Dorado and Blue Marlin Highlight Catches ~ July 27, 2019

Anglers –

July 27, 2019

Tropical conditions, high temperatures averaging 90 degrees, south wind early in the week, settling down over the weekend. There was the development of Tropical Storm Dalila, this system moved far to the west, no impact with land, though there was local tropical disturbances flaring up, early in the week over the mountainous region north of San Jose del Cabo and in La Paz, where they had major thunderstorms, it is now the time when this tropical actives increases.

There were moderate ocean swells and southern winds the first half of the week, this contributed to stirring up water conditions once again, greener currents along the shoreline, clean blue water found further offshore. Ocean temperature is now in the 78 to 85 degree range, off of San Jose and towards the north offshore, is where the water is now warmest.

Conditions are now cleaning up closer to shore, crazy how all through the month of July conditions were changing back and forth. It is now the season when things can change rapidly, both with the fishing action and the weather.

Bait vendors offered a mix of caballito, mullet, ballyhoo and slabs of squid. More open water trolling done offshore, with blue marlin strikes being reported daily, particularly around the 1150 spot, also some striped marlin and nicer sized dorado, to over 40 lb. Chances of finding porpoise with associated yellowfin tuna, though nothing consistent for tuna now, some local commercial pangeros found some yellowfin to 60 lb. north of Vinorama.

Closer to shore from Cardon to Vinorama there were good numbers of smaller school sized dorado, under 10 lb., some very small, remember catch and release on these small dorado, limits are two per license. As clean water moves closer to shore we expect some of the larger bulls to move in, now most of the larger dorado reported are out on the marlin grounds.

We had a surprise to see some activity by wahoo, handful of these speedsters were landed while trolling offshore waters, has been a while since we seen these fish, so that is a great sign. More looking for various surface action now, not much besides triggerfish and an occasional snapper or amberjack off the bottom now. Along the shore there were still roosterfish and jack crevalle, though that action became less consistent and actually more anglers are opting to target the dorado which has been the main bite for local charters.

The combined sportfishing fleet launching out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out an estimated 66 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 7 striped marlin, 4 blue marlin, 5 wahoo, 235 dorado, 24 yellowfin tuna, 9 leopard grouper, 32 Mexican bonito, 14 red snapper, 7 yellow snapper, 8 amberjack, 9 roosterfish, 15 jack crevalle and 85 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric

Currents Warm, Anglers find Mixed Action ~ July 20, 2019

Anglers –

July 20, 2019

With summer progressing, we saw light numbers of anglers arriving this past week, though weather conditions are stable with no tropical storms forming at this time. Ocean swells are moderate and winds were not much of a factor, swirling from the south mainly later in the day. Mostly sunny skies, high temperatures in the mid-80s, but with combined heat index it is feeling more like 95 degrees. Ocean conditions turned over yet again to start the week following strong south wind, this laid down the next day and since the conditions have rebounded, back up to 80 degrees and also blue within a couple miles of shore.

Most of the fishing action for local fleets was concentrated from the Iman Bank and north to Vinorama, this is where the water was cleaner. Using caballito, moonfish, ballyhoo and strips of squid anglers working the bottom structure for a few red snapper, bonito, cabrilla and amberjack, though this action was spotty. Highlight off the bottom were a handful of nice amberjack up to 50 lb.

Some yellowfin tuna were found near Vinorama, trolling hoochie type lures, drift fishing with strips of squid and also some on yo-yo jigs, these tuna were in the 10 to 20 lb. range, mid-week was best, bite was on and off, just like the ocean conditions.

We saw increased numbers of dorado showing up, though the majority of these were smaller sized fish, but again a couple of much larger bulls weighing over 50 lb. were reported from a cruiser fishing near Cabrillo Seamount, scattered throughout the region, striking on a variety of trolled feathers and rigging baits.

Along the shoreline anglers still had chances at roosterfish, though numbers were less now than in previous weeks, more jack crevalle than anything else.

Best chances at billfish seemed to be straight offshore of San Jose del Cabo and towards the 1150 spot, though we did not have many anglers that did try this option, we heard of reports of some blue marlin strikes.

The combined sportfishing fleet launching out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out an estimated 57 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 1 blue marlin, 29 dorado, 27 yellowfin tuna, 1 broomtail grouper, 1 pompano, 1 porgy, 8 leopard grouper, 26 Mexican bonito, 16 red snapper, 4 yellow snapper, 11 amberjack, 15 roosterfish, 32 jack crevalle and 24 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric

Water and Weather Warms, Scattered Action, Big Fish in the Area ~ July 13, 2019

Anglers –

July 13, 2019

Now in the midst of the summer season we are progressively feeling warmer conditions and increased humidity. High temperatures around 90 degrees, quite a few tropical clouds earlier in the week, burning off with the heat of the day. Ocean water temperatures are now ranging from 76 to 86 degrees, warmest area offshore and towards Los Frailes. Swift currents sweeping in and causing off colored green conditions sporadically in isolated areas, changing daily, but no cold water now, 80 degrees all the way to the Golden Gate Banks on the Pacific.  Steady southern swells push in this time of year, surfers from all over the world arrive, in recent days 5 to 6 foot swells were common. Winds were variable, swirling from north, east and south, creating rolling seas, especially later in the day.

There have already been several named tropical storm systems follow paths out west, presently there is a low pressure system moving off to the west, located several hundred miles from southern Baja, is not forecast to make any impact on land, just a bit more tropical feeling.

Live bait available has been the same now for the past month, caballito, moonfish, mullet, ballyhoo and slabs of squid. On the offshore grounds there are increased schools of small skipjack and bolito moving in and these always can make good bait option for larger gamefish species.

The warmer water has also brought in larger marlin, in recent days we have heard of daily reports of blue marlin being hooked into, at least one of about 240 lb. was landed and others to over 400 lb. were battled and broken off. Still some striped marlin in the area, but most of them are now closer to Southern California searching for cooler water and their preferred mackerel food source.

Early in the week anglers found a small grade of football sized yellowfin tuna spread out in open water around the San Luis Bank, trolling small hoochies produced scattered results, time of year we see these small tuna show. Only a few yellowfin tuna to 50 lb. were reported this week, so far nothing going on larger cows being seen, the next several weeks is when things change rapidly and we would expect to see schools of larger yellowfin tuna move on to local grounds. No wahoo reported, only a handful of dorado reported, the majority small sized and being released.

Off the bottom there was on and off action for red snapper, amberjack, leopard grouper and bonito. Anglers used yo-yo type jigs, as well as various baits. This is the month when we normally see the largest amberjack of the season, this week we weighed in a 83 lb. amberjack for angler Eric Chen, from Las Vegas, he fished with skipper Chuy on the super panga Fortuna. We have not seen the run of dogtooth snapper develop yet, this is peak time for them.

Along the shore there is scattered action for jack crevalle and roosterfish to over 40 lb., though we have not really seen a significant big run of these fish this year.

The combined sportfishing fleet launching out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out an estimated 69 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 7 striped marlin, 3 blue marlin, 8 dorado, 24 yellowfin tuna, 3 broomtail grouper, 14 leopard grouper, 95 Mexican bonito, 52 red snapper, 6 yellow snapper, 19 amberjack, 30 roosterfish, 38 jack crevalle and 45 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric