September 30, 2012
Anglers –

As we have now officially began the Fall season, this last week has been more tropical than anything else. Hurricane Miriam swept past on the Pacific side of the Peninsula, some 400 miles from Cabo San Lucas, it was a category three storm and a strong swells developed, no winds from this, but as the system weaken, clouds shifted towards the east and brought up to four inches of additional rainfall to the area. At the same time Miriam was downgraded to a depression, there was TS Norman developing quickly, within 90 miles of Cabo San Lucas, bringing more thundershowers and wind gusts to 30 mph as it passed just south of the Baja as it continued towards the mainland Mazatlan region. The roads had just been cleared from the last storms, now we will all be busy once again cleaning up. Most all sportfishing activity was canceled for Thursday and Friday, hoping conditions improve for the weekend.

Before the weather turned for the worse charter fleets were catching good number of dorado and yellowfin tuna were also being found. Larger yellowfin are now in the area, including on the Gordo Banks, they have been more active in the afternoon for the past week, but a few nice tuna were also hooked earlier in the day. All strikes were coming on baits, preferably live cocinero, bolito, skpjack, caballito of chihuil. Everyday a handful of larger tuna from 80 to 250 pounds were being accounted for, most of these fish were taken by local pangeros specifically targeting these fish.

Sardinas were harder to obtain with the higher surf conditions, this is what the smaller sized yellowfin tuna around the Iman Bank have preferred, this action was also best later on in the morning. Lots of skipjack to deal with, some of them the species locals refer to as white skipjack, good eating, similar to yellowfin, most are less than ten pounds though. Giant squid have once again moved into the area, though they are north, off of Los Frailes, the commercial pangeros are catching them daily now and some of the sport charters from San Jose del Cabo were able to purchase them and had mixed success using them for bait.

Dorado were the most numerous fish found, scattered throughout the entire zone, ranging in sizes to over 30 pounds, though the majority of the dorado were in the 5 to 15 pound range. There will certainly be more floating debris found after these latest floods, this always help produce the food chain, which in turn can attract gamefish. A few wahoo were found early in the week, with ocean temperatures still in the upper 80s these fish prove to be sluggish and not as active as they become when the water drops into the upper 70s.

A few sailfish and striped marlin are on the offshore fishing grounds, no black or blue marlin really to speak of recently, this is the time we should hear about some black marlin be seen lurking around the high spots, such as the Gordo Banks. Not much off the bottom, a few dogtooth snapper and other miscellaneous pargo.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 38 charters for the week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 4 striped marlin, 4 sailfish, 4 wahoo, 5 amberjack, 6 dogtooth snapper, 9 cabrilla, 114 dorado, 79 yellowfin tuna, 25 various pargo species and 3 roosterfish.

Good Fishing, Eric