August 27, 2011
The later part of August has brought scattered thunder showers on and off throughout the week, lots of tropical cloud cover, this was a relief from the persistent sunny hot days of summer. Some high wind gusts accompanied rain squalls, particularly on Wednesday, when anglers had to return early due to foul conditions. Just as quick as it had formed, the weather settled down and ocean conditions were once again comfortable. Water temperatures have averaged 84 to 86 throughout most of the region. While the East Coast of the United States is now bracing for impact of Hurricane Irene, a category two storm, here in Southern Baja there are no tropical storm system developed at this time. The next several weeks is the period where historically there is the highest percentage of a hurricane making landfall on the Peninsula. Last summer was considered to be mild, with temperatures below normal, that has not been the case this summer, hot and humid temperatures arrived early and never have let up, only in recent days have we felt any relief, with early morning having that first hint of Fall.
Fortunately for La Playita panga anglers the supplies of sardinas have remained plentiful in the vicinity of the rock jetties. This has been the principal bait source used for targeting yellowfin tuna and dorado on the fishing grounds, ranging from La Fortuna, Iman to San Luis Bank. Drift fishing over these high spots while using both live and dead sardinas produced action, ranging from scratchy to wide open at times. The yellowfin were of quality grade, averaging 30 to 50 pounds, with many larger fish mixed in, it is typically the time of year when we see cow sized fish taking up residence on these same fishing grounds.
Last year, at this same time frame, we were starting to catch some yellowfin tuna up to 100 pounds on the Gordo Banks, this season this same bite has yet to develop, even though some tuna have been seen on these grounds, heavy dive boat pressure has also been a factor. The billfish action has been scattered, maybe the blacks are just late to arrive this season? Warmer than average water temperature, reaching near 90 degrees in areas, seems to have put the gamefish down to deeper depths, seeking more favorable currents.
Breaking news on Saturday afternoon, anglers Brice Faulwetter, from San Diego, also a crew member of a sportfisher named “Santana” based out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina was fishing with local pangeros Nico and Agustin on the Outer Gordo Banks when Brice hooked into a monster yellowfin tuna. Using sixty pound tackle and an 80 pound leader Brice single handedly battled and brought the fish to gaff in 3 hours and 40 minutes. The super cow weighed in at 330 pounds.
Dorado action was found spread out throughout the area, no spot where there was an abundance of these gamefish encountered, when smaller sized schools were encountered, these fish would strike on lures as well as bait. Dorado activity in the Los Cabos area has never really got on track this summer, we are optimistic that these fish will make a big presence during the fall season.
Dogtooth snapper were king of the rocky high spots now, found on same fishing grounds where tuna and dorado are schooling, these largest of all snapper, were striking on whole and cuts baits that anglers fly line down into the depths of 50 to 100 feet, hold on when they hit, chances are they will win more battles than the angler will. Of the dogtooth that were subdued, they weighed in the 25 to 50 pound class.
The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 72 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 striped marlin, 3 sailfish, 86 dorado, 145 yellowfin tuna, 17 cabrilla, 5 amberjack, 26 dogtooth snapper, and 12 bonito.
Good Fishing, Eric