Anglers –
April 23, 2016

Weather patterns have settled down, more like the normal spring season we are used to, last week we had a couple of days where the wind was gusting over 25 mph from the north, now we are seeing much calmer days, breezes switching out of the south, mainly later in the afternoon. Anglers have been enjoying very comfortable seas in recent days, very slight swells, clear sunny skies, warmer days, highs in the upper 80s. We are expected a bit more wind over the weekend. Ocean water temperatures are ranging from 73 to 76 degrees. Warmer currents being found in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and to the north.

The fishing grounds straight out from Puerto Los Cabos Marina, from 3 to 4 miles from shore, are holding concentrations of baitfish, namely sardinetas, this has attracted good numbers of striped marlin and fleets from as far as Cabo San Lucas are all now working these grounds, common to see over fifty charter boats on the spot. The main technique anglers are having success on is by drift fishing and soaking baits such as caballito, cocinero or sardineta at various depths. The striped marlin are now averaging in the 90 to 130 lb. range, many charters are accounted for one, two or three billfish per morning. This area is within very easy range for even the smallest of crafts, you could easily catch a marlin from a kayak at this time.

On the grounds from Punta Gorda to Vinorama we have seen increased activity by the elusive wahoo. Apparently the combined factors of warming clear blue water, favorable moon phase and baitfish activity, these fish were more aggressive. We saw some charters land as many as three wahoo, reported to lose again as many strikes. These wahoo ranged in sizes from 15 lb. up to a whopping 76 lb. fish landed on Friday, there was also another 65 lb. wahoo reported. These fish were striking on rigged ballyhoo, sardineta and various trolling lures, Rapalas and skirted lead heads.

We are still not seeing many dorado at all, though with the favorable conditions, these gamefish could move into local waters in greater numbers at any time. Yellowfin tuna has been very spotty, though some tuna in the 25 to 35 lb. class are being found on the Iman to Vinorama grounds, in fact we did hear of one 100 lb. class yellowfin accounted for as well, hooked on light leader, turned into an extended battle. Anglers were fortunate to land a couple of these fish, some charters that really were lucky to be at the right spot, landed three or four of these quality yellowfin. These tuna were being hooked while drift fishing with strips of squid, lighter leaders being more successful. This has been the main technique since past October, when was the last time we had any supply of sardinas.

A few more sierra being mixed in with the counts, some of them larger than normal, hanging on the same grounds as were the wahoo. Inshore some charters reported finding roosterfish and jack crevalle, this action should become more consistent now with the warming conditions.

The bottom action produced more triggerfish than anything else, also a mix of snapper species, cabrilla and a few amberjack. We are hoping to see more of the larger amberjack move in, it is that time of year and conditions are ripe now for this structure fishing to start being more productive for larger specimens. Finally some calmer conditions, this will open up quite a few more options.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 69 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 38 striped marlin, 19 wahoo, 24 yellowfin tuna, 5 dorado, 7 amberjack, 14 cabrilla, 46 various pargo/snapper species, 21 sierra, 4 jack crevalle, 14 roosterfish, 12 bonito and 80 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
April 17, 2016

Fair numbers of vacationers continue to arrive in Los Cabos, they are enjoying very pleasant weather conditions, typical spring time, mostly clear skies, plenty of warm sunshine. Ocean swells have been slight and winds mild, creating excellent conditions on the water for anglers. Water temperatures are on a warming trend, averaging 72 degrees on the Pacific and in the direction of the Sea of Cortez has been up to 76 degrees. In the midst of transition period, rapidly changing conditions, anglers found scattered fishing action, no particular species being red hot at the moment, though there has been a good variety of species accounted for.

Commercial baits sellers are offering caballito, ballyhoo and slabs of squid, has been the same situation now for months. No signs at all of sardinas showing up, we should start to see more offshore baitfish activity with the warming waters, time that bolito and more skipjack will be moving onto the local fishing grounds, attracting more pelagic gamefish.

Striped marlin action was spotty, though one of the better areas in recent days was outside of the Gordo Banks, more concentrated in this area, striking on rigged ballyhoo, caballito and a percentage on trolled lures. This action for stripers usually gets very good during the next couple of months on the grounds off of San Jose del Cabo and towards the north.

