December 4, 2010

The sunny weather in the Los Cabos area continues to attract good numbers of anglers which have been targeting various gamefish that are now available on the local fishing ground. Yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo and striped marlin remain the higher priority target species now. The ocean water temperature has dropped down into the mid 70 range, 74 to 76 degrees throughout much of the region. Winds became more of a factor this past week, on Monday the northerly’s were strong and actually most of the fleet from launching that day, since the winds have tapered off and conditions are settling back down. Clean water is being found within a couple miles of shore, the majority of the fleets are fishing from Chileno to Iman Bank.

Carnaderos are working overtime in order to find minimal supplies of sardinas, most of these baitfish schools are now found in the direction of Vinorama. Caballito, moonfish and mackerel have been available some days as well.

The week started off with wind and cooler weather conditions, this made fishing more difficult, overall fish counts were down. Though there were some quality catches accounted for, most charters had 2 or 3, up to 10 fish in combination. Yellowfin tuna were most consistent near Iman and also close to shore off of Punta Gorda, drift fishing with sardinas was the ticket, either dead or alive. These tuna averaged up to 20 pounds, at times would become shy, seen on the surface, but finicky. A larger grade of yellowfin were holding on the Gordo Banks, this action became less consistent during this recent cold front and with the lack of sufficient supplies of sardinas for chumming. Most of the fish that were hooked into on the banks were in the 30 to 60 pound size.

Anglers were reporting some larger sized dorado in recent days, not only smaller juveniles, several dorado over 20 pounds were landed out of the La Playita panga area. They were striking on trolled lures, as well as on various baits, much of this action was found close to shore, from La Playita to Punta Gorda, inshore baitfish are attracting more game fish into this stretch.

The striped marlin action off of San Jose del Cabo had become wide open late last week, but now the mackerel schools have been scattered by shrimp trawlers and we will wait for more mackerel to move back in. Stripers are still being found in limited numbers spread throughout the area, much of this action is found within five miles of shore.

Off the bottom anglers found that currents have slacked and more opportunities will be open with cooler waters increasingly favorable to certain structure dwelling fish species. Yellowtail, snapper, bonito, sierra, etc… A handful of dogtooth snapper and amberjack were striking baits off of the high spots, some of them in the 30 to 40 pound class.

The combined local La Playita panga fleets sent out approximately 104 charters, with anglers reports a fish count of: 10 striped marlin, 17 wahoo, 210 yellowfin tuna, 85 dorado, 13 amberjack, 5 dogtooth snapper, 11 cabrilla, 16 bonito, 8 roosterfish and 18 sierra.

Good Fishing, Eric

November 27, 2010

We hope everyone has enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday, as we now wind down this fall season and gear up for wintertime events. The Los Cabos area has remained busy through this past week, with many anglers visiting and taking advantage of the various offshore options now available. Days have been mostly clear and sunny, breezes from the north were moderate and ocean conditions were acceptable, clean warm water was found within a mile of shore, currents have been swift much of the time, with water temperatures now averaging 77 to 79 degrees. Ideal time for targeting yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo and other popular species, still a chance at hooking into a late season black or blue marlin, as we now see increasing numbers of striped marlin moving into local waters.

There have been reports of mackerel and sardinetas being found locally, this will open up options and certain bring in more dorado, as well as striped marlin. Last weekend a local La Playita panga was fishing from a 22 ft. panga near the Iman Bank when he hooking into a large black marlin that he finally landed some five hours later, this fish was estimated to weigh in the 600 to 650 pound range. Striped marlin were moving closer to Cabo San Lucas and off of San Jose del Cabo, where on Thursday local fleets found excellent action within five miles of shore.

The most common fish now being targeted out of the San Jose del Cabo area has been the yellowfin tuna, wahoo and now increasing numbers of dorado. Action has ranged mainly in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, from the Gordo Banks to La Fortuna and Iman Bank. There has been quality action found in the direction of Palimlla to Chileno as well, a mix of the same species. Consistent action was found within a few miles of shore. Trolling Rapalas, skirted lead heads, feathers and various baits have been used in combination with different baitfish to find success.

Chihuil baitfish are now being caught on the fishing grounds and used as trolling baits, particularly for wahoo, which continue to provide good action off of the spots to the north of Punta Gorda. Last weekend the La Playita Wahoo Tournament was a success, though it was a bit breezy that day, anglers participating on close to 70 teams accounted for about 50 total wahoo, largest jackpot fish was caught by Bob Smith of Minerva’s Tackle, C.S.L. A monster 81 pound wahoo that hit on a rigged ballyhoo near the Cardon area, Bob was fishing from a local 22 ft. La Playita panga, congratulations on the trophy fish!

Supplies of sardinas became more scattered towards the north and pangeros were having difficulty to find sufficient supplies every day, but good news is the past couple of days the situation seemed to be on an improving trend, along with live sardinas there were options of dead brined ballyhoo and sardina.

