August 25, 2012

August 24, 2012
Anglers –

What a difference some much needed rainfall can make, in a matter of days the landscape in Southern Baja has blossomed into a lush green tropical desert oasis. Presently there are no new named storm systems in the Eastern Pacific, the coming weeks is when historically there has been the highest percentage of hurricane activity. This entire week there have been threatening clouds and isolated rain squalls offshore and to the north of the International airport, common pattern for late August. Humidity is high with all of the moisture in the area, I guess we can say the drought is over for now, despite still needing more rain, the amount of rain that fell last week was significant and a great relief for the entire region.

Ocean swells have settled, there are now comfortable sea conditions for anglers, as there are no storms presently kicking up high winds. Water clarity is clean throughout, at least from 5 miles offshore and out. Currents have remained particular strong, making any bottom fishing particularly challenging, ocean temperatures ranged from 82 to 85 degrees. Quite a bit of floating debris encountered in recent days, due to last week’s flooding.

The Puerto Los Cabos Marina was holing schooling caballito, jurelito and moonfish, all being used for bait, while there were also some sardinas beginning to return to the jetty entrance area, still limited for these smaller baits, larger schools of these preferred baitfish are now found along the beaches north of Vinorama. Offshore fishing grounds are attracting sizable schools of skipacjk, all sizes, from tiny, smaller than mackerel size on up to fifteen pound bruisers. We are seeing abundant food supply on the local grounds, despite the more than favorable all around conditions the local fishing action remains substantial off as compared to typical summertime consistent fish counts. Global weather patterns is making it harder to predict what is going on, we are seeing a possible el Nino condition now develop off of Southern California, last time that really happened, I remember that we had an incredible winter bite on species such as sailfish and wahoo.

Even though we normally would expect to see more productive daily fishing action on larger sized catches, we are seeing the bite show signs of improvement, just that it has not been consistent from day to day. Some anglers were more fortunate, encountered floating debris that held larger dorado to 30 pounds of more, while the majority of the other boats are finding small sized dorado, particularly closer to shore, offshore there has been a better chance at finding a larger sized bull. Most of the yellowfin tuna recently were associated with porpoise activity, weighing 10 to 30 pounds, though there were some larger tuna reported on the Pacific side of CSL, one 205 lb. yellowfin was landed last Sunday by Renegade Mike. No tuna have been reported from the Gordo Banks and only a handful of smaller yellowfin have been accounted for on the grounds from Iman to San Luis Banks. More tuna seem to be found south towards Cabo San Lucas at this time, a lot can happen from day to day during the late summer, both the weather and fishing conditions become even harder than normal to predict.

Billfish action produced striped marlin, blues and sailfish, quite a few sails now moving in with the warmer currents and plentiful food supply. A few wahoo also being reported, lure strikes while trolling on the familiar tuna, dorado, billfish grounds. Using small to medium sized hoochie type or feather lures have been working well.

Commercial pangeros are continuing to produce quality red snapper, grouper, triggerfish and even an odd yellowtail, they are fighting strong currents and departing the docks in the predawn hours.

The recent rain resulted in breaking the San Jose Estuary open to the ocean, this got the snook to wake up and a handful of these prized fish to over 30 pounds were caught by a group of die hard locals who work this area when the favorable periods arrive, it was a higher tide bite, near noon, when the snook decided to feed, one person caught three himself in a short period of time, while his father landed a 30 pounder.

The combined panga fleet out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 78 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 wahoo, 8 sailfish, 236 dorado, 58 yellowfin, 2 yellowtail, 8 amberjack, 7 grouper, 17 cabrilla, 76 huachinango (red snapper), 38 pargo and 14 bonito.

Good fishing, Eric

August 18, 2012

August 18, 2012
Anglers –

The long parching drought in Los Cabos is officially over for the time being. As the most recently formed Tropical Storm Hector harmlessly followed a northwesterly course, staying clear of land, there were other systems developing from the east. On Monday swells increased to three meters and thunderstorms from the east brought local tropical rain squalls starting on Tuesday, lasting all day Wednesday and Thursday, before tapering off to scattered sprinkles Thursday evening. For the most part there was not a lot of wind associated with the moisture, occasional gusty periods during the heaviest concentrations of rainfall. This front which pushed across towards Baja from mainland Mexico lingered for days and caused wide spread flooding throughout the region, particularly messy for roadways in lower lying areas. Calculations on the total amount of rainfall ranged up to six or eight inches, isolated regions could have received even more. This storm system was unlike a normal hurricane, which typically passes through the area in a matter of hours, of course bringing high winds along with heavy moisture. At this time forecasts appear to be favorable for the coming days, no new system forming at this time, though it is the time of year when conditions can change rapidly within a couple of days. Surely the desert landscape will come into full bloom in the coming days and weeks, it has been a long time since this much rain has fallen in just a matter of days. Clean up crews will be working overtime this coming week.

Sportfishing operations were shut down for several days, on Friday only a handful of charters ventured out, as seas were still choppy, residing swells and clearing skies do seem to be more favorable for improved weekend conditions. Inshore waters do seem to be dirty from land run off and it could take a day or two for things to shape up on the fishing grounds.

Over last weekend, just before the storm, anglers found good action on both yellowfin tuna and dorado. Yellowfin tuna were striking on sardinas, which were supplied by pangeros that netted the fresh bait north of Vinorama, long run to get bait, first boats there were obtaining enough bait to sufficiently chum the tuna up in to the feeding mood. These tuna were found on the San Luis Bank and were mostly in the 10 to 20 pound class, a few specimens up to 40 pounds. On Saturday and Sunday some panga charters had up tp a dozen of these yellowfin, along with usual limits of dorado. Most of the dorado were under 15 pounds, but a few exceptions of larger bulls to 30 pounds were accounted for. There were reports of some larger sized tuna seen in the area, as it is the time we usually start to see the quality grade of tuna of 50 to 150 plus showing on local grounds. Maybe this latest storm passing will help make these fish more active.

Sardinas will likely be scarce until surf conditions slack up enough so that the netters can safely reach the zone where the baitfish are schooling. Around the marina area there continued to be supplies of caballito, mullet and moonfish. There should be options of catching bolito or skipjack on the fishing grounds, for use as trolling baits, this is big bait and big fish time, just have to have the weather cooperate as well.

The combined panga fleet out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 24 charters for the rain shortened week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 wahoo, 5 sailfish, 75 dorado, 105 yellowfin, 8 amberjack, 4 grouper, 10 cabrilla, 8 roosterfish, 26 huachinango (red snapper), 14 bonito and 20 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

August 11, 2012

August 11, 2012
Anglers –

Increased tropical storm activity is now progressing to the south of the Baja Peninsula, at this time these systems appear to be following westerly paths, stirring them clear of any impact on land. Though the humidity and heat has gone up a few notches and seeing rain clouds would be welcome relief. Swells have been stronger in recent days, lots of surfers in town and this week we also saw increased numbers of visiting anglers, many from the Southern California area, mentioning the existing situation for U.S. sportfishing fleets not being able to directly fish the Coronado Islands. Water temperatures ranged from 83 to 88 degrees, no more talking about cold water of dirty currents, clean blue water has been found within a mile or two from shore.

San Jose del Cabo fleets found the most consistent action on the grounds around the San Luis Bank. This week pangeros from near Los Frailes were arriving with supplies of live sardinas. This is a welcome option, for most of the summer there has been only caballito of mullet available for bait. The most common daily catches included dorado and yellowfin tuna, also a mix of bottom species and quite a few sailfish are now in local waters, there is a chance at hooking into a much larger blue of black marlin. Trolling hoochies type lures worked to locate the fish and then sardinas really got them into the feeding mood. Drift fishing or slow trolling with the live bait worked best. Tuna would be seen sporadically on the surface and you had to make the best of your limited opportunities. Most of these yellowfin were in the 15 pound class, though a few to over 40 pounds were in the mix and knowing that mid August is the time when cow sized tuna can appear on any given day.

Most charters were catching near limits of dorado, many smaller fish, but also a fair numbers of 20 pound or larger specimens being accounted for. Striking on a wide variety of lures as well as bait, they were encountered from close to the marina entrance to further offshore and over the structure, wide distribution of these sought after gamefish.

Sailfish ranging from 40 to 80 pounds have been found on the same local fishing grounds, striking on lures, a higher percentage hit on bait, fun to fight on lighter tackle. One 200 pound class blue marlin was landed out of La Playita early in the week and there were reports of other big strikes and missed opportunities on larger sized marlin.

The bottom action continues to be a very early morning deal, where only at first light has there been any consistent action found, this activity has been found on San Luis bank, mostly a commercial fishery, though some specially prearranged early departure charters have got into this bite as well, the red snapper are striking on yo-yo jigs, along with these prized huachinango, which were in the 6 to 14 pound range, there have been a variety of groupers and amberjack hitting the same jigs, some fish to forty pounds.

Roosterfish opportunities remain, but these fish are not being found in the numbers accustomed to earlier in the summer. Baitfish schools along the beach stretches are much more scattered now.

The combined panga fleet out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 88 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of:
1 blue marlin, 1 wahoo, 2 striped marlin, 15 sailfish, 162 dorado, 106 yellowfin, 24 amberjack, 9 grouper, 19 cabrilla, 14 roosterfish, 86 huachinango (red snapper), 2 pomano. 14 bonito and 20 triggerfish..

Good fishing, Eric