Anglers –
June 3, 2017

As we progressed into a new month, we did see an increase in visiting tourists, many school sessions are now finishing up and more families are now beginning to plan their vacations. Weather patterns continue to be slightly cooler than what would be normal for this time of year, we are feeling some marine moisture, with breezes coming from both the Pacific and the north keeping the climate very comfortable, though we all know that the heat of the summer will be arriving soon enough. Great time to visit now, ideal weather and crowds are moderate, the fishing action also seemed to be finally getting on the right track.

Ocean conditions varied greatly from the Pacific and in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, with Pacific water being very green and cold, as chilly as 65 degrees, while in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and towards Los Frailes, water temperature were into the upper 70s, even up to 80 degrees in areas, also water clarity was much better, clean blue water found within a couple of miles of shore. Bait supplies consisted of sardinas, caballito and now large schools of mullets are appearing along the local beach stretches, behind schedule this season, also reports of bolito and more skipjack schooling on the offshore fishing grounds. All this is very encouraging for a great month of fishing action to come.

Roosterfish action rebounded in full force in recent days, as the influx of baitfish has also attracted the greatest numbers of roosterfish that we have seen so far this season, hot spot was off of Cabo Real, as well as off of the many other of favored beaches. Anglers had best success while slow trolling mullet or caballito outside the surf zone, many roosterfish to over 30 lb. were landed and we expect in coming weeks that even much larger fish will arrive. Please remember that these prized fighting trophy fish should be released with proper care when at all possible, as these gamefish are not known for their eating qualities, but rather for their fighting stamina, we should all help preserve this unique fishery for future generations. Same inshore grounds are producing late season sierra to 8 lb. and some hog sized jack crevalle to 25 lb.. We expect that the dogtooth snapper will be more active along the rocky shoreline stretches in the coming weeks, now that their favored food supply of mullet has arrived.

This weekend is the traditional holiday of “Dia de la Marina”, always an event heavily celebrated out of the La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos area, with nightly dances, crowning of the princess, dorado tournament and many other events planned, be aware or the heavy crowds and very limited parking areas. Dorado are very scarce, but an occasional fish is being found, so the stakes will be wide open for any team that is fortunate to land any size of dorado. Surf fishing events are held as well, a couple of large snook were landed this week off the shore, as well as a few halibut, so the shore fishing action could be interesting.

Yellowfin tuna action is spread out, some fish being found on trolled lures in the direction of Cabo San Lucas and other action near San Luis to Vinorama. The bite had become very slow early in the week, but rebounded as the week progressed, drift fishing with sardinas, strips of squid or chunks of skipjack all produced, as well as slow trolled caballito, no big numbers, but quality fish averaging 30 to 50 lb. One larger yellowfin to over 100 lb. was reportedly taken by a local pangeros during a late afternoon trip. When targeting the tuna anglers were lucky to land a couple of these fish, with others possibly lost, though catching a couple of these was a great trip.

Shallow water bottom action was very good now for such exotic species as surgeon fish, island jack, yellow snapper, barred pargo and some leopard grouper, amberjack and plenty of triggerfish in the mix, not many large bottomfish now, but all very quality eating, great time to load up on some of the finest eating fillets.

Not many striped marlin being hooked up, though quite a few were being seen tailing on the surface, but were not aggressively striking lures or baits at this time, this action could break loose on any given day, because decent numbers of the striped marlin are in the area, from the 95 and 1150 spots, to closer to shore as well. Early in the week there was a lot of wind on these grounds to deal with.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 74 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 4 wahoo, 1 dorado, 26 yellowfin tuna, 6 amberjack, 32 yellow snapper, 18 barred pargo, 19 leopard grouper, 32 island jack, 84 surgeon fish, 16 huachinango, 3 African pompano, 18 jack crevalle, 3 dogtooth snapper, 75 roosterfish, 38 sierra and 85 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
May 27, 2017

Ideal weather patterns now, cool for this time of year, high temperatures in the lower 80s, great time to visit before the serious summer time heat arrives, also very light crowds now, normally the month of May is much busier, who knows what is up with the lack of visitors. Some south wind still to deal with, calmer ocean conditions in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, this is also where the warmer ocean currents are, ranging up to 77 degrees now, while on the Pacific it has been down to a chilly 68 degrees.

With the cooler climate, this delays seasonal transition periods further, until we have several weeks of calm and warmer temperatures we expect similar fishing reports. Billfish action has mainly been straight outside of Cabo San Lucas and towards Chileno, still hit or miss, but better than it had been, with most charters reporting at least a couple of opportunities per day. Dorado still very scarce, but there have been a few landed and other hook ups lost, same report for wahoo, though in recent days there were more wahoo strikes reported from areas near Chileno and Santa Maria, this is where the water was a bit warmer and clearer, one wahoo reportedly of 70 lb. was landed on Thursday.

Inshore action consisted of sporadic roosterfish action, one day these fish could be found trolling caballito or mullet outside of the surf line, though other days they could not be found at all, changing currents and baitfish movement may be factors. Still decent numbers of sierra being encountered, as well as a few jack crevalle. We need to see more mullet activity to really bring in the main run of roosterfish. Supplies of sardinas are now very limited, vanishing, more charters are starting to use chunk baits and strips of squid, particularly for the yellowfin tuna opportunities.

The yellowfin tuna action was concentrated from the Iman Banks, San Luis and Vinorama areas, drift fishing or slow trolling with various baits is how these tuna have been enticed, some days action was found early, other times later in the day, but the yellowfin are definitely holding on these grounds. No significant numbers, sometimes just one or two fish per charter, other anglers were more fortunate, landing a half of dozen, sizes ranging from 15 to 45 lb., with the majority of the tuna being in the 25 lb. to 35 lb. class.

The bottom action was a decent option now, since surface bite was somewhat limited, working various rock piles produced a mix of quality eating species, not many large fish, but all are excellent table fare. Most common were triggerfish, yellow snapper, barred pargo, leopard grouper, island jack, pompano and flag cabrilla. A few amberjack and a couple of grouper, one weighing about 80 lb.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 56 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 striped marlin, 2 wahoo, 2 dorado, 68 yellowfin tuna, 2 grouper, 3 amberjack, 25 yellow snapper, 16 barred pargo, 19 leopard grouper, 22 island jack, 1 sculpin,12 surgeonfish, 12 African pompano, 6 jack crevalle, 1 dogtooth snapper, 8 roosterfish, 24 sierra and 55 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
May 20, 2017

Late spring now, this past week was fairly quiet for the amount of visiting anglers we would expect to normally see, who knows what is creating the slack in tourism, we should see more activity the end of this month. Winds were finally weakening, after a couple of weeks of persistent south winds, as well as northerly’s at the same time, definitely still in the midst of crazy transition period. We need a couple weeks of hot and calm weather to get the fishing back on track. Recently the climate has been on the cool side, with highs of 95 degrees, lows about 65 degrees, very ideal, comfortable climate for this time of year, surely it will become much warmer soon enough.

Ocean water temperatures have ranged from 70 degrees on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, to 76 degrees off of San Jose del Cabo and to the north, actually a couple of degrees warmer closer to shore than it is further offshore. Sardinas supplies are becoming more limited, even surf conditions have been light, this is normal for this time of so far. Sometimes patterns can be later than normal, this appears to be what is happening this season.

The striped marlin bite has never really become red hot this year, normally the month of May is the peak season for stripers off of San Jose del Cabo. At this time they are finding limited numbers of marlin scattered anywhere from four or five, to fifteen or more miles offshore. Anglers are finding occasional tailing fish that will readily take larger baitfish once encountered, some boats are having multiple chances per day. Only a rare report of any dorado strikes, should be soon that we start to see some nice dorado move into the area. Wahoo very and far between as well, an occasional strike reported, most of them incidental and not being successful for actually landing the fish.

Highlight this past week out of San Jose del Cabo was looking for the regenerated yellowfin tuna action between Iman Bank and Vinorama. Anglers were using what available sardinas they could obtain and some people were using chuck bait from skipjack with success as well. The bite was sporadic, most days the best chances were found early in the day, daily totals ranged from one or two fish per charter, up to a half of dozen, sizes were ranging from 15 lb. to 45 lb.., average size fish in the 30 to 40 lb. class, nice grade fish for this early in the season. Lots of yellowfin tuna are now on these grounds, but are finicky as they often can be, gorging on the available natural food source, also a problem with too many aggressive black skipjack and of course the ever present sea lions can be a factor as well.

Not all that much action reported off the bottom structure, a few leopard grouper, amberjack, yellow snapper and barred pargo, more triggerfish than anything else, a few pushing up to 8 lb. Inshore the hot roosterfish action tapered way down, but we should see it redevelop on any given day, also sierra are still patrolling the shore, now in the later part of their preferred winter colder water season.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 59 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 5 striped marlin, 1 wahoo, 96 yellowfin tuna, 5 amberjack, 13 yellow snapper, 8 barred pargo, 10 leopard grouper, 3 island jack, 8 huachinango, 1 dogtooth snapper, 1 surgeonfish,18 roosterfish, 38 sierra and 80 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric