Anglers –
June 10, 2017

As we move further towards the official start of the summer season the climate is progressively warming, though conditions remain very comfortable, with high temperatures averaging about 85 degrees, mild considering the time or year. Winds have been predominately from the Pacific, out of the southwest, in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and further north ocean conditions have been much calmer, this is also where the ocean temperatures are reaching up to 80 degrees, while on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas the water temperatures are in the 67 to 70 degree range. So all of the fishing activity is now on the Sea of Cortez side of the Peninsula, from Chileno towards Vinorama. Very green water on the Pacific, with the cleanest blue water now found north of Punta Gorda and towards the San Luis Bank.

Bait supplies are mostly consisting now of caballito and mullet, only very limited amounts of sardinas are being netted, they commonly migrate elsewhere this time of year as the warmer currents move in. More schools of bolito are moving onto the offshore fishing grounds, always a very favorable sign, as they are a preferred food source for many gamefish.

The action for striped marlin was much improved this week, though now with the full moon phase these fish can become more finicky during daylight hours. One of the more productive spots was the 1150 area, with many charters reportedly having three or four hooks ups per outing, the stripers were coming up on trolling lures and rigged baits, as well as being spotted tailing on the surface and striking on dropped back baits, sizes ranged to 130 lb. The billfish were found spread out through the region, but not as numerous as they were on the grounds further offshore.

With the warmer water we are finally seeing some dorado appear, still no significant numbers, but at least they are showing up on a daily basis, most of them weighing in the 5 to 15 lb. range, there were a few reports of larger bulls hooked up and lost. Wahoo were also in the mix, anglers reported hooking into these speedsters while trolling various baits as well as on Rapalas, again no numbers, but a chance at a couple of fish, weights ranged from 20 to 35 lb.

Yellowfin tuna often become more picky during the full moon period, but they are definitely in the area, most of these fish are now concentrated from the San Luis to Vinorama areas, ranging from smaller footballs to over 60 lb. Best chance of hooking a nicer sized yellowfin was while slow trolling with live caballito. The tuna were shy though and anglers were fortunate to land one or two, striking more frequently on lighter leaders

With the large influx of schooling mullet along the shorelines, this has brought in increased numbers of roosterfish, last week we saw a lot of fish in the 15 to 25 lb. class, but in recent days we have seen some much larger roosters, included an 80 lb. class fish that was successfully landed and carefully released. Not all that much bottom fishing going on, as more anglers were now opting to targeting other available species. So far we have yet to see the amberjack and dogtooth appear close to shore over the rocky structure, but we are expecting that this action could happen at any given time, as this is the normal time frame in the coming weeks, with water temperatures now near 80 degrees, that means anything can happen at any time.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 62 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 13 striped marlin, 11 wahoo, 14 dorado, 1 amberjack, 4 pompano, 3 bonito, 38 yellowfin tuna, 9 yellow snapper, 4 barred pargo, 8 leopard grouper, 5 island jack, 12 surgeon fish, 26 huachinango, 15 jack crevalle, 55 roosterfish, 12 sierra and 55 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
June 3, 2017

As we progressed into a new month, we did see an increase in visiting tourists, many school sessions are now finishing up and more families are now beginning to plan their vacations. Weather patterns continue to be slightly cooler than what would be normal for this time of year, we are feeling some marine moisture, with breezes coming from both the Pacific and the north keeping the climate very comfortable, though we all know that the heat of the summer will be arriving soon enough. Great time to visit now, ideal weather and crowds are moderate, the fishing action also seemed to be finally getting on the right track.

Ocean conditions varied greatly from the Pacific and in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, with Pacific water being very green and cold, as chilly as 65 degrees, while in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and towards Los Frailes, water temperature were into the upper 70s, even up to 80 degrees in areas, also water clarity was much better, clean blue water found within a couple of miles of shore. Bait supplies consisted of sardinas, caballito and now large schools of mullets are appearing along the local beach stretches, behind schedule this season, also reports of bolito and more skipjack schooling on the offshore fishing grounds. All this is very encouraging for a great month of fishing action to come.

Roosterfish action rebounded in full force in recent days, as the influx of baitfish has also attracted the greatest numbers of roosterfish that we have seen so far this season, hot spot was off of Cabo Real, as well as off of the many other of favored beaches. Anglers had best success while slow trolling mullet or caballito outside the surf zone, many roosterfish to over 30 lb. were landed and we expect in coming weeks that even much larger fish will arrive. Please remember that these prized fighting trophy fish should be released with proper care when at all possible, as these gamefish are not known for their eating qualities, but rather for their fighting stamina, we should all help preserve this unique fishery for future generations. Same inshore grounds are producing late season sierra to 8 lb. and some hog sized jack crevalle to 25 lb.. We expect that the dogtooth snapper will be more active along the rocky shoreline stretches in the coming weeks, now that their favored food supply of mullet has arrived.

