Anglers –
May 7, 2016

Only moderate crowds now visiting the Los Cabos area, despite weather being ideal, high temperatures were ranging up near 90 degrees, but still comfortable with the prevalent breezes, noting like the heat index that we feel mid-summer. Last weekend we saw winds pick back up, actually starting out of the north, then switching from the south, as two fronts were colliding, then the new week started out nice, though once again later in the week the wind patterns were sporadic, water clarity also deteriorated compared to how clean it had been. Not that unusual to see these rapidly changing conditions, this can be the on and off pattern now into July, when the ocean environment becomes more stable.

Ocean temperatures are now ranging from the lower 70s on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, to an average of 76/77 degrees near the Gordo Banks and further north. Nothing has changed on the bait situation, anglers are still using squid strips, limited caballito, ballyhoo and other baitfish being found on the fishing grounds. Sportfishing fleets are fishing in all directions, searching for the best possible action, with the more consistent catches being found from Red Hill, Palmilla Point areas, north to Iman, San Luis and Vinorama. No particular spot was producing any wide open action, though there were some decent catches accounted for, more so from the super panga charters, compared to the cruisers. Pangas are just a bit more versatile, stealthier and more suited for slow drift style fishing over structure, versus the cruisers which are more geared for open water action.

Striped marlin action dropped off again, we heard some sporadic reports from the 1150 spot and some action straight off of San Jose del Cabo, no big numbers though and no baitfish feeding frenzy reports. Earlier in the week we saw more dorado than we have seen for some time, still no significant numbers, but at least we saw a handful of respectable dorado in the 15 to 20 lb. class. As fast as this action developed it diminished later in the week to just seeing an occasional single smaller sized dorado, a bit discouraging, but once again that is not abnormal for this time of year.

Wahoo were being found from Red Hill, Palmilla, to Iman, San Luis and Vinorama, sizes up to 45 lb. Some anglers landed as many as three, while reporting many other lost hook ups. Strikes reportedly came on Rapalas, rigged ballyhoo, caballito and chihuil. Better action earlier in the week, a little more finicky later in the week, off colored water conditions never seem to help the wahoo bite. Just this week a handful of the more ambitious panga guides were scouting out possibilities of catching chihuil baitfish on the Inner Gordo Bank, this is rarely an real easy task, most mornings they did not even catch enough of these candy like baitfish until past 9:00 a.m., then they had to motor all the way north near San Luis Bank where more numbers of wahoo were schooling. Choppy ocean conditions in the morning on the offshore banks makes this type of hand line bait fishing a tough go, but once caught these baits can produce some quality action.

Yellowfin tuna were still being found on Iman Bank and towards the north, though this action dropped way off this past week, nothing consistent at all, some charters accounted for up to three yellowfin, while others never even had a strike, strips of squid was the best bet for hooking a tuna, though a few were also taken on baits such as ballyhoo of chihuil and yo-yo iron jigs. Some decent quality yellowfin in the 25 to 80 lb. class were reported, just not many numbers.

Closer to shore there were some late season sierra up to 8 lb. landed, also a handful of roosterfish and jack crevalle, though once again no big numbers and scattered action.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 64 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 5 striped marlin, 31 wahoo, 33 yellowfin tuna,12 dorado, 9 amberjack, 7 cabrilla, 45 mixed snapper species, 15 sierra, 6 jack crevalle, 11 bonito, 4 rainbow runner, 6 barred pargo, 8 roosterfish and 210 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
April 30, 2016

Spring season continues to attract moderate numbers of visitors to the Los Cabos area. Weather conditions have been very pleasant, scattered morning cloud cover, plenty of warm sunshine, high temperatures averaged about 85 degrees. Wind patterns were now more from the south, increasing later in the afternoon, though there were a few days where winds started out of the north, before switched from the south, overall this did not create much problems for anglers, as ocean conditions remained favorable. Ocean water temperatures ranged from 72/73 degrees on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, with warmer currents found offshore of San Jose del Cabo and to the north, where it was in the 76/77 degree range.

Anglers were now using various available bait sources, live caballito, strips of squid and rigged ballyhoo. On the fishing grounds there are now more schooling baitfish, such as cocinero, chihuil, bolito and skipjack starting to move in, plenty of food source to attract gamefish in to the area, at times too much natural bait source and create more finicky fish, as they gorge on all of the present food, then not being that eager to strike anglers offerings. Most of the fishing this past week was taking place from off of Palmilla Point and north to Vinorama. Over the full moon period the striped marlin action had slowed down, but now this bite has improved, straight off of Puerto Los Cabos Marina, three to four miles from shore, has been one of the more consistent area for the billfish. Drift fishing live baits has been the best technique. Sizes on the striped marlin ranged from 80 to 120 lb. Very few dorado being found recently, just an occasional solo fish, most of them very small.

Early in the week there was some good wahoo action reported from Iman Bank to Vinorama, some charters landing as many as three wahoo, up to 45 lb. Though later in the week these fish were not very active at all. You never know with these elusive fish, when they will really become active. Conditions are now favorable, with the currents now on a warming trend and more bait schools appearing, these are all favorable signs for the coming weeks.

Yellowfin tuna action has been reported from the Iman Bank and near Vinorama, with the further areas now reporting better action in recent days. Drift fishing with strips of squid has remained the best set up. Some days the fish were coming up to feed earlier and on other days no activity was reported until 11 a.m. or later, you never know, tides and currents can all be a factor, as these fish are concentrated in areas within one to three miles from shore. Sizes ranged from 10 lb. footballs, to fish over 50 lb. Some high boats had as many as six to eight tuna, while others managed one or two. The key was having patience and the largest supply of squid as practical.

Bottom action produced mainly smaller sized snapper and pargo species, plenty of triggerfish, an occasional cabrilla or amberjack. On the same fishing grounds there were more sierra encountered, further offshore than you would normally find these fish, some of these were quality sized, five to ten pounds. Not much action at all reported inshore for roosterfish, we should see more of these fish move in during the next couple of months.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 86 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 28 striped marlin, 26 wahoo, 72 yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado, 5 amberjack, 8 cabrilla, 60 various pargo/snapper species, 28 sierra, 7 jack crevalle and 75 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric

Anglers –
April 23, 2016

Weather patterns have settled down, more like the normal spring season we are used to, last week we had a couple of days where the wind was gusting over 25 mph from the north, now we are seeing much calmer days, breezes switching out of the south, mainly later in the afternoon. Anglers have been enjoying very comfortable seas in recent days, very slight swells, clear sunny skies, warmer days, highs in the upper 80s. We are expected a bit more wind over the weekend. Ocean water temperatures are ranging from 73 to 76 degrees. Warmer currents being found in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and to the north.

The fishing grounds straight out from Puerto Los Cabos Marina, from 3 to 4 miles from shore, are holding concentrations of baitfish, namely sardinetas, this has attracted good numbers of striped marlin and fleets from as far as Cabo San Lucas are all now working these grounds, common to see over fifty charter boats on the spot. The main technique anglers are having success on is by drift fishing and soaking baits such as caballito, cocinero or sardineta at various depths. The striped marlin are now averaging in the 90 to 130 lb. range, many charters are accounted for one, two or three billfish per morning. This area is within very easy range for even the smallest of crafts, you could easily catch a marlin from a kayak at this time.

On the grounds from Punta Gorda to Vinorama we have seen increased activity by the elusive wahoo. Apparently the combined factors of warming clear blue water, favorable moon phase and baitfish activity, these fish were more aggressive. We saw some charters land as many as three wahoo, reported to lose again as many strikes. These wahoo ranged in sizes from 15 lb. up to a whopping 76 lb. fish landed on Friday, there was also another 65 lb. wahoo reported. These fish were striking on rigged ballyhoo, sardineta and various trolling lures, Rapalas and skirted lead heads.

We are still not seeing many dorado at all, though with the favorable conditions, these gamefish could move into local waters in greater numbers at any time. Yellowfin tuna has been very spotty, though some tuna in the 25 to 35 lb. class are being found on the Iman to Vinorama grounds, in fact we did hear of one 100 lb. class yellowfin accounted for as well, hooked on light leader, turned into an extended battle. Anglers were fortunate to land a couple of these fish, some charters that really were lucky to be at the right spot, landed three or four of these quality yellowfin. These tuna were being hooked while drift fishing with strips of squid, lighter leaders being more successful. This has been the main technique since past October, when was the last time we had any supply of sardinas.

A few more sierra being mixed in with the counts, some of them larger than normal, hanging on the same grounds as were the wahoo. Inshore some charters reported finding roosterfish and jack crevalle, this action should become more consistent now with the warming conditions.

The bottom action produced more triggerfish than anything else, also a mix of snapper species, cabrilla and a few amberjack. We are hoping to see more of the larger amberjack move in, it is that time of year and conditions are ripe now for this structure fishing to start being more productive for larger specimens. Finally some calmer conditions, this will open up quite a few more options.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 69 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 38 striped marlin, 19 wahoo, 24 yellowfin tuna, 5 dorado, 7 amberjack, 14 cabrilla, 46 various pargo/snapper species, 21 sierra, 4 jack crevalle, 14 roosterfish, 12 bonito and 80 triggerfish.

Good fishing, Eric