This is always a busy week for the local population, as March 19 is the official San Jose del Cabo Day, climaxed by the week long fiesta and carnival rides situated downtown, adjacent to the baseball field. Makes for some major congestion, as streets are blocked off and normal traffic routes altered. Weather patterns are quickly turning around, spring time has definitely arrived, daytime highs now up to 85 degrees, early morning low in the 60s and north winds are much less of a problem. Actually perfect climate now, if it could only stay like this.
Anglers found bait situation similar, though more schools of sardinas this week than last, limited caballito and then the mainstay of ballyhoo and slabs of squid. Most charters are now working the grounds from the Gordo Banks to Cardon, La Fortuna, Iman and to San Luis Banks.
Numbers of dorado were down this past week, only seeing a handful for the combined fleet each day, most of these smaller in size. We have seen a couple of wahoo appearing, every few days or so one being landed. Water temperature is up to 70 degrees, with warmer currents morning in from outside of Iman to San Luis.
Yellowfin tuna action is very limited as well, though a few tuna in the 30 to 60 lb. range have been taken off the Iman Bank, there were nice sized yellowfin seen jumping on various grounds, including the Gordo Banks, but quickly disappearing as fast as they had shown. It is the time of year when things can quickly change, major transition period, every season being a bit different.
Main bottom species has been the white bonito, hanging over the various high spots and striking best on yo-yo jigs, sizes up to 10 lb., most between 3 and 5 lb. This week we did see a few more leopard grouper, red snapper, whitefish, triggerfish and others. Highlight off the bottom were some quality yellowtail to over 30 lb. Sporadic action, but these powerful are in the area now and ready to do battle. Live bait over the high spots was best, if you could get a hold of chihuil for bait even better.
The yellowtail were found on the Gordo Banks and Iman. Sharks were a problem at times and these yellowtail also once they were hooked knew exactly where the closest sharp rock out cropping was and if given the chance would quickly reach the structure and cut lines.
Not much going on for billfish now, just an occasional scattered striped marlin, but actually we did see more of the stripers this week over last. Same deal inshore, limited action for sierra and a few smaller sized roosterfish reported.
A noticeable increase in crowds this past week, first wave of spring break activity. Just like clockwork the weather is changing as well, definitely feels like spring season already, sunny days with high temperatures up to 86 degrees, lows were now in the 62 degree range. Relentless north winds have also diminished and not such a plague as they were through the past month. Very pleasant now, great time to visit the Los Cabos area.
Ocean swells are very minimal and water temperatures slightly warmer, now averaged in the 69 to 72 degree range. Live bait situation remain scarce and scattered, slabs of squid and ballyhoo are available everyday, but obtaining live bait such as sardinas, caballito or mackerel has been very sporadic.
Sportfishing fleets are scattered about searching different areas, this week the more consistent action was encountered from the Gordo Banks, to Cardon, La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis Banks. With a mix of surface and bottom action being found.
Numbers of dorado being found dropped way off in recent days, just a handful now being found, most of these fish were in the 10 to 15 lb. class, did see a few bulls as large as 25 lb. A couple of wahoo were landed earlier in the week, a bit unusual for this time of year.
Yellowfin tuna were still hanging around the Iman Bank, but were not easy to entice, only an occasional tuna being landed, some days none at all, others days just a few for the combined fleet, of the fish we saw, they ranged from 30 to 90 lb. Some hit on strips of squid, others on caballito or sardinas, if you were fortunate enough to obtain the live bait.
The highlight off the bottom was mid week when some nice yellowtail were found off of the various high spots. Most of these are taken on various baits and a few on yo-yo jigs. These fish were weighing in the 20 to 35 lb. range. Encouraging to see these yellowtail, we hope the bait situation improves some as the recent full moon darkens some more. In recent seasons the month of March has been the most productive for these popular gamefish.
Most numerous bottom species was the bonito, striking over the high spots, mainly on yo-yo jigs, we did also see limited numbers of grouper, snapper, whitefish, sheephead, amberjack and triggerfish, a couple of amberjack over 50 lb. were weighed in.
Billfish action slowed way down, we are only seeing an occasional striped marlin accounted for, no large bait concentrations now attracting these fish into any feeding frenzies.
Starting another new month, getting that much closer to spring season now, though this past week we felt the same wintry cold wave that had been sweeping through all of California, chilly 54 degree mornings with highs in the lower 70s. Scattered cloud cover, light ocean swells and water temperatures averaging about 70 degrees. It seems that the worst of the northern winds are past, though conditions still can be unpredictable on the fishing grounds further offshore.
Bait supplies have been sporadic from day to day, at times limited numbers of sardinas were found, as well as some jacks, caballito, other days there were some mackerel and as usual there were ballyhoo and slabs of squid available. The majority of the fishing action is now being done off the grounds from Punta Gorda, to Iman and San Luis Banks.
The striped marlin action slowed way down from how it was the previous week, just a few marlin being found spread out through the region, no large concentrations. The number of dorado were not as high either, this can be the case during winter season, though we are seeing dorado everyday and there were even a few bulls over 20 lb. accounted for. Some charters even found limits of these fish, while others worked hard to find one or two. These fish were striking both on lures and various baits.
Bottom action has been slow to get going this season, main catch now being bonito on the San Luis Bank. Highlights were one yellowtail of about 25 lb. and a handful of broomtail grouper up to 30 lb. Also a mix of small snapper and triggerfish. Along the shoreline there were a few sierra and smaller sized roosterfish being found. As weather and water warm some we expect this action to improve.
Later in the week as winds laid down some anglers found chances at hooking into yellowfin tuna on the Iman Bank. On Friday several nice tuna were landed, the largest being a 90 lb. fish, others in the 40 to 60 lb. class. All of these yellowfin were taken while drift fishing with strips of squid, time of day did not seem to matter, some anglers had luck early and others later in the day.
Sighting whales seem to be one of the more consistent activities these days, these mammals should be around for another month or so before they srart heading back to their northern summer feeding grounds.
