September 1, 2012
Anglers –

Lush tropical desert landscape is now greeting light crowds of late summer tourists to Los Cabos, recent rains have transformed the region, the desert is looking more like a jungle, humidity levels raise this time of year and we can also start to feel a hint of fall air conditions in the early morning. Presently the Los Cabos area is feeling the side bands of Hurricane Ileana, which is following a northwesterly path, keeping a distance of three hundred miles from Cabo San Lucas. Wednesday evening and through Thursday there were scattered thundershowers throughout the area, at times quite significant, thunder and lightning accompanied the show. Sportfishing operations were closed Thursday, back in operation Friday. This is the now time of year that can be very unpredictable, the rest of September will most likely be similiar, ocean temperatures are averaging 85 degrees, plenty warm to fuel any tropical storms that develop nearby.

Fleets have spread out looking for action, no particular hot spot now, there is an abundance of skipjack of all sizes on the local fishing grounds, as well as flying fish and bolito. From the marina there have been supplies of caballito and jurelito, with small sardinas found some days. Larger sized sardinas had been schooling north, near Vinorama, but higher surf conditions recently has shut this down, over the weekend forecasts call for residing swells, so sardinas should be in the mix again.

Dorado were the most common fish being found, trolling with lures and then fishing bait has been a productive way to go, sometimes associated with floating debris fields, while other times found near food sources, from close to shore to farther offshore, more of the larger bulls were being found in deeper water. Average dorado was ranging 5 to 12 lb., with a percentage up to 20 lb. or heavier. Limits were the rule, trying to release the smaller fish, looking to keep larger fish for table fare. Only an occasional wahoo encounter being reported, we look for these fish to become more active in the coming weeks.

Bottom action had been for the commercial style extra early departure to catch the first light red snapper bite on San Luis Bank, though this is tapering off now and with the weather patterns has been on hold this week. Triggerfish are thick, but other species, such as amberjack, pargo, pompano, grouper and cabrilla have been tougher to find. A fast current is still running rampant on most days, making bottom drifting more of a chore.

Gordo Banks has been slow to get going this summer, some billfish and dorado hanging around, but in recent days there been reports of yellowfin tuna, these were smaller sized tuna, but at least a sign that they were showing on the grounds. Slow trolling skipjack baits produced some dorado, sailfish and striped marlin strikes, also a handful of black and blue marlin have s reportedly come up on these same baits.

Local surf anglers reported a couple of snook off of the San Jose Estuary, jacks and pompano have worked for baits, anglers put in long hours, many factors are involved, being at the right place, with the preferred bait and on a favorable tide, can produce trophy sized snook to over 30 pounds, with late summer being the peak season for this fishery.

The combined panga fleet out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 42 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of:
3 sailfish, 7 striped marlin, 210 dorado, 18 yellowfin, 8 amberjack, 3 grouper, 13 cabrilla, 36 huachinango (red snapper), 28 pargo and 12 bonito.

Good fishing, Eric