Bottom Action, Slow Surface Bite ~ May 11, 2019

Anglers –

May 11, 2019

Light crowds of anglers are now visiting, making it a great time to come down with the minimal pressure. Weather conditions are now ideal, very little wind, perfect temperature, sunny skies, with highs of about 82 degrees. Ocean water temperature is now ranging from as chilly as 68 degrees on the Pacific, up to 75 degrees off of San Jose del Cabo and towards the north.

Supplies of sardinas have become scarcer, but are being found most mornings. Surface action is slow to get going, it is now the season where things can change very quickly, depending on conditions. Main action now has been found from Palmilla to Gordo Banks, La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis. Catches included a mix of bonito, sierra, roosterfish, pompano, amberjack, red snapper, pargo, cabrilla and yellowtail.

Some of the hard core local pangeros fishing commercially have been leaving very early, this has paid off in being able to jig up chihuil baitfish by using sabiki rigs on the Gordo Banks. After the sun comes these bait fish do not want to bite. These candy baits have been producing quality catches of yellowtail, averaging 25 to 30 lb., while soaking these baits on both the Inner and Outer Gordo Banks. Sport fishing fleet are catching a few, but hard to leave at the hour needed to catch the better bait for this action.

Anglers are using a mixed of available batfish and yo yo jigs to produce a mix of good eating bottom species. Marlin action has been very spotty, but they are seeing a few of the striped marlin, actually in recent days, more of these billfish were seen closer to shore than further offshore, where water was a bit more greenish. Still transition time to where the water changes from green to blue and currents are pushing in from different directions. We are optimistic that the all around action improve soon.

No talk of yellowfin tuna, dorado or wahoo now, but that could change at any given time as conditions become warmer and more favorable. Still plenty of sea lions to deal with as well. Most all of the whales have now moved out of the region and are on their migration north to their summer feeding grounds.

Inshore action consisted on some roosterfish to 20 lb. and sporadic action for sierra to over 5 lb. A handful of African Pompano found off inshore rocky areas, though there are so many aggressive triggerfish it is hard to get through them.

The combined sportfishing fleet out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina reported an estimated 55 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 1 striped marlin, 7 yellowtail, 14 leopard grouper, 155 bonito, 26 red snapper, 12 yellow snapper, 7 African pompano, 10 moharra, 4 amberjack, 32 sierra, 4 glasseye pargo, 14 roosterfish and 85 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric

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