Anglers –
April 4, 2015
Easter Week is officially here, very busy time for the local residents and visitors alike. This is traditionally the time when family and friends gather, pack up provisions and flock to all of the available beaches to enjoy themselves during this holiday period. Weather conditions are absolutely ideal, clear sunny skies, with high temperatures nearing the 90 degree mark, winds and swells very moderate, very comfortable conditions for anglers.
With many fishing crew members now on extended camping excursions, also just not that many sport anglers now arriving in town, fleets have had light schedules this week. Later this month, warming weather patterns will offer sportfishing charters more opportunities and crowds of anglers will increase.
The larger swell that pushed through the region last week, has resided now, though this surge was strong enough to scatter the schools of sardinas which had been congregating near Vinorama, these preferred baitfish have now moved away from this beach stretch and we will wait patiently for the schools to return as conditions settle. In the meantime charters have been using the available caballito, chihuil, skipjack or ballyhoo for baitfish options. Ocean temperatures have ranging from 73 to 76 degrees and this is a warming trend which expect will continue. There were reports of schooling bolito on the offshore fishing grounds, this is also a great sign, as this food source will surely attract more gamefish.
Transition periods can create inconsistent and unpredictable fishing action. We had seen great action during previous weeks, unusual fall type action during the winter season. There was good action for yellowfin tuna in the 20 to 30 lb. class, then the dorado and wahoo also moved in and got in on the action, then the quality sized yellowtail started to take up the slack on the Gordo Banks, now things have changed more to bottom structure species as the surface bite has faded out for the time being. With the exception of striped marlin, which are being found straight outside of San Jose del Cabo and on the grounds to the north, not much else being found offshore now.
Local fleets have been fishing the areas from Palmilla, to the Gordo Banks and north to La Fortuna, Iman, San Luis and Vinorama. Action has been spread out, using available bait and a mix of yo-yo type jigs, anglers found species such as skipjack, bonito, pargo, snapper, amberjack and triggerfish. Most common catches were bonito, skipjack and small red snapper. The area of San Luis has held a nicer grade of red snapper, though the sea lions have been a major nuisance, as they have been relentless in stealing and majority of all fish that were being hooked up. No very little yellowtail action to speak of, a few more amberjack started to appear, up to 35 lb. No larger grouper to report, but there are some nice leopard grouper up to 15 lb., including one golden phase specimen that was taken on Thursday off of the Gordo Banks. There was also a lot of conversation about a 500 lb. mako shark that was patrolling these same banks, going from boat to boat, daring anglers to try and throw a bait its direction, no one opted to try and battle this monster.
Inshore there have been hog sized jack crevalle, as well as roosterfish, mostly smaller fish, a few pargo Colorado close to shore, sierra have been around, but not in numbers you would normally find a this time.
Still quite a few whales being seen daily, these mammals must be about ready to head north soon.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 53 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 14 striped marlin, 5 wahoo, 9 dorado, 25 sierra, 98 Eastern Pacific bonito, 16 cabrilla, 1 golden leopard grouper (cabrilla), 185 huachinango (red snapper), 18 roosterfish, 15 amberjack, 5 yellowtail, 26 jack crevalle, 18 barred pargo, 44 triggerfish and 16 yellow snapper.
Good fishing, Eric