August 18, 2012
Anglers –

The long parching drought in Los Cabos is officially over for the time being. As the most recently formed Tropical Storm Hector harmlessly followed a northwesterly course, staying clear of land, there were other systems developing from the east. On Monday swells increased to three meters and thunderstorms from the east brought local tropical rain squalls starting on Tuesday, lasting all day Wednesday and Thursday, before tapering off to scattered sprinkles Thursday evening. For the most part there was not a lot of wind associated with the moisture, occasional gusty periods during the heaviest concentrations of rainfall. This front which pushed across towards Baja from mainland Mexico lingered for days and caused wide spread flooding throughout the region, particularly messy for roadways in lower lying areas. Calculations on the total amount of rainfall ranged up to six or eight inches, isolated regions could have received even more. This storm system was unlike a normal hurricane, which typically passes through the area in a matter of hours, of course bringing high winds along with heavy moisture. At this time forecasts appear to be favorable for the coming days, no new system forming at this time, though it is the time of year when conditions can change rapidly within a couple of days. Surely the desert landscape will come into full bloom in the coming days and weeks, it has been a long time since this much rain has fallen in just a matter of days. Clean up crews will be working overtime this coming week.

Sportfishing operations were shut down for several days, on Friday only a handful of charters ventured out, as seas were still choppy, residing swells and clearing skies do seem to be more favorable for improved weekend conditions. Inshore waters do seem to be dirty from land run off and it could take a day or two for things to shape up on the fishing grounds.

Over last weekend, just before the storm, anglers found good action on both yellowfin tuna and dorado. Yellowfin tuna were striking on sardinas, which were supplied by pangeros that netted the fresh bait north of Vinorama, long run to get bait, first boats there were obtaining enough bait to sufficiently chum the tuna up in to the feeding mood. These tuna were found on the San Luis Bank and were mostly in the 10 to 20 pound class, a few specimens up to 40 pounds. On Saturday and Sunday some panga charters had up tp a dozen of these yellowfin, along with usual limits of dorado. Most of the dorado were under 15 pounds, but a few exceptions of larger bulls to 30 pounds were accounted for. There were reports of some larger sized tuna seen in the area, as it is the time we usually start to see the quality grade of tuna of 50 to 150 plus showing on local grounds. Maybe this latest storm passing will help make these fish more active.

Sardinas will likely be scarce until surf conditions slack up enough so that the netters can safely reach the zone where the baitfish are schooling. Around the marina area there continued to be supplies of caballito, mullet and moonfish. There should be options of catching bolito or skipjack on the fishing grounds, for use as trolling baits, this is big bait and big fish time, just have to have the weather cooperate as well.

The combined panga fleet out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 24 charters for the rain shortened week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 wahoo, 5 sailfish, 75 dorado, 105 yellowfin, 8 amberjack, 4 grouper, 10 cabrilla, 8 roosterfish, 26 huachinango (red snapper), 14 bonito and 20 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

August 11, 2012
Anglers –

Increased tropical storm activity is now progressing to the south of the Baja Peninsula, at this time these systems appear to be following westerly paths, stirring them clear of any impact on land. Though the humidity and heat has gone up a few notches and seeing rain clouds would be welcome relief. Swells have been stronger in recent days, lots of surfers in town and this week we also saw increased numbers of visiting anglers, many from the Southern California area, mentioning the existing situation for U.S. sportfishing fleets not being able to directly fish the Coronado Islands. Water temperatures ranged from 83 to 88 degrees, no more talking about cold water of dirty currents, clean blue water has been found within a mile or two from shore.

San Jose del Cabo fleets found the most consistent action on the grounds around the San Luis Bank. This week pangeros from near Los Frailes were arriving with supplies of live sardinas. This is a welcome option, for most of the summer there has been only caballito of mullet available for bait. The most common daily catches included dorado and yellowfin tuna, also a mix of bottom species and quite a few sailfish are now in local waters, there is a chance at hooking into a much larger blue of black marlin. Trolling hoochies type lures worked to locate the fish and then sardinas really got them into the feeding mood. Drift fishing or slow trolling with the live bait worked best. Tuna would be seen sporadically on the surface and you had to make the best of your limited opportunities. Most of these yellowfin were in the 15 pound class, though a few to over 40 pounds were in the mix and knowing that mid August is the time when cow sized tuna can appear on any given day.

Most charters were catching near limits of dorado, many smaller fish, but also a fair numbers of 20 pound or larger specimens being accounted for. Striking on a wide variety of lures as well as bait, they were encountered from close to the marina entrance to further offshore and over the structure, wide distribution of these sought after gamefish.

Sailfish ranging from 40 to 80 pounds have been found on the same local fishing grounds, striking on lures, a higher percentage hit on bait, fun to fight on lighter tackle. One 200 pound class blue marlin was landed out of La Playita early in the week and there were reports of other big strikes and missed opportunities on larger sized marlin.

The bottom action continues to be a very early morning deal, where only at first light has there been any consistent action found, this activity has been found on San Luis bank, mostly a commercial fishery, though some specially prearranged early departure charters have got into this bite as well, the red snapper are striking on yo-yo jigs, along with these prized huachinango, which were in the 6 to 14 pound range, there have been a variety of groupers and amberjack hitting the same jigs, some fish to forty pounds.

Roosterfish opportunities remain, but these fish are not being found in the numbers accustomed to earlier in the summer. Baitfish schools along the beach stretches are much more scattered now.

The combined panga fleet out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 88 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of:
1 blue marlin, 1 wahoo, 2 striped marlin, 15 sailfish, 162 dorado, 106 yellowfin, 24 amberjack, 9 grouper, 19 cabrilla, 14 roosterfish, 86 huachinango (red snapper), 2 pomano. 14 bonito and 20 triggerfish..

Good fishing, Eric

August 3, 2012
Anglers –

Summer season is progressing rapidly, crowds of tourists are predictably light at this time of year, days are very warm and the humidity continues to rise. The tropical storm patterns from the south have remained quiet for the past couple of weeks and presently there are no new systems seen developing, of course we all know that conditions can change rapidly during the next couple of months. The region is in desperate need of rainfall, in the midst of a parching drought cycle for several years now. Ocean water temperatures seemed to have stabilized into the 82 to 88 degrees range, from Cabo Sano Lucas to Los Frailes, as normal, the warmest summer currents are found in the direction of the East Cape. Clean blue water is now moving closer to shore and ocean swells are moderate. Still some unpredictable winds swirling from all different directions, mornings have been mostly calm for anglers, with variable breezes picking up later in the day.

Sportfishing charters are mainly concentrating on the fishing grounds from the 95 and 1150 spots, to outside of the Gordo Banks, to Iman, San Luis and north to Los Frailes. Action has been spread out. There was one monster 750 pounds class blue marlin landed out of Cabo San Lucas this past week, but for the most part the billfish bite has been for striped marlin, sailfish and a handful of smaller sized blue marlin, very few black marlin in the area yet. There is an abundance of baitfish activity on the grounds, concentrations of such a food source normally attracts the larger gamefish.

This recent full moon phase seemed to have slowed the offshore activity down in recent days, we are looking forward to improved action soon, conditions are just too ripe now for the bite to not bust wide open. Average fish counts now have ranged from two or three fish, up to a dozen fish per charter. Most common catches have been for dorado or yellowfin tuna in the 10 to 20 pound range, the bite has not been consistent from area to area or day to day. Anglers did find decent numbers of yellowfin tuna on the 95 spot outside of Chileno and also near Los Frailes, which is out of range for normal charter operations, more often than not these schooling tuna were encountered without porpoise, though at other times they were found associated with fast moving pods of these mammals, feeding on the same source. When found near the surface the yellowfin were striking on a wide variety of small to medium sized lures or baits. For the past week now the larger tuna in the area of San Luis have not made much of a showing, though a few missed strikes on trolled bolito were reported in recent days, so we at least know that these 100 pound plus fish are still in the area and when conditions are to their liking we should see some quality action. The month of August is typically the time when anglers report the largest numbers of quality grade tuna.

The first light of the day bottom action for red snapper has shown signs of tapering off, but the true early birds fishermen have been producing fair numbers of these huachinango at first light on yo-yo jigs, mainly a commercial fishery, they are leaving PLC Marina at 5:00 a.m. to reach San Luis Bank, not a normal charter deal. A handful of cabrilla, grouper and amberjack were rounding out the bottom bite, this is always the time of year when anglers have the opportunity of hooking into a big grouper, drifting with whole large baits over the rocky outcroppings is a proven method of getting bent by one of these brutes, whole other story actually battling them to gaff, even on the heaviest of tackle.

Roosterfish and jack crevalle were the main species found close to shore, this action typically starts to slow down at this time, as schools of mullet and other baitfish begin to migrate elsewhere. Depends on heavy surf conditions, which tend to scatter bait schools, as this time surf is lighter, hard to predict for how long, southern swells continually arrive during the summer months.

The combined panga fleet out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 40 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of:
3 striped marlin, 5 sailfish, 76 dorado, 66 yellowfin, 11 amberjack, 8 grouper, 12 cabrilla, 18 roosterfish, 12 jack crevalle, 56 huachinango(red snapper), 30 yellow snapper and 22 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric