July 16, 2023

As we are now in the heat of the summer and weather conditions continue to be hot and humid. Distance tropical storms and hurricanes are increasing the humidity and overall hear index, though we have seen no more rain this past week. Light crowds of anglers now, but there are quite a few people at local resorts. Ocean swells resided some and winds were light on the Sea of Cortez side of the Peninsula, though persistent north winds were reported on the Pacific.

Ocean water temperatures are very warm, many zones now reading at 87 degrees, this can throw off the whole ecosystem, oxygen levels, etc… Overall fishing action was tough, though though were a wide variety of species in the area, hooking into them was a different story. Live bait supplies consisted mainly for caballito, jurelito, some moon fish, a few mullet and ballyhoo were being offered as well. Sportfishing fleets were spread out in all directions, searching for more opportunities. 

Bottom action was not very productive at all, lots of currents running, which never helps that, also the heat factor of just drift fishing with no breeze to cool you down.. Most charters were doing more surface trolling with various baits of higher speed lures.

Heading further offshore, anywhere from 5 to 20 miles out anglers were finding fair chances at hooking into billfish, more striped marlin than anything else, despite the very warm water temps. There were some blue marlin now being hooked into as well, most of these that we saw were in the 100 to 160 lb. range, though we did see one charter bring in one about 300 lb. earlier in the week. Some scattered dorado on these same grounds, though more dorado were now found closer to shore, but most of these were small juvenile schoolies under 8 lb.

Charters found smaller football sized yellowfin tuna while trolling open waters, but this was hit or miss, a matter of being in the right place at the right time and anglers were fortunate to land several of them. The larger grade of tuna which had been hanging near Iman and San Luis Banks just have not wanted to do much at all. Lots of sharks in the area, many anglers that did hook into the football sized tuna lost these fish to mass congregations of pilot sharks. Same with trying to slow troll larger baits, such as bolito, more often than not the sharks would make quick work of these rigs.

A few wahoo striking rapalas, but these speedsters typically become sluggish in such warm waters as well. Close to shore there were still chances for late season roosterfish and of course the hog sized jack crevalle were ever present. This whole season for roosterfish was not up to normal local standards. Never really saw the mass schools of mullet congregating on the beach stretches.

Average catches per boat was now several fish in combination, probably easier to find a marlin than any of the other closer to shore species.

Good Fishing, Eric

July 9, 2023

Another very tropical week, started off on Monday with San Jose del Cabo receiving its first significant rainfall since past Sept. or Oct., isolated thundershowers dumped an estimated one inch or more of rain in a very short period of time, right about mid day when it was really coming down, then just as quickly the clouds past through and cleared up, no high winds were related to this, so it was actually nice to see the rainfall. Through the week it was mostly clear, though very humid, on Sunday another tropical depression passed a couple hundred miles off to the southwest, creating high swells and some more scattered showers, even though the Port was not officially closed most charters were canceled due to the stormy conditions. 

We did not see as many overall anglers this week, fishing was a more spotty, better earlier in the week and became more scattered as the week progressed. Hard to say exactly why, maybe the fact the water was 85 degrees or warmer on some grounds, this can change the whole deal, as currents and ocean oxygen levels are constantly shifting. Gamefish move accordingly seeking out preferred thermocline.

Surface action included a wide variety, but no big numbers of any specific spaces. We saw sailfish, striped and blue marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, skipjack and bonito. Mainly using caballito, ballyhoo for bait and also trolling the normal array of lures. Despite such warm waters we saw quite a few wahoo, many were small juveniles near ten pounds, a few were up to 30 lb.

Dorado were scattered throughout the region, mixed sizes, we were seeing more juvenile sizes move in than in previous weeks when the majority of the dorado were nicer quality sized fish. Bottom action was not as productive,  but a few nice dogtooth snapper to 35 lb., red snapper to 12 lb. and amberjack to 55 lb. were accounted for earlier in the week. Some smaller football sized yellowfin tuna were found while open water trolling and a few nicer grade tuna in the 70 to 85 lb. class on the grounds from Iman to San Luis Banks.

Late in the season now, but still chances at finding jack crevalle and roosterfish closer to shore, but on some days this was not a practical option due to high surf conditions.

Good Fishing, Eric

July 2, 2023

New month of July and just like clockwork, the tropical storm season has begun. We saw the development of Hurricane Adrian some 300 miles to the southwest of Cabo San Lucas, never amounting to much besides increasing ocean swells up to three meters or so. Then we were following the formation of Tropical Storm Beatriz off of mainland Mexico, this system was unpredictable as to what path it might follow, never impacting southern Baja, dissipated offshore of Puerta Vallarta, Beatriz did definitely kick up the humidity to highest levels so far this season. Some scattered rain showers were felt closer to Cabo San Lucas on Sunday, but nothing to report so far out of San Jose del Jose, scattered cloud cover, but seas were fairly calm and no Port closures were implemented.

Ocean temperatures are now in the 80 to 85 degree range, swift currents were running at times, swells up and down due to tropical disturbances from the south, tropical season now and it really started feeling like it in recent days, intense humidity. Anglers were finding main bait supplies of caballito, jurelito, some mullet, ballyhoo and slabs of squid, also more bolito baitfish congregating on offshore grounds. Most fishing action is now taking place near the Iman to San Luis Banks.

Anglers found a mix of bottom and surface action. Common practice was to try bottom action early in the day, where a mix of species such as red snapper, yellow snapper, dogtooth snapper, leopard grouper, fortune jack, amberjack, bonito and other great eating species were found, using yo-yo’s jigs were the best bet, but various bait fish were used as well. No huge numbers of any particular fish and success of course varied from day to cay and over various rocky high spots.

These same grounds produced a handful of sailfish, striped marlin, some quality bull dorado to over 40 lb., a couple of stray wahoo strikes, but trophy sized dorado were definitely the highlight. Again no significant numbers, but a fair chance at catching a couple of quality fish, these prized fish were striking on trolled lures as well as various available baitfish, of course bolito being one of their favorites. 

Early in the week we weighed in one 89 lb. yellowfin tuna that was hooked into on the Iman Bank, rest of the week these tuna proved very scarce, though on Saturday an estimated 200 lb. yellowfin was hooked into on San Luis Bank with a bolito for bait and the fish was battled for two hours before being lost right at the boat near gaff, the crew had a great look at the fish, but it was not their lucky day.

A few blue marlin starting to bite further offshore on the normal billfish grounds, inshore action was scattered, mainly roosterfish, but not being found in normal high season numbers and more are now being encountered along beach stretches further north, still a very good chance at finding roosterfish up to 50 lb. now, remember to be careful when handling these prized fighting gamefish and after taking your photos quickly release them to the water.

Good Fishing, Eric