August 30-Sept. 5, 2010
Weather: It was a hot, muggy, mostly cloudy week for us as a layer of clouds moved over from the mainland. There has been a number of areas of circulation starting out to the south and fortunately none of them have developed enough to give us any problems but we are getting the cloud cover from them. Our daytime highs averaged in the low 90's while the nighttime lows were in the mid 80's with humidity sometimes as high as 90%.
Water: This week was a repeat of last week as we had tropical depression 10W pass to the west giving us large swells. These caused the Port Captain, the most careful one we have had yet, wait to open the port until it was light enough to see the conditions outside. The swells were large but there was almost no wind on them so conditions were very good. Water temperatures on the Pacific side of the Cape ranged from 81 degrees to 83 degrees and on the Sea of Cortez side they ranged from 84 to 85 degrees. We did see some high temperatures, to 89 degrees, up offshore of the East Cape region.
Bait: Caballito and Mullet at the normal $3 per bait, unless the bait boats were low, then you might have to pay 3.50 to 4 per bait. No sardinas late in the week due to the large swells.
FISHING
Billfish: The bite picked up on the billfish this week as there were good numbers of both Black and Blue Marlin caught. Most of them were in the 200-300 pound range but a few larger fish to 450 pounds were found as well. Both sides of the Cape were producing as the water was warm in both directions and there were still Striped Marlin to be found as well as some Sailfish in the 100 to 120 pound class. Lures produced bigger numbers than bait, even for those who were tossing bait at every Marlin they saw.
Yellowfin Tuna: The bite on Tuna has finally picked up a bit more as larger schools of school fish move through the area. Mostly in the 40-50 pound range, the fish are associated with porpoise for the most part and getting in front of the moving schools and dropping back bait has worked well. There are still larger fish being found at the Gorda Banks, the Inman Banks, the Cabrillo Seamount, off of the Lighthouse on the Pacific side and south of the San Jaime Banks. These fish are not a steady bite, but they have been quality fish ranging in size from 80 to 200 pounds. The fish at the Gorda and Inman Banks have been producing for anglers using Sardinas while larger lave baits have worked for the offshore fish, as well as larger lures trolled for Marlin.
Dorado: We finally had the Dorado show up, and they have been close to home. Both boats we had out yesterday did very well on fish to 30 pounds, and most boats fishing the area did well also with numbers ranging from 3 to 8 per boat. Getting the first one hooked up and attracting more to the boat with it was the key. Immediately gaffing the first fish made getting more take a bit longer. Straight off of the arch to a distance of five miles, and farther up the Pacific coast the same distance offshore produced the most fish, but they were also scattered about on the Cortez side.
Wahoo: I did not hear of a great bite on Wahoo this week, but there were fish being found in the same area as the Tuna, that is, on the banks and sea mounts. Most of the fish were single hook-up and the size averaged 35 pounds. Having just come off of the full moon I thought the bite would have been a bit better, and perhaps it was, but most of the fishermen were focusing on the Tuna and Marlin.
Inshore: The swells were smaller this week than last week with the exception of Thursday and Friday so there were more fishermen going after Roosterfish, and they were finding them on both sides of the Cape. Almost any sandy beach area with scattered rocks, or abutting a rocky point was producing fish averaging 25 pounds with an occasional 60 pound or larger fish in the mix. As well as Roosterfish there were Snapper and Bonito as well as Dorado to be found. With the good water conditions many of the Pangas were going a bit offshore and focusing on Tuna and Marlin.
Notes: The fishing has finally become good, sometimes very good! We have been waiting a long time, but all the warm water species are now biting well. The cool water species are not here in force, the Striped Marlin bite is slow and there are no Yellowtail, but Blue and Black Marlin, large Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado are thick enough to keep everyone busy and happy. Combine that with good weather and things are looking great right now! Until next week, tight lines!
Just came to our attention you can now buy fishing licenses online. Some Spanish required...won't let me buy quantities, as it looks like you can only buy one at a time. I only played on the website for a mew minutes this morning, look great for those yearly licenses!!! Thanks David for the website
https://www2.ebajacalifornia.gob.mx/Pesca/
http://captgeo.wordpress.com/