November 27, 2010

We hope everyone has enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday, as we now wind down this fall season and gear up for wintertime events. The Los Cabos area has remained busy through this past week, with many anglers visiting and taking advantage of the various offshore options now available. Days have been mostly clear and sunny, breezes from the north were moderate and ocean conditions were acceptable, clean warm water was found within a mile of shore, currents have been swift much of the time, with water temperatures now averaging 77 to 79 degrees. Ideal time for targeting yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo and other popular species, still a chance at hooking into a late season black or blue marlin, as we now see increasing numbers of striped marlin moving into local waters.

There have been reports of mackerel and sardinetas being found locally, this will open up options and certain bring in more dorado, as well as striped marlin. Last weekend a local La Playita panga was fishing from a 22 ft. panga near the Iman Bank when he hooking into a large black marlin that he finally landed some five hours later, this fish was estimated to weigh in the 600 to 650 pound range. Striped marlin were moving closer to Cabo San Lucas and off of San Jose del Cabo, where on Thursday local fleets found excellent action within five miles of shore.

The most common fish now being targeted out of the San Jose del Cabo area has been the yellowfin tuna, wahoo and now increasing numbers of dorado. Action has ranged mainly in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, from the Gordo Banks to La Fortuna and Iman Bank. There has been quality action found in the direction of Palimlla to Chileno as well, a mix of the same species. Consistent action was found within a few miles of shore. Trolling Rapalas, skirted lead heads, feathers and various baits have been used in combination with different baitfish to find success.

Chihuil baitfish are now being caught on the fishing grounds and used as trolling baits, particularly for wahoo, which continue to provide good action off of the spots to the north of Punta Gorda. Last weekend the La Playita Wahoo Tournament was a success, though it was a bit breezy that day, anglers participating on close to 70 teams accounted for about 50 total wahoo, largest jackpot fish was caught by Bob Smith of Minerva’s Tackle, C.S.L. A monster 81 pound wahoo that hit on a rigged ballyhoo near the Cardon area, Bob was fishing from a local 22 ft. La Playita panga, congratulations on the trophy fish!

Supplies of sardinas became more scattered towards the north and pangeros were having difficulty to find sufficient supplies every day, but good news is the past couple of days the situation seemed to be on an improving trend, along with live sardinas there were options of dead brined ballyhoo and sardina.

Yellowfin tuna were striking best of sardinas, either live or dead. Larger grade of tuna were holding on t he Gordo Banks, often hard to entice, finicky, but definitely in the area, largest fish this past week ranged upwards of 200 pounds, many other fish were in the 90 to 165 lb. range, also many stories of extended battles resulting in lost hook ups, since the yellowin have been more shy, anglers opted for lighter weight leaders and often ended up losing out on larger fish. Schooling porpoise were holding larger sized yellowfin tuna as well, if an angler happened to be in the right place at the correct moment, they could find themselves in for an endurance test.

Yellowfin tuna were schooling on the Iman Bank, most of these fish were in the 10 to 20 pound class, an odd 40 to 50 pound tuna occasionally accounted for, charters from this area normally were accounting for 2 or 3, up to 12 tuna per day.

Other action included significantly more numbers of dorado moving into the area, following migrating schools of baitfish, these fish were found spread throughout the zone, striking on lures and baits, averaging 8 to 15 pounds, with larger bulls mixed in. Not much off the bottom due to stronger currents, a handful of dogtooth snapper, amberjack, cabrilla and of course a few sharks. Sierras are now in daily fish counts, we look for these members of the mackerel family to become active during the next few months and provide anglers with close to shore light tackle options.

The combined local La Playita panga fleets sent out approximately 184 charters, with anglers reports a fish count of: 1 black marlin, 3 blue marlin, 11 striped marlin, 88 wahoo, 515 yellowfin tuna, 162 dorado, 15 amberjack, 6 dogtooth snapper, 23 cabrilla, 16 roosterfish and 34 sierra.

Good Fishing, Eric

November 20, 2010

The Fall Season of 2010 is now in its final stretch as we near the Thanksgiving Holiday, after this there is always some down time, as people prepare for the Christmas and New Year’s period. The weather has continued to be great, clear skies, temperatures in the 80s and only moderate winds out of the north. Anglers do need to remember jackets for the early mornings, as it had been in the upper 50s early in the a.m. Local panga fleets remain very busy, most charters have concentrated either on the Gordo Banks or near Iman and San Luis. Water temperatures have varied from 76 degree towards the Golden Gate Bank on the Pacific to 80 degrees on the Sea of Cortez side of the Peninsula. Clean blue water has continued to be found close to shore and most charters are now fishing within 2 to 8 miles from shore.

Bait supplies have barely been able to keep up with the high demand, as schools of sardinas also migrate along coastal areas. There have been limited supplies of caballito available and chihuil is another option that pangeros have been able to catch themselves on the fishing grounds, these mackerel sized baits are particularly enticing to wahoo.

Yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dorado are the most targeted species now, with yellowfin most numerous. The key to success for the tuna has been drift fishing with sardinas, either dead or alive. The Iman Bank has been holding schooling yellowfin tuna in the 15 to 20 pound class. While a larger grade of tuna has been concentrated on the Gordo Banks, the outer bank in recent days has been most active, particularly early in the day. Most of the tuna on these banks ranged 40 to 90 pounds, some boats had as many as four or five of these fish. The first super cow sized yellowfin accounted for the last couple of weeks was taken on Thursday by none other than local pangero legends Hugo Pino and his son Agustine, they were key members of the “Fisherman” team of 2009 who won the WON Tuna Jackpot with the near record 383 lb. tuna. This latest fish they caught from the Gordo Banks while drift fishing with sardinas, weighed in at 302 pounds, they also had another tuna which weighed in at a not too shabby 185 pounds.

Wahoo continue to be found throughout the inshore areas, from Palmilla Point, Punta Gorda, San Luis to Vinorama. Everything is shaping up for the local wahoo tournament to be held this Sunday, Nov. 21. In recent days there have been several wahoo caught that weighed in to 60s and even 70s pounds. With the heavy boat pressure there have been more wahoo strikes coming recently on various baitfish, versus trolled lures. Many charters had multiple chances at wahoo, but the actual strike to catch ratio for ‘hoo usually averages out to about one fish landed per three strikes, you name it and it will happen with these elusive speedsters.

Dorado are spread throughout the area in small schools, no particular hot spot, most of the dorado are under 20 pounds, with a few exceptions of larger bulls being encountered.

There have been encouraging reports from the Pacific of more striped marlin moving onto the banks such as the Golden Gate, with many boats reported multiple catch and release marlin days. Mid week there was a 400 pound class black marlin taken form a 22 ft. panga out of La Playita, also a few sailfish here and there.

The combined panga fleets out of La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 204 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 black marlin, 3 striped marlin, 7 sailfish, 655 yellowfin tuna, 82 dorado, 102 wahoo, 16 sierra, 15 rainbow runner, 26 amberjack, 8 dogtooth snapper, 17 cabrilla, 22 bonito and 18 hammerhead shark.

Good fishing, Eric

November 13, 2010

The Los Cabos area is now bustling with visiting anglers who are enjoying pristine weather conditions, sunny days, reaching 85 degrees, early mornings are starting to become cooler, but as the sun rises conditions warm quickly. The northern winds are becoming more predominate, though have been moderate compared to the rough conditions of last Thursday and Friday during the WON Tuna Jackpot Event. Ocean currents are averaging 79 to 81 degrees, clean blue water still being found close to shore, there are only moderate swells and currents have weaken. Overall the conditions are ideal for the peak of the Fall Season.

With the increased crowds of anglers we always face the situation with issues such as; limited and scattered bait supplies, slow fishing license purchase process, increase angler pressure on the local hot spots, also more time consuming to have your fresh catch filleted. Despite these draw backs the majority of people are having a good time.

Local La Playita fleets have been fishing several main areas, from the Santa Maria, Cabeza de Ballena region where there has been a consistent bite close to shore for yellowfin tuna for anglers using live sardinas for bait, these fish ranged up to 25 pounds, a few dorado, sierra and wahoo were mixed in, as well as a handful of sailfish. The Gordo Banks has been the spot where a larger grade of yellowfin have been found, no monsters this week, average tuna from the Banks recently has been 30 to 60 pounds, a few fish close to 100 pounds were accounted for this past week. Seemed the time of day when the best action could be found varied day to day, some days very early was best and other times later in the day the tuna became much more active, never can tell, the added pressure seems to be an contributing factor, anglers reported success while using lighter and longer fluorocarbon leaders.

On the Iman Bank catches included yellowfin tuna, wahoo, amberjack, dogtooth snapper, rainbow runner, sailfish, dorado, sierra and bonito. There was the option of dropping larger baits near the bottom while the same time targeting tuna closer to the surface with sardinas. A handful of dogtooth snapper up to 35 pounds were landed, as well as amberjack the same size, of course there were many stories of break offs by large fish. Sierra were surprisingly found several miles offshore on the high spots, mixed in with small schools of wahoo that were attracted to the sardina food source. Every day a couple of wahoo were being landed on straight mono, no leader, while using sardinas.

Anglers wishing to target wahoo have headed towards the San Luis Bank, this has been the place now for the past two weeks where wahoo have been congregating and providing some thrills for anglers trolling various higher speed lures and rigged baits.

Trap hooked caballito, chihuil, moonfish, bolito and ballyhoo all worked, problem at times was obtaining enough of these larger baits. These wahoo also prove tricky to actual hook, fight and then successfully land, with their incredible bursts of speed and rapid change of direction, along with a very boney jaw, all makes the battle more cautious. Lures such as Rapalas, Yo-Zuris, Marauder and skirted lead heads all accounted for their share of strikes. Most wahoo that were brought to the scales weighed in the 20 to 35 pound class, with an occasional fish in the 40 to 50 pounds category. On November 21 the planned La Playita Wahoo Tournament is scheduled, a one day event with various jackpot categories, also the keys to a new VW Pick Up will be up for grabs in a separate raffle. This year all sizes of boats are invited to participate, sign up will be held the afternoon of Nov. 20 at the Panga docking area in La Playita, should be a fun event.

Mid week there was a impressive blue marlin landed by Carl Nelson, from California, it was hooked while trolling a medium sized Zuker clone near the Gordo Banks and officially weighed in at 648 pounds. This marlin succumbed during the two hour battle on fifty pound tackle and could not be released, the meat was distributed throughout the local fishing village.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 220 charters for the week, with anglers accounted for, 4 striped marlin, 12 sailfish, 138 wahoo, 112 dorado, 804 yellowfin tuna, 15 dogtooth snapper, 32 amberjack, 19 cabrilla, 38 rainbow runner, 24 sierra, 7 roosterfish and 25 hammerhead shark.

Good fishing, Eric