Find more about Weather in San Jose Del Cabo, MX | Click for weather forecast | Water Temperature in Cabo | Wind Report in Cabo | Tidal Chart

Wind does not Slow Wahoo, Dorado Action ~ December 11, 2022

Posted on by

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

December 11, 2022 

Good crowds of tourists continue to arrive in Los Cabos, greeted by great weather, clear sunny skies, with highs near 85 degrees. We had patterns of north winds through much of the week, but anglers did well fishing closer to shore in the more protected calmer waters. Ocean swells now very slight and water temperature is averaging about 78 degrees. 

Over the recent full moon the schools of caballito seemed to have vanished from inside the marina channel area, so the fleet was now relying more on ballyhoo and if possible catching their own chihuil on the Inner Gordo Banks. Around the corner on the Pacific there are large schools of mackerel and wide open striped marlin action, but that activity has not shifted in the direction of San Jose del Cabo yet. Later this month we expect that these schooling mackerel will migrate into the direction of the Sea of Cortez as they always do, everything is a bit different this season with the ocean temperature being warmer than normal.

Most popular fishing grounds recently have been from Punta Gorda, Cardon and Iman Bank. This is where anglers have been finding good numbers of dorado while trolling lures and various baits. We even saw a few dorado in the 30 lb. range, though most of these do-do’s were in the 6 to 15 lb. class. Wahoo were a main target species as well on these same grounds. Everyday we are seeing varying numbers of wahoo brought in, sizes ranging up to 40 lb.. Some fortunate anglers landed as many as four during a morning outing, though most charters were doing well to find one or maybe two. Of course as is usual more wahoo were hooked up and lost than were actually landed. Oftentimes these ‘hoo were acting very finicky, following the slow trolled baits closely but not wanting to strike the baits. The fresh live chihuil seemed to be their favorite. Others did strike on the rigged ballyhoo, as well as on trolled rapalas of skirted lead heads.

Yellowfin tuna action just was not going on now, we saw a couple of tuna caught this week, incidental catches on the same wahoo and dorado grounds. Would be nice if we saw schools of sardinas rebound, those are always a favored baitfish for chumming and enticing the tuna to feed. With water conditions still so favorable we are optimistic for the fishing to remain steady into the new year.

Only scattered billfish now on our local grounds, as the main action for the stripers is now over on the Pacific. Also not much at all going on off the bottom of along the beach stretches.

Good Fishing, Eric–

Wahoo, Dorado Main Target ~ December 4, 2022

Posted on by
December 4, 2022 

More crowds of tourists continue to arrive in Los Cabos, taking advantage of the great climate and all of the outdoor activities offered. We are seeing pristine conditions, clear sunny skies, highs of 80 degrees and lows averaging 65 degrees, last week we saw lows down to 55 degrees, though this week conditions warmed some. Ocean swells very slight, water temperatures dropping slowly, still in the 77 to 80 degree range.

Bait supplies remain steady for caballito and ballyhoo, with slabs of squid being offered, but with the lack of tuna action are not being used much. Another option is trying to chum up chihuil on the Inner Gordo, which takes extra time and is never a guarantee.

For local charters most action recently has been centered on the grounds from Cardon, La Fortuna and Iman Bank. This is where dorado and wahoo are being found. Anglers are using a mix of lures as well as rigged ballyhoo and slow trolling live baits, which have probably been the most successful technique. Lots of pressure on these same areas and fish have been increasingly more spooky. Average catches ranged from a couple of fish, up to 6 to 8. Dorado sizes were up to 20 lb. and wahoo to 45 lb., though average were more like 20 to 30 lb. 

Tuna have been scarce, though we have seen a few, most of these under 25 lb., found on the same grounds as were the dorado and wahoo. We hear of reports of yellowfin tuna being far offshore traveling with porpoise, some 40 plus miles outside of Cabo San Lucas and about a 70 mile run each way from Puerto Los Cabos Marina, way too far for an average day charter, these tuna were reportedly in the 15 to 25 lb. class.

Billfish action was red hot on the Pacific side of the Peninsula, though we saw more this past week of the striped marlin showing off of San Jose del Cabo as well, with sizes ranging to about 130 lb.

Very little bottom or inshore action now going on. Whales have been a bit behind schedule for arriving, but are now showing slowly in greater numbers and will be around for the next few months.

As has been a ongoing deal the past five years or so the spear fishing crowds come out in numbers this time of year, going after the prized wahoo on the inshore grounds where all of the rod and reel anglers are as well. One of their favorite areas is close off Punta Gorda. This used to be a great place for fishing and have chances at catching the late season wahoo, but with so many spearos in the water in this relatively small zone the fishery can not sustain both forms of sport. It is to the point that authorities should place restrictions on certain regions on where spearos are allowed versus rod and reel anglers. But of course there has never been much thought of protecting future fish stocks locally, it is more of the attitude of what can be found today and who cares about the future.

Good Fishing, Eric

Windy Conditions, Wahoo & Dorado Bite ~ November 27, 2022

Posted on by
November 27, 2022 

We saw another wave of holiday vacationers arriving this past week. Weather patterns were great for the fall season, as much of the U.S. is now chilling off quickly. Relentless north winds were an issue, this limited where anglers could comfortably and efficiently put in their efforts. Ocean temperatures were still in the 78 to 80 degree range, warmer than usual for this time frame. This weekend we saw low early morning temperatures dip to 55 degrees, this cooling trend will most certainly contribute to an ocean cooling trend as well. Days were still mostly sunny and highs near 80 degrees. 

Bait options remained the same, caballito, ballyhoo, slabs of squid and some charters were able to catch chihuil. The mackerel which had been schooling offshore of the marina area, seem to have temporarily scattered, in turn slowing the striped marlin action, we expect this action to rebound as water temperature cools some. No reports of any sardinas being found, have not seen these baitfish at all since mid October when big tournaments started.

Despite relentless north winds the local fleets were able to find calmer conditions close to shore on grounds such as Cardon, La Fortuna, at times outside on Iman Bank, but these grounds were more vulnerable to the winds. Wahoo and dorado were found closer to shore where winds did not hit too bad. Trolling live bait was most productive, dorado were found on these same grounds. More wahoo strikes were missed than were actual fish landed, as is normal for these elusive gamefish. Sizes of the wahoo averaged 20 to 35 lb., we saw a few nicer dorado to over 30 lb. this week, though the majority were more in the 10 lb. range. Numbers of fish per charter ranged from one or two to 8 or 10 in combination.

Tuna action still very spotted, a handful of yellowfin were accounted for, from the Vinorama and Iman Banks, these fish ranged to 60 lb. Though drift style fishing is never easy on choppy  and windy grounds. The tuna are definitely in the area still and we are optimistic as wind patterns reside we expect this action to become more consistent.

Not much going on inshore or off the bottom now, most charters are targeting surface action for larger gamefish. Sardinas are always the preferred bait for late fall and winter action closer to shore and for off the shallow rock piles, so we are crossing our fingers that some schools of sardinas will reappear soon.

Good Fishing, Eric