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.
Good Fishing, Eric