Anglers –
April 30, 2016

Spring season continues to attract moderate numbers of visitors to the Los Cabos area. Weather conditions have been very pleasant, scattered morning cloud cover, plenty of warm sunshine, high temperatures averaged about 85 degrees. Wind patterns were now more from the south, increasing later in the afternoon, though there were a few days where winds started out of the north, before switched from the south, overall this did not create much problems for anglers, as ocean conditions remained favorable. Ocean water temperatures ranged from 72/73 degrees on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, with warmer currents found offshore of San Jose del Cabo and to the north, where it was in the 76/77 degree range.

Anglers were now using various available bait sources, live caballito, strips of squid and rigged ballyhoo. On the fishing grounds there are now more schooling baitfish, such as cocinero, chihuil, bolito and skipjack starting to move in, plenty of food source to attract gamefish in to the area, at times too much natural bait source and create more finicky fish, as they gorge on all of the present food, then not being that eager to strike anglers offerings. Most of the fishing this past week was taking place from off of Palmilla Point and north to Vinorama. Over the full moon period the striped marlin action had slowed down, but now this bite has improved, straight off of Puerto Los Cabos Marina, three to four miles from shore, has been one of the more consistent area for the billfish. Drift fishing live baits has been the best technique. Sizes on the striped marlin ranged from 80 to 120 lb. Very few dorado being found recently, just an occasional solo fish, most of them very small.

Early in the week there was some good wahoo action reported from Iman Bank to Vinorama, some charters landing as many as three wahoo, up to 45 lb. Though later in the week these fish were not very active at all. You never know with these elusive fish, when they will really become active. Conditions are now favorable, with the currents now on a warming trend and more bait schools appearing, these are all favorable signs for the coming weeks.

Yellowfin tuna action has been reported from the Iman Bank and near Vinorama, with the further areas now reporting better action in recent days. Drift fishing with strips of squid has remained the best set up. Some days the fish were coming up to feed earlier and on other days no activity was reported until 11 a.m. or later, you never know, tides and currents can all be a factor, as these fish are concentrated in areas within one to three miles from shore. Sizes ranged from 10 lb. footballs, to fish over 50 lb. Some high boats had as many as six to eight tuna, while others managed one or two. The key was having patience and the largest supply of squid as practical.

Bottom action produced mainly smaller sized snapper and pargo species, plenty of triggerfish, an occasional cabrilla or amberjack. On the same fishing grounds there were more sierra encountered, further offshore than you would normally find these fish, some of these were quality sized, five to ten pounds. Not much action at all reported inshore for roosterfish, we should see more of these fish move in during the next couple of months.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 86 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 28 striped marlin, 26 wahoo, 72 yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado, 5 amberjack, 8 cabrilla, 60 various pargo/snapper species, 28 sierra, 7 jack crevalle and 75 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
April 23, 2016

Weather patterns have settled down, more like the normal spring season we are used to, last week we had a couple of days where the wind was gusting over 25 mph from the north, now we are seeing much calmer days, breezes switching out of the south, mainly later in the afternoon. Anglers have been enjoying very comfortable seas in recent days, very slight swells, clear sunny skies, warmer days, highs in the upper 80s. We are expected a bit more wind over the weekend. Ocean water temperatures are ranging from 73 to 76 degrees. Warmer currents being found in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and to the north.

The fishing grounds straight out from Puerto Los Cabos Marina, from 3 to 4 miles from shore, are holding concentrations of baitfish, namely sardinetas, this has attracted good numbers of striped marlin and fleets from as far as Cabo San Lucas are all now working these grounds, common to see over fifty charter boats on the spot. The main technique anglers are having success on is by drift fishing and soaking baits such as caballito, cocinero or sardineta at various depths. The striped marlin are now averaging in the 90 to 130 lb. range, many charters are accounted for one, two or three billfish per morning. This area is within very easy range for even the smallest of crafts, you could easily catch a marlin from a kayak at this time.

On the grounds from Punta Gorda to Vinorama we have seen increased activity by the elusive wahoo. Apparently the combined factors of warming clear blue water, favorable moon phase and baitfish activity, these fish were more aggressive. We saw some charters land as many as three wahoo, reported to lose again as many strikes. These wahoo ranged in sizes from 15 lb. up to a whopping 76 lb. fish landed on Friday, there was also another 65 lb. wahoo reported. These fish were striking on rigged ballyhoo, sardineta and various trolling lures, Rapalas and skirted lead heads.

