February 7, 2021

As we start the new month of February there are light numbers of tourists arriving, this is mainly due to ongoing Covid pandemic and the new requirements being put in place for travelers. We are hoping that by spring season we might see an improvement of this situation. The Los Cabos area relies entirely on tourist trade for the local economy and without this income people cannot support themselves and families.

We have felt a warming trend this past week, we saw high temperatures up to 80 degrees, mostly clear sunny skies. Winds were still unpredictable, though the forecast for the coming week looks very calm, favorable to help stabilize ocean conditions. Ocean temperature has been in the 70 to72 degree range, clarity was changing daily with the strong currents that have been pushing through. Overall the water was appearing cleaner on the grounds near the Iman Bank. This is where in recent days the majority of the light crowds of charters have been concentrated.

Every day we were seeing a handful of yellowfin tuna landed, anglers were fortunate to land one of these tuna, some charters even reported a couple of these fish. The yellowfin were very finicky, but could be enticed with persistence and patience using a combination of sardinas, caballito, strips of squid or skipjack. Average size of the tuna were in the 50 to 80 lb. class. On these same grounds and on other rocky high sports anglers found a mix of bottom species. Though the bottom bite with the strong currents running was not consistent, more bonito and black skipjack than anything else, a few varieties of pargo/snapper, an occasional cabrilla, amberjack or yellowtail. Strong currents were a problem this past week, we do anticipate this pattern to change and should help improve the all-around action. Also in recent days red crabs were starting to appear on the surface, these can be used for red snapper bait, with calmer conditions this could develop into something.

Other options were found closer to shore, mainly in the southern zone towards Cabo San Lucas, where sierra, skipjack and triggerfish were the main species encountered, still spotty from day to day, no consistent hot spot now. A few dorado are still hanging around in the cooler waters, found scattered in small schools, most of these smaller sized fish.

Lots of whales throughout the region, peak season will continue for at least another month. Sea lions, turtles and manta rays also providing sightseeing entertainment.

Good fishing, Eric

January 31, 2021

With new international travel restrictions now in place we have seen a noticeable lack of tourists, though Los Cabos resorts are now offering the required Covid 19 tests easily on site, needed for return trip. So hopefully this will encourage more people to travel to Southern Baja in the coming months. Weather followed normal patterns, scattered cloud cover, though no precipitation this week, winds out of if the north, increased some over last week, but there are cycles of calmer conditions mixed in, high temperatures averaging 75 degrees.

Ocean conditions showed improvement from the Gordo Banks and towards San Luis Bank, water temperatures averaged 70 to 72 degrees and clarity was now cleaner than the previous week, there were also more signs of baitfish schools on the same fishing grounds. In the marina area bait vendors are offering sardinas, some caballito, mackerel and ballyhoo.

There was a lack of anglers though, not much activity for charters now. Most of the charters have been concentrating on the areas from straight offshore and north to Gordo and San Luis Banks. The highlight of the week was a few quality grade yellowfin tuna landed that weighed in the 80 to 100 lb. class. A lot of patience and persistent was needed, because these tuna were elusive, but at least a few more than previous weeks were accounted for. Many local skippers who do not have charter work now are giving these yellowfin a try. It is not always the normal time of year to find these tuna n these high spots, but every year can vary.

Not much activity reported for billfish, water has been green on the normal grounds, but we do see conditions improving now, winds were a contributing factor and then there is also a lack of anglers. A handful of dorado were found scattered throughout the region, a couple of them over 20 lb.  Limited numbers of sierra now along the shoreline, a mix of various snappers, pompano, bonito, triggerfish, cabrilla, amberjack, yellowtail found off of the rocky piles, though wind made this tough many days. We look forward to some more steady weather and a warming trend, this should help to improve the all-around action. February can be a very unpredictable month.

Good fishing, Eric

January 24, 2021

We enjoyed variable winter time conditions in Southern Baja this past week. High temperatures averaging 75 degrees, more cloud cover and even had some measurable rain fall on Wednesday, generally lighter winds, predominately from the north, though not as persistent as they were in past weeks. Light crowds of tourists now arriving, looks to be the predicted pattern for the coming months, until Covid induced regulations are simplified or eased and vaccinations are made readily available to the general public. In the meantime all local businesses supported by the tourist industry will be optimistically waiting for the situation to improve.

In the direction of the Sea of Cortez the ocean currents been green, as the same East Cape conditions have now swept onto local grounds. Clarity has fluctuated, but overall water color has been very greenish, though off of Cabo San Lucas currents have been much cleaner.  Over the weekend though there were reports of slight improvement north of the Gordo Banks to around San Luis, a couple of wahoo hook ups were reported. On the Gordo Banks there was a showing of yellowfin tuna and at least one 80 lb. class yellowfin was landed, other hook ups were lost, not many boats were on the spot when the tuna did show up, drifting with sardinas was the method they used to entice the strikes. So maybe something will develop with this, providing conditions do stabilize some more. Ocean water temperature has varied on areas, day to day as well, ranging from 67 to 74 degrees.

There has been plenty of bait in the area, charters are reportedly seeing large concentrations of baitfish on local grounds, though this did not mean that the gamefish were easy for anglers to find. Bait vendors are offering sardinas, caballito, mackerel and ballyhoo. Dorado are being found in limited numbers, mainly around concentrations of baitfish and often on the same offshore billfish grounds. With a handful of these dorado being bulls over 20 lb.

We saw a little more variety and size of fish found off of the shallow rocky structure. Though this action just now seems to be showing signs of activity, this week we saw amberjack, cabrilla, bonito, red snapper and triggerfish. We do anticipate that this type of action improves the next couple of months. Along the shore we saw a little more action for the sierra, they had become scarce in past seeks, so hopefully this is a favorable sign that these cold water fish will rebound.

Billfish action was more scattered now, main species is the striped marlin, sizes averaging 70 to 100 lb. No great concentration in any particular area, we should see steady improvement with greater numbers of stripers, as ocean conditions improve with more steady weather patterns.

Good fishing, Eric