April 13, 2019

Anglers –

Waves of spring break vacationers are arriving, many family groups, only a limited numbers of serious hard core anglers, as most know that it is now in between peak seasons for many of the more popular gamefish. Weather patterns were typical for early spring time, we felt crazy cool low temperatures later in the week, actually down to 52 degrees, this before the sun came up and mid-day high temperatures reached the upper 80s. Winds were a bit unpredictable as well, most mornings were calmer, but we saw some afternoon and evening wind gusts to 20 mph plus. Ocean water temperature was in the 71 to 74 degree range, clarity was a bit greenish closer to shore due to stirred up afternoon windy conditions.

Various baitfish were available, including moonfish, caballito, limited sardinas and some ballyhoo and slabs of squid. Anglers were also catching a variety of species while using yo-yo style jigs. One nice wahoo was hooked into on a blue/white yo-yo off of the Iman Bank, we did not hear of any other wahoo taken. Dorado were not found this week either and only a handful of yellowfin tuna were reported, most of these from La Fortuna to San Luis, ranging to 50 lb., but very few were landed, even though on some days they were seen breezing on the surface.

Billfish action was not happening much either, at least off of the local San Jose del Cabo grounds, some striped marlin were spotted, but not interested in any offerings. Increased numbers of sea lions were noticed on the local high spots, making it difficult to land fish at times.

The most consistent action now was working the various rock piles, from Palmilla Point, Red Hill, Gordo Banks, Cardon, La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis. A mix of great eating species were found, most numerous were the Eastern Pacific bonito, also red snapper, amberjack, leopard grouper and a few broomtail grouper One amberjack of 70 lb. was accounted for, others in the 15 to 30 lb. class. The majority of this bottom action was found while using the yo-yo jigs, some on whole and cut baits.

Along the shoreline there were some smaller sized roosterfish and a few sierra, but nothing going as far as any wide open near shore action at this time.

The combined sportfishing fleet out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina reported an estimated 66 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 4 yellowfin tuna, 1 wahoo, 15 leopard grouper, 2 broomtail grouper, 170 bonito, 48 red snapper, 5 barred pargo, 3 African pompano, 4 yellow snapper, 18 amberjack, 12 golden eyed tilefish, 4 glasseye snapper, 2 sierra, 12 roosterfish and 75 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric

Anglers –

April 6, 2019

We continued to see waves of spring break vacationers arriving, many of these being families, as well as the college groups. The climate is definitely feeling spring like as well, mostly clear skies, lows about 65 degree, reaching 85 degrees later in the day, ideal time to visit.

The winds have been moderate, most of the strong northerlies now past, ocean currents continuing to vary, quite strong at times. Ocean temperatures averaged 72 degrees, early in

the week certain regions reported 74 degrees. Water clarity had been on a cleaning trend, then with changing currents became it bit greenish again, time of year that things can change rapidly from day to day.

Charters are using a combination of bait sources, ballyhoo, slabs of squid, as well as limited supplies of sardinas, chihuil action faded out this week, some imported rec crabs were obtained for red snapper action by the commercial panga fleet. Anglers were also using some yo-yo jigs and Rapalas.

Most common catch has been the Eastern Pacific bonito, schooling over high spots throughout the area, average size 4 to 6 lb., some up over 10 lb. These are a good eating fish, similar to tuna, same family species and scrappy fighters on light tackle. A few cabrilla, pargo, snapper and amberjack, of course lots of triggerfish. Some quality size huachinango were accounted for, one monster amberjack near 100 lb. was landed from a panga mid-week, they were using  a whole bonito for bait. The yellowtail action we saw last week seemed to stall out, we expect to still see more activity for these jacks.

Wahoo, marlin and dorado were not easy to find, though we did see a handful early in the week, we expect as water warms we will see more activity from these gamefish. Yellowfin tuna are being hooked into every day, mainly on strips of squid for bait, best spot was the Iman Bank, though the yellowfin are also being seen on the Gordo Banks. The tuna are very finicky though and anglers were fortunate to land one, sizes ranged from 25 lb. to 90 lb. These fish can become shy when they have plenty of natural food source to gorge on and when water conditions fluctuate daily.

Not much heard about fish along the shoreline, such as roosterfish, sierra and jack crevalle. Still some late season whale being sighted, lots of sea lions also moving onto the same fishing grounds.

The combined sportfishing fleet out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina reported an estimated 70 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 3 striped marlin, 5 dorado, 28 yellowfin tuna, 13 leopard grouper, 260 bonito, 42 red snapper, 4 barred pargo, 12 yellow snapper, 9 amberjack, 8 golden eyed tilefish, 6 baqueta grouper, 4 sierra and 90 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric

Anglers –

March 30, 2019

Despite the local spring break not happening until second and third week of April, we did see  a flood of spring break vacationers arriving from northern states. Visitors were greeted with great weather conditions, mostly clear sunny skies and high temperatures averaging 80 degrees. Ocean conditions were relatively calm, moderate swells and winds were not much of a problem, though currents remain swift. We are now still in a transition period, with ocean conditions slowly rebounding, now up to 72 degrees and much cleaner, blue water returning, more signs of batfish, flying fish, etc , all good signs that spring season is arriving and we are optimistic that the fishing action will be very good.

In recent days, bait supplies were limited, ballyhoo, some slabs of squid, very little activity for any sardinas, many charters are caching some of their own chihuil or mackerel out on the grounds near the Gordo Banks. Overall the action this week was tougher than last, but a variety of fish were found and there some quality specimens accounted for.

Billfishing was very spotty and scattered, though every day there are reports of striped marlin being seen, just not in any numbers and much of the time they were not in the mood to strike, though a handful were landed, weighing in the 90 to 110 lb. range. With the ocean now on a cleaning and warming trend we do expect to see improved billfish action soon.

Species such as wahoo, dorado or yellowfin tuna were hard to find now, on Thursday we did have one 40 lb. yellowfin brought in, it was taken near Cardon on a trolled chihuil for bait, other tuna were lost this same day, then on Friday bite picked up with some more quality tuna in the 40 to 60 lb. class were accounted for. So this bite seems to be developing once again. Off of Cabo San Lucas we heard reports of some tuna, we assume that these fish were being found further offshore and most likely associated with moving porpoise. We are only seeing an occasional dorado, and had no wahoo to report.

The best chance of catching fish now has been to concentrate over the structure, with the more productive areas being from the Gordo Banks to the San Luis Bank. Using various whole and cut baits, as well as yo-yo style and flat fall jigs, anglers found a variety of species. Early in the week we were seeing a handful of quality sized yellowtail, in the 25 to 35 lb. range, most of these hooked into on live baits off of the Gordo Banks. Later in the week this action seemed to stall out, as more sharks and other species were found. The Eastern Pacific bonito was the most numerous, most of these in the 3 to 8 lb. range, an occasional larger fish. A few broomtail group, amberjack, leopard grouper and various pargo species were also found.

Closer to shore over the rocky areas, there were more triggerfish than anything else, a few nice island jacks found as well, only an odd sierra being reported, as well as a handful of jack crevalle and smaller sized roosterfish.

There are still some whales being seen, but this is now the final time frame for these mammals, as the majority are already on their northern migration and the rest of them will be following soon. More sea lions starting to hang out on the same popular fishing grounds, this never seems to help the fishing any.

The combined sportfishing fleet out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina reported an estimated 85 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 5 striped marlin, 6 dorado, 9 yellowfin tuna, 12 yellowtail, 8 leopard grouper, 245 bonito, 26 red snapper, 3 island jack, 16 roosterfish, 2 surgeonfish, 6 barred pargo, 9 yellow snapper, 22 amberjack, 12 golden eyed tilefish, 4 glasseye snapper, 7 baqueta grouper, 6 sierra, 4 jack crevalle,3 broomtail grouper and 80 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric