A noticeable increase in crowds this past week, first wave of spring break activity. Just like clockwork the weather is changing as well, definitely feels like spring season already, sunny days with high temperatures up to 86 degrees, lows were now in the 62 degree range. Relentless north winds have also diminished and not such a plague as they were through the past month. Very pleasant now, great time to visit the Los Cabos area.
Ocean swells are very minimal and water temperatures slightly warmer, now averaged in the 69 to 72 degree range. Live bait situation remain scarce and scattered, slabs of squid and ballyhoo are available everyday, but obtaining live bait such as sardinas, caballito or mackerel has been very sporadic.
Sportfishing fleets are scattered about searching different areas, this week the more consistent action was encountered from the Gordo Banks, to Cardon, La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis Banks. With a mix of surface and bottom action being found.
Numbers of dorado being found dropped way off in recent days, just a handful now being found, most of these fish were in the 10 to 15 lb. class, did see a few bulls as large as 25 lb. A couple of wahoo were landed earlier in the week, a bit unusual for this time of year.
Yellowfin tuna were still hanging around the Iman Bank, but were not easy to entice, only an occasional tuna being landed, some days none at all, others days just a few for the combined fleet, of the fish we saw, they ranged from 30 to 90 lb. Some hit on strips of squid, others on caballito or sardinas, if you were fortunate enough to obtain the live bait.
The highlight off the bottom was mid week when some nice yellowtail were found off of the various high spots. Most of these are taken on various baits and a few on yo-yo jigs. These fish were weighing in the 20 to 35 lb. range. Encouraging to see these yellowtail, we hope the bait situation improves some as the recent full moon darkens some more. In recent seasons the month of March has been the most productive for these popular gamefish.
Most numerous bottom species was the bonito, striking over the high spots, mainly on yo-yo jigs, we did also see limited numbers of grouper, snapper, whitefish, sheephead, amberjack and triggerfish, a couple of amberjack over 50 lb. were weighed in.
Billfish action slowed way down, we are only seeing an occasional striped marlin accounted for, no large bait concentrations now attracting these fish into any feeding frenzies.
Good Fishing, Eric