Anglers –
November 14, 2015
Large crowds of visiting anglers continue to arrive in Los Cabos, as we now enter the second half of November, when the busy fall season comes to an end. Weather patterns are shifting to predominately northern winds, ranging up to 25 miles per hour mid-week and these winds were basically relentless for most of this past week. Skies were mostly clear, with high temperatures nearing 90 degrees, we do expect that we will be feeling cooler weather arrive by this coming week. Hard to say what these northern winds will do, normal pattern are several days of winds, then a couple calmer days, before repeating the same cycle. This does not mean that sportfishing operations come to halt, it does sometimes make for changing plans accordingly and trying to fish in areas more protected if possible. Ocean water temperatures are now at 84 degrees throughout the entire lower Baja zone, no real temperatures breaks found. Swells have been moderate, choppy ocean conditions found to the north due to gusting winds.
There are still no sardinas available locally, strips of squid continue to be used for targeting yellowfin tuna, ballyhoo are now being sold in the marina area, these have been working for dorado and chances at billfish or wahoo, also available have been live caballito. Other options when weather allowed was to try and catch your own chihuil off of the high spots. We expect to see schools of sardinas move back within range as water cools and heavy pressure resides.
The all-around fishing action was more limited this past week, mainly due to windy conditions which limited where charters could comfortably fish. The yellowfin tuna found associated with porpoise activity in the vicinity of and north of the Gordo Banks, became less frequent as to when and if at all the porpoise were even encountered, though some charters who concentrated on this and stuck with it did account for yellowfin tuna in the 40 to 70 lb. class, all of these fish hit on strips of squid. Other tuna action was found closer to shore, off of Punta Gorda and now in recent days reports of improved tuna action for a smaller grade of fish off of the Santa Maria area. All this action was also found using strips of squid, as there are no sardinas in the entire area now, with sardinas available this action would definitely be wide open.
Dorado action was producing nice quality fish in the 15 to 25 lb. range, some even larger. No huge numbers, but most charters were finding one or two, or as many as six, the majority were nice sized fish. Striking on various baits, particularly on rigged ballyhoo early in the day, as the sun rose, the action was more sporadic. Off of the Red Hill and Palmilla area there was good early morning action through most of the week, we heard of quality dorado action off of Cabo San Lucas as well. Also some reports of a handful of 200 lb. class yellowfin tuna being accounted for off of the Pacific banks, have not heard of any real large tuna off of the San Jose del Cabo grounds this past week.
There were some sailfish and striped marlin on the same grounds as were the dorado and tuna, no big numbers, but everyday some of these billfish were being hooked into. Wahoo action dropped off this past week, baitfish schools were more scattered after the choppy seas, Iman Bank had been where the wahoo were lurking, these fishing grounds were rough most of the week, hopefully conditions will settle down in time for this weekend’s annual wahoo event out of La Playita.
Bottom action included triggerfish, various pargo and snapper species, an occasional leopard grouper or rainbow runner.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 152 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 17 sailfish marlin, 18 striped marlin, 168 yellowfin tuna, 12 sierra, 14 rainbow runners, 15 huachinango (red snapper), 155 dorado, 18 wahoo, 16 yellow snapper, 95 triggerfish, 18 barred pargo, 8 bonito, 10 cabrilla and 6 roosterfish.
Good fishing, Eric