its slowest in September, you can save money by taking advantage of off-season specials on airlines and hotels. In September expect Dorado, Sailfish, and Marlin but with lower frequency, also expect the full spectrum of inshore species.

The Loreto marina the day after Hurricane Marty in September 2003.