January 23, 2022

Light crowds now in Southern Baja, a great time to visit and enjoy the winter sunshine. This week we felt more normal weather conditions, unlike the heat wave of last week. Days were mostly cloud free, lots of sunshine, warming up into the upper 70s, though we did feel chilly lows of 55 degrees.  Still very comfortable compared to most of North America. Winds were predominantly from the north, resided over the weekend, most days were a non factor, as they picked up later in the day.

Bait resources were mainly for caballito and ballyhoo, with some sardineta and mackerel also being found on local fishing grounds. Ocean was on a cooling trend, 73 degree greenish current pushing itself south from Los Frailes, as much of the region off of San Jose del Cabo is holding 74 to 76 degrees, still warmer than usual for this time of year. Most charters are now fishing the grounds from Punta Gorda to La Fortuna. 

Most common catches have been for dorado, ranging up to 20 lb, with many boats landing their two fish per license limits. Wahoo were hanging around longer than normal this season, found fairly close to shore while trolling various baits and while casting jigs. Average size were under 20 lb., though we did see a couple of wahoo over 45 lb. Actually Sunday morning there is a wahoo tournament going on, 31 teams are competing for jackpot prizes that also include dorado and tuna.

Yellowfin tuna have not been regular catches for local fleets recently, though far offshore there have been yellowfin found traveling with schooling porpoise, too far for normal day charters to target. Marlin bite became more scattered, as large schools of baitfish have dispersed more and the striped marlin are moving around more, not just concentrated on certain spots. With more anglers now fishing closer to shore where action was good for dorado and wahoo. 

Not a lot of bottom action going on,though we did see some various snapper, cabrilla, bonito, tile fish and triggerfish come in. Along the beach stretches there have been some sierra, no big numbers, but they are now moving in, these fish prefer the cooler water. Lack of sardinas continues to be a set back for the inshore and shallow bottom options.

Good Fishing, Eric

January 16, 2022

Another light week for the number of tourists arriving in the Los Cabos region. Though weather conditions were ideal, an actual heat wave for winter time is not a normal deal. Sunny days reaching up to 85 degrees, felt more like early fall or late spring. Winds were variable, mainly from the north, but did not affect fishing much, as good fishing was found in close proximity. Ocean water temperatures varied from 73 to 77 degrees, coolest areas north near Los Frailes, where water color was also greenish.

Schools of baitfish were still found offshore from San Jose del Cabo hotel zone, where mackerel, caballito and sardineta were congregating. Other options have been ballyhoo and chihuil. Fleets have searched all different directions, most popular grounds recently were near La Fortuna, Punta Gorda and from Red Hill to straight offshore of San Jose del Cabo. 

Striped marlin action remains very good, most boats targeting the billfish have had multiple opportunities, more often 4 to 10 miles from shore. Feeding marlin were often encountered and made for some fast action. Sizes ranged from 70 to 120 lb. These same grounds produced a mix of dorado, though more numbers of dorado were found closer to shore, where charters were often landed limits for their clients. Sizes ranged to 20 lb. average were more often about 10 lb.

Wahoo action was scattered and hit or miss, best chances seem to be from Punta Gorda to La Fortuna, a few wahoo in the 50 lb. class were accounted for, but no significant numbers at all, took a lot of patience and effort to have a realistic chance. This coming Sunday Puerto Los Cabos is having a wahoo tournament, should be interesting to see how the wahoo cooperate, there are also jackpots involved for tuna and dorado.

Bottom action showed a little better signs of improvement, as a handful of nice leopard grouper, yellow snapper, barred pargo and bonito were accounted for.Inshore there were some juvenile sized roosterfish and sierra being found, but no big numbers, we are missing the live sardinas for this action. Environmental changes seem to be contributing to not seeing these baitfish in our area for the past several months.

Good Fishing, Eric

January 9, 2022

The majority of the Holiday Season crowds have now returned home and we are seeing noticeably less numbers of tourists in town. Compounded by the latest variant of Covid now causing scores of cancellations and more postponements of travel plans for the near future. We will hope this latest wave passes quickly so we can get back to normal lifestyles. We felt a cold wave this past week, low temperature one morning was 54 degrees, though daytime highs are still reaching the upper 70s. Ocean water temperatures are on a cooling trend as well, now down in the 76 to 77 degrees range, which is still at least several degrees warmer than normal for this time frame.

The wide open marlin bite straight offshore of San Jose del Cabo tapered off some, as bait concentrations seem to be scattering more. Though the striped marlin bite is still on, with feeders seen early in the day and many charters still accounting for multiple fish. Many fish are being hooked while drift fishing or slow trolling various baits. Average size marlin being in the 70 to 90 lb. class, a small percentage to 100 lb. or more. A handful of sailfish are found on these same grounds.

Dorado bite slowed down compared to last week, but most charters are finding one or two of these fish, some are accounting for limits, sizes to 20 lb., though the majority were less than ten pounds. They were being found from the same marlin grounds, as well as very close to shore, near where sierra and smaller sized roosterfish are being found along the beach stretches.

Wahoo are still in the area, though anglers have been fortunate to land one, we saw small sized sierra like wahoo, as well as fish to 50 lb. Still a good chance at these elusive fish, as conditions remain favorable and pressure is lighter than we have seen for the past couple of months. There is a Wahoo Tournament out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina slated for January 23, with jackpot categories for tuna and dorado as well.

The only yellowfin tuna we have heard about are being found further offshore associated with moving porpoise. Most days 20 to 40 miles offshore, out of range for normal morning charters, but possible with paying fuel surcharges.
Winds were a bit unpredictable and variable, most days picking up from the north, but on Saturday we felt a big blow out of the south. Greenish colored water is moving south from Los Frailes, now nearing La Fortuna area, cleaning blue water found straight off San Jose del Cabo and to the south.

Still lots of marine life for added attractions, whales, sea lions, manta rays, turtles, etc..

Good Fishing, Eric
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