January 26, 2013
Anglers –
It appears that the coldest days of winter time in Southern Baja may be over, we are now in the cycle of slowing gaining more daylight with each passing day and this past week there was a noticeable break in the weather patterns, daytime highs climbed back up into the 80’s. Early morning lows of about 60 degrees. Ideal conditions now, winds have been much lighter and forecasts look favorable for the next week or so. There are only moderate crowds of tourists now, great time to leave the icy conditions and head south for some fun in the sun.
Ocean temperatures are ranging from 72 to 78 degrees, in the direction of Los Frailes is where the cooler currents are and outside of San Jaime Bank on the Pacific is where the warmest water now is, average temperature throughout most of the region is presently 73/74 degrees, which is warmer than the previous week. Inshore waters have become increasingly greenish, this is the usual result created by the persistent north winds, this off colored cooler current seems to scatter the dorado, as well as any late season wahoo action that anglers had been finding. These pelagic species migrate according to where their preferred habitat is, which in winter time, are the more temperate zones to the south.
There has been clear blue water found anywhere from 5 to 15 miles offshore, this is where the warmer currents are attracting good numbers striped marlin, in recent days fleets found consistent action off of the Santa Maria and Chileno areas, many charters accounting for multiple billfish days. There were some yellowfin tuna being encountered traveling with porpoise, hit or miss bite, but at certain times these tuna did provide fast action for anglers, the tuna were weighing in the 15 to 50 pound range. Early in the week there was a 100 pound tuna caught off of La Playita charter on the Gordo Banks and there were reports of seeing yellowfin briefly showing on the surface, but these fish have proved very finicky and elusive. The tuna found moving with porpoise were in closer proximity for Cabo San Lucas charters than they were for charters departing out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina.
Schooling sardinas were found off the beaches to the north of Punta Gorda and mackerel are still found on the local bait grounds, though for the past couple of days, with the brighter moonlight, they proved harder to catch in the early morning hours. Commercial pangeros are finding quantities of giant squid off of Los Frailes, but so far they have not been reportedly found locally.
Sierra weighing up to five pounds continue to be the main species encountered close to shore, striking best on live sardinas. There have been some jack crevalle and roosterfish found as well, most of the roosterfish found at this time of year are smaller sized, though some of the jack crevalle are reached up to 25 pounds.
This is now the season when more bottom action options start to open up, so far this action has been limited to a mix of yellow snapper, barred pargo, triggerfish and smaller cabrilla. No bite has developed for yellowtail, amberjack or nicer grade of grouper and snapper. Typically through the next few months we do see more consistent action develop off of the various rock piles.
The combined panga fleets out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina, sent out approximately 60 charters for the week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 12 striped marlin, 35 yellowfin tuna, 21 dorado, 265 sierra, 28 roosterfish, 20 jack crevalle, 18 cabrilla,18 bonito, 32 triggerfish, 12 barred pargo and 38 yellow snapper.
Good Fishing, Eric