December 5, 2021 

Many tourists headed home after Thanksgiving vacation, though this week  remained quite busy with a new wave of vacationers. Weather patterns have been very pleasant, highs close to 85 degrees, with lows in the upper 60s, plenty of warm sunshine. As normal the winds from the north often can pick up later in the morning, this was pretty much the pattern through the week. Ocean temperature is now on a cooling trend, ranging 78 to 81 degrees. Water clarity was much improved throughout much of the zone. Main bait sources were caballito, ballyhoo and slabs of squid. Some charters were able to find chihuil, which be a bonus when targeting wahoo. Large mackerel schools now on the Pacific grounds and this migration should shift in the direction of San Jose del Cabo very soon. We have heard of reports of sardinas found near Cabo San Lucas, but none of these baitfish have been located within range for the San Jose del Cabo commercial bait fleet.

The majority of local sportfishing charters have been concentrating efforts on areas from Red Hill, Palmilla, Punta Gorda, Cardon, La Fortuna and Iman Banks. The overall action has been spread out, no particular hot spot, most common surface species were dorado, striped marlin and a handful of wahoo. Better chances at the wahoo were on the grounds north of Punta Gorda, anglers were using various baits and rapala type lures, the bite was very spotty, though some anglers were fortunate to land a couple of nice wahoo, largest we saw was a 58 lb. fish, with the average being in the 30 to 40 lb. class. We are seeing a few very small juvenile sized wahoo as well. Largest dorado we saw was about 20 lb., the majority were in the 10 to 15 lb. range. Most charters had only a few total fish per morning, tough overall bite. No yellowfin action found at all, only reports were from further offshore of Cabo San Lucas associated with porpoise, but very hit or miss as well.

Billfish were more abundant near Cabo San Lucas, though we are seeing striped marlin off of San Jose everyday as well, found throughout the offshore grounds, most within 5 miles of shore, sizes averaged from 50 to 100 lb., We saw a couple late season black marlin of 300 to 400 lb. brought in, as well a a few sailfish.

Inshore there were decent numbers of smaller sized roosterfish, most under 15 lb. this time of year, also some sierra showing close to shore. Off the bottom it was mainly triggerfish, a few misc. smaller sized snapper, cabrilla, bonito and tile fish.

Good Fishing, Eric

November 28, 2021 

Busy week with Thanksgiving vacationers filling up local resorts. Though we did notice fewer anglers than in previous weeks, crowds usually do taper off some in coming weeks. Weather patterns were feeling like late fall, as a colder front swept through, threatening rain, but only limited amounts of rainfall were felt. Winds were predominantly from the north, picking up during morning hours, some days earlier than others. Ocean water temperature is ranging 80 to 82 degrees, slight cooling trend, though still warmer than normal for this late November time frame.]

Sportfishing charters were heading out to scout for action in all directions, most local fleets were fishing areas from Red Hill to Punta Gorda, Cardon, La Fortuna and even north to Vinorama. Water clarity is still off colored with fluctuating cleaner blue water mixed in, currents and winds stirring conditions as well. Bait supplies consisted of caballito, ballyhoo, slabs of squid and at times anglers were able to find chihuil on certain high spots. On the Pacific side there are schools of mackerel being encountered in closer proximity, soon this migration will shift directions to off of San Jose del Cabo.

With yellowfin tuna bite still at a standstill, main surface species being targeted were dorado, wahoo and billfish. Though wahoo action slowed way down this past week, mainly due to factors such as off colored stirred up ocean and it being the back side of the full moon. Though we did see a handful of nice wahoo, more fish were lost than actually landed.

Dorado were the main fish being landed, numbers varied to just a fish or two, to limits per charter. They were scattered, more actually encountered closer to shore than far offshore. Sizes ranged to over 15 lb. Orsan Dorado tournament is going on this weekend, will be interesting to see what the jackpot sized dorado will be.

Striped marlin action was increasing through the zone, more concentrations on the Pacific where schools of mackerel are now congregated, but some of this action has shifted in the direction of the Sea of Cortez. Majority of the marlin we are seeing are in the 60 to 100 lb range.

Nothing too much off the bottom now, more triggerfish, some tilefish, various pargo, cabrilla, saw a couple of nice grouper over 20 lb., bonito and others. 

Closer along the beach stretches more roosterfish are moving back in, as usually most of this fall and winter rosters are juvenile sized, fun sport on light tackle. Remember to take extra careful precaution to release fish unharmed.

Whale season is now in full swing, as both gray and humpback make these local waters their home for the coming months.

Good Fishing, Eric

November 21, 2021 

We are still seeing good numbers of anglers arriving, with Thanksgiving week now coming up lots of vacationers are taking advantage of the ideal climate.  After this coming week we normally see a bit of slack as people start planning for Christmas, etc… The all around weather is almost perfect now, lows down in the lower 60s and with mostly clear sunny skies and highs close to 85 degrees. Breeze picking up from the north later in the mornings.

The bait supplies have remained plentiful for caballito and ballyhoo, with chihuil and slabs of squid another option. We have not heard of any sardinas being found, usually they begin to rebound later this month. Off of San Jose del Cabo hotel zone there have been reports of the season’s first mackerel and sardineta being found, still nothing consistent, as water temperatures cool off more of these bait schools should show on these grounds. Ocean temperatures have remained in the 80 to 83 degree range.

This week we saw a strong showing of striped marlin, mainly straight offshore from San Jose del Cabo, anywhere from 2 to 5 miles out, even anglers fishing from kayaks got in on the action. The marlin were readily striking on lures and bait, most of these fish were in the 60 to 80 lb. size, a few topping 100 lb. There was one black marlin brought in mid-week by a local commercial pangero, estimated at close to 500 lb. Also quite a few sailfish scattered throughout the zone.

Wahoo action picked up for a few days, before the word spread and everyone congregated on the same area near Cardon, not a very large spot and these fish became weary with so much boat traffic and even more spooky with all of the spear fishermen chasing them around. Do not know why the rules are not enforced, spear anglers are not supposed to be within 200 yards of any boats with conventional rod and reel anglers. We are hoping that with added pressure something might finally be done, because this area can not sustain this form of pressure from above and below the water.

Wahoo were ranging in size from smaller juvenile 6 lb. fish up to 50 lb. Striking on slow trolled baits, Rapalas,ballyhoo and on cast jigs. Mid-week some charters accounted for up to six fish. But overall anglers were fortunate to land one of two. Dorado were spread out on these same grounds, some days more than others, average size for these fish were in the 5 to 15 lb. class. Still no yellowfin tuna at all being found on local grounds, we heard of some tuna being encountered associated with moving porpoise some 30 to 40 miles outside of Cabo San Lucas, but that action was very hit or miss.

Inshore there were some sierra and roosterfish, most smaller in size. Off the bottom there were more triggerfish than anything else, a handful of deep water baqueta grouper, Pacific tile fish, a few cabrilla, yellow snapper and barred pargo, Even a handful of smaller sized dogtooth snapper and some of the Mexican bonito.

Continually seeing more whales throughout the area, peak season will be soon for these migrating mammals.

Good Fishing, Eric