GORDO BANKS PANGAS
January 26th, 2025
Water conditions were significantly better this week, specially in the area of La Fortuna and 25. Water conditions are not ideal, but it did clear up compared to the previous weeks. Temperature was a couple degrees warmer as well, some areas around 68-69.
We are now mostly focusing on yellowfin tuna in the area of La Fortuna and 25. Not a wide-open bite but there is a good chance at hooking into a nice yellowfin. These tuna were caught on strips of squid, a few on live caballito and sardines if available. Most of the tuna caught on caballito and sardines are averaging around 15-30 pounds. The bigger tuna were hooked on strips of squid. Most of these bigger fish were in the range of 60 to 100 pounds. Earlier in the week, we did see one tuna close to 150 and another one around 130 pounds. The local guys are focusing on this bite later in the day as most bites came closer to noon. This weekend, one boat reported catching 3 nice size tuna, another one 6 on an afternoon trip.
While drifting strips of squid, there is a good chance at catching something on the bottom. A better bottom bite was reported at San Luis later in the week. One boat tried jigging early in the morning and landed 5 red snapper and a couple white Bonita, while loosing a few more nice fish. Water is a bit colder and greenish towards San Luis.
Palmilla Point and Cerro Colorado continue to produce a decent bottom bite on jigs and live sardines. Most boats are focusing on the grounds of La Fortuna as they target tuna but Palmilla is not a bad area to fish right now. This Saturday, one of our boats landed 4 yellowtail, a couple snapper, a couple white Bonita, and 4 big Sierra. 2 of the yellowtail came on jigs, 2 on live sardines. Some are also seeing some nice grouper and a few amberjack in the mix.
Conditions continue to improve as we start to see water warm and clear up on our high spots.