March 1, 2014
Anglers –

Spring break seems to have started early this year, as increasing crowds of tourists were arriving to take advantage of the ideal weather conditions and the many outdoor activities available. With the month of February now over, we can say that it has lived up to its reputation, being a bit crazy and unpredictable. We witnessed some chilly mornings, with windy days and then just like that there were very pleasant calm and almost summerlike conditions. Still many whales in the area, but with warming days, we will see these mammals heading back towards their northern feeding grounds soon.

On the Pacific side, the Golden Gate Bank has been the hot spot to find wide open action for striped marlin, with marlin also being found in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, but more spread out, as there have not been the same concentrations of baitfish to find the billfish schooling up, as on the Pacific. Even a few sailfish were found in the mix this past week, a bit strange for this time of year. Ocean water temperatures ranged from 70 degrees on the Pacific, to an average of 74 degrees off of San Jose del Cabo and north to Los Frailes. The more consistent all around fishing action is being found in the direction of the warmer waters.

Dorado never left local waters this winter and they normally do, these fish are still being caught daily, from inshore to offshore, fish were striking lures and various baits, rigged ballyhoo and live caballito. Sizes were ranging from 5 to 25 lb. Still no sardinas being found in local water, basically all season we have not seen these smaller baitfish, larger baits and using lures has been the main deal. Number of dorado were not huge, though some charters were catching up to five or six. Surprisingly there were also wahoo hanging around in certain areas as well, most of these fish were found from Punta Gorda to La Fortuna, and within a mile of shore, again no big numbers, one or two, here or there, sizes in the 15 to 25 lb. Class. The wahoo were striking on trolled baits, rapalas and yo-yo jigs.

Other action now included the Eastern Pacific Bonito, spread throughout the zone, striking on rapalas and jigs, sizes 2 to 10 pounds, fun action on light tackle, also a good eating species. This past week we saw more numbers amberjack being accounted for, hitting off the bottom structure, on yo-yo jigs and caballito. Sizes ranged up to 40 pounds, with some charters catching three or four of these powerful fighting jacks. An occasional cabrilla to 25 pounds was found off the same rock piles. Only a handful of yellowtail so far this season, though these were nicer sized 20 to 30 pound fish, in recent days several big yellowtail were hooked into while trolling very close to shore, where juvenile sized roosterfish and sierra wee being targeted. We must also mention the presence of some hog sized jack crevalle that will test inshore angler’s endurance.

Only a handful of yellowfin tuna were found, most from the La Fortuna to San Luis Banks, drift fishing with fresh dead sardinas is what enticed this action, though with the lack of this bait source and the combination of swift currents, this was a very hit or miss option. When the tuna did come up to the chummed bait, a few tuna in the 20 pound class were accounted for.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 102 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 3 sailfish, 5 striped marlin, 13 wahoo, 14 yellowfin tuna, 5 yellowtail, 27 amberjack, 242 bonito, 13 jack crevalle, 34 sierra, 146 dorado, 48 roosterfish, 10 pompano, 18 yellow tail snapper and 9 cabrilla.

Good fishing, Eric

February 23, 2014
Anglers –

The month of February is known for crazy unpredictable weather patterns, this week we witnessed some cooler morning conditions and high temperatures up to 85 degrees, feeling more like late spring instead of winter time. We also felt more wind, predominately from the north, but then swirling from out of the east and south as well, but overall the climate was ideal and anglers found comfortable ocean conditions and great all around action

With the warmer ocean temperatures of up to 75 degrees now pushing in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and towards the La Fortuna and San Luis Banks, this is where the sportfishing fleets are concentrating, even boats from Cabo San Lucas are making the long runs north to get into this more consistent fishing action. Pacific side water temperatures have dropped into the upper 60’s. Mackerel schools continued to be scarce, ballyhoo supplies were plentiful and there have been options for a variety of gamefish, caballito baitfish have been obtainable most mornings as well, fresh bags of brined sardinas are being sold at the panga dock area on a limited first come, first serve basis.

Considering the time of year, anglers have been enjoying quality action for dorado, some wahoo and even yellowfin tuna showing in the fish counts. Billfish have been more scattered since the recent full moon, no concentrations of baitfish offshore, beside schooling skipjack. Though in recent days we have seen more striped marlin appearing again, anywhere from one or two miles from shore and on out to 20 miles. Even a couple of sailfish were reportedly hooked into, crazy times in February.

Yellowfin tuna are holding over the structure from La Fortuna, Iman and to San Luis Bank, the key factor was obtaining a supply of sardinas, which have been scarce all year, fresh dead sardinas were now available early morning at the panga dock area, though in limited supply and a few charters were more fortunate when they were able to purchase live sardinas from commercial pangeros from northern camps. A handful of mostly panga charters got into this yellowfin tuna action while drift fishing with sardinas and using light leaders, landing up to five, six, seven or eight fish, ranging in weights of 10 to 20 lb.

Dorado were being found in smaller sized groups spread throughout the inshore and offshore grounds, sizes averaged 5 to 15 lb., a few fishing pushing the 20 to 25 lb. mark, still impressive for mid winter season. Wahoo action continues to be an added bonus, normally not a common catch during this month, though the bite did taper off compared to how it had broke wide open late last week. In recent days a handful of charters did land up to three or four wahoo in their combined daily catch. These fish hit on trolled lures, various baits and on yo-yo style casting jigs. Best areas were close to shore off of Punta Gorda to La Fortuna. Sizes on the wahoo averaged 15 to 20 pounds, though there were some quality sized fish up to 40 pounds also accounted for.

Bottom action has never really started this season, with warmer ocean temperatures, winds and currents all contributing to no consistent structure action. At least not yet, we are still not into March or spring time. This is always the time of year when we start to see the arrival of yellowtail in local waters, so far only a scattering of these powerful jacks have been found. Though just in recent days there have been more encounters with these popular gamefish. Anglers who were jigging for what was great action on hog sized skipjack and Eastern Pacific Bonito also hooked into a few yellowtail, fish to 25 lb. were landed, others lost to cut lines, encouraging signs of a developing bite. We did hear of at least one nice yellowtail being caught by a beach fishing angler on a splashier hoochie combination.

Sierras are patrolling the shorelines, a few nicer sized fish to 8 pounds were seen, a mix of jack crevalle and juvenile sized roosterfish in the same stretches, these fish were hitting on trolled baits, hoochies or rapalas. Whales were still being seen spouting in all directions, these mammals have not headed north yet, next month is normally when they will start the northern migration.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 76 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 6 striped marlin, 21 wahoo, 49 yellowfin tuna, 6 yellowtail, 145 bonito, 4 amberjack, 11 jack crevalle, 78 sierra, 234 dorado, 14 roosterfish, 14 yellow tail snapper, 15 misc. shark and 12 cabrilla.

Good fishing, Eric

February 15, 2014
Anglers –

With freezing conditions persisting throughout much of the United States we have seen more crowds of tourists arriving in Los Cabos. Travelers have been greeted with pristine winter time weather conditions, sunny days, with high temperatures close to 80 degrees. Winds continued to be a bit unpredictable, at times from the north, switching out of the south, though they were moderate and anglers found great ocean conditions most days.

Ocean temperatures ranged from 70 to 76 degrees, higher than normal for this month, clarity was clean, even very close to shore. Baitfish have been scattered, no live sardinas, few mackerel or caballito, with ballyhoo proving to be one of the better trolling baits and as another option there were also a mix of jacks and moonfish being used.

Depending on what fishing grounds anglers targeted, there was a variety of species being found. Striped marlin were now shifting in the direction of the San Jose del Cabo grounds, from the 1150 spot, to off of the hotel zone and towards Punta Gorda, some success was found trolling lures, casting baits to tailing fish and soaking baits down deep, the striped marlin especially were attracted to moonfish this past week, it was more productive early in the week, later in the week the full moon seemed to affect the bite, fish were more finicky..

For the local panga fleet, the most productive action was found within a couple of miles of shore, from right off Punta Gorda, to Cardon and La Fortuna. Dorado and wahoo were the main species striking, ballyhoo, moonfish, jacks, rapalas and even casting jigs. This seemed more like fall action, crazy to see this type of action in mid February, it doesn’t happen every year, with water temperatures holding higher than normal and the clarity of the water, these fish have decided to hang around and not migrate to southern waters, at least for the time being. There were more numbers of dorado caught than wahoo, though on Thursday and Friday many boats did have multiple wahoo days, one charter had eight wahoo on Friday. Sizes ranged up to 40 pounds. Hard to say how long this action will last, would be something if this lasted throughout the month and into March.

Not much action off the bottom, strong currents and warmer water temperatures have been more suited for surface action. A few yellowtail were reported, no pargo bite at this time. Sierra have dominated inshore action, though dorado are being found very close to shore as well, there were large concentrations of half beaks (ballyhoo) moving along the beaches areas, this can bring gamefish very close in. A few jack crevalle and smaller sized roosterfish in the mix.

Still peak season for whale activity, though with waters warming, these mammals will most likely start migrating north soon.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 90 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of:
18 striped marlin, 37 wahoo, 8 yellowfin tuna, 3 yellowtail, 48 bonito, 18 jack crevalle, 68 sierra, 265 dorado,18 roosterfish and 12 cabrilla.

Good fishing, Eric