We are still not seeing many dorado at all, though with the favorable conditions, these gamefish could move into local waters in greater numbers at any time. Yellowfin tuna has been very spotty, though some tuna in the 25 to 35 lb. class are being found on the Iman to Vinorama grounds, in fact we did hear of one 100 lb. class yellowfin accounted for as well, hooked on light leader, turned into an extended battle. Anglers were fortunate to land a couple of these fish, some charters that really were lucky to be at the right spot, landed three or four of these quality yellowfin. These tuna were being hooked while drift fishing with strips of squid, lighter leaders being more successful. This has been the main technique since past October, when was the last time we had any supply of sardinas.

A few more sierra being mixed in with the counts, some of them larger than normal, hanging on the same grounds as were the wahoo. Inshore some charters reported finding roosterfish and jack crevalle, this action should become more consistent now with the warming conditions.

The bottom action produced more triggerfish than anything else, also a mix of snapper species, cabrilla and a few amberjack. We are hoping to see more of the larger amberjack move in, it is that time of year and conditions are ripe now for this structure fishing to start being more productive for larger specimens. Finally some calmer conditions, this will open up quite a few more options.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 69 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 38 striped marlin, 19 wahoo, 24 yellowfin tuna, 5 dorado, 7 amberjack, 14 cabrilla, 46 various pargo/snapper species, 21 sierra, 4 jack crevalle, 14 roosterfish, 12 bonito and 80 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
April 17, 2016

Fair numbers of vacationers continue to arrive in Los Cabos, they are enjoying very pleasant weather conditions, typical spring time, mostly clear skies, plenty of warm sunshine. Ocean swells have been slight and winds mild, creating excellent conditions on the water for anglers. Water temperatures are on a warming trend, averaging 72 degrees on the Pacific and in the direction of the Sea of Cortez has been up to 76 degrees. In the midst of transition period, rapidly changing conditions, anglers found scattered fishing action, no particular species being red hot at the moment, though there has been a good variety of species accounted for.

Commercial baits sellers are offering caballito, ballyhoo and slabs of squid, has been the same situation now for months. No signs at all of sardinas showing up, we should start to see more offshore baitfish activity with the warming waters, time that bolito and more skipjack will be moving onto the local fishing grounds, attracting more pelagic gamefish.

Striped marlin action was spotty, though one of the better areas in recent days was outside of the Gordo Banks, more concentrated in this area, striking on rigged ballyhoo, caballito and a percentage on trolled lures. This action for stripers usually gets very good during the next couple of months on the grounds off of San Jose del Cabo and towards the north.

The majority of the panga charters are now heading for areas north of Punta Gorda, from Cardon, La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis Banks. This is where they have found the best all-around action, a combination of surface and bottom species on these same grounds. Yellowfin tuna has been the main target species while drift fishing with strips of squid, bite has been sporadic, anglers have been doing well to accountant for a couple of yellowfin in their combined catch, these tuna have been averaging in the 20 to 35 lb. class, decent fish, just no big numbers, sea lions are stealing more than their share of the hooked up tuna, in the meantime they are filling up on snapper as well. Only a handful of wahoo were accounted for, though with the warming currents these fish should become more active. Who knows where the dorado are, only an occasional stray specimen has been encountered.

Off the bottom structure the main catch has been smaller sized snapper, pargo and triggerfish species. An occasional grouper, amberjack, cabrilla, sheepshead or bonito. Anglers have used a mix of bait and jigs off the bottom, best bet for action was on the chunks or strips of bait.

Inshore anglers found some sierra, roosterfish and jack crevalle, scattered action, but some decent fish were reported at times.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 79 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 6 striped marlin, 11 wahoo, 54 yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado, 11 amberjack, 8 cabrilla, 82 huachinango (red snapper), 18 yellow snapper, 12 barred pargo, 4 sheepshead, 110 tijareta pargo, 9 sierra, 8 jack crevalle, 16 roosterfish, 15 bonito and 225 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric