September 2, 2011

Much of the same late tropical weather pattern this past week, scattered cloud cover, no rainfall, occasionally threatening in the distance, variable unpredictable winds, the full cycle from north to south, then the very next day calm, that time of year, changing rapidly, will that first feel of fall in the early morning air. Heat index has averaged about 100 degrees, increased humidity related to recent rainfall. We are anxious for the Fall Season to arrive.

Water temperature ranged up close to 90 degrees in areas and in the upper 80s throughout the region. Southern winds turned over conditions later in the week, action became a bit more scattered, the week had started off with great quality action, most significant catches included yellowfin tuna, dog tooth snapper and the season’s first run of black marlin on the Gordo Banks.

Light crowds of anglers now, definitely a prime time to take advantage of world class action that is now available on the local fishing grounds. Last week the season’s first super cow yellowfin was landed by Brice Faulwetter, of San Diego, a monster yellowfin of 330 pounds. In recent days the bite has become a bit spottier, though tuna of 100 to 200 pounds were landed out of local La Playita pangas. There were many stories of anglers getting smoked by larger fish on fairly heavy gear.

Tuna were schooling on the Gordo Banks, as well as from La Fortuna, Iman to San Luis Bank. Anglers were using various bait techniques, whole larger baits, to small sardinas and chunks of skipjack. Average tuna has been to the 30 to 60 pound class, but there is another grade of cow sized fish mixed in, at times they were seen active on the surface. A bit leader shy at times, other times striking heavier leaders without hesitance. Either drift fishing or slow troll over these high sots. The actual number of yellowfin has not been high, but the quality is there, with a chance of that catch of a lifetime.

At least black marlin were brought in by local pangas in recent days, all taking on larger baitfish near the Gordo Banks, weights ranged from 388 lb., 450 lb. to 511 lb. A scattering of blue and striped marlin were encountered, a few sailfish as well, but it was the presence of these big black marlin that has everyone’s interest at this time.

Some truly monstrous dog tooth snapper were accounted for over last weekend and into the first part of the week, when changing currents slowed that bite down. Charters were accounting for up to two or three of these prized snapper species, for a few days there we were seeing many fish in the 40 to 70 pound class. Of course the stories of the even larger fish being lost to the rocks were running rampant. These snapper were hitting on larger whole and cut baits, drift fishing over the very rocky high spots, get ready to pull as hard as you can, in order to have a chance at actually landing one of these brutes. A handful of amberjack and grouper were landed as well, with baitfish becoming more plentiful in the marina channel, particularly moonfish, we anticipating targeting more of these quality shallow water structure species.

Not many dorado found in recent days, even though we did hear about the exceptional dorado action that was found out of La Paz this past week. You never know, these same concentrations of do-dos could swift directions any time, following a favorable current and food source, just like the weather, fishing changes daily.

Incredible opportunities at this time for a serious big game fishermen, from cow sized yellowfin tuna, to fifty pound plus dog tooth snapper, to a chance at a hook up with the ultimate gladiator of a black or blue marlin weighing more than five hundred pounds, this has all happened this past week on the Gordo Banks, the big fish are here now.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 48 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 3 black marlin, 1 blue marlin, 2 striped marlin, 5 sailfish, 24 dorado, 133 yellowfin tuna, 18 cabrilla, 12 amberjack, 28 dogtooth snapper,15 hammerhead sharks, 1 wahoo and 10 bonito.

Good Fishing, Eric

August 27, 2011

The later part of August has brought scattered thunder showers on and off throughout the week, lots of tropical cloud cover, this was a relief from the persistent sunny hot days of summer. Some high wind gusts accompanied rain squalls, particularly on Wednesday, when anglers had to return early due to foul conditions. Just as quick as it had formed, the weather settled down and ocean conditions were once again comfortable. Water temperatures have averaged 84 to 86 throughout most of the region. While the East Coast of the United States is now bracing for impact of Hurricane Irene, a category two storm, here in Southern Baja there are no tropical storm system developed at this time. The next several weeks is the period where historically there is the highest percentage of a hurricane making landfall on the Peninsula. Last summer was considered to be mild, with temperatures below normal, that has not been the case this summer, hot and humid temperatures arrived early and never have let up, only in recent days have we felt any relief, with early morning having that first hint of Fall.

Fortunately for La Playita panga anglers the supplies of sardinas have remained plentiful in the vicinity of the rock jetties. This has been the principal bait source used for targeting yellowfin tuna and dorado on the fishing grounds, ranging from La Fortuna, Iman to San Luis Bank. Drift fishing over these high spots while using both live and dead sardinas produced action, ranging from scratchy to wide open at times. The yellowfin were of quality grade, averaging 30 to 50 pounds, with many larger fish mixed in, it is typically the time of year when we see cow sized fish taking up residence on these same fishing grounds.

Last year, at this same time frame, we were starting to catch some yellowfin tuna up to 100 pounds on the Gordo Banks, this season this same bite has yet to develop, even though some tuna have been seen on these grounds, heavy dive boat pressure has also been a factor. The billfish action has been scattered, maybe the blacks are just late to arrive this season? Warmer than average water temperature, reaching near 90 degrees in areas, seems to have put the gamefish down to deeper depths, seeking more favorable currents.

Breaking news on Saturday afternoon, anglers Brice Faulwetter, from San Diego, also a crew member of a sportfisher named “Santana” based out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina was fishing with local pangeros Nico and Agustin on the Outer Gordo Banks when Brice hooked into a monster yellowfin tuna. Using sixty pound tackle and an 80 pound leader Brice single handedly battled and brought the fish to gaff in 3 hours and 40 minutes. The super cow weighed in at 330 pounds.

Dorado action was found spread out throughout the area, no spot where there was an abundance of these gamefish encountered, when smaller sized schools were encountered, these fish would strike on lures as well as bait. Dorado activity in the Los Cabos area has never really got on track this summer, we are optimistic that these fish will make a big presence during the fall season.

Dogtooth snapper were king of the rocky high spots now, found on same fishing grounds where tuna and dorado are schooling, these largest of all snapper, were striking on whole and cuts baits that anglers fly line down into the depths of 50 to 100 feet, hold on when they hit, chances are they will win more battles than the angler will. Of the dogtooth that were subdued, they weighed in the 25 to 50 pound class.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 72 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 striped marlin, 3 sailfish, 86 dorado, 145 yellowfin tuna, 17 cabrilla, 5 amberjack, 26 dogtooth snapper, and 12 bonito.

Good Fishing, Eric

August 20, 2011

Tropical conditions continue to attract moderate crowds to Southern Baja. Hurricane Greg developed off of the Southern mainland Mexican coast and passed some three hundred miles to the southwest of Cabo San Lucas on Thursday afternoon, increased humidity and higher surf conditions were the only impact felt by this latest storm system, no additional rainfall, as the landscape now has had a chance to dry out from last week’s thundershowers. Ocean currents are swift and water temperatures are averaging in the mid 80s, clarity has fluctuated some due to swift currents.

Supplies of sardinas were adequate this past week and were definitely the bait of choice for anglers targeting the yellowfin tuna bite that has been dominating the action from the Iman to San Luis Banks. Drift fishing while chumming with both live and dead bait was enticing the tuna into the feeding mood. The most active time of day for these fish varied from day to day, but there were large schools of tuna in this area and this is where the local fleet has been concentrated. This week there were tuna reportedly seen on the Gordo Banks, but no significant bite has developed on this area at this time. Heavy dive boat pressure has been a main factor, as the yellowfin become spookier with divers in the water. Anglers were landing an average of one or two and at times five to seven tuna per charter. The average size of these fish ranged from 30 to 60 pounds. In recent days there has been even larger yellowfin moving on to these same fishing grounds, one 200 pounder was landed on Wednesday by local famed sportfisher “Fisherman”, this tuna hit on a trolled live skipjack. Everyday the panga fleet is accounting for some tuna that are weighing up to 100 pounds or more. At times these fish proved leader shy and many larger fish were lost after being hooked up on lighter line. A few of these tuna were also hooked on yo-yo jigs. Plenty of skipjack in the same area, they have been used as chunk bait with some success as well.

Bottom action was not all that consistent, but mid week there were several days when fair numbers of dogtooth snapper, gulf and leopard grouper were accounted for. Some of these were hooked on yo-yo jigs, but more were taken on chunk bait from fresh skipjack. Drift fishing over the rocky structure with no weight, backing down into the current was the most productive technique, but anglers had to be on the ready, no slack here, turning these powerful fish way from the rocks proved to be major challenge.

Dorado numbers less than normal for summer time, but most charters were catching one or more in their combined catch, most of them were juvenile sized fish of 15 pounds or less. Most of the smaller schools of dorado were found near where the tuna were holding.

Not many reports of billfish on the local grounds lately, though panga charters have not really specifically targeted them recently, preferring to go after the more abundant yellowfin tuna.

Surf fishermen did report more snook activity off of the San Jose Estuary, everyday hook ups were reported by persons casting various lures or on mullet. Persistence was the key to landing one of these elusive prized eating fish, the month of August has always been one of the best times to find these inshore gamefish.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 60 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 sailfish, 86 dorado, 205 yellowfin tuna, 15 dogtooth snapper, 19 cabrilla, 3 grouper, 88 mixed pargo species, 6 amberjack and 14 bonito.

Good Fishing, Eric