GORDO BANKS PANGAS

July 12, 2020

This week we had very few tourists arriving, seems like this will be the continuing trend through the rest of the summer. There was Hurricane Cristina which formed far south and never amounted to much, low strength category 1 system which passed some 400 to 500 miles off to the west. We did feel increased humidity, also there were some isolated very limited rain showers reported and the usual increase of ocean ground swells, though we felt very little wind at all. The greatest impact was that once again the local Port’s were closed, out of San Jose del Cabo on Friday this port was closed, though conditions remained perfected calm and were not unsafe for motoring at all,

Hard to explain this to the few serious anglers that had paid for airfare, hotels, rental cars, etc.. to come visit and try to give a boost to the poor local economy, this all seems to be a political game of power that they are playing and appears to be how things will be in the future, any storm system which is within 500 miles of our area most likely we will continue to see these unjustified overly cautious closures. Local sportfishing captains have all been born and raised here and know the conditions better than anyone, no one wants to launch when conditions are actually dangerous, nothing worse than that, a lose lose deal for everyone.

Early in the week we heard of a couple blue marlin caught locally, one of them was over 400 lb., from a panga some 25 miles offshore. There were also some striped marlin found, but overall the billfish action became very spotty, best chances were far offshore where cleaner water was located. Closer to shore the ocean currents were stirred up, a lot of greenish off colored water, temperature also fluctuated. Large schools of mullet were more scattered now, so big numbers of roosterfish were harder to find. Though there were some roosters to 50 lb. reported, also quite a few 25 lb. plus jack crevalle to give anglers a challenging work out.

Off the rock piles the main catches were red snapper and bonito, an occasional cabrilla or amberjack. Live caballito and mullet was the main bait supply found in the marina area. No dorado or wahoo being reported. There were a handful of yellowfin tuna to 50 lb. accounted for from the San Luis Bank, but these fish were finicky and hard to entice. At times tuna were seen up on the surface, some fish up to 100 lb. plus, though they would disappear as soon as they had been seen. We expect that by the end of this month ocean conditions will stabilize and we will see much improved action through the rest of the summer.

Light crowds, good fishing, Eric

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

July 5, 2020

We are still only seeing minimal numbers of tourists arriving and the majority of these are past regular visitors. Weather settled down, no new storms threatening the area at this time, days are warm and humid, in the low 90’s, very little cloud cover and not much wind to report either.

Ocean conditions were changing, off colored currents moved in, anglers were having to search a bit further offshore to find blue water. Bait supplies consisted of caballito, ballyhoo, mullet and some bolito being found on the fishing grounds. Later in the week the bolito which had been schooling on the San Luis Bank became hard to find. These batfish had been working for targeting the yellowfin tuna, which had ranged in sizes up to 100 lb., no numbers to speak of, but a handful of quality fish were accounted for, but without the bolito for bait this limited options.

Closer to shore there were African pompano, various pargo species, cabrilla, amberjack and bonito, taken over the shallow rock piles, on jigs and baits. Trolling along the beach stretches produced some epic wide open action for roosterfish, some of these fish reaching up to 60 lb. Shore fishermen also got into this action, a few nice size snook were also reported. Some monster sized sierra to 15 lb. were landed, late season for these mackerel species, this is the time when the largest sierra of the season are usually reported.

Not much going on for reports of any dorado or wahoo at this time. Though there was good action for striped marlin found in the vicinity of the Gordo Banks and straight out from there. Trolling ballyhoo seemed to produce best, some charters reported as many as three of four marlin per outing, sizes ranged up to 140 lb.

Light crowds, good fishing, Eric

GORDO BANKS PANGAS

June 27, 2020

We saw a limited number of tourists arriving, but at least we are seeing people arrive and this is helping to restart businesses that have been shut down for nearly three months. This will be a slow process, but local population is putting it the extra effort to make the safest environment possible so that people are able to relax and enjoy themselves. The weather was more tropical this past week as a series of tropical disturbances passed off to the southwest, no impact on land being felt, except some cloud cover, humidity and some increased swells. Winds were relatively light, picking up occasionally in the afternoon.

Ocean conditions were changing day to day, off colored and cooler currents pushed in, dropping water temperature down in the lower 70 degree range over the weekend. Large schools of bolito congregated on the fishing grounds north of Punta Gorda. Some larger sized yellowfin tuna seen in the area, though not many were hooked into, as there was limited angler activity. There was one tuna of about 80 lb. reported mid-week.

Most consistent catches were for red snapper (huachinango), amberjack, a few cabrilla and trophy sized roosterfish were patrolling the shoreline, with fish over 50 lb. hooked into. A few late season larger sized sierra in the mix, as well as jack crevalle.

Striped marlin action slowed some due to changing water conditions, though early in the week there were still decent numbers of stripers encountered. As conditions stabilize we do expect action to improve. Soon will be the time when the black and blue marlin move onto local grounds.

Light crowds, good fishing, Eric