Anglers –

June 15, 2019

With the official start to the summer season set to start next weekend we continue to see fluctuating crowds of visiting anglers, last week we had increased numbers now this week we see fewer people arriving. Weather is progressively heating up, high temperatures into the lower 90’s. Later in the week we saw more marine cloudy and overcast conditions. While Pacifica waters are still cool, in the upper 60’s, off of San Jose del Cabo the ocean reached 80 degrees, swirling winds were unpredictable, earlier in the week we felt breezes predominately from the north, laying down mid-week, then later in the week it was the south wind that really kicked up, actually blowing conditions out on Friday and contributed in pushing in colder greenish Pacific water, ocean temperatures dropped to 70 degrees overnight. Now as weather settles conditions will rebound quickly.

The fishing action last week was very encouraging, as we saw more numbers of yellowfin tuna, continued quality action for striped marlin, a few dorado finally showing up, as well as options inshore for roosterfish and for a mix of quality eating bottom species. This week with weather patterns a bit more unstable we had much more scattered overall action, changing from day to day, but the tuna action and marlin proved more elusive and even bottom produced minimal. There were some highlights though, with anglers catching and release trophy sized 50 lb. roosterfish, even landing a couple of wahoo, dorado, sailfish and striped marlin and an occasional nice sized amberjack or red snapper. A lot of variety in the area, though no particular species was overly numerous.

With warmer currents the local bait vendors were finding more caballito, as well as moonfish, ballyhoo and slabs of squid were also available. Inside the Puerto Los Cabos Marina channel we saw mass schools of jack crevalle breaking into a feeding frenzy and local anglers got into this action, chasing these 25 lb. jacks around the docks and jetties.

The action on the San Luis Bank for the Mexican bonito and red snapper while working the yo-yo jigs proved much more difficult in recent days, the weather did not help at times, the tuna had been hitting early in the week on trolled caballito and strips of squid, yellowfin ranging from 20 to 80 b., but this action came to a standstill later in the week.

This transition period can often be like this, sometimes it is not until mid-July before conditions really stabilize and we finally have more consistent day to day action.

These next couple of weeks is when we historically see some of the largest sized roosterfish of the season. We expect to see mass migration of mullet baitfish to move in any time, this in turn brings in more of these inshore gamefish.

The combined sportfishing fleet launching out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina reported an estimated 70 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 1 sailfish, 7 dorado, 2 wahoo, 7 striped marlin, 19 yellowfin tuna, 2 dogtooth snapper, 11 leopard grouper, 98 Mexican bonito, 32 red snapper, 14 amberjack, 24 roosterfish, 22 jack crevalle, 4 yellow snapper and 70 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric

Anglers –

June 8, 2019

This week we did see more numbers of anglers arriving, they were greeting with great ocean conditions for the most part, some late morning and afternoon winds earlier in the week, settling down by the weekend. Swells were moderate, water temperatures on the Sea of Cortez side were averaging 77 to 78 degrees, while colder conditions in the 66 range were still plaguing the Pacific. The local climate continued to be ideal, not too hot yet, weather now in the low to mid 80s, some early morning marine cloud cover burning off as the sun rose higher, cool  Pacific waters are helping to keep air temperatures mild.

Most all of the fishing action is now in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and to the north. The striped marlin bite came on strong this week, as these fish were found spread out throughout the zone, anywhere from two to ten miles from shore. Bait supplies consisted of mainly moonfish, ballyhoo and some caballito, with lots of smaller skipjack and some bolito found schooling on the fishing grounds. The majority of the marlin were striking on various baitfish, though they would also hit trolled lures, the stripers were weighing in the 70 to 120 lb. range.

After a long absence we were now hearing of more reports of dorado being seen, some landed, most were smaller, but we did hear of a couple of nice fish found further offshore that were in the 20 lb. class. We do expect to find more of these gamefish moving in, as water conditions are now more favorable. No reports of wahoo, though the way the water shaping up, something could develop on that at any time.

Many charters are still working the yo-yo jigs off of the rocks high spots for the Mexican bonito, red snapper, cabrilla and amberjack, though this action providing some quality eating fish, most of these fish were under ten pounds. Inshore there were jack crevalle, a few pargo and roosterfish, to over 30 lb., though the annual migration of the mass schools of mullet has yet to appear, this is what normally will bring in the main run of the quality sized roosterfish, everything seems to be running a bit later than normal this season, included this marlin bite that now is happening.

On the San Luis Bank anglers were finding chances at quality yellowfin tuna up to 100 lb., no big numbers yet, but every day we have seen these tuna brought in and all of them seem to be at least 40 lb., with the majority being over 70 lb. Striking mainly while drift fishing with strips of squid, a handful even hit on yo-yo jigs. Some days were better than others, factors of sea lions, sharks and crowds came into play. But this week we saw more tuna action than in the past couple of months, so that is a promising sign.

This is also now the time when we should start seeing more amberjack and dogtooth snapper appear. Often these fish will be found close to shore during June and July, before moving further offshore to the high spots as summer progresses

The combined sportfishing fleet launching out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina reported an estimated 98 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 9 dorado, 44 striped marlin, 19 yellowfin tuna, 4 dogtooth snapper, 15 leopard grouper, 210 Mexican bonito, 70 red snapper, 12 amberjack, 45 roosterfish, 12 jack crevalle and 90 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric

Anglers –

June 1, 2019

As we near the start of the summer season we are now enjoying the ideal climate, early morning cloud cover, burning off as sun comes up, breeze mostly out of the north, though also switching from the south and high temperatures in the lower 80s. Only moderate crowds now, so it is the perfect to visit. Ocean conditions are cold on the Pacific, though in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and to the north we have seen clean blue currents of 74 to 78 degrees.

Main baitfish now found in the local marina area have been moonfish and mullet, ballyhoo are another option, as well as slabs of squid. Charters are working the fishing grounds from Red Hill, Palmilla, Gordo Banks, Iman, San Luis and to Vinorama. Most consistent catches have come from bottom structure, red snapper and Mexican bonito most numerous, using iron yo-yo style jigs, also drifting baits down deep has producing some quality catches. A handful of grouper species and amberjack were accounted for, some over 30 lb.

Early in the week there was limited action for yellowfin tuna found on the San Luis Bank, tuna to over 80 lb. were landed, while drift with strips of squid, this action faded during the week, though the yellowfin were still seen at times showing on the surface, just not all that interested in biting, but with the conditions becoming more favorable, anything could happen on any given day. Other tuna were found further offshore traveling with porpoise, this was a hit or miss deal from day to day and these fish were much smaller, mostly under 20 lb.

We have not seen dorado now for some time, though this week a few were  hooked into while trolling open waters on the marlin grounds, so we are hoping to see more of these popular gamefish move in.

There have been increasing numbers of striped marlin now on the local grounds, spread out from outside the Gordo Banks, La Laguna, straight off of San Jose del Cabo and outside of Palmilla, anywhere from 4 to 10 miles out, There were marlin that hit on trolled lures and various baitfish, we look for this action to break wide open in coming weeks. Most of the stripers are now in the 80 to 100 lb. range.

There were stronger swells pounding the shoreline, though the few charters that did try closer in did report some action for roosterfish and jack crevalle, trolling with live mullet seemed to work best for this action. We also look for this bite to really break wide open in coming weeks, as this is always the local peak season for roosterfish in the alter part of June. Please remember that these game fish should be released with care, they are prized fighting fish, not known for eating quality and grow to large sizes, better to protect them for future generations.

The combined sportfishing fleet launching out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina reported an estimated 74 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 2 dorado, 14 striped marlin, 6 yellowfin tuna, 2 dogtooth snapper, 12 leopard grouper, 1 broomtail grouper, 170 Mexican bonito, 58 red snapper, 4 yellow snapper, 13 amberjack, 10 glasseye pargo, 12 Pacific golden eyed tile fish, 14 roosterfish, 4 jack crevalle and 70 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric