Anglers –
May 7, 2016
Only moderate crowds now visiting the Los Cabos area, despite weather being ideal, high temperatures were ranging up near 90 degrees, but still comfortable with the prevalent breezes, noting like the heat index that we feel mid-summer. Last weekend we saw winds pick back up, actually starting out of the north, then switching from the south, as two fronts were colliding, then the new week started out nice, though once again later in the week the wind patterns were sporadic, water clarity also deteriorated compared to how clean it had been. Not that unusual to see these rapidly changing conditions, this can be the on and off pattern now into July, when the ocean environment becomes more stable.
Ocean temperatures are now ranging from the lower 70s on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, to an average of 76/77 degrees near the Gordo Banks and further north. Nothing has changed on the bait situation, anglers are still using squid strips, limited caballito, ballyhoo and other baitfish being found on the fishing grounds. Sportfishing fleets are fishing in all directions, searching for the best possible action, with the more consistent catches being found from Red Hill, Palmilla Point areas, north to Iman, San Luis and Vinorama. No particular spot was producing any wide open action, though there were some decent catches accounted for, more so from the super panga charters, compared to the cruisers. Pangas are just a bit more versatile, stealthier and more suited for slow drift style fishing over structure, versus the cruisers which are more geared for open water action.
Striped marlin action dropped off again, we heard some sporadic reports from the 1150 spot and some action straight off of San Jose del Cabo, no big numbers though and no baitfish feeding frenzy reports. Earlier in the week we saw more dorado than we have seen for some time, still no significant numbers, but at least we saw a handful of respectable dorado in the 15 to 20 lb. class. As fast as this action developed it diminished later in the week to just seeing an occasional single smaller sized dorado, a bit discouraging, but once again that is not abnormal for this time of year.
Wahoo were being found from Red Hill, Palmilla, to Iman, San Luis and Vinorama, sizes up to 45 lb. Some anglers landed as many as three, while reporting many other lost hook ups. Strikes reportedly came on Rapalas, rigged ballyhoo, caballito and chihuil. Better action earlier in the week, a little more finicky later in the week, off colored water conditions never seem to help the wahoo bite. Just this week a handful of the more ambitious panga guides were scouting out possibilities of catching chihuil baitfish on the Inner Gordo Bank, this is rarely an real easy task, most mornings they did not even catch enough of these candy like baitfish until past 9:00 a.m., then they had to motor all the way north near San Luis Bank where more numbers of wahoo were schooling. Choppy ocean conditions in the morning on the offshore banks makes this type of hand line bait fishing a tough go, but once caught these baits can produce some quality action.
Yellowfin tuna were still being found on Iman Bank and towards the north, though this action dropped way off this past week, nothing consistent at all, some charters accounted for up to three yellowfin, while others never even had a strike, strips of squid was the best bet for hooking a tuna, though a few were also taken on baits such as ballyhoo of chihuil and yo-yo iron jigs. Some decent quality yellowfin in the 25 to 80 lb. class were reported, just not many numbers.
Closer to shore there were some late season sierra up to 8 lb. landed, also a handful of roosterfish and jack crevalle, though once again no big numbers and scattered action.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 64 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 5 striped marlin, 31 wahoo, 33 yellowfin tuna,12 dorado, 9 amberjack, 7 cabrilla, 45 mixed snapper species, 15 sierra, 6 jack crevalle, 11 bonito, 4 rainbow runner, 6 barred pargo, 8 roosterfish and 210 triggerfish.
Good fishing, Eric