March 22, 2012
Anglers –
Spring like weather is now attracting moderate crowds of vacationers. Variable conditions, with some cloud cover, winds, but also plenty of sunshine, actually very pleasant climate now, not too cool or hot. Winds diminishing later in the week and anglers reported comfortable ocean conditions. Water temperatures ranged 68 to 70 degrees throughout most of the region, clarity improved, as cleaner blue water was found not more than several miles from shore.
Supplies of sardinas were a bit more scattered this past week, these baitfish were being netted by commercial pangueros off of Chileno, Red Hill and the beaches near San Luis, varying daily as where more concentrated schools were found. There were limited supplies of caballito also available from the marina areas.
Red crabs were found on the local fishing grounds sporadically in recent days and are being used as bait for Pacific red snapper (huachinango). These fish are a valuable and highly sought after commercial species, but also a fun sport fish on light tackle, prized eating for sure. But without the availability of these red crabs, these fish just do not have a taste for anything else at this time. Overall the presence of red crabs on the fishing grounds seems to have more of a negative factor than positive, as to how the structure species bite.
With the cooler water temperatures there are still quite a few late season whales being seen, there were also a handful of whale shark sightings in the past week. Striped marlin action has been very spread out, really no particular hot spot, stripers have been encountered tailing on the surface, but not in significant numbers, a few unusual winter time sailfish catches were reported as well.
Scattered reports of yellowfin tuna being found on the outside of Cabo San Lucas, fifteen or more miles offshore, often encountered without any sign of being associated with porpoise. These fish were smaller sized for the most part and hit or miss, particularly earlier in the week when southwest winds were strong and crated rough seas.
Dorado have been scarce as well, more of these fish are actually now found closer to shore than offshore. Dorado were feeding on inshore baitfish, looking for frigate birds circling overhead and diving, has been a way to find these gamefish.
For most of the month of March anglers found the most consistent fishing action closer to shore. Working the various rock piles with yo-yo jigs and sardinas produced a mix bag of pargo, yellowtail, amberjack, bonito, cabrilla, triggerfish and others. Trolling the inshore there was good early morning action for sierra, with a few jack crevalle and roosterfish. Not too many larger sized fish, most of the fish caught were less than ten pounds, but there were a handful of larger bottom species accounted for.
The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 60 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 striped marlin, 1 sailfish,14 dorado, 17 bonito, 455 sierra, 24 roosterfish, 16 jack crevalle, 89 pargo, 27 cabrilla, 5 mako shark, 11 hammerhead shark, 9 pompano and 11 amberjack.
Good Fishing, Eric
