[billder99]

This has been my first full year of spearfishing, so I have seen a "full cycle" in this area.

Loreto conditions in late spring vary widely. Water temperatures are now 70-75F at the surface, though passing through 30' thermoclines can take you down to 63F in some areas. Visibility on any given day ranges from less than 10', to over 100'. This week on the backside of Isla Carmen, just north of Punta Perico we found 100' visibility, while just south of Punta Lobo you couldn't see the rocks in 20' of water... this is on the same day, within a few hours of each other!

The spring schooling of pargo rojo, pargo oro, cabrilla, leopard grouper, and other reef stalwarts has been phenomenal. Bird piles 5,000 strong, big boils and bait balls, turtles and dolphins everywhere, fish populations and sizes are large. A few yellowtail were speared this year (many caught rod&reel), but they are just about gone now. The good news is that dorado are arriving in big numbers. The first Rod&Reel tourney of the season last week netted a 45# bull and several other 30# plus fish. There are big patties of sargassum for blue water dorado hunts out east of Isla Carmen. Sailfish and marlin are being caught as well on rod&reel. No wahoo, yellowfin, or ambers in this area last year.

Looking forward to progressing at your course. I learned more about breathing from MT in 3 hours than in 8 years of martial arts. I know I will extend my freedive abilities... especially hope to learn to clear without valsalva, and to learn a reliable pre-hunt relaxation/breathe-up routine. Also hope to improve my shooting... I am still the worlds worst shot with a speargun and I cannot figure out why... would be nice to take home some dinner on occasion.