May 16, 2010
Paradise like weather patterns are attracting more visitors, they are being treated to sunny skies with highs in the mid 80s. Seasonal wind patterns have shifted from the North to predominately from the South. Warm ocean current have pushed up ocean temperatures to an average of 74 to 77 degrees and clean blue water is reportedly found within a couple miles of shore.
Charter boats continue to cover a wide area searching for productive action, much of the more consistent overall action was found in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, often having to travel as far as San Luis to Los Frailes. Fleets from the East Cape are also ventured towards the south, as far as the Iman Bank. All fleets have reported a shortage of live sardinas, which are the preferred baitfish for a variety of medium sized species, but are now only being found in very limited supplies, on some days during periods of increased swell activity the bait could not even be safely netted at all. Other bait options have included caballito, when available and fresh ballyhoo for troll rigging. Only occasional reports about sightings of schooling mullet being reported, larger masses of these migrating baitfish are on schedule to arrive in local waters.
Anglers were trolling rocky drop offs along the local coast lines and reported steady action for wahoo, averaging two or more chances per morning. More wahoo hook-ups were lost than actually landed, of the fish that were weighed in, they ranged from 20 to 80 pounds. Rapalas, skirted lead heads and rigged baits, all accounted for strikes, it was more of a matter of encountering these smaller sized schools of active wahoo.
Only limited numbers of dorado are being found, a mix of sizes to 20 pounds, but really only single fish here and there, we look for these fish to become more common in the coming weeks.
Bottom fishing has produced various successes, but generally has not been as productive comparatively to targeting surface species, which were not overly numerous themselves, but at least were being encountered on a daily basis. There was a mix of species off the bottom structure, using various baits and yo-yo jigs they accounted for cabrilla, huachinango (red snapper), amberjack, yellowtail, pompano, bonito and yellow snapper. This action was sporadic, but some charters had catches of up to ten fish in combination.
Scattered reports on yellowfin tuna action being encountered while traveling with porpoise. Lots of pressure on these pods and the tuna would become lure shy and with limited supplies of live bait, this made for tough times for tuna. Some boats were traveling as far as Los Frailes to find the 20 to 100 pound yellowfin that were feeding among porpoise. This is a very long run for any of the fleets, especially for the chance at one finicky fish or two. These schools of tuna should shift towards the south soon, within easier charter range soon.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 55 charters this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of:
6 mako shark, 6 hammerhead shark, 41 wahoo, 18 dorado, 17 yellowfin tuna, 28 bonito, 22 pargo, 26 sierra, 9 amberjack, 11 cabrilla,12 roosterfish, 12 pompano and 24 triggerfish.
Good Fishing, Eric
