Only
moderate crowds now visiting the Los Cabos area, despite weather being ideal,
high temperatures were ranging up near 90 degrees, but still comfortable with
the prevalent breezes, noting like the heat index that we feel mid-summer. Last
weekend we saw winds pick back up, actually starting out of the north, then
switching from the south, as two fronts were colliding, then the new week
started out nice, though once again later in the week the wind patterns were
sporadic, water clarity also deteriorated compared to how clean it had been.
Not that unusual to see these rapidly changing conditions, this can be the on
and off pattern now into July, when the ocean environment becomes more stable.
Ocean
temperatures are now ranging from the lower 70s on the Pacific side of Cabo San
Lucas, to an average of 76/77 degrees near the Gordo Banks and further north.
Nothing has changed on the bait situation, anglers are still using squid
strips, limited caballito, ballyhoo and other baitfish being found on the
fishing grounds. Sportfishing fleets are fishing in all directions, searching
for the best possible action, with the more consistent catches being found from
Red Hill, Palmilla Point areas, north to Iman, San Luis and Vinorama. No
particular spot was producing any wide open action, though there were some
decent catches accounted for, more so from the super panga charters, compared
to the cruisers. Pangas are just a bit more versatile, stealthier and more
suited for slow drift style fishing over structure, versus the cruisers which
are more geared for open water action.
Striped
marlin action dropped off again, we heard some sporadic reports from the 1150
spot and some action straight off of San Jose del Cabo, no big numbers though
and no baitfish feeding frenzy reports. Earlier in the week we saw more dorado
than we have seen for some time, still no significant numbers, but at least we
saw a handful of respectable dorado in the 15 to 20 lb. class. As fast as this
action developed it diminished later in the week to just seeing an occasional
single smaller sized dorado, a bit discouraging, but once again that is not
abnormal for this time of year.
Wahoo were
being found from Red Hill, Palmilla, to Iman, San Luis and Vinorama, sizes up
to 45 lb. Some anglers landed as many as three, while reporting many other lost
hook ups. Strikes reportedly came on Rapalas, rigged ballyhoo, caballito and
chihuil. Better action earlier in the week, a little more finicky later in the
week, off colored water conditions never seem to help the wahoo bite. Just this
week a handful of the more ambitious panga guides were scouting out
possibilities of catching chihuil baitfish on the Inner Gordo Bank, this is
rarely an real easy task, most mornings they did not even catch enough of these
candy like baitfish until past 9:00 a.m., then they had to motor all the way
north near San Luis Bank where more numbers of wahoo were schooling. Choppy
ocean conditions in the morning on the offshore banks makes this type of hand
line bait fishing a tough go, but once caught these baits can produce some
quality action.
Yellowfin
tuna were still being found on Iman Bank and towards the north, though this
action dropped way off this past week, nothing consistent at all, some charters
accounted for up to three yellowfin, while others never even had a strike,
strips of squid was the best bet for hooking a tuna, though a few were also
taken on baits such as ballyhoo of chihuil and yo-yo iron jigs. Some decent
quality yellowfin in the 25 to 80 lb. class were reported, just not many
numbers.
Closer to
shore there were some late season sierra up to 8 lb. landed, also a handful of
roosterfish and jack crevalle, though once again no big numbers and scattered
action.
The combined
panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out
approximately 64 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of:
5 striped marlin, 31 wahoo, 33 yellowfin tuna,12 dorado, 9 amberjack, 7
cabrilla, 45 mixed snapper species, 15 sierra, 6 jack crevalle, 11 bonito, 4
rainbow runner, 6 barred pargo, 8 roosterfish and 210 triggerfish.