September 26, 2021
Calm conditions through the week, we do not see any forecast of any new tropical storms developing at this time. Most areas have now moved on from Hurricane Olaf damages and the majority of the cleanup has been completed. We are feeling the start of fall weather pattern, sightly cooler early mornings, though days are still quite warm and humid. Swells resided as the week progressed, water temperature ranged from 83 to 87 degrees throughout the zone. Currents were strong and days after the full moon often throws off the bite.
The main action now for local fleets has been found from the Iman to San Luis Banks, boats have scouted out the Gordo Banks with nothing much being found, a lot of skipjack and a couple of 25 to 30 lb. class home guard yellowtail. Drift fishing with strips of squid was the best bet for hooking into a nice yellowfin tuna, a handful were also hooked while slow trolling live baits such as chihuil. Sardinas were available in limited quantities from near the marina entrance and off of Palmilla Point.
The tuna were very finicky, at times showing on the surface, often not appearing at all. Chumming with sardinas seemed to help at times, but major of fish hooked up were on the strips of squid. Most days the best chances were early in the day, fish sizes ranged from 50 to 150 lb. Anglers were doing well to land one of these yellowfin, though chances for multiple fish are there. Moving further back away from the full moon now, if currents slack some, water temperature cools slightly, all of these factors could trigger better action on any given day.
On these same grounds a few dogtooth snapper were landed as well, up to 45 lb. also misc. other snapper, pargo, bonito species and of course triggerfish. Strong current was not helping bottom action and not much at all going along close to the shore now. We were only seeing a few dorado here or there and most of these being small juvenile fish, the exception was a handful of dorado we saw over 10 lb. No wahoo in recent days, but heard of some being hooked north of San Luis, as water temperature soon begins to cool off this should help increase odds of finding any ‘hoo.
Billfish are lurking around these same fishing grounds, this is where the food source is. This week we saw fair numbers of sailfish, as well as striped, blue adn black marlin, No significant numbers, blues of over 300 lb and blacks over 400 lb. were landed in recent days. This is the season where odds of being able to land an offshore grand slam is at its greatest.
This month now ending, with the fall season now upon us, things are shaping up to be very busy though the next several months, tournament attractions and groups of anglers trying to make up time for lost out travel adventures during Covid times.
Good Fishing, Eric