January 1, 20223

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S

Well another year is in the books. This past week we saw larger crowds of families arriving, many of them deciding to make late notice fishing reservations. As weather was very ideal compared to much of North America, where freezing temperatures were being endured. Local conditions were mostly clear with warm sunny skies, high temperatures to 80 degrees, slight ocean swells, variable winds, predominantly from the north and usually picking up later in the day. Overall, very  nice winter time conditions.

Fishing action centered on the grounds from Punta Gorda, Cardon, La Fortuna, Iman and the Gordo Banks. Water temperatures continued to be on a cooling trend, now averaging in the 72 to 75 degree range, also as can happen this time of year, swift currents are pushing in some more off colored greenish waters. Bait sources have had heavy pressure, limited supplies of live caballito, ballyhoo and slabs of squid remained the mainstay for anglers.

Considering the time of year some very impressive catches were being accounted for. Dorado up to 25 lb., though most were in the 8 to 15 lb. class, were probably the most numerous of all gamefish now being found, anglers used both lures and bait, with more fish being hooked up on various baits, close to shore as well, often the bite came on stronger late morning. Wahoo were still in the area but with changing ocean currents, not as many were being hooked into, we were just seeing a few each day by the combined fleet, spear fishermen were accounting for the majority, a couple up near 60 lb. that we saw.

Yellowfin tuna bite actually improved over the previous week, they were found on the Iman Bank, Cardon and even close off of Punta Gorda, striking more often on the strips of squid, but also on caballito. Average sizes were 15 to 30 lb., but we saw some quality sized yellowfin up to 70, 80 and the largest of all was 116 lb. fish hauled in on Thursday. Despite not being found in large numbers, this was a great end of the year showing for these tuna.

Billfish action remained steady on the Pacific side, but was very limited in the direction off of San Jose del Cabo, just a few scattered striped marlin encountered. This is the time of year now that the billfish action does start shifting in the direction of the Sea of Cortez.

Not much bottom or inshore activity to report, a few miscellaneous species such as leopard grouper, bontio, pargo and triggerfish hooked into, most of this while anglers were drift fishing and targeting the yellowfin tuna.

More numbers of whales arriving throughout the region with each passing day, peak migration of these migrating mammals seems to have arrived.

Good Fishing, Eric

December 25, 2022 

Busy times now for all local families, preparing for the Holiday Season, enduring all of the season’s traditional fiestas, posadas and more. Only moderate numbers of anglers in town now, though quite a few vacationing families are arriving, taking advantage of the ideal winter time climate. Clear sunny skies, with 80 degree highs.

With ocean water temperatures now ranging 75 to 77 degrees, we are still seeing some excellent action for some of the most popular pelagic gamefish species, with main target species now being dorado, yellowfin tuna and wahoo, some fortunate anglers are catching a gram slam of all three of these fish during one morning outing. 

Center of activity has been in close proximity, from Cardon, La Fortuna and off of Punta Gorda.

Live bait became scarce this past week, with the main bait now being used either ballyhoo or slabs of squid. Some anglers have been able to obtain chihuil, but as usual that is never a guarantee.

The yellowfin tuna have mostly come from the Cardon area, within a mile or two of shore, while drift fishing with strips of squid. Sizes ranged from 20 to 70 lb. Some charters accounted for up to four tuna. Bite varied a bit everyday, depending on currents etc…though overall this was the best yellowfin action we have seen in the past month.

Dorado continue to be the most common fish being hooked up, limits and additional releases being a common deal, sizes were mostly under ten pounds, but some exceptions of larger bulls up to 15 lb., striking mainly on trolled ballyhoo.

Wahoo are still around in good numbers, but are more finicky, as there continues to an unprecedented amount of spear fishing chasing these same fish on the grounds where rod and reel anglers are also concentrated. Best chances for the wahoo was on slow trolled trap hooked live baits, but bait was tougher to find recently. A percentage of wahoo were striking on rapalas and ballyhoo, as well as on cast and retrieved yo-yo style jigs. Again like the tuna, some of the more fortunate anglers were able to land up to four wahoo on one trip. with other hook ups lost as well. Average size for the wahoo was 20 to 30, but we saw fish to over 40 b. as well.

Not much billfish action on the San Jose del Cabo grounds now, as the main mass of striped marlin is still on the Pacific grounds. Also not much inshore or bottom action going on either. Though more and more whales are now arriving, as well as porpoise, sea lions and turtles, all providing extra entertainment for boat goers.

Good Fishing, Eric

December 18, 2022 

One week before Christmas and as usual we saw slightly less tourists arriving, a lull before the Holiday Season rush. A cold front also pushed in the past few days, we saw low temperatures down into 58 degree range and highs reached only 76 degrees, as skies were cloudy at times early before sun came through later in the day. Winds were predominately from the north most of the week, laying down some over the weekend.

Ocean swells were very slight, water temperature slowing cooling, now averaging 77 to 78 degrees. Bait supplies have been somewhat limited past couple of weeks, though we have seen schooling caballito rebound some, supplies of ballyhoo and slabs of squid have been fairly steady. Still no reports of sardinas being found within range of local commercial pangeros.

The most productive action recently was found between Cardon and Punta Gorda, all within a couple miles of shore. This is where good numbers of dorado up to 15 lb. were found, as well as wahoo and yellowfin tuna. Wahoo were a bit more elusive this past week, spooky from spear gun pressure as well as normal boat traffic, though some nice wahoo were accounted for, we saw a couple of very impressive fish in the 60 to 70 lb. class. Though average wahoo were in the 20 to 40 lb. range. The ‘hoo were striking on trolled baits, as well as rapalas and at times on cast jigs.

Yellowfin tuna action has been very spotty for the past month now, though this week we saw more tuna action than during previous weeks. Mainly near Cardon, but also on Iman and even close off of Punta Gorda. A couple of charters were lucky and accounted for as many as four yellowfin in a morning. We saw weights up to 70 lb., with average tuna landed being in the 20 to 60 lb. class. Not a consistent bite though, one day we saw a handful and the next we would see one. They hit mainly on the strips of squid, but a few were taken on baits rigged for wahoo, such as ballyhoo or caballito. Some charters have been able to chum up their own chihuil baits, which can be candy at times for wahoo, but also a lot of fishing time can be used up to try to obtain them.

Marlin bite is red hot on the Pacific but we are only seeing a few scattered striped marlin on local grounds off of San Jose del Cabo. Inshore there have been a few sierra and smaller roosterfish found, but other than that not much going on. Same for off the bottom, a few bonito and triggerfish and a handful of leopard grouper. 

Typically  this is the time of year where we start to see improved action off the shallow rock piles. Though with the dorado and wahoo biting, most anglers are opting to target them.

Good Fishing, Eric

—