March 14, 2021

We are still seeing light crowds of tourists, though people do seem to now be showing more interest in possibly making travel plans during the coming spring season. Weather has been in transition, though another cold front swept through over the weekend, with strong gusting winds from the north. Ocean temperatures are in the 68 to 70 degree range. Water clarity is spotty greenish, starting to clear up some around the Iman Bank, though this recent cold front did not help stabilize conditions. This entire winter season it seems we have dealt with more wind than usual. Typically with the arrival of spring time we also see progressively warmer and calmer conditions.

Anglers were using some caballito and various sardina species for bait, also a lot of the action off the bottom structure has come on yo-yo jigs. Charter fleets have been fishing areas from Chileno to the Iman Bank and even as far north as Vinorama when weather allowed. With the cooler conditions the most productive action was found down over rocky high spots, up to 200 ft. deep.  There was a wide variety of quality eating species found, though none of them in great numbers, except for the bonito. Highlights were some nice grouper, amberjack, red snapper and an occasional yellowtail.

Inshore there was good sierra action found near Chileno, but also a lot of boat pressure, as this was one of the main options going, especially on windy days, sierra were of nice size, a handful of fish to 8 lb. Chance at pompano, pargo, triggerfish and jack crevalle as well.

Early in the week some of the commercial pangeros and private boaters landed some yellowfin tuna near the Iman Ban, these were quality fish in the 70 to 90 lb. class. These guys were experimenting with the kite and helium balloon techniques, using the gummy flying fish, with the lighter boat pressure they got into some nice fish. Though as weather turned, this action faded out later in the week.

Still quite a few whales in the region, though this is normally the final month we see numbers of these mammals, before they head back on their northern migration.

Good fishing, Eric

March 7, 2021

As we are now only a couple of weeks away from official start of the spring season, we are already starting to feel the transitional warming trend develop and days are progressively lengthening. Local daylight light savings time will change on April 4, one hour ahead. As vaccinations are becoming more obtainable we have noticed an increase of persons making reservations to visit during the coming months, we expect it will be a slow process, but at least things appear to be swinging in the right direction.

This week started out wild, as a major wind front from the north swept through all of Baja, this had been forecast, they were not wrong, as gusts to 30 mph plus picked up Sunday night, creating dangerous ocean conditions and both local ports were closed to all navigation, included all sportfishing. By Monday afternoon the front had crazily passed on through and conditions settled down quickly, enabling port authorities to reopen activities starting later than same day.

With the conditions still persisting of on and off winds, ocean turned greenish and cooler, average water temperature in the 68 to 70 degree range, very slight swell, but there have been strong currents pushing through on the fishing grounds. Anglers found a mix of baitfish available in the marina area, caballito and a couple varieties of sardinas in sporadic numbers.

With minimal numbers of charters even going out recently, most have been fishing Chileno, Palmilla, Gordo Banks and north to Vinorama, spread out trying different areas. The better inshore action was being found towards the south, mainly for sierra, while the more productive bottom action was to the north, when weather permitted. Anglers were using yo-yo jigs and various baits while drift fishing over rocky high spots, more often in depths ranging 120 to 200 ft. There were more numbers of bonito on certain deeper grounds, especially earlier in the day. Swift currents made fishing more challenging, but with persistence some quality species such as yellowtail, amberjack, leopard grouper and red snapper were accounted for, some of these to over 30 lb. The more exotic species for the week was a golden jack, which are not very common in recent years as well as another golden cabrilla.

Did not hear of any dorado found recently, there were reports of a few stray wahoo being seen as well as a handful of yellowfin tuna, smaller fish hanging on same high spots as were the bottom species. No billfish seen on local grounds either, the green water not to their liking. We did hear of scattered striped marlin action from Cabo San Lucas. We expect that as soon as the ocean clears and warms up, as daytime temperatures increase, winds settle, that the all-around fishing action will improve significantly.

Good fishing, Eric

February 28, 2021

The month of February is finally over, it definitely lived up to its reputation of being unpredictable, we saw a little bit of everything these past few weeks. Glad that it is past, we are feeling a slight warming trend as spring time nears, ocean temperature now in the 68 degree range, as north winds continue to pick up in cycles. Clarity of water is also up and down, this is how it often is during this time frame. Still only limited numbers of tourists arriving, even less anglers, though we anticipate times will improve, as many people in the U.S. and elsewhere now have had their Covid 19 vaccinations or will be having them soon and then will be more open for making travel plans.

Most fishing action now has taken place from Chileno, Palmilla, Gordo Banks and north to Vinorama. Bait netters are having trouble finding supplies of sardinas, the main bait source has been caballito, a lot of yo-yo style jig fishing going on now.

Drift fishing over the rocky grounds, more often in 120 to 200 feet of water, with available bait, but more so on yo-yo jigs. Main catch by far has been the bonito, some of them up to 8 lb., hitting best earlier in the morning. Same areas were producing a variety of grouper, snapper, cabrilla, yellowtail and amberjack, limited numbers, but quality fish. Some charters would have up to three four yellowtail, sizes up to 25 lb., majority of these yellows came from areas further north near Vinorama.

Closer to shore anglers found sierra, pargo and triggerfish. Heard a couple of reports of seeing dorado or wahoo, uncommon to see these gamefish in such cold water.

No local billfish bite being reported, as conditions improve we expect to see more striped marlin move in. We did hear of a couple reports of swordfish sightings from sportfishers searching further offshore.

A handful of smaller sized yellowfin tuna were brought in, fishing the same local grounds, also there were sightings of much larger yellowfin, up to 150 lb., coming up for a quick showing on the surface and then disappearing even quicker, they are in the area, though cold off colored water and full moon does not help.

Good fishing, Eric