This weekend is the traditional holiday of “Dia de la Marina”, always an event heavily celebrated out of the La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos area, with nightly dances, crowning of the princess, dorado tournament and many other events planned, be aware or the heavy crowds and very limited parking areas. Dorado are very scarce, but an occasional fish is being found, so the stakes will be wide open for any team that is fortunate to land any size of dorado. Surf fishing events are held as well, a couple of large snook were landed this week off the shore, as well as a few halibut, so the shore fishing action could be interesting.

Yellowfin tuna action is spread out, some fish being found on trolled lures in the direction of Cabo San Lucas and other action near San Luis to Vinorama. The bite had become very slow early in the week, but rebounded as the week progressed, drift fishing with sardinas, strips of squid or chunks of skipjack all produced, as well as slow trolled caballito, no big numbers, but quality fish averaging 30 to 50 lb. One larger yellowfin to over 100 lb. was reportedly taken by a local pangeros during a late afternoon trip. When targeting the tuna anglers were lucky to land a couple of these fish, with others possibly lost, though catching a couple of these was a great trip.

Shallow water bottom action was very good now for such exotic species as surgeon fish, island jack, yellow snapper, barred pargo and some leopard grouper, amberjack and plenty of triggerfish in the mix, not many large bottomfish now, but all very quality eating, great time to load up on some of the finest eating fillets.

Not many striped marlin being hooked up, though quite a few were being seen tailing on the surface, but were not aggressively striking lures or baits at this time, this action could break loose on any given day, because decent numbers of the striped marlin are in the area, from the 95 and 1150 spots, to closer to shore as well. Early in the week there was a lot of wind on these grounds to deal with.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 74 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 4 wahoo, 1 dorado, 26 yellowfin tuna, 6 amberjack, 32 yellow snapper, 18 barred pargo, 19 leopard grouper, 32 island jack, 84 surgeon fish, 16 huachinango, 3 African pompano, 18 jack crevalle, 3 dogtooth snapper, 75 roosterfish, 38 sierra and 85 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
May 27, 2017

Ideal weather patterns now, cool for this time of year, high temperatures in the lower 80s, great time to visit before the serious summer time heat arrives, also very light crowds now, normally the month of May is much busier, who knows what is up with the lack of visitors. Some south wind still to deal with, calmer ocean conditions in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, this is also where the warmer ocean currents are, ranging up to 77 degrees now, while on the Pacific it has been down to a chilly 68 degrees.

With the cooler climate, this delays seasonal transition periods further, until we have several weeks of calm and warmer temperatures we expect similar fishing reports. Billfish action has mainly been straight outside of Cabo San Lucas and towards Chileno, still hit or miss, but better than it had been, with most charters reporting at least a couple of opportunities per day. Dorado still very scarce, but there have been a few landed and other hook ups lost, same report for wahoo, though in recent days there were more wahoo strikes reported from areas near Chileno and Santa Maria, this is where the water was a bit warmer and clearer, one wahoo reportedly of 70 lb. was landed on Thursday.

Inshore action consisted of sporadic roosterfish action, one day these fish could be found trolling caballito or mullet outside of the surf line, though other days they could not be found at all, changing currents and baitfish movement may be factors. Still decent numbers of sierra being encountered, as well as a few jack crevalle. We need to see more mullet activity to really bring in the main run of roosterfish. Supplies of sardinas are now very limited, vanishing, more charters are starting to use chunk baits and strips of squid, particularly for the yellowfin tuna opportunities.

The yellowfin tuna action was concentrated from the Iman Banks, San Luis and Vinorama areas, drift fishing or slow trolling with various baits is how these tuna have been enticed, some days action was found early, other times later in the day, but the yellowfin are definitely holding on these grounds. No significant numbers, sometimes just one or two fish per charter, other anglers were more fortunate, landing a half of dozen, sizes ranging from 15 to 45 lb., with the majority of the tuna being in the 25 lb. to 35 lb. class.

The bottom action was a decent option now, since surface bite was somewhat limited, working various rock piles produced a mix of quality eating species, not many large fish, but all are excellent table fare. Most common were triggerfish, yellow snapper, barred pargo, leopard grouper, island jack, pompano and flag cabrilla. A few amberjack and a couple of grouper, one weighing about 80 lb.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 56 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 striped marlin, 2 wahoo, 2 dorado, 68 yellowfin tuna, 2 grouper, 3 amberjack, 25 yellow snapper, 16 barred pargo, 19 leopard grouper, 22 island jack, 1 sculpin,12 surgeonfish, 12 African pompano, 6 jack crevalle, 1 dogtooth snapper, 8 roosterfish, 24 sierra and 55 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric