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Gordo Banks Pangas

San Jose del Cabo

April 17, 2011

As days become progressively longer, with rising daytime temperatures, this is transition time in Southern Baja, when conditions fluctuate from day to. There was a warming trend for a few days, then this switced to cooler winds off of the Pacific, common pattern during spring. Daytime highs ranged from 75 to 85 degrees, an ideal all around climate now. Ocean currents have averaged 66 to 72 degrees, warmer areas found offshore of the Gordo Banks towards Los Frailes. Crowds of tourists are lighter now, as spring break winds down. Though this coming week is the Easter Holiday and the local tradition of camping on the beaches will be in full swing.

More favorable ocean currents were found north of Punta Gorda, warming water to 74 degrees, encouraging with many schools of unidentified baitfish on these fishing grounds, greater numbers of striped marlin were encountered on the surface, often in groups of several fish or more, but these billfish were not showing much interest in biting. Perhaps having so much natural food source the stripers are just not hungry now and with full moon this weekend it is hard to predict what might happen.

There has been some reports of smaller sized yellowfin tuna found traveling with porpoise, Outside of the Gordo Banks and to the north, first boats on the scene were scoring. On Saturday a couple of panga charters scouted areas towards Vinorama and outside of San Luis they encountered schooling yellowfin tuna, they did account for a pair of fifty pound class yellowfin for their efforts, a couple of other strikes were lost. These tuna hit on either sardinas or bolito, which were found near these same fishing grounds. This is a bit of encouraging news and possibly will develop into something more consistent. Still a very hit of miss deal, there have been choppy conditions at times further offshore. Few dorado or wahoo to speak of either. There continued to be consistent action found for sierra along the rocky beach stretches, trolling with sardinas was the most productive method for this.

Drift fishing over shallow water rock piles with sardinas produced a mixed bag of pargo, cabrilla, grouper, amberjack, yellowtail, bonito, triggerfish and pompano. These are all great eating species, most of the fish averaged less than ten pounds, but there were a handful of grouper, yellowtail and amberjack that did top the 30 pound mark, including one 60 pound class grouper. Anglers had varying success using yo-yo style iron jigs, this was harder work, but also this produced a number of quality fish.

Schools of sardinas were concentrated near Palmilla Point, somewhat limited supplies, but available most days and fresh dead sardinas were offered by the $10 bag at the panga docking area in La Playita. No schools of mullet reported yet, still a bit early for them. This is the tail end of whale migration now, actually there have been quite a few sightings recently, but these mammals will all be migrating towards their northern feeding grounds in the coming weeks.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 52 charters this past week, with anglers reporting a fish count of:

5 mako shark, 12 hammerhead shark, 3 yellowfin tuna, 13 bonito, 19 amberjack, 29 yellowtail, 6 pompano, 18 pargo, 14 roosterfish, 29 cabrilla, 9 grouper and 165 sierra.

Good fishing, Eric

San Jose del Cabo Weather Link

Water Temperature > http://tempbreak.com/index.php?&cwregion=cb

April 10, 2011

Ideal spring time conditions now greeting anglers that are visiting Southern Baja. Sunny skies are reaching high temperatures into the 80s. Wind patterns were now weakening off of the San Jose del Cabo, this is where ocean condition were calmer. Winds recently have prevailed more from the south, creating cooler and rougher waters on the Pacific. Ocean water temperatures overall are now on a warming trend, particularly in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, averaging from 65 degrees on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, warming up to 78 degree just south of Los Frailes. It is the time of year when conditions can change rapidly. Typically the warmer currents push into the East Cape area first and then swift in the direction of Los Cabos by late spring.

Some larger sized baitfish such as mullet, caballito and moonfish were starting to move into the Puerto Los Cabos Marina channel, this is always a favorable sign. Schools of sardinas have become scattered, but have been available in limited supplies and continued to be the bait of choice for the inshore and structure fishing that has been the most productive option for anglers now for the past month. Anglers found a good variety of fish close to shore while drifting or slow trolling bait. Also there was fair success reported for anglers retrieving yo-yo jigs off of the rock piles. Most common catches were yellowtail, amberjack, skipjack, bonito, sierra, jack crevalle, pargo, cabrilla, grouper and triggerfish. Most fish averaged 3 to 8 pounds, though there were larger specimens to over 30 pounds accounted for, namely yellowtail or grouper. As always, many larger fish were reportedly lost by cut lines in the rocks. Overall this winter/spring season was improved over last for all around bottom and inshore action. With water temperatures now warming we do anticipate to start concentrating more on offshore action.

There were more frequent reports of porpoise activity being found offshore, with some scattered encounters with yellowfin tuna, most of this was found too far for local fleets, we are all looking forward to this type of action to move within range. Billfish were being found throughout the region, but not in any large concentrations, striped marlin action was more often encountered 10 to 20 miles from shore, but still very hit or miss. There was more talk about swordfish encounters this past week, more actual sightings than hook ups, straight off of San Jose del Cabo 20 miles plus miles from shore, also north towards Cabrillo Sea Mount and Desteladera Bank was an area where the swords were seen.

We have not seen any dorado to speak of either, that should change soon, a couple reports of wahoo strikes being taken in the areas of warmer waters towards Los Frailes. Not much action found on the Gordo Banks, still a chance of a larger sized yellowtail, but this was a deal where anglers would be looking for a chance at one trophy fish, no big numbers, with more sharks and sea lions making prospects more challenging.

Sierra was the main species found patrolling the shore line, Santa Maria was one of the better spots to find larger sierra of 4 to 8 pounds, striking best on sardinas. There were increasing numbers of schooling jack crevalle that were attracted to inshore bait schools. Most of the roosterfish found continue to be of the small variety, as more mullet migrate into local waters, this will attract the larger sized roosterfish.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 59 charters this past week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 5 mako shark, 12 hammerhead shark, 22 bonito, 26 amberjack, 12 pompano, 18 jack crevalle, 82 pargo, 26 roosterfish, 22 cabrilla, 84 yellowtail, 144 skipjack and 195 sierra.

Good fishing, Eric

San Jose del Cabo Weather Link

Water Temperature > http://tempbreak.com/index.php?&cwregion=cb

April 2, 2011

Pristine weather conditions in the Los Cabos area has attracted below than normal spring break vacationers. The tourists that have made the trip were enjoying plenty of warm sunshine, daytime highs in the low 80s. Winds were prevalent from the south and anglers reported rough ocean conditions on the Pacific, while in the direction of San Jose del Cabo seas were much calmer. We look forward to the coming months which offer some of the most ideal weather patterns, more significant is the incredible variety of fishing options for anglers.

This week the fishing report was pretty much the same as last, ocean currents ranged from 68 to 71 degrees through most of the region, with warmer spocts found 10 to 20 miles off of the Gordo Banks to Desteladera. Water was cooler and murkier closer to shore, cleaner blue water was found ten miles offshore. Despite finding clearer waters offshore, there was not much action for gamefish such as striped marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna or wahoo. Only scattered reports of striped marlin, fewer dorado or tuna. It is that time of year now, when the offshore action has just not taken off yet. We anticipate improvement in the near future, as spring time days are progressively warming. No schooling baitfish being found offshore now, lack of flying fish, mackerel or bolito, no food source to attract the larger game at this time.

Sardinas were harder to find, scattered schools near VInorama and from Palmilla to Chileno, surf conditions also made it more difficult for the netters. These baitfish were the preferred choice for the inshore fishing and with some patience.were obtainable daily. At the panga docking area in La Playita they were selling fresh brined sardinas by the bag for $10, early in the morning, this was a good option for drift fishing over the shallow rock piles.

For the past few weeks offshore action was not consistently producing much or anything and anglers found that there was a much better chance at catching fish closer to shore. Most common species being sierra, scattered along the coastline from Cabo to San Jose and north, striking on sardinas, hoochies and rapalas. Other species found close to shore near rocky structure were yellow snapper, pompano, bonito, cabrilla, dogtooth snapper, barred pargo, yellowtail, triggerfish and the list goes on. The majority of these fish were in the 3 to 8 pound range, occasionally a larger yellowtail, amberjack or grouper up to 40 pounds. Anglers found success on dead and live bait, as well as working yo-yo iron off of the deeper rocks. Charters averaged ten to twenty fish in the overall catch, most all of the species taken being very good eating varieties.

Still quite a few numbers of humpback whales in the area, we expect they will be migrating north soon. Lots of manta rays were seen jumping, sea lions hanging out on the fishing grounds, a few hammerhead, thresher and mako sharks making a presence to add diversity.

The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 57 charters this past week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 mako shark, 1 thresher shark, 8 hammerhead shark, 2 dorado, 17 amberjack, 16 pompano, 135 pargo, 25 roosterfish, 20 triggerfish, 28 cabrilla, 56 yellowtail, 14 bonito and 390 sierra.

Good fishing, Eric