Anglers –
June 30, 2018
As we progress further into the summer season we are seeing moderate crowds of tourists arriving, many of these are family groups enjoying the start of school vacations. Tropical storms are recently forming off of Southern Mexico and heading off to the west, staying clear of any impact with land. TS Emilia far off to the west and weakening rapidly at this time. Looks like newly forming TS Fabio with follow the same westerly path as did Emilia. Pacific currents are still pushing in off of San Jose del Cabo and to the north, creating cooler and greenish water conditions, we have seen water warming back in to the 76 degree range, but still it is very stirred up and off colored, swells have been moderate.
Bait supplies consisted of caballito, mullet and some sardinas. On the fishing grounds there have been sporadic baifiish schooling, some days not as much. Also lots of sharks now on the fishing grounds from Iman Bank and towards San Luis. There was good action for red snapper (huachinango) for anglers using yo-yo jigs, the problem was the sharks were so numerous and aggressively taking the hooked fish and cutting off many lines in the process, these large concentrations of sharks seem to be a new issue we are dealing with the last couple of seasons.
Other shallow water structure fishing producing various species of grouper, yellow snapper, pompano, bonito and a few amberjack. Along the shore roosterfish and jack crevalle were the most common fish, a few late season sierra in the mix. The majority of the roosterfish being found were in the 10 to 20 lb. class, though a few fish up in the fifty pound class were encountered further north near San Luis where water clarity was better. Still no action for dogtooth snapper, this is the time of year where these brutes are found patrolling the inshore rocky reefs, we are hoping for a late season flurry for these largest of all snapper.
The striped marlin action continues outside of Iman and towards Desteladera, some days better than others, no large concentration like a month ago, though everyday there is billfish action reported. Many smaller sized marlin in the 40 to 60 lb. range, also a handful of nicer sized stripers up to 140 lb. Trolling lures, baits, casting to tailing fish or drift fishing baits down deeper were all producing marlin strikes.
Only a few smaller sized dorado seen recently. The yellowfin tuna action was mainly now found further offshore associated with fast traveling porpoise, most of this activity was from 15 to 30 miles offshore. Spotty action, a lot of searching involved and the tuna being found were averaging in the 12 to 18 lb. range
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 77 charters for this week. Anglers reported a fish count of: 29 striped marlin, 5 dorado, 26 yellowfin tuna, 8 pompano, 125 bonito, 1 yellowtail, 1 corvina, 16 yellow snapper, 105 red snapper, 22 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 14 baqueta, 3 broomtail grouper, 8 amberjack, 70 roosterfish, 11 barred pargo, 1 sculpin, 16 sierra, 85 triggerfish and 24 jack crevalle.
Good fishing, Eric