Yellowfin tuna were striking best of sardinas, either live or dead. Larger grade of tuna were holding on t he Gordo Banks, often hard to entice, finicky, but definitely in the area, largest fish this past week ranged upwards of 200 pounds, many other fish were in the 90 to 165 lb. range, also many stories of extended battles resulting in lost hook ups, since the yellowin have been more shy, anglers opted for lighter weight leaders and often ended up losing out on larger fish. Schooling porpoise were holding larger sized yellowfin tuna as well, if an angler happened to be in the right place at the correct moment, they could find themselves in for an endurance test.

Yellowfin tuna were schooling on the Iman Bank, most of these fish were in the 10 to 20 pound class, an odd 40 to 50 pound tuna occasionally accounted for, charters from this area normally were accounting for 2 or 3, up to 12 tuna per day.

Other action included significantly more numbers of dorado moving into the area, following migrating schools of baitfish, these fish were found spread throughout the zone, striking on lures and baits, averaging 8 to 15 pounds, with larger bulls mixed in. Not much off the bottom due to stronger currents, a handful of dogtooth snapper, amberjack, cabrilla and of course a few sharks. Sierras are now in daily fish counts, we look for these members of the mackerel family to become active during the next few months and provide anglers with close to shore light tackle options.

The combined local La Playita panga fleets sent out approximately 184 charters, with anglers reports a fish count of: 1 black marlin, 3 blue marlin, 11 striped marlin, 88 wahoo, 515 yellowfin tuna, 162 dorado, 15 amberjack, 6 dogtooth snapper, 23 cabrilla, 16 roosterfish and 34 sierra.

Good Fishing, Eric

November 20, 2010

The Fall Season of 2010 is now in its final stretch as we near the Thanksgiving Holiday, after this there is always some down time, as people prepare for the Christmas and New Year’s period. The weather has continued to be great, clear skies, temperatures in the 80s and only moderate winds out of the north. Anglers do need to remember jackets for the early mornings, as it had been in the upper 50s early in the a.m. Local panga fleets remain very busy, most charters have concentrated either on the Gordo Banks or near Iman and San Luis. Water temperatures have varied from 76 degree towards the Golden Gate Bank on the Pacific to 80 degrees on the Sea of Cortez side of the Peninsula. Clean blue water has continued to be found close to shore and most charters are now fishing within 2 to 8 miles from shore.

Bait supplies have barely been able to keep up with the high demand, as schools of sardinas also migrate along coastal areas. There have been limited supplies of caballito available and chihuil is another option that pangeros have been able to catch themselves on the fishing grounds, these mackerel sized baits are particularly enticing to wahoo.

Yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dorado are the most targeted species now, with yellowfin most numerous. The key to success for the tuna has been drift fishing with sardinas, either dead or alive. The Iman Bank has been holding schooling yellowfin tuna in the 15 to 20 pound class. While a larger grade of tuna has been concentrated on the Gordo Banks, the outer bank in recent days has been most active, particularly early in the day. Most of the tuna on these banks ranged 40 to 90 pounds, some boats had as many as four or five of these fish. The first super cow sized yellowfin accounted for the last couple of weeks was taken on Thursday by none other than local pangero legends Hugo Pino and his son Agustine, they were key members of the “Fisherman” team of 2009 who won the WON Tuna Jackpot with the near record 383 lb. tuna. This latest fish they caught from the Gordo Banks while drift fishing with sardinas, weighed in at 302 pounds, they also had another tuna which weighed in at a not too shabby 185 pounds.

Wahoo continue to be found throughout the inshore areas, from Palmilla Point, Punta Gorda, San Luis to Vinorama. Everything is shaping up for the local wahoo tournament to be held this Sunday, Nov. 21. In recent days there have been several wahoo caught that weighed in to 60s and even 70s pounds. With the heavy boat pressure there have been more wahoo strikes coming recently on various baitfish, versus trolled lures. Many charters had multiple chances at wahoo, but the actual strike to catch ratio for ‘hoo usually averages out to about one fish landed per three strikes, you name it and it will happen with these elusive speedsters.

Dorado are spread throughout the area in small schools, no particular hot spot, most of the dorado are under 20 pounds, with a few exceptions of larger bulls being encountered.

There have been encouraging reports from the Pacific of more striped marlin moving onto the banks such as the Golden Gate, with many boats reported multiple catch and release marlin days. Mid week there was a 400 pound class black marlin taken form a 22 ft. panga out of La Playita, also a few sailfish here and there.

The combined panga fleets out of La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 204 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 black marlin, 3 striped marlin, 7 sailfish, 655 yellowfin tuna, 82 dorado, 102 wahoo, 16 sierra, 15 rainbow runner, 26 amberjack, 8 dogtooth snapper, 17 cabrilla, 22 bonito and 18 hammerhead shark.

Good fishing, Eric