September 18, 2011
Now at the midpoint of the month of September, the Eastern Pacific remains calm, no tropical storm forming at this time. Ocean temperatures are ranging from 80 degrees off of the Pacific Banks up to 88 degrees in the direction of Los Frailes. With the officially end of summer one week off, there is now a feeling of fall during the early morning hours, though days have continued to be warm and humid.
Sportfishing fleet are now spread out over the offshore fishing grounds, with the majority of the more consistent action being found in the direction of the Gordo Banks and north from there. San Jose del Cabo anglers relied on sardinas as the main bait source, as well as the plentiful skipjack on the fishing grounds. Other bait options included limited supplies chihuil, moonfish and caballito.
The Gordo Banks has come alive with larger sized yellowfin tuna, these fish are hitting exclusively on bait, with chunks of fresh skipjack being the best bet in recent days. Fish in the 100 to 200 pound or larger class have been hooked daily, no huge numbers, but definitely quality. Charter crews are chumming heavily with cut skipjack and sardinas to get the tuna up in a feeding mood. Cow sized yellowfin tuna were seen coming right to the surface feeding and anglers were taking strikes on lines as heavy as 100 lb. Slow trolling with larger live baits also resulted in hook ups. Many stories of extended battles with larger fish were told, at least several yellowfin over 200 pounds were reportedly landed, with other big fish lost.
There were yellowfin tuna spread through the area, over the recent full moon phase these fish were not as cooperative, but with persistence anglers did account for some impressive catches. There were reports of good dorado action found out of La Paz, but in the Los Cabos area dorado counts have been low, with mostly smaller size do do's encountered, only an occasional larger bulls being reported, no particular area.
Options have been somewhat limited, no inshore action at this time, all offshore on the structure, main target species being the yellowfin tuna, a mix of bottom species, but no consistency for dogtooth, amberjack or grouper, only a few missed wahoo strikes reported and billfishing is hit or miss, no numbers, but a chance at hooking into a big black or blue, one 532 lb. black marlin was weighed in recent days out of La Playita, the black hit on a live skipjack midway between the Inner and Outer Gordo Banks.
La Plaita locals have been spending time fishing off the panga docks and have accounted for a handful of snook, weighing up to 40 pounds, drift fishing with live moonfish, also some nice roosterfish hooked in the same area, only area locally where roosters are seen feeding, the higher tides have produced more bait fish activity in the marina channel.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 59 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 2 black marlin, 6 sailfish, 25 dorado, 97 yellowfin tuna, 22 bonito, 4 rainbow runner, 15 cabrilla, 7 dogtooth snapper, 26 pargo, 1 yellowtail and 7 amberjack..
Good Fishing, Eric
