February 1, 2014
Anglers –

Crowds of visiting tourists are arriving in the Los Cabos Resort area, looking to escape the frigid temperatures spread across northern territories. Local weather conditions have been very pleasant, scattered morning cloud cover, with plenty of warm afternoon sunshine, lows of about 60 degrees, with highs in the 75 to 80 degree range. The persistent northerly winds have tapered off some, not as strong as in previous weeks. This is now peak season for spotting whales in local waters, with common daily sightings of both gray and humpback whales.

Ocean clarity has been very clean close to shore, in the direction of the East Cape the conditions are a bit more off colored due to northern winds, but from La Fortuna to Cabo San Lucas the clarity has been great for this time of year. Water temperatures varied from about 70 degree around the corner on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, to 74 degrees on the outside of San Jose del Cabo, inshore grounds through this same stretch was averaged about 72 degrees. Live bait situation is still lacking, though there has been various other options available, including ballyhoo, moonfish, skipjack for strip bait, brined dead sardinas, etc…

Anglers were finding a variety of species, from sierra, dorado inshore, with striped marlin and yellowfin tuna found further offshore. The tuna being accounted for have mainly been encountered twenty or more miles offshore of Cabo San Lucas and have been football sized fish striking on hoochies , feathers and cedar plugs. More sierra are now showing up throughout the area, some much larger sierra were found on the Pacific, medium sized fish now becoming more common in the direction of the Sea of Cortez. Trolling rapalas, hoochies and drifting with cut baits have worked well for these scrappy fighters.

Out of San Jose del Cabo the most common catches recently have been for dorado and bonito, these fish were striking various lures and baits. Most of the dorado found were in the 5 to 15 lb. class. The Eastern Pacific Bonito is a somewhat rare species, a member of the tuna family with limited range, normally preferring the cooler winter months, good eating fish with light colored flesh, very popular for use in local machaca dishes. Average sizes usually are 5 to 10 lbs., can reach up to 20 lb. Striking a variety of lures and jigs, as well as live and dead baits, powerful fighters for their size. This species is most commonly found within the first 200 feet of the water column.

Striped marlin are being encountered spread out through the entire area, more numbers encountered off of Cabo San Lucas, but also scattered off of San Jose del Cabo grounds. No mackerel schools being seen now, so fish are moving and searching for food sources.

Not much consistent bottom action being found, besides jigging for bonito over the rocky structure, chrome patterned yo-yo style jigs jig were most productive, there was an occasional pargo, cabrilla or amberjack in the mix. Near Punta Gorda and north towards
La Fortuna there were a few wahoo hanging around, most of these fish were smaller sized, 10 to 20 pounds, striking rigged baits more often than on traditional lures, anglers were still fortunate to land one of these elusive highly prized fish.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 70 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 3 striped marlin, 8 wahoo, 18 yellowfin tuna, 205 bonito, 145 sierra, 155 dorado, 2 amberjack,1 yellowtail,18 pargo and 10 cabrilla.

Good fishing, Eric

January 26, 2014
Anglers –

Natural instincts are sending people traveling in southern direction during this winter season and in turn bringing many visitors to Los Cabos. Local weather conditions have been great, some scattered cloud cover, burring off normally by mid day and high temperatures reaching into the low 80s. This week we actually felt spring like weather patterns, it was feeling like the days will only become nicer in the coming weeks, though we all know that the month of February can be unpredictable. North winds have been persistent this year, though now seem to have tapered off and not so relentless, perhaps the worst is past and we will now see more stable patterns.

Water temperatures are holding in the 70/74 degree range, fluctuating currents and overall the clarity has improved, with clean water found in close proximity to shore. Baitfish schools continue to be scattered. Anglers found limited options now available, primarily caballito, moonfish, ballyhoo or skipjack. Mackerel and sardinas have not been regularly obtainable.

Sportfishing fleets have spread out in all directions, more concentrations of striped marlin on the Pacific, though we have also seen the billfish shifting in the direction of Sea of Cortez as well, with the baitfish being scattered, so have been the fish. Most of the marlin being seen now have been in the 80 to 120 pound range, striking on deep drifted baits, as well as on the surface lures and rigged ballyhoo.

Dorado are being found in limited numbers, as this is never the peak season for these gamefish. They have been found throughout the zone, inshore to offshore, the majority have been juvenile sized fish, there were some reports of larger bulls to 25 pounds being accounted for. Still some late season wahoo hanging around, most of them encountered closer to shore, a handful were landed, striking on various baits, yo-yo’s or trolled lures, ranged in sizes up to 40 pounds.

Yellowfin tuna have been seen in different locations, some traveling with porpoise 20 or more miles offshore of Cabo San Lucas. Though the high spots from La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis Bank also were holding yellowfin, only a few are actually being hooked, some on trolled hoochies or yo-yo jigs, ranging to 20 pounds, without sardinas it is hard to entice these schooling tuna.

Bottom fishing has produced more numbers of bonita than any other species, striking on yo-yo jigs, an occasional pargo, cabrilla or amberjack in the mix. This is now the season when we should start to see a greater variety of fish congregated over the rocky structure.

We are still seeing lots of whale activity, as well as manta rays, sea lions and some turtles for added entertainment.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 74 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 12 striped marlin, 7 wahoo, 16 yellowfin tuna, 165 bonito, 34 sierra, 8 roosterfish, 82 dorado, 4 amberjack,14 pargo and 35 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

January 18, 2014
Anglers –

Visitors to Los Cabos are finding the weather to be warm and very pleasant, while much of the U.S. has been freezing over, locally we have seen high temperatures in the 80s. Crowds of tourists are moderate now, this is common after the holiday season, we should see more snow birds from the north starting to arrive, seeking out warmer surroundings. Winds have been gusting persistently from the north and this has slowed down fishing action in that direction. The warmer and clearer ocean conditions have been found in the direction of Cabo San Lucas, water temperatures are now ranging from 70/74 degrees.

Baitifsh remain scattered, limited supplies of mackerel on the Pacific and out of San Jose del Cabo the fleets are relying on caballito and ballyhoo, early in the week there were minimal supplies of sardinas obtained, but with persistent north winds this option was shut down. Large concentrations of skipjack, mixed with some bonito were found on the Gordo Banks and other offshore grounds.

There has not been any consistent action being found bottom fishing, most charters are targeting what available action can be found relatively close to the shore, mainly on the surface, while trolling a variety of lures and available bait. Scattered numbers of dorado are being encountered, most of these in small schools, with average sizes of 5 to 15 pounds. No big numbers, with one to three fish per boat being the average. Same areas are holding an occasional wahoo, most of these taken on trolled rapala type lures, these ‘hoo were in the 15 to 25 pound class, about time these fish head south and seek out more temperate zones.

Striped marlin were still concentrated on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, most of these fish were striking on bait down deep off of the Old Light House, though this action has tapered down to an average of about one marlin per boat, some marlin are also being found scattered on the surface, but this was hit or miss, no concentration of baitfish now to create any feeding frenzy. The billfish action has been behind schedule this season, as has about everything else. With the lack of sardinas this has hurt options close to shore for sierra and roosterfish, as well as shallow structure species. Hard to say what has happened to the normal migration of sardinas this year, combination of factors has them off course, though heavy commercial pressure is surely partially responsible.

There are a few reports of yellowfin tuna, some of these have been 20 to 40 offshore traveling with porpoise, other schooling yellowfin were hooked on yo-yo jigs off of San Luis and Iman Banks, but just a couple of fish here or there, though if weather and bait supplies of sardinas improved we could still some late season tuna action. Most of the tuna we have seen in recent days were in the 10 to 15 lb. class. There have been aggressive and very hungry sea lions hanging around all of the normal fishing grounds, apparently having trouble catching their own food and readily attacking any hooked fish they can easily grab off of an angler’s line. This situation compounded with lack of sardinas and gusting winds has made for tough angling all around. This is the time of year, when conditions can determine where you can comfortably fish and bait supplies can limit options as well. Though comparatively the local weather is great for winter time and there is a variety of species being accounted for.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 68 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 3 striped marlin, 3 wahoo, 23 yellowfin tuna, 105 bonito, 28 sierra, 14 roosterfish, 76 dorado, 2 mako shark, 3 hammerhead,13 pargo and 22 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric