Gordo Banks Pangas
San Jose del Cabo
February 21, 2009
Anglers –
Moderate crowds of tourists that were visiting the Southern Baja region this past week were greeted with cooler weather conditions, stronger winds, varying ocean currents and these factors slowed down the all around fishing action, at times limiting what options were practical, but despite choppy seas the fishing did seem to rebound later on in the week as ocean clarity was back on a cleaning trend. Water temperatures varied from 68 to 72 degrees and were constantly fluctuating due to strong persistent currents. Clarity changed from day to day as well, it is that time of year when stronger northerly winds are more dominant and push in cooler murky waters. Whales are now in peak migration and on any given day you can expect to see scores of them spouting and at times breeching completely out of the water.
There was a report of a juvenile sized whale being entangled in a section of gill netting in the vicinity of Los Frailes, a team of local Fish and Game personnel were dispatched on a search and rescue mission, but after they reached the area where it had last been seen they were never able to locate the trapped whale. It is a shame that commercial gill net activity is still indiscriminately taking place taking place along the more remote coastal stretches. It seems that when a whale is reported tangled in a net, this finally pressures the officials into action, which is a good thing, especially when some whales' lives can be saved.
The most consistent fishing for dorado and yellowfin tuna was now being found on the
fishing grounds from La Fortuna to Iman Bank. Live sardinas was the preferred baitfish and they were being netting in various locations along the shorelines from Palmilla to Vinorama, despite some low tides with higher surf conditions the commercial pangueros were able to net fresh supplies of these baitfish everyday. The bite was on and off, lots of chum was required to get the tuna up on the surface into a feeding mood, even then the fish were finicky much of the time and light leaders were required in order to get a strike. The yellowfin were averaging 25 to 50 pounds and typical catches were one, two, three or four per boat. Hungry Mexican bonito were also aggressively feeding on these same areas and along with the sea gulls and pesky sea lions that were playing havoc on anglers, at times proved to be frustrating. Dorado numbers were down from pervious weeks, but most charters were accounting for several fish in the 8 to 20 pound class mixed into their overall catch.
Still not much to report for bottom fishing, just a handful of snapper (pargo), amberjack, yellowtail and cabrilla, most of these fish were under fifteen pounds and they hit on yo-yo jigs. Along the shoreline sierra and roosterfish were provided fair to very good action for anglers slow trolling with live sardinas, the areas of Zacaton and La Laguna were producing fairly consistently. Despite averaging less than ten pounds, these fish were great sport on light conventional or fly casting tackle.
Still a chance at winter time wahoo, less numerous than last week, but a handful on fish in the 10 to 35 pound range were accounted for, hooked on sardinas, rapalas and yo-yo's from areas in front of La Fortuna and Punta Gorda.
The combined panga fleet launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos sent out approximately 72 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 3 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 3 hammerhead shark, 13 wahoo, 234 Mexican bonito, 142 sierra, 38 roosterfish, 1 golden jack, 4 pompano, 18 pargo, 11 amberjack, 13 cabrilla and 18 triggerfish.
Good fishing, Eric
