Anglers –
May 21, 2016

We are now in the later part of spring season, with summer just around the corner, we continue to see lighter crowds of tourists than what we would normally expect during this time frame. As school semesters finish most likely we will see more people traveling. Great time to visit now, ideal weather, highs in the upper 80s, wind patterns predominately from the south, pushing in Pacific breezes that keep conditions bearable.

Ocean currents have been strong, swells have been moderate, water temperatures off of San Jose del Cabo and towards Los Frailes are warming rapidly, now in the upper 70s, near 80 degrees, while on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas it has averaged 73 degrees. The majority of the sportfishing fleets are now fishing from off of the Chileno area and on the various grounds to the northeast. Common bait now being used is ballyhoo, cocinero, caballito and squid strips. There are reports of more skipjack and bolito activity, though these food sources are just starting to appear, still no mullet schools to report. A lot can happen this time of year in matter of a week or two.

Striped marlin has been the main action found offshore, more numbers of marlin found 10 to 18 miles from shore, though on some days stripers were found within one mile. Many charters reported multiple catches per morning trip. Sizes ranged from 60 lb. to 140 lb. The billfish were striking trolled lures, rigged ballyhoo, as well as various live baits. There were also a few sailfish now appearing in the warmer waters, concentrations of pilot sharks and some thrashers as well. The same offshore grounds have been producing quite a few wahoo strikes and even a few dorado, though no big numbers, though wahoo were as large as 50 lb. or heavier and dorado up to 25 lb. Striped marlin were more numerous than dorado or wahoo.. Increased porpoise activity is being reported, with a few reports of larger sized yellowfin being seen, the largest we heard of that was landed out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina was an 80 pound class tuna mid-week.

Anglers trolling areas closer to shore, anywhere from Chileno, Red Hill, Iman and towards the San Luis Banks, found a mix of wahoo, yellowfin tuna, dorado, sierra and miscellaneous bottom species. No big numbers of any species, off the bottom triggerfish were most common, also some early morning snapper, amberjack and an odd yellowtail. Most of the dorado being encountered have been small juveniles, only an occasional nicer sized fish reported. Wahoo ranged from small 15 lb. fish, to over 50 lb. No numbers though, but there is a chance at a quality fish or two. We expect with the warmer conditions that the all-around action should also become more consistent and productive.

Not much roosterfish action reported, a couple of snook catches were accounted for by beach anglers, this will be the start of the main shore fishing season coming up.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 71 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 4 sailfish, 62 striped marlin, 21 wahoo, 45 yellowfin tuna, 14 dorado, 9 amberjack, 12 cabrilla, 13 yellow snapper, 10 sierra, 12 bonito, 1 yellowtail, 5 barred pargo and 70 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
May 14, 2016

Despite ideal spring weather conditions there were small crowds of visiting tourists this past week. The climate is actually starting to feel almost like summer, tropical days and scattered cloud cover, plenty of sunshine, high temperatures of 90 degrees. Breezes were predominately from the south and did not cause much of a problem for anglers fishing in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and further north. The areas from 95, 1150, Palmilla, Red Hill, Iman, San Luis and Vinorama have been the most targeting grounds, action has been scattered, strong currents pushing through, water temperature of 73 degrees on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas and up to 77 degrees in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, even up to 78 degrees fifteen or more miles offshore.

The striped marlin activity was reportedly now centered on the 95 and 1150 high spots, though on some days the marlin were found much closer. Trolling rigged ballyhoo or drift fishing with caballito and moonfish all produced hook ups, some charters accounted for 2,3,4, billfish days. More of a larger boat deal now, since these area were centered 10 to 18 miles offshore, a bit more vulnerable to the south winds. Besides the striped marlin, there was now an occasional dorado in the mix, as well as thrasher sharks.

Action closer to shore on the surface was mainly searching around for wahoo, yellowfin tuna or dorado, no great numbers of any of these species being found, though everyday these species are being encountered, so there are chances at some quality fish. Anglers were using a mix of available baitfish or strips of squid, as well as trolling with Rapalas. Wahoo sizes ranged from 15 lb., up to 65 lb. These fish were elusive though, anglers were very fortunate to land one or two of these prized gamefish. Best chances at yellowfin tuna were found near Iman to Vinorama, also some blind strikes by tuna being taken while trolling the inshore waters from Red Hill to Cabo San Lucas, average sizes yellowfin were in the 15 to 25 lb. range, no significant numbers, fewer than in past weeks.

Off the bottom it was the triggerfish that dominated the action, occasional cabrilla (leopard grouper), yellow snapper, pompano, amberjack or bonito. Strips of squid was the most successful bait, mostly smaller sized fish, all good eating though. It is the time when with these progressively warming conditions things can change rapidly from day to day or week to week.

Inshore was limited to isolated action encountered for sierra or roosterfish, once again, no numbers, a few impressive sized sierra to over ten pounds were landed. Still only limited schooling action for roosterfish, should start to see schools of mullet move into the region, this is the roosters preferred food source, attracting the larger trophy sized fish, which in our area typically peak during the second half of June

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 58 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 sailfish, 10 striped marlin, 18 wahoo, 31 yellowfin tuna, 13 dorado, 3 pompano, 7 amberjack, 9 cabrilla, 15 yellow snapper, 12 sierra, 22 bonito, 8 barred pargo, 6 roosterfish and 180 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

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