Monthly Archives: July 2011

July 9, 2011

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July 9, 2011

Summer time is definitely here, temperatures are reaching 90 degrees, scattered tropical cloud cover with high humidity.. At this time there is the season’s third storm system brewing off of Manzanillo, named TS Calvin. It appears that Calvin will not become too strong and will not have any impact with land, higher swells and humidity is about all we expect.

Conditions are stabilizing with the warming days, but there were times when winds picking up from the south. Inshore waters are still off colored, clear blue water was found further offshore. Ocean currents have been swift with moderate swells, expecting to increase in coming days. Water temperatures are now averaging 80 to 85 degrees throughout most of the Southern Baja. Most abundant inshore baitfish were mullet, jurelito and caballito, sardinas were found north towards the East Cape and La Paz. This week there were immense schools of bolito moving onto the fishing grounds, at times they proved very finicky to catch, but they were choice trolling baits for larger sized gamefish.

Fleets were reported mixed success 15 to 30 miles offshore looking for yellowfin tuna, most of the time associated with porpoise, fish averaged 20 to 40 pounds, a few larger tuna encountered as well. This bite was hit or miss, one day the concentration of porpoise and yellowfin would be in one area and the very next day they were nowhere to be found. Once the tuna were located, multiple strikes were the rule. A scattering of billfish are being accoutered for, sailfish, striped and blue marlin. These fish were striking on trolled lures and various baits. There were reports of blue marlin over 500 pounds caught off of the East Cape in recent days, so we expect these fish will be in our local waters soon.

Panga fleets found steady action for various snappers and amberjack off the bottom structure, San Luis Bank was one of the more productive areas. The bite was best first part of the week and then tapered off towards the weekend. Jigging with yo-yo jigs was the technique used. The larger grade of yellowfin tuna are congregated on the same grounds, from Iman, San Luis to Vinorama. They are not being seen much on the surface, but anglers are taking blind strikes while slow trolling larger sized baits, with the preferred offering being bolito. At times they would only strike these baits, shying away from mullet or small jacks. The fleet hooked into these tuna every day, with combined counts ranging from several fish, up to fifteen in one day, all of these yellowfin were in the 30 to 150 pound range. There was such an abundance of food source on the grounds now that the fish do not appear that enticed to bite baited hooks. No great numbers yet, but encouraging to see this quality and there is a good chance that you can hook into a couple of these yellowfin per morning. The key is having the right bait and plenty of patience and then hoping that the fish takes the bait deep enough for a solid hook up. With such quantity of bolito now on the local banks, we do anticipate that these quality yellowfin will continue to provide action for the rest of the summer.

On Friday there was 194 lb. yellowfin tuna landed by Frank Harbin of Chico, Ca. Frank hooked into the monster on the Iman Bank while drift fishing with a jurelito. Aboard a 22 ft. panga and using a lighter and lengthy flexible rod, he battled this fish for some six hours, with help from the crew, was finally able to bring it to gaff, but on the first attempt the fish took the gaff out of the mates hands and headed back towards the bottom, close to an hour later on their second gaff attempt they had success.

We have not been finding schools of dorado, only small groups, a few bulls to 40 pounds in the mix. No particular hot spot with big numbers, but most all fish are of quality size. Roosterfish and jack crevalle dominated the gamefish action close to shore, it is peak season now for these species, with many specimens over 40 pounds being landed.

Surf fishing activity is now in full swing, mid week there was a 40 pound class snook caught off the beach near the San Jose Estuary, there were reports of roosters and snapper as well, watch the high swells though.

The combined panga fleets launching from the La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 67charters for the week, with anglers reporting a total fish count of: 9 sailfish, 13 striped marlin, 1 wahoo, 69 yellowfin tuna, 64 dorado, 49 amberjack, 3 dogtooth snapper, 115 huachinango (red snapper), 13 yellowtail pargo, 45 jack crevalle, 22 cabrilla and 64 roosterfish.

Good Fishing, Eric

July 3, 2011

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July 3, 2011

Last week, both the weather and fishing report was depressing, this week the conditions have settled down and progressively we have seen warmer currents move back in, though water clarity has fluctuated daily. We are now seeing cleaner currents pushing in and water temperatures are averaging 75 to 80 degrees in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and areas to the north. Day time temperatures were up to 90 degrees, with increased humidity, there were tropical clouds forming and actually some rain fell in scattered location on Wednesday, mainly to the north, anglers reported getting drenched that day in certain areas, though back at the docks it was dry.

Mullet, jurelito and caballito are being found near the Puerto Los Cabos jetties. There are still no sardinas available due to persistent summer swells. Schools of bolito are finally starting to appear on the fishing grounds, these fish are a preferred food source for all species of gamefish and always are a favorable sign for finding quality action.

Fleets were seeing fair numbers of striped marlin offshore, anywhere from 4 to 20 miles out, it was another deal enticing the marlin to strike, but charters were accounted for one or two here and there. Some yellowfin tuna found offshore as well, though winds early in the week made for a rough going heading too far out. The tuna were found breezing in schools, also at times associated with porpoise. These yellowfin ranged in sizes, most of them medium sized, with a few fish over 100 lb. encountered, still hit or miss, not recommended for smaller boats.

The local panga fleet found the most consistent action from the Iman to San Luis Banks. Anglers found scattered action off the rocky bottom for huachinango, amberjack and cabrilla, most strikes came on yo-yo jigs, counts of three to eight fish in combination were common. This is the same area where quality grade tuna were congregated before the cold current turned over the conditions, only a few yellowfin were reported from off this spot recently, most of these were on yo-yos. On Saturday there was an encouraging report of one 120 lb. class yellowfin tuna be landed from a La Playita panga, it hit a jurelito for bait on the San Luis Bank. We do expect currents to clean and the winds to remain slack as the summer progresses, this should trigger the cow sized tuna once again.

There were a number of quality sized dorado caught off the grounds, increasing in quantity and size through the weekend. Particularly present around the San Luis to Vinorama area, where a few blue marlin hooks ups were reported. These fish were striking in the cleaner warm water throughout the region, striking on the normal array of surface trolling lures. This will be the normal program for the coming months, as billfish, dorado and yellowfin tuna will be main target species.

We are seeing roosterfish chase mullet and other baitfish close to shore, anglers had success trolling larger live baitfish just outside the surf zone. Many roosterfish were running in the 15 pound range, there were some fish up to 50 pounds hooked into from the same stretches.

Dogtooth snapper have not been as numerous this season, unfavorable conditions combined with less abundant baitfish and increased commercial gill net activity north of Punta Gorda has been the main factors for this.

The combined panga fleets launching from the La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 52 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a total fish count of: 2 striped marlin, 7 yellowfin tuna, 27 dorado, 39 amberjack, 5 dogtooth snapper, 40 huachinango (red snapper), 26 mixed pargo,17 jack crevalle, 11 cabrilla, 14 bonito and 64 roosterfish.

Good Fishing, Eric