GORDO BANKS PANGAS
August 23rd, 2026
As we head into the end of August and September, we are now at the peak of our hurricane/storm season. We are hesitant to see where it leads to as many climate scientists believe we are due for a big one. As of now, we are seeing a few developments in the Pacific, the closest one expected within the first days of September. The forecast significantly changes daily, so we are hoping it shifts towards the west.
This week, we experienced increased scattered cloud coverage with some rain, humidity and very warm conditions. Another week of light crowds of visitors, typical for this time of year.
Bait suppliers were still able to find the schooling sardinas just next to the marina jetty. We are not seeing many caballito schools currently. Some bait boats reported small schools of caballito later in the afternoon throughout different rock structures inside the marina, though they were difficult to target as they were moving fast; most likely some fish (Roosters, Jacks, Snook), chasing after them.
Most charters continue to work the grounds of Vinorama. As we continue to see a good supply of sardines, we continue to see decent tuna action. However, our battles with sharks continue. On a good day, some boats were able to land up to 4-5 tuna, most of them in the 20-30 pound range. Other days, you were lucky to land one or two. We did see a handful of nicer 50-60 pound fish in the same area.
On Friday, one of the private boats reported a 200-pound tuna at Vinorama, caught on a live skipjack. That same day, one of the pangas lost another big one after a one-hour battle (also on skipjack). Some of the locals also reported a couple of these cows at the Inner and Outer Gordo on live skipjacks and bulito.
Not much inshore action being done now, this is around the time of year that this action fades out. We did see a few dogtooth snapper this week, though these were found over same high spots where charters were drift fishing. Many boats reported schools of small dorado at Vinorama this weekend, almost none of them keepers.
Good Fishing, Brian
