November 30, 2008
Anglers –
Tourists continue to arrive in the Los Cabos area to take advantage of the pristine winter time weather. Mostly sunny skies, with high temperatures reaching the mid 80s, the early mornings are now where you might want a sweatshirt or wind breaker. Northern winds have not been a problem yet and ocean conditions are very comfortable, especially so on the Sea of Cortez side of the peninsula. Water clarity has been very good, blue water found within a couple of miles of shore and ocean temperatures are continuing to be slightly warmer than usual for late November, now averaging 79 to 82 degrees.
Mackerel baitfish have been abundant on the Pacific and this is where the billfish action continues to be concentrated, the schools of marlin are starting to swift from the Golden Gate closer to Cabo San Lucas off of El Faro, double digit catch and release on striped marlin ranging 80 to 120 pounds have been common. Dorado action has been good throughout the area, many fish in the 10 to 20 pound class, striking on lures and various baits. Live sardinas have been hard to come by and of small size, mainly being netted off of the Palmilla area, off of La Playita there have been mixed sized caballito available.
Yellowfin tuna are being found in different location, though at times have proven difficult to hook into. Larger tuna, to over 100 pounds were found traveling with porpoise from La Laguna to Vinorama, though they were not interested, breezing on the surface, some yellowfin in the 25 to 65 pound range were landed, most of these on larger baitfish such as chihuil or skipjack, that were caught elsewhere. The action on the Iman Bank for tuna slowed own, though at times they would come up briefly and provide anglers with some action, these fish ranged mostly in the 10 to 20 pound class. In recent days dorado were the more prevalent species in the area of Iman and La Fortuna, pangas were limiting out and releasing many fish as well.
On Sunday, November 23, the annual local wahoo tournament was held out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina. This year there were 48 teams that participated and though there were no huge number of wahoo caught there were enough of these elusive speedsters found to keep things interesting. First place was taken by the team of skipper Nicolas Quinones, Saul and Steve Crow from the San Diego area, they landed a monster 65 pound ‘hoo during the last hour of competition off of La Fortuna on a yellow colored Mirro-Lure without wire leader. Second place went to yours truly, Eric Brictson and his son Brian, accompanied by Pancho and Marcelo Gonzalez, aboard Gordo Banks Pangas' new Parker charter boat, the "Sea Senorita". Eric hooked the 38 pound fish while trolling a live chihuil bait on the Inner Gordo Bank. Next big event out of La Playita will be the Dorado Tournament, I believe it will be on Sunday, May 31, 2009.
The annual migration of whales is now arriving off of the Southern Baja and long with manta rays, sea turtles and sea lions are an added attraction.
The combined panga fleets out of La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 122 charter for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 4 sailfish, 485 dorado, 134 yellowfin tuna, 21 wahoo, 42 mixed pargo species, 18 sierra, 26 bonito and 52 white skipjack.
Good Fishing, Eric
