May 18, 2013

Anglers –

The season’s first tropical storm has developed off of the Southern Mexican coast, named Alvin, this weakening storm is far away from making any impact on land, forecasters do expect to see increased wave activity over the weekend as a southern hemisphere system is pushing in higher swells and surfers are excited with anticipation. Spring time weather has started to feel a bit more like summer, days are progressively becoming warmer, with highs nearing 90 degrees. Winds have been light, switching from the north to the south, unpredictable from day to day, as daily weather patterns are changing continually. Ocean temperatures have ranged from 65 degrees on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas, up to 75 degrees outside of San Jose del Cabo and towards Los Frailes.

Anglers found that the fishing action has been varying, just like the weather has been doing, on any given day just about anything could happen offshore, there is an abundance of squid and other baitfish in local waters now. At times crews encountered balled up medium sized squid on the surface and were able to net some of them as use for bait. We are seeing more schools of bolito now moving in on local fishing grounds, as well as mullet close to shore. Favorable signs when we see this much bait activity, always an attraction for gamefish to follow their preferred food source.

Striped marlin continue to provide consistent action offshore, fish have been scattered throughout the region, anywhere from 2 to 20 miles from shore. With all of the natural food in the area the billfish were at times not interested in feeding, other days they would shy away from caballito, but would readily strike bolito, some charters did accountant for multiple marlin catch and release days. The majority of the marlin have ranged in sizes from 80 lb. to 150 lb. A handful of open water dorado are being found and small groups of these fish were also found closer to shore over the rocky structure, places that hold concentrations of baitfish, a few dorado over 30 lb. were reported. Not much talk about wahoo, but we know with such plentiful baitfish around and the way the conditions are now warming and with clean blue water being found, that any day these fish could become increasingly active.

There are yellowtail holding on the high spots, the fish landed are in the 20 to 35 lb. class, they have not been biting consistently, they were striking best on live chihuil batfish drifted down deep on the Gordo Banks. These particular baits were very difficult to come by, only available at first light on these same grounds and in limited numbers, not for sale. Caballito continue to be the main bait source obtainable in the marina area, sardinas are schooling along the beaches north of Punta Gorda, but with higher surf conditions, the commercial pangeros were not safely able to net them.

Some charters were able to obtain fresh brined sardinas and they reported catches of various snapper, cabrilla, pompano and sierra. Some of these late season sierra have been large, to over 10 pounds. This past week there were several quality snook accounted for by anglers fishing off the shore near the Pueto Los Cabos Marina jetty. These catches are early in the season for the elusive snook, striking on baits and various lures, the largest reported was a 33 lb. snook that hit on a Rapala type lure. An unusual catch of a 20 pound halibut while trolling a live caballito for roosterfish was accounted from La Playita panga charter.

Action for roosterfish has been steady this past week, with larger fish now moving in, several roosters up to 50 lb. were caught and released, and many other fish were over 20 pounds, numbers of fish have varied each day, reports of 20 releases one day and the next day boats could only find a handful best chance was early in the day. Strong currents have been running and tidal swings can all have an effect on the bite.

The combined local panga fleets launching from La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 80 charters this past week and anglers reported a fish count of: 16 striped marlin, 3 sailfish, 4 mako shark, 22 yellowtail, 19 amberjack, 38 huachinango, 12 barred pargo, 20 cabrilla, 23 bonito, 30 dorado, 42 sierra, 1 halibut, 9 pompano, 6 dogtooth snapper, 34 jack crevalle and 115 roosterfish.

Good fishing, Eric