Cabo San Lucas Blog - Los Cabos, Mexico
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Hurricane Odile Saga – Tuesday – September 23, 2014 
Hurricane Odile Saga – September 22, 2014
Well a week ago this AM I was recovering from one of scariest nights in my life. Karla and I, our 6 cats and Maya our dog had just gone through the worst hurricane in my 30 years of living here. El Diablo Odile spit out 100-165 MPH winds that shook the 100 tons of cement, steel and rock structure that I built and we live in like a freight train going 100 MPH down to the Gates of Hell and back.
The Good News is that thanks to the Federal Government and CFE, electricity and city water supply has been restored to many parts of San Jose and Cabo San Lucas and we are all moving forward to repair the damages caused by hurricane Odile. Let us not forget the Army, Marines and Policia which helped stabilize any crime that could occur from lack of enforcement.
Apparently Walmart and Mega are already opened for a limited time but we will plan to check this later today.
There are reports that the airport may open in a few days but there have been planes and helicopters fly in and out through this whole event.
I hope when they say “What does not kill you makes you stronger” is true.
For more info we will try to keep our Face Book pages updated @
https://www.facebook.com/LosCabosVillas
https://www.facebook.com/michael.aviani
This large hurricane is coming on a very similar path to Norbert hitting the tip of Baja @ Los Cabos and tracking up the Pacific Coast of the Peninsula. It is now moving 14 MPH NNW.
September 14, 2014 
For the past month we have watched Tropical Storm systems develop on a weekly basis. After enjoying clear and calm conditions ever since the passing of Hurricane Norbert, at the present time we are watching the development of Tropical Storm Odile, moving at a mere two miles per hour, some 250 miles south of Manzanillo. Forecasters have been more cautious in predicting exactly what this storm will do. It looks like the Southern Baja Peninsula might become lucky one more time, if Odile does follow a more northwesterly track as it gains strength to category two or higher before weakening over cooler waters. Either way we do expect to see Red Flag closed Port conditions on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, surely more rain, hopefully no high winds.
Crowds of visitors continued to be moderate, as many people have stayed away due to frequent stormy forecasts. This is how the month of September goes, very tropical time of year and unpredictable from day to day.
Anglers were enjoying great wide open yellowfin tuna action since ocean conditions have calmed down. Sardinas continue to school near the rocks of the marina jetty and this has been the bait of choice for getting into the hot tuna action, hard to say how long this resource will remain plentiful.
Yellowfin tuna are now being found in various locations, over structure, such as La Fortuna, Iman and the Gordo Banks. The fish are coming up feeding on the sardinas, ranging in weights from 10 to 25 lb, to 40 to 80 lb and on up to 300 pounds. All sizes of yellowfin tuna in the area, most common catches were in the 15 to 60 pound range. The best chance at the hooking into a monster cow still seemed to be around the Gordo Banks, on Thursday a trio of local La Playita pangeros went on an afternoon trip and landed a 298 pound yellowfin while using 60 pound gear, so these cows are definitely lurking, just not in the numbers of the other smaller grade of tuna near La Fortuna or Iman Banks.
Several varieties of skipjack are now in the mix with the yellowfin tuna, also good numbers of wahoo on these same fishing grounds. Most of the wahoo landed were in the 10 to 30 pounds class, a few larger. Many hook ups were lost, as anglers were having wahoo strikes while they were using mono leaders targeting tuna. The wahoo were striking trolled Rapalas or skirted lures as well, just unpredictable as to when or where you might take a ‘hoo strike. Dorado were scattered and when found they were more often juvenile sized
An occasional sailfish of striped or blue marlin were hooked while anglers were on the tuna grounds, no large concentrations of billfish being seen. Plenty of food fish in the area now, so you figure there would be some large gamefish predators nearby. Not much bottom fishing being attempted now, with the surface action being so productive. One commercial pangeros out of La Playita did haul in two gulf groupers one day while using heavy hand line, both fish weighed over 120 lbs. Lots of triggerfish and an occasional dogtooth snapper. With water temperatures now in the upper 80s, many species that live near rocky structure will head deeper to find cooler and richer in oxygen habitat.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 58 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 8 sailfish, 620 yellowfin tuna, 450 skipjack, 36 dorado, 6 dogtooth snapper, 8 rainbow runners, 12 cabrilla, 15 wahoo and 8 dogtooth snapper.
Good fishing, Eric
—
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
Most people come to Los Cabos to experience sun, sand, surf, and, just maybe, a little bit of golfing and fishing. You certainly won’t regret booking a Los Cabo vacation 
home! While the region is certainly known for its incredible outdoor activities, there are also a variety of cultural happenings in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo at any given time. One of the area’s most popular cultural events is the Baja Shakespeare Festival, which occurs every year in March for two weekends.
The Marin Shakespeare Company, which puts on popular Shakespearean plays throughout California every year, hosts the Baja Shakespeare Festival at the Buenavista Beach Resort. This facility offers a spectacular backdrop for top-notch performances of William Shakespeare’s most beloved plays. If you and your family enjoy the theatre, this is do not miss occasion for you! There is nowhere else to experience the literary majesty of Shakespeare quiet like this. Throughout the weekend, you will be entertained by uproariously funny and highly dramatic performances of some of Shakespeare’s greatest works. You can learn more about next year’s Festival by visiting www.marinshakespeare.org .
If you’re thinking about purchasing tickets to the 2015 Baja Shakespeare Festival, contact Los Cabos Villas today to book a Cabo rental that can serve as your home away from home during your stay. We offer Los Cabos vacation rentals that are ideal for theatergoers of all kinds. Whether you are traveling alone to the Shakespeare festival or you are bring your entire extended family, one of our villas or condominiums is sure to be ideal for you.
When you aren’t busy watching the company’s performances during the Baja Shakespeare Festival, the helpful staff at Los Cabos Villas can help you plan other activities that your family will love. From deep sea fishing excursions to dinner reservations at Cabo’s finest restaurants, we can point you towards must-do activities and must-see sites.
September 7, 2014 
Last week we saw the nearby passing of Hurricane Marie and then conditions settled down very nice for one week, before this latest storm Hurricane Norbert formed. This newest system is slower moving and has followed a path bringing it much closer to the Southern Baja Peninsula. Heavy storm swells pushing 20 feet high have once again shut down all Port activity, Red Flag most likely until at least Sunday morning. Marie was a monster storm of category five strength, fortunately staying further offshore, while Norbert is presently a category one Hurricane, packing 90 mph sustained winds. Expected to parallel the Pacific coast, just offshore and follow a northerly track. Flood damage and related wind damage has been the main consequences felt from this latest storm. This is the time of year that we do frequently see these tropical storm systems develop, we have had enough rain for now, everyone is ready for Norbert to pass and have conditions dry out.
Hard to say what will happen with the fishing action, after Hurricane Marie passed, the fishing picked up strongly, with sardinas being available for bait, found around the Marina Jetty, anglers found good action for yellowfin tuna, ranging in sizes to over 60 pounds. The fishing grounds from the Gordo Banks to Iman all producing action. Dorado were more scattered, small schools encountered sporadically. Most of the dorado found were smaller in size.
A few wahoo were also in the mix, weighing up to 40 pounds, found on the same local grounds. Incredible reports of one 50 pound wahoo being landed off of Orange County, Southern California, this is one crazy season. This could be one of those seasons that the Los Cabos area enjoys incredible fall and winter action. In the mean time we are dealing with back to back storm conditions, which is unfortunate for vacationers caught in the midst of storm conditions.
Not much bottom action now, a handful of dogtooth snapper, some rainbow runners, a lone yellowtail, a few cabrilla and various skipjack and bonito species. Scattered billfish action as well, more sailfish than anything else, a few black and blue marlin hook ups reported.
We are looking forward to calmer conditions and getting back to normal operations. The next few weeks can be a very unpredictable time, tropical weather patterns can develop quickly. Following forecast closely and taking precaution to protect personal interests.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 40 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of:
2 blue marlin, 9 sailfish, 215 yellowfin tuna, 250 skipjack,1 yellowtail, 15 rainbow runners,
7 cabrilla, 46 dorado, 7 wahoo and 8 dogtooth snapper.
Good fishing, Eric
—
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
August 31, 2014 
The week started off with weather changes on Sunday, the arrival of high swells created by Hurricane Marie, this forced closure of all water activities for three days. Swells generated by this powerful category five hurricane reached its peak on Sunday evening and through Monday, nearing 20 ft. high, causing some erosion problems, but overall everyone felt fortunate that this storm system stayed several hundred miles off to the west and did not cause much damage. Isolated thundershowers were recorded, heavy downpours at times, lightening strikes, with some power outages. Schools were all closed on Monday as a precaution
Skies are now clear and sportfishing fleets are back in operation. Just before the swell arrived, on Saturday, the fishing action had improved and the season’s first super cow sized yellowfin tuna was weighed in late that same day, just before the Port was closed the following morning. The tuna was caught by a group of three La Playita pangeros, they were trolling a larger sized live skipjack for bait on the Outer Gordo Bank and after a two hour battle landed the monster, which officially weighed in at 335 lb. So the cows have returned and since the reopening of the port there have been several more landed, mainly by the hard core La Playita pangeros, several very large fish were lost after extended battles. Sardinas were found schooling again around the Puerto Los Cabos Marina Jetty and these baitfish were the bait of choice for the better chances of all around action.
Fleets reported finding mixed sizes of yellowfin tuna off of Santa Maria, Red Hill, Gordo Banks and Iman. The Iman was producing football sized yellowfin and another grade of tuna in the 40 to 70 pound class, a bit finicky, hitting best on lighter tackle, then the problem is fighting heavier fish that are hooked on too light of tackle. The chance at the cows has been on the Gordo Banks, with fish reportedly holding on both the Inner and Outer Gordo Banks. Heavy dive boat pressure has been a negative factor on the Gordo Banks.
The majority of the dorado that are now being encountered are smaller juvenile sized fish, most of them females, which should actually be released and given a chance to mature and spawn in order to help maintain a quality fishery. A major problem is getting the people interested in thinking about the future, instead of the mentality of what they can get for today. Officials would be smart to enforce a temporary closure of all dorado fishing until a later date in the Fall.
An occasional wahoo being reported, but there was more activity from these fish before the recent storm passed through. Billfish action has been spread out as well. Best bet has been to target the yellowfin of varying sizes. Not much reported off the bottom, an occasional dogtooth snapper or cabrilla. No inshore action to speak of, as is normal for late summer.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 47 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of:
1 striped marlin, 4 sailfish, 170 yellowfin tuna, 20 bonito, 8 cabrilla, 76 dorado, 2 wahoo and 4 dogtooth snapper.
Good fishing, Eric
—
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
August 24, 2014 
For adventurous travelers who enjoy humid tropical weather conditions, this is a great time to visit the Southern Baja Peninsula. Daily forecasts have called for chances of scattered thunder showers, which has been the pattern throughout August, though most of the rainfall recoded, fell over the mountainous regions and the majority of the time in the direction to the north of San Jose del Cabo. Conditions can change rapidly, this past week there were threatening skies at times, but only isolated showers, winds were light and ocean conditions were comfortable. Moderate swells at the present time, though early next week a large storm swell is predicted to impact the area and waves could be as big as twenty feet. This storm surge is being produced by Tropical Storm Marie, which is now positioned to the southwest, rapidly gaining strength and will be passing close by, offshore of Cabo San Lucas. High chances of rainfall in the coming days as well, be prepared to button down the hatches, because this is the time of year that when it does rain, it can really pour.
Good news that more schooling sardinas have been appearing, smaller sized baitfish were being found around the marina jetty, now larger sized sardinas are schooling inshore off of Red Hill, it has been a long time since these baitfish have even been found in local waters. It is hard to say what the arrival of the big swell will do, likely scatter these baitfish. Water clarity has been clear and blue, this will likely become stirred up closer to shore. Ocean temperatures are ranging from 84 to 88 degrees, warmest zone towards Los Frailes.
Sportfishing fleets have been only moderately busy, as the epic bite off of Southern California is keeping anglers busy. This past week there were a variety of gamefish encountered, most common targeted species were yellowfin tuna, dorado, billfish, snapper and wahoo. With the availability of live sardinas this opened up more options for finding cooperative schools of yellowfin tuna, anglers found the most consistent grounds to be off of Palmilla and Red Hill, though sometimes these schools of tuna would sleep in and only bite mid day, Santa Maria and the Gordo Banks also were holding yellowfin tuna. Fly lining sardinas on lighter tackle was the best method to entice action. The majority of these yellowfin tuna were of the football sized variety, 5 to 12 lb., though there was a larger grade of 40 to 55 lb. tuna being found on the Gordo Banks, though this bite was even more unpredictable and the fish became even increasingly shy as more and more dive boat operators are chartering group tours that anchor and concentrate on these already heavily pressured fragile fishing grounds.
Dorado action was more concentrated to the north of Punta Gorda, small to medium sized fish, striking baitfish and trolled lures. Wahoo became a bit more active in this same region, even though water temperatures are higher than their preferred preference. Wahoo in the 20 to 40 pound class were striking on rigged ballyhoo, as well as trolled Rapalas, no big numbers, but a couple of charters did account for up to a pair of nice wahoo, that is always a bonus.
Best bottom action recently has been for the chance at hooking into a heavy dogtooth snapper, now holding on the shallow to medium depth rocky high spots, including the Gordo Banks, Iman and La Fortuna. Currents have been swift