November 27, 2010
We hope everyone has enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday, as we now wind down this fall season and gear up for wintertime events. The Los Cabos area has remained busy through this past week, with many anglers visiting and taking advantage of the various offshore options now available. Days have been mostly clear and sunny, breezes from the north were moderate and ocean conditions were acceptable, clean warm water was found within a mile of shore, currents have been swift much of the time, with water temperatures now averaging 77 to 79 degrees. Ideal time for targeting yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo and other popular species, still a chance at hooking into a late season black or blue marlin, as we now see increasing numbers of striped marlin moving into local waters.
There have been reports of mackerel and sardinetas being found locally, this will open up options and certain bring in more dorado, as well as striped marlin. Last weekend a local La Playita panga was fishing from a 22 ft. panga near the Iman Bank when he hooking into a large black marlin that he finally landed some five hours later, this fish was estimated to weigh in the 600 to 650 pound range. Striped marlin were moving closer to Cabo San Lucas and off of San Jose del Cabo, where on Thursday local fleets found excellent action within five miles of shore.
The most common fish now being targeted out of the San Jose del Cabo area has been the yellowfin tuna, wahoo and now increasing numbers of dorado. Action has ranged mainly in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, from the Gordo Banks to La Fortuna and Iman Bank. There has been quality action found in the direction of Palimlla to Chileno as well, a mix of the same species. Consistent action was found within a few miles of shore. Trolling Rapalas, skirted lead heads, feathers and various baits have been used in combination with different baitfish to find success.
Chihuil baitfish are now being caught on the fishing grounds and used as trolling baits, particularly for wahoo, which continue to provide good action off of the spots to the north of Punta Gorda. Last weekend the La Playita Wahoo Tournament was a success, though it was a bit breezy that day, anglers participating on close to 70 teams accounted for about 50 total wahoo, largest jackpot fish was caught by Bob Smith of Minerva’s Tackle, C.S.L. A monster 81 pound wahoo that hit on a rigged ballyhoo near the Cardon area, Bob was fishing from a local 22 ft. La Playita panga, congratulations on the trophy fish!
Supplies of sardinas became more scattered towards the north and pangeros were having difficulty to find sufficient supplies every day, but good news is the past couple of days the situation seemed to be on an improving trend, along with live sardinas there were options of dead brined ballyhoo and sardina.
Yellowfin tuna were striking best of sardinas, either live or dead. Larger grade of tuna were holding on t he Gordo Banks, often hard to entice, finicky, but definitely in the area, largest fish this past week ranged upwards of 200 pounds, many other fish were in the 90 to 165 lb. range, also many stories of extended battles resulting in lost hook ups, since the yellowin have been more shy, anglers opted for lighter weight leaders and often ended up losing out on larger fish. Schooling porpoise were holding larger sized yellowfin tuna as well, if an angler happened to be in the right place at the correct moment, they could find themselves in for an endurance test.
Yellowfin tuna were schooling on the Iman Bank, most of these fish were in the 10 to 20 pound class, an odd 40 to 50 pound tuna occasionally accounted for, charters from this area normally were accounting for 2 or 3, up to 12 tuna per day.
Other action included significantly more numbers of dorado moving into the area, following migrating schools of baitfish, these fish were found spread throughout the zone, striking on lures and baits, averaging 8 to 15 pounds, with larger bulls mixed in. Not much off the bottom due to stronger currents, a handful of dogtooth snapper, amberjack, cabrilla and of course a few sharks. Sierras are now in daily fish counts, we look for these members of the mackerel family to become active during the next few months and provide anglers with close to shore light tackle options.
The combined local La Playita panga fleets sent out approximately 184 charters, with anglers reports a fish count of: 1 black marlin, 3 blue marlin, 11 striped marlin, 88 wahoo, 515 yellowfin tuna, 162 dorado, 15 amberjack, 6 dogtooth snapper, 23 cabrilla, 16 roosterfish and 34 sierra.
Good Fishing, Eric