Busy times now in Southern Baja, especially so in Cabo San Lucas, the largest tournament of the year just finished this week. I believe it was 219 teams battling for a record payout of 11.6 million dollars. Only three qualifying marlin of over 300 lb. were brought to scales, enough to keep the event going, each year becoming more popular. Next big tournament scheduled will be the WON Tuna Jackpot, with the two fishing days being Nov. 3 &4, slated to have record payout up for grabs as well.
Weather patterns have been typical for fall season,winds out of the north, blowing in cycles, mainly increasing later in the morning, though are a bit unpredictable. This coming week is forecast to be much calmer. Days have been clear and sunny, 80 degrees, though early morning has dipped to 65 degrees, starting to be chilly enough where you need a wind breaker for the ride out. Ocean swells are minimal, there was high wind chop further offshore, water temperature now averaging in the 80 to 83 degree range.
While tournament boats targeted the larger billfish offshore, the local sportfishing charters were closer to shore, working areas from La Fortuna, Iman, San Luis and Vinorama for yellowfin tuna, dorado and wahoo. First part of the wind was a negative factor on the grounds further to the north, conditions settled over the weekend.
Bait sources always become scarcer during these periods of heavy boat pressure. No sardinas now, there have been some caballito, ballyhoo and slabs of squid. Wahoo activity increased this week, everyday we are seeing more of these prized gamefish, some charters are landing two or three per morning, of course many others were being lost. Sizes ranged up to 40 lb. These speedsters were striking on high speed trolled rapalas, ballyhoo and trap hooked live baits. Most productive grounds were to the north of Punta Gorda.
Dorado were found scattered about in small numbers on these same grounds, the majority of the do-dos found were under ten pounds. Definitely far less dorado now than in previous weeks. We anticipate a new wave of fish to show before long, all of the fish that had migrated into So Cal waters should be heading back south by now.
After a flurry of quality tuna action the previous week, this week was much tougher, a few scattered fish found, some on grounds from Iman to Vinorama and others associated with porpoise. The tuna are definitely in the area, conditions are favorable, though fish also become increasingly weary of boat traffic with each passing season. The fish we did see ranged from 10 to 70 lb. We are optimistic the yellowfin action will improve before long.
Still not much bottom or inshore action to report, mainly triggerfish, a few small snapper and bonito.
Larger crowds of anglers continue to arrive, as this is now peak fall season and also time when the annual series of high stake world class fishing tournaments occur. This week will be the largest event of them all, the Bisbee’s Black and Blue with some 200 teams competing for some 10 million dollars in prize money to be handed out.
Weather patterns were fairly stable through the week, typical north winds becoming predominant. Some mornings there was wind early, other days it picked up later in the day. Over the weekend we were following the rapidly intensifying Hurricane Roslyn, this system reached category four strength and fortunately for the Los Cabos area there was no impact as the system shifted directions to the southeast, striking mainland Mexico between Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta as a major hurricane. Increased swells locally and forecast of more winds to start this week, no rainfall at all.
Overall ocean conditions were favorable, clarity was clean close to shore, water temperature was averaging 82 to 84 degrees. Heavy pressure now on all bait sources, particularly the sardinas, were found schooling closer to Cabo San Lucas now and by the weekend were becoming scarce, only so much natural resource to supply the hundreds of charters. Other bait options were ballyhoo, slabs of squid, caballito, as well as skipjack, bolito and some chihuil found on offshore grounds.
Charters started the week fishing grounds from Palmilla to Vinorama. Palmilla produced good early morning action for medium sized dorado with a few wahoo up to 35 lb. mixed in.
Billfish were found further offshore, now in local waters there are sailfish, striped, blue and black marlin being encountered. Again heavy boat pressure on popular fishing grounds, though we have seen several large marlin of 500 lb and heavier accounted for in the past week.
Yellowfin action was sporadic, action on the San Luis Bank to Vinorama was on and off, yellowfin averaging 50 to 90 lb. were being hooked into, most of these of the strips of squid, bite was tough, lots of patience needed, but did seem to pick up again later in the week.
The most recent tournament just finished was the Bisbee Offshore, close to 200 teams chasing larger marlin, as well as tuna and dorado jackpots. Congratulations to local teams “Felin Azul” who had 1 st day largest 176 lb. tuna, as well as biggest marlin overall with their late hour 555 lb. black marlin. Then team “Burro” crewed by local La Playita pangeros, including Chame Pino, won the 2 nd day tuna jackpot with their 95 lb. yellowfin. These larger winning tuna were taken off of the Gordo Banks, inciting news because it has been a long time since the cow sized tuna were found on these grounds.
Not much inshore or bottom action reported now. We did see some of the season’s first sierra starting to bite, most of these on the live sardinas and in the direction of Cabo San Lucas.
Now in the midst of the fall season and with each passing week we are seeing more numbers of anglers arriving. Weather has been typical for this time of year, no storms seen developing at this time, slightly cooler mornings, mostly clear sunny skies, highs up to 85 degrees and seasonal north winds beginning to blow from the north later in the days. Ocean temperatures are still averaging 84 degrees and higher in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and towards Los Frailes.
Most local sportfishing fleets are working the fishing grounds from Palmilla Point and north to Cardon, Iman, San Luis and Vinorama Banks. Bait supplies were holding strong until later in the week, when sardina schools became more scattered and limited, something that seems to happen every year around this time due to heavier pressure by numbers of charters all competing for bait resources. Slabs of squid, ballyhoo and caballito have been other options.
The yellowfin tuna action produced a smaller grade of fish, 8 to 12 lb., off of Palmilla for anglers that were able to obtain the live sardinas, mixed in were small to medium sized dorado. Spotty action though, first boats on the scene having the best chances. The spots of Iman, San Luis and Vinorama is where some larger tuna of 50 to 60 lb. were schooling. Again these fish were also spooky of any pressure, lighter leader and lots of chum, as well as more patience was needed. Some charters are lucky to land one yellowfin, others more fortunate as many as five or six. Striking both on strips of squid and sardinas while drift fishing, fly lining.
Overall we saw fewer numbers of dorado, mostly smaller as well, though we did see a could nicer bulls over 30 lb. Wahoo were definitely in the area, though with water temperatures still in the 80s they have not been that active, every day we are seeing a handful of them come in, striking mainly on ballyhoo, caballito and trolled rapalas. Sizes ranged from 15 to 40 lb., areas north of Punta Gorda, Cardon to Vinorama is where most of this action was reported.
On these same grounds we saw quite a few sailfish and also some striped marlin being hooked into. Not much bottom action being reported now, we did see a couple of dogtooth snapper over 40 lb. accounted for.
The big three tournaments will be starting up this coming week, Offshore Bisbee, Black and Blue Bisbee and then the WON Tuna Jackpot, all of these events typically have 200 or more teams, this puts even greater pressure on local bait supplies, etc…
