San Jose del Cabo Weather Link

Water Temperature > http://tempbreak.com/index.php?&cwregion=cb

April 10, 2011

Ideal spring time conditions now greeting anglers that are visiting Southern Baja. Sunny skies are reaching high temperatures into the 80s. Wind patterns were now weakening off of the San Jose del Cabo, this is where ocean condition were calmer. Winds recently have prevailed more from the south, creating cooler and rougher waters on the Pacific. Ocean water temperatures overall are now on a warming trend, particularly in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, averaging from 65 degrees on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, warming up to 78 degree just south of Los Frailes. It is the time of year when conditions can change rapidly. Typically the warmer currents push into the East Cape area first and then swift in the direction of Los Cabos by late spring.

Some larger sized baitfish such as mullet, caballito and moonfish were starting to move into the Puerto Los Cabos Marina channel, this is always a favorable sign. Schools of sardinas have become scattered, but have been available in limited supplies and continued to be the bait of choice for the inshore and structure fishing that has been the most productive option for anglers now for the past month. Anglers found a good variety of fish close to shore while drifting or slow trolling bait. Also there was fair success reported for anglers retrieving yo-yo jigs off of the rock piles. Most common catches were yellowtail, amberjack, skipjack, bonito, sierra, jack crevalle, pargo, cabrilla, grouper and triggerfish. Most fish averaged 3 to 8 pounds, though there were larger specimens to over 30 pounds accounted for, namely yellowtail or grouper. As always, many larger fish were reportedly lost by cut lines in the rocks. Overall this winter/spring season was improved over last for all around bottom and inshore action. With water temperatures now warming we do anticipate to start concentrating more on offshore action.

There were more frequent reports of porpoise activity being found offshore, with some scattered encounters with yellowfin tuna, most of this was found too far for local fleets, we are all looking forward to this type of action to move within range. Billfish were being found throughout the region, but not in any large concentrations, striped marlin action was more often encountered 10 to 20 miles from shore, but still very hit or miss. There was more talk about swordfish encounters this past week, more actual sightings than hook ups, straight off of San Jose del Cabo 20 miles plus miles from shore, also north towards Cabrillo Sea Mount and Desteladera Bank was an area where the swords were seen.

We have not seen any dorado to speak of either, that should change soon, a couple reports of wahoo strikes being taken in the areas of warmer waters towards Los Frailes. Not much action found on the Gordo Banks, still a chance of a larger sized yellowtail, but this was a deal where anglers would be looking for a chance at one trophy fish, no big numbers, with more sharks and sea lions making prospects more challenging.

Sierra was the main species found patrolling the shore line, Santa Maria was one of the better spots to find larger sierra of 4 to 8 pounds, striking best on sardinas. There were increasing numbers of schooling jack crevalle that were attracted to inshore bait schools. Most of the roosterfish found continue to be of the small variety, as more mullet migrate into local waters, this will attract the larger sized roosterfish.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 59 charters this past week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 5 mako shark, 12 hammerhead shark, 22 bonito, 26 amberjack, 12 pompano, 18 jack crevalle, 82 pargo, 26 roosterfish, 22 cabrilla, 84 yellowtail, 144 skipjack and 195 sierra.

Good fishing, Eric

San Jose del Cabo Weather Link

Water Temperature > http://tempbreak.com/index.php?&cwregion=cb

April 2, 2011

Pristine weather conditions in the Los Cabos area has attracted below than normal spring break vacationers. The tourists that have made the trip were enjoying plenty of warm sunshine, daytime highs in the low 80s. Winds were prevalent from the south and anglers reported rough ocean conditions on the Pacific, while in the direction of San Jose del Cabo seas were much calmer. We look forward to the coming months which offer some of the most ideal weather patterns, more significant is the incredible variety of fishing options for anglers.

This week the fishing report was pretty much the same as last, ocean currents ranged from 68 to 71 degrees through most of the region, with warmer spocts found 10 to 20 miles off of the Gordo Banks to Desteladera. Water was cooler and murkier closer to shore, cleaner blue water was found ten miles offshore. Despite finding clearer waters offshore, there was not much action for gamefish such as striped marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna or wahoo. Only scattered reports of striped marlin, fewer dorado or tuna. It is that time of year now, when the offshore action has just not taken off yet. We anticipate improvement in the near future, as spring time days are progressively warming. No schooling baitfish being found offshore now, lack of flying fish, mackerel or bolito, no food source to attract the larger game at this time.

Sardinas were harder to find, scattered schools near VInorama and from Palmilla to Chileno, surf conditions also made it more difficult for the netters. These baitfish were the preferred choice for the inshore fishing and with some patience.were obtainable daily. At the panga docking area in La Playita they were selling fresh brined sardinas by the bag for $10, early in the morning, this was a good option for drift fishing over the shallow rock piles.

For the past few weeks offshore action was not consistently producing much or anything and anglers found that there was a much better chance at catching fish closer to shore. Most common species being sierra, scattered along the coastline from Cabo to San Jose and north, striking on sardinas, hoochies and rapalas. Other species found close to shore near rocky structure were yellow snapper, pompano, bonito, cabrilla, dogtooth snapper, barred pargo, yellowtail, triggerfish and the list goes on. The majority of these fish were in the 3 to 8 pound range, occasionally a larger yellowtail, amberjack or grouper up to 40 pounds. Anglers found success on dead and live bait, as well as working yo-yo iron off of the deeper rocks. Charters averaged ten to twenty fish in the overall catch, most all of the species taken being very good eating varieties.

Still quite a few numbers of humpback whales in the area, we expect they will be migrating north soon. Lots of manta rays were seen jumping, sea lions hanging out on the fishing grounds, a few hammerhead, thresher and mako sharks making a presence to add diversity.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 57 charters this past week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 mako shark, 1 thresher shark, 8 hammerhead shark, 2 dorado, 17 amberjack, 16 pompano, 135 pargo, 25 roosterfish, 20 triggerfish, 28 cabrilla, 56 yellowtail, 14 bonito and 390 sierra.

Good fishing, Eric

San Jose del Cabo Weather Link

Water Temperature > http://tempbreak.com/index.php?&cwregion=cb

March 20, 2011

Anglers –

Spring time is now officially here and the weather is on a warming trend accordingly. Moderate crowds of vacationers are enjoying clear sunny skies with high temperatures reaching into the mid 80s. Winds have diminished and anglers found excellent ocean conditions, minimal swells with water temperatures averaging 69 to 72 degrees.

Supplies of sardinas are holding up, these baitfish were found schooling in various locations along the shoreline, though they were more abundant north of Punta Gorda, near Vinorama. There has been a lack of larger baitfish, no mackerel or caballito to speak of. Red crabs have been found on the San Jose del Cabo fishing grounds and are being used as bait for red snapper (pargo and huachinango).

Throughout the month of March anglers found that the most consistent fishing action was closer to shore. Working the various rock piles with yo-yo jigs and sardinas produced a mix bag of pargo, yellowtail, amberjack, bonito, cabrilla, triggerfish and others. While trolling the inshore beach stretches there was good action for sierra, jack crevalle and roosterfish. Not too many larger sized fish, most of the fish caught were under ten pounds, but there were a handful of yellowtail accounted for that were in the 30 pound class and some quality huachinango (red snapper) up to 10 pounds, at times these true Pacific red snapper were being found near the surface feeding the abundant pelagic red crabs.

Yellowfin tuna counts were minimal, on occasions tuna were seen feeding and breezing the surface on the Gordo and Iman Banks, but only an sporadic fish was being hooked, very shy, preferring to feed on the available food source on the fishing grounds, most notably the red crabs. The yellowfin that were being landed weighed in the 15 to 30 pounds class. At this same time frame last year there was an abundance of giant squid in the region and anglers were having some success using the strip squid as bait for tuna in the 50 to 90 pound range. We have not heard of any giant squid in local waters at this time, even though conditions seem favorable to attract them.

Quite a few wahoo were reportedly seen free swimming around in small groups, often close to the shore, a bit strange compared to their normal habitat. Not many of these wahoo were hooked into, they just were not very interest in any offerings, the few that were accounted for were on various cut or whole baits. One wahoo weighing close to 70 pounds was taken from a panga on a trolled lure near the Gordo Banks and the other wahoo that were accounted for were of good size.

Striped marlin action was spread out, no large concentrations of fish, the lack of bigger baitfish has not helped this situation. The local panga fleets were occasionally hooking into stripers while drift fishing with sardinas for tuna and other species. The marlin that were accounted for weighed in the 70 to 130 pound range. Some striped marlin were also found in the blue water by blind strikes while trolling lures. With water conditions now stabilizing and on a warming trend we expect the offshore surface action to improve significantly in the coming weeks.

Despite continuing news reports of cartel issues near Mexican border towns and on the mainland there have been no incidents at all reported from the Los Cabos area and this region remains a very safe travel destination.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 80 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 6 striped marlin, 10 dorado, 13 yellowfin tuna, 28 bonito, 315 sierra, 34 roosterfish, 24 yellowtail, 26 jack crevalle, 468 pargo,17 cabrilla, 4 wahoo, 6 hammerhead shark, 4 dogtooth snapper and 12 amberjack.

Good Fishing, Eric