May 15, 2022  

There have been substantial crowds of visitors, again there were scores of wedding ceremonies, bachelor celebrations , reunions and the so forth. We did see some larger numbers of anglers also arriving this past week. Weather patterns really warmed up this during this period, feeling like summer is right around the corner, mostly sunny skies with high temperatures around 85 degrees. Really an ideal time of year, nice warm conditions, afternoon breezes keeping things comfortable, not too scorching yet.

Ocean water temperature quickly warmed up accordingly, now in the 74 to 78 degrees range through areas from Cabo San Luis and north towards the East Cape. Water clarity was much improved, clean blue currents pushing in. There were increased swells from the south sweeping in, winds were a bit unpredictable, picking up early in the day from the north and later over the weekend switching from the southern direction. But overall fairly nice ocean conditions.

Bait sources included sardinas, anchoveta, caballito, ballyhoo and slabs of squid. Limited on sardinas, though it is encouraging we are seeing some of these again. Seasons first schools of mullet are spearing along coastal stretches, this annual migration of these hardy baitfish also bring in more gamefish such as roosterfish, jack crevalle, dogtooth snapper, amberjack and others.

The majority of local sportfishing fleets were fishing area now from La Fortuna, Iman, San Luis and Vinorama, a smaller percentage of charter going towards Red Hill and the 1150 areas where sporadic striped marlin and dorado action was being encountered, some days decent action found and others not so much. Still transition period now, changing rapidly, daily. Even a handful of scattered wahoo were reported.

Highlight of the week was certainly the yellowfin tuna, encountered near the 25 spot and later through the weekend closer to Vinorama. These tuna were striking on drifted and slow trolled live bait, achoveta, sardina and caballito. Sizes on these yellowfin averaged 15 to 35 lb., but fish to 70 lb. were also landed. No significant numbers, though many boats did return with two or three tuna and a few even more fortunate anglers accounted for up to ten fish.

The rock piles of 80 to 200 feet,  continue to produce mixed action for a variety of species, such as yellow snapper, red snapper, rose snapper, leopard grouper, amberjack, yellowtail, jack crevalle, bonito, triggerfish, white fish and an unusual number of juvenile sized tiger sharks. More anglers were now targeting surface species, since this action has just started showing more consistent opportunities.

Closer to shore there were some schooling mullet appearing, we heard of some quality roosterfish being found, so this is really the first run of these popular gamefish this season, roosters usually peak later in June and July. Spotty action for sierra and some hog sized jack crevalle rounded out the inshore action.

Good Fishing, Eric