September 10, 2011

Light crowds now, always seems to be the same situation this time of year, with kids back in school and summer winding down, people are staying closer to home. Just around the corner is the busy fall season and we are anticipating a great turn out. There are no tropical storms developing at this time, but it is the time of year where we monitor forecasts closely. Mostly sunny days now, with high humidity, some scattered cloud cover and light variable winds. Water temperatures are ranging from 85 to 89 degrees, larger swell conditions earlier in the week have weakened, though there have been swift currents sweeping through certain areas. Supplies of sardinas have continued to be schooling around the Puerto Los Cabos jetties, pangeros are working hard at first light to net sufficient supplies for the local fleets. There has also been a mix of larger baitfish available.

Anglers were finding the best success for yellowfin tuna while drift fishing with sardinas over the grounds of La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis Banks. Lots of yellowfin tuna could be seen breezing the surface, but they proved to be more finicky in recent days, average catches ranging from one or two, up to four or five per charter. Sizes were mostly in the 20 to 40 pound class, though there were a handful of tuna accounted by the local panga fleets that were in the 100 to 170 pound class. Larger tuna were seen on the Gordo Banks, but these fish proved even more elusive than fish on the Iman and San Luis. Tuna acquire a taste for the particular food source than is naturally present on the fishing grounds and at times it can be hard to entice them with anything else.

Dorado action was found mixed in where the tuna and of course lots of skipjack were present, most of the dorado encountered were juvenile, under 10 pounds, only a few larger specimens reported. A few more sailfish found in recent days, also an occasional story of a blue or black marlin battle.

Other action included limited numbers of amberjack and dogtooth snapper, strong currents made this action not so easy. Larger live baits such as caballito or moonfish worked over structure, with La Fortuna being one of the more productive spots. Only a couple of incidental wahoo were being accounted for by the combined fleet for in past weeks, these fish become less active in the warmer waters, which have ranged now close to 90 degrees.

Local surf anglers reported some roosterfish action near the marina channel, as well as several very large snook, these guys put in some long hours targeting these prized gamefish, recently the mid day high tide produced more hook ups.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 47 charters for the week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 1 blue marlin, 2 striped marlin, 9 sailfish, 10 amberjack, 9 dogtooth snapper, 15 cabrilla, 45 dorado, 118 yellowfin tuna, 28 bonito, 8 rainbow runners, 9 barred pargo and 20 triggerfish

Good Fishing, Eric

September 2, 2011

Much of the same late tropical weather pattern this past week, scattered cloud cover, no rainfall, occasionally threatening in the distance, variable unpredictable winds, the full cycle from north to south, then the very next day calm, that time of year, changing rapidly, will that first feel of fall in the early morning air. Heat index has averaged about 100 degrees, increased humidity related to recent rainfall. We are anxious for the Fall Season to arrive.

Water temperature ranged up close to 90 degrees in areas and in the upper 80s throughout the region. Southern winds turned over conditions later in the week, action became a bit more scattered, the week had started off with great quality action, most significant catches included yellowfin tuna, dog tooth snapper and the season’s first run of black marlin on the Gordo Banks.

Light crowds of anglers now, definitely a prime time to take advantage of world class action that is now available on the local fishing grounds. Last week the season’s first super cow yellowfin was landed by Brice Faulwetter, of San Diego, a monster yellowfin of 330 pounds. In recent days the bite has become a bit spottier, though tuna of 100 to 200 pounds were landed out of local La Playita pangas. There were many stories of anglers getting smoked by larger fish on fairly heavy gear.

Tuna were schooling on the Gordo Banks, as well as from La Fortuna, Iman to San Luis Bank. Anglers were using various bait techniques, whole larger baits, to small sardinas and chunks of skipjack. Average tuna has been to the 30 to 60 pound class, but there is another grade of cow sized fish mixed in, at times they were seen active on the surface. A bit leader shy at times, other times striking heavier leaders without hesitance. Either drift fishing or slow troll over these high sots. The actual number of yellowfin has not been high, but the quality is there, with a chance of that catch of a lifetime.

At least black marlin were brought in by local pangas in recent days, all taking on larger baitfish near the Gordo Banks, weights ranged from 388 lb., 450 lb. to 511 lb. A scattering of blue and striped marlin were encountered, a few sailfish as well, but it was the presence of these big black marlin that has everyone’s interest at this time.

Some truly monstrous dog tooth snapper were accounted for over last weekend and into the first part of the week, when changing currents slowed that bite down. Charters were accounting for up to two or three of these prized snapper species, for a few days there we were seeing many fish in the 40 to 70 pound class. Of course the stories of the even larger fish being lost to the rocks were running rampant. These snapper were hitting on larger whole and cut baits, drift fishing over the very rocky high spots, get ready to pull as hard as you can, in order to have a chance at actually landing one of these brutes. A handful of amberjack and grouper were landed as well, with baitfish becoming more plentiful in the marina channel, particularly moonfish, we anticipating targeting more of these quality shallow water structure species.

Not many dorado found in recent days, even though we did hear about the exceptional dorado action that was found out of La Paz this past week. You never know, these same concentrations of do-dos could swift directions any time, following a favorable current and food source, just like the weather, fishing changes daily.

Incredible opportunities at this time for a serious big game fishermen, from cow sized yellowfin tuna, to fifty pound plus dog tooth snapper, to a chance at a hook up with the ultimate gladiator of a black or blue marlin weighing more than five hundred pounds, this has all happened this past week on the Gordo Banks, the big fish are here now.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 48 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 3 black marlin, 1 blue marlin, 2 striped marlin, 5 sailfish, 24 dorado, 133 yellowfin tuna, 18 cabrilla, 12 amberjack, 28 dogtooth snapper,15 hammerhead sharks, 1 wahoo and 10 bonito.

Good Fishing, Eric

August 27, 2011

The later part of August has brought scattered thunder showers on and off throughout the week, lots of tropical cloud cover, this was a relief from the persistent sunny hot days of summer. Some high wind gusts accompanied rain squalls, particularly on Wednesday, when anglers had to return early due to foul conditions. Just as quick as it had formed, the weather settled down and ocean conditions were once again comfortable. Water temperatures have averaged 84 to 86 throughout most of the region. While the East Coast of the United States is now bracing for impact of Hurricane Irene, a category two storm, here in Southern Baja there are no tropical storm system developed at this time. The next several weeks is the period where historically there is the highest percentage of a hurricane making landfall on the Peninsula. Last summer was considered to be mild, with temperatures below normal, that has not been the case this summer, hot and humid temperatures arrived early and never have let up, only in recent days have we felt any relief, with early morning having that first hint of Fall.

Fortunately for La Playita panga anglers the supplies of sardinas have remained plentiful in the vicinity of the rock jetties. This has been the principal bait source used for targeting yellowfin tuna and dorado on the fishing grounds, ranging from La Fortuna, Iman to San Luis Bank. Drift fishing over these high spots while using both live and dead sardinas produced action, ranging from scratchy to wide open at times. The yellowfin were of quality grade, averaging 30 to 50 pounds, with many larger fish mixed in, it is typically the time of year when we see cow sized fish taking up residence on these same fishing grounds.

Last year, at this same time frame, we were starting to catch some yellowfin tuna up to 100 pounds on the Gordo Banks, this season this same bite has yet to develop, even though some tuna have been seen on these grounds, heavy dive boat pressure has also been a factor. The billfish action has been scattered, maybe the blacks are just late to arrive this season? Warmer than average water temperature, reaching near 90 degrees in areas, seems to have put the gamefish down to deeper depths, seeking more favorable currents.

Breaking news on Saturday afternoon, anglers Brice Faulwetter, from San Diego, also a crew member of a sportfisher named “Santana” based out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina was fishing with local pangeros Nico and Agustin on the Outer Gordo Banks when Brice hooked into a monster yellowfin tuna. Using sixty pound tackle and an 80 pound leader Brice single handedly battled and brought the fish to gaff in 3 hours and 40 minutes. The super cow weighed in at 330 pounds.

Dorado action was found spread out throughout the area, no spot where there was an abundance of these gamefish encountered, when smaller sized schools were encountered, these fish would strike on lures as well as bait. Dorado activity in the Los Cabos area has never really got on track this summer, we are optimistic that these fish will make a big presence during the fall season.

Dogtooth snapper were king of the rocky high spots now, found on same fishing grounds where tuna and dorado are schooling, these largest of all snapper, were striking on whole and cuts baits that anglers fly line down into the depths of 50 to 100 feet, hold on when they hit, chances are they will win more battles than the angler will. Of the dogtooth that were subdued, they weighed in the 25 to 50 pound class.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 72 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 striped marlin, 3 sailfish, 86 dorado, 145 yellowfin tuna, 17 cabrilla, 5 amberjack, 26 dogtooth snapper, and 12 bonito.

Good Fishing, Eric