The majority of the panga charters are now heading for areas north of Punta Gorda, from Cardon, La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis Banks. This is where they have found the best all-around action, a combination of surface and bottom species on these same grounds. Yellowfin tuna has been the main target species while drift fishing with strips of squid, bite has been sporadic, anglers have been doing well to accountant for a couple of yellowfin in their combined catch, these tuna have been averaging in the 20 to 35 lb. class, decent fish, just no big numbers, sea lions are stealing more than their share of the hooked up tuna, in the meantime they are filling up on snapper as well. Only a handful of wahoo were accounted for, though with the warming currents these fish should become more active. Who knows where the dorado are, only an occasional stray specimen has been encountered.

Off the bottom structure the main catch has been smaller sized snapper, pargo and triggerfish species. An occasional grouper, amberjack, cabrilla, sheepshead or bonito. Anglers have used a mix of bait and jigs off the bottom, best bet for action was on the chunks or strips of bait.

Inshore anglers found some sierra, roosterfish and jack crevalle, scattered action, but some decent fish were reported at times.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 79 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 6 striped marlin, 11 wahoo, 54 yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado, 11 amberjack, 8 cabrilla, 82 huachinango (red snapper), 18 yellow snapper, 12 barred pargo, 4 sheepshead, 110 tijareta pargo, 9 sierra, 8 jack crevalle, 16 roosterfish, 15 bonito and 225 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
April 9, 2016

Despite spring break now being over we are still seeing good numbers of vacationers arriving in Los Cabos. Weather patterns are progressively feeling more tropical, though temperatures are actually now ideal, low temperatures averaging in the mid to upper 60s, with daytime highs near 85 degrees. Scattered cloud cover, burning off as sun warms up, moderate winds predominately from the southeast, calmer in the morning, increased later in the afternoon. Overall, very comfortable conditions for anglers.

Ocean swells have been slight, clean blue water now found close to shore, water temperatures have been near 70 degrees off of Cabo San Lucas and on the Pacific, with warmer 74 degree currents found off of San Jose del Cabo and towards Los Frailes. Most fleets are now concentrating their efforts in the direction of the warmer water. This seasonal transition period can see rapid changes, last week had several days when the pelagic red crabs were found drifting to the surface on the fishing grounds of the Gordo Banks, this provided excellent opportunities at catching quality red snapper. Now we are not seeing any more of these red crabs, who knows when they will come back up, very hard to predict. There have been supplies of caballito, but heavier pressure has been a factor of having enough to supply all charters on some days. Strips of squid are also being used and there have been ballyhoo available as well, still no signs of sardinas, we have now gone the entire winter season and into spring without having any resource for these preferred all around baitfish.

Offshore action has consisted mainly for scattered striped marlin, no large concentrations, but there have been decent numbers of marlin found, often within two, three or four miles from shore, striking best on baitfish, they have been encountered tailing on the surface and anglers have been hooking up while drift fishing with baits down deeper. Dorado action has been almost nonexistent, only an occasional single fish being reported. There have been some wahoo in the area, but getting them to bite is another deal, on Monday there was some good wahoo activity found north of San Luis Bank, but since this action has been very spotty. With clean blue water, warming days, darkening moon, these elusive fish could go on the bite on any given day.

Most charters are fishing off of the structure for a combination of snapper, pargo and cabrilla species, with an occasional amberjack accounted for. The same grounds of La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis Banks have been holding schools of yellowfin tuna, the bite has been on and off, but actually this past week we saw more tuna in the 20 to 50 lb. class and a few others near 100 lb. All of these yellowfin have been hooked into while drift fishing with strips of squid. The aggressive sea lions continue to be an ongoing issue, not much can be done, they are hanging out on these same fishing grounds, waiting for their chance at both the snapper and tuna, getting more than their share. No yellowtail action to report, a handful of amberjack, main species being smaller sized snapper, pargo, triggerfish and bonito.

Whales seem to have started to head back on their northern migration, as fewer of these mammals have been sighted. This is the season now when we should start seeing whale sharks cruising on the offshore high spots.

Inshore action has been mainly for some roosterfish and jack crevalle, but this has not been a consistent bite so far, we should have more fish moving in along the coastal stretches in the coming month.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 96 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 16 striped marlin, 2 dorado, 9 wahoo, 36 yellowfin tuna, 14 amberjack, 14 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 115 huachinango (red snapper), 26 yellow snapper, 8 barred pargo, 130 tijareta, 6 sierra, 6 jack crevalle, 12 roosterfish, 22 bonito and 300 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric