January 22, 2023

Noticeably quieter this past week as for number of anglers arriving, never peak season now, cooler weather and more north wind is always a factor this time of year. Ocean water temperatures dipped down to 68 degrees and winds even more unpredictable, picking up most days from the north by mid morning, sometimes limiting what options are available. Live sardinas rebounded a bit this week, still not overly abundant, but they have been an option most days, as well as ballyhoo, slabs of squid and some days mackerel.

The main fishing grounds now concentrated on have been from the Gordo Banks, Punta Gorda, Cardon to Iman Bank. Yellowfin tuna up to 80 lb. have been found on the Iman Bank, mainly drift fishing with strips of squid, no big numbers at all, but if putting in a good effort there are chances of quality yellowfin, most anglers lucky to land one, but some had a couple, winds was a factor on these grounds, making it hard at times, too fast of a drift, lots of bait needed. 

Dorado were still spread out on these same grounds, striking more often on trolled ballyhoo, sizes to 15 lb., average of two to four per boat. Last weekend a few wahoo were landed, one 52 lb. fish won the local tournament, though since we have not seen these fish, water is too cold now, these pelagic species migrate further south this time of year.

Only a few striped marlin being found, run is late to show on local grounds, we expect more marlin to show up in local waters soon. We have seen more productive bottom action in recent days, using various baits, as well as yo-yo style jigs. A handful of impressive sized amberjack, as large as 71 lb., also quality yellow snapper, bonito, leopard grouper and others. We will be doing more of this structure action in coming months as surface action typically fades out during the colder months.

More inshore sierra action and juvenile roosterfish scion is starting to be seen, hopefully supplies of sardinas hang in there, because we rely on those baitfish during the winter season.

Good Fishing, Eric

January 15, 2023

As we progress further into the winter season we are seeing the normal tourist flow in from mainly North America, people trying to escape the cold, seeking out warmer climate. Los Cabos always seems to be one of the more popular and conventional destinations. Weather patterns have not disappointed anyone, ideal clear sunny warm skies, lows of about 60 degrees and high of 80 degrees, not much more could you expect for this time of year. Ocean conditions have been nice for the most part, slight swells, variable wind, predominantly from the north, picking up later in the day.

Big news this past week is that there were schools of sardinas once again being found near the Puerto Los Cabos Marina channel entrance, the first time we have seen these since early October. This was bait of choice for this week’s action, as well as ballyhoo and strips of squid, caballito now scarce due to cooler currents. Water temperature is now in the 70 to 73 degree range. Of course supplies were limited, sardinas were larger sized, so there weren’t a lot of extra amounts to enable freely chumming.

Most popular fishing grounds this week were from Cardon, La Fortuna and Iman Banks. Highlights were yellowfin tuna, ranging in sizes from 15 to 70 lb. Of course everyone and their brother found out about sardinas showing up and the tuna biting and this put heavy pressure on the relatively small area where these fish were concentrated. So as the week progressed the yellowfin became much more finicky and hard to entice. Ocean conditions also change daily, water on a cooling trend, with clarity fluctuating from day today as well. Early weeks many charters were able to land a couple nice quality sized tuna, but by weekend numbers were way down and anglers were fortunate to land even one tuna.

Dorado are still the most numerous gamefish now being encountered, though with cooling conditions these fish were found in less numbers than previous weeks, average of two or three per charter, sizes ranging from 5 to 15 lb. Wahoo season is pretty over now, though a few of them are still being seen, these fish migrate further south when water dips in the low 70s.

We saw some better bottom action during the first part of the week with sardinas attracting some quality sized yellow snapper, leopard grouper and even a few amberjack. But this action was still not a consistent option, changing daily, as were the currents and other contributing factors.

We saw a few more sierra in the fish counts, along with bonito, triggerfish and some roosterfish up to 15 lb. were landed and released along the local sandy beach stretches.

Good Fishing, Eric

January 8, 2023

Holiday crowds continued this past week, but in the coming days the majority of these tourists will be heading back to school and work as vacation time expires. Weather patterns remained ideal, lows of about 60 degrees and highs of 80 degrees or more, clear sunny skies. Variable winds picking up most days later in the morning.  Ocean water temperatures continue to be on a cooling trend, now in the 72 to 74 degree range. With the cooler currents we are seeing more greenish off colored areas, especially closer to shore.

The bait situation remained much the same, not many caballito being found at all, ballyhoo and slabs of squid are available everyday, also mackerel and sardineta schools are now congregating off of the San Jose del Cabo Hotel Zone, about three miles offshore, so this will be a new option for anglers, using the sabiki rigs.

For local fleets the main grounds now being targeted have been straight off of the Puerto Los Cabos Marina region, where mackerel schools are now congregated and north to the Gordo Banks, Iman, San Luis, La Fortuna and Cardon. Dorado have been the most common game fish being found, many charters able to fill their limits on fish up to 20 lb., average of 5 to 15 lb. Striking best on trolled ballyhoo.

Wahoo action has faded out, only a few of these seen all week, as with the cooler water temperature these pelagics are now migrating south to preferred temperate water temperatures.

Early in the week there was some quality yellowfin tuna action encountered near the Iman Bank, fish to 60 lb. taken while drift fishing with squid. Also off of San Luis Bank some nice tuna were hooked into on yo-yo jigs where anglers were also catching some nice white bonito up to 12 lb. Later in the week the tuna were harder to entice, also winds were up some days and made these further grounds less accessible.

Still not much going off the bottom rock piles besides the bonito, triggerfish and a few pargo and leopard grouper. With lack of sardinas not much sierra action or shallow water inshore action being targeted. Hopefully these cooling waters will bring in some new schools of sardinas, because they are always a valued bait resource for the coming winter season.

Good Fishing, Eric