Anglers –

December 6, 2014

We continue to have good sized crowds of sun worshipping vacationers arrive in Los Cabos. Great time to visit now, ideal fall weather patterns, clear sunny skies, with high temperatures of about 85 degrees. The north winds we had last week were not much of a factor this week, stronger breezes increased more often later in the day. Ocean water temperatures are now ranging in the 79 to 82 degree range, with clean blue water being found in close proximity.

Anglers have opportunities for a variety of pelagic gamefish which are now present on our local fishing grounds, including yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo, skipjack, sailfish, striped marlin and others. The abundance of skipjack, bolito and other natural baitfish that congregate on the same popular grounds have been much more limited this past week, the better option for bait source was to secure sardinas through the commercial fleet, they were netting these baitfish near Red Hill and towards Chileno, also schooling sardinas were found north of Vinorama, quite a long distance north.

There were reports that offshore from Cabo San Lucas there were yellowfin tuna encountered, this was best done on a larger charter, as these fish were found further offshore and open waters were unpredictable. The San Jose del Cabo fleet found their more consistent action coming from proven areas, such as the Gordo Banks, La Fortuna, Iman Bank and north to Vinorama. Yellowfin tuna in the 10 to 30 lb. class was probably the most common fish, besides skipjack, they were striking on sardinas on lighter tackle, while drift fishing with fly lined baits or using very light sinkers, this is normal most popular technique. Schools of a variety of bonito and skipjack were mixing in, as were roaming packs of wahoo.

The bite was more finicky in recent days, some areas would be very goodr one day and then tough the very next and the best action was shifting further towards Vinorama. Most charters were catching a combination of species. There continued to be the larger grade of yellowfin hanging around the Gordo Banks, we know of at least one yellowfin tuna in the 250 pound class that was caught earlier this week from a private center console, they hooked up with the cow while trolling a live skipjack. Other big tuna were lost after extending battles and a handful of 50 to 90 pound tuna were accounted for as well. But overall the numbers on these larger yellowfin were very few.

The best chances at hooking into a wahoo recently was while using live chihuil baitfish, slowed trolled over the inshore structure and ledges north of Punta Gorda. Though chihuil baitfish were not easy to obtain, only found seasonally in certain spots, special chum and small bait techniques required. Wahoo to over forty pound were landed, several charters were more fortunate, landing three or four wahoo, while losing at least as many strikes. Most anglers were doing very well to account for an all-around catch of, one wahoo, maybe two or three quality tuna, handful of skipjack and a dorado or two, as a bonus. Dorado were scattered, some charters were finding two or three, while others never reported seeing one, no particular place, hit or miss, luck of the draw, most dorado were weighing in the 8 to 20 lb. range.

Billfish were encountered spread out, no big numbers, some striped marlin, occasional sailfish in the mix, but then always a chance at the larger black or blue marlin, especially with warm currents still holding in the region.

Bottom action was limited, plenty of triggerfish, a few amberjack, snapper and cabrilla. Inshore sierra are hitting early in the morning, hoochies, Rapalas or smaller baitfish was the best way to entice these feisty smaller gamefish.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 126 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 3 sailfish, 6 striped marlin, 190 yellowfin tuna, 57 wahoo, 35 sierra, 22 jack crevalle, 25 bonito, 245 skipjack, 6 amberjack, 5 pompano, 22 pargo, 12 cabrilla and 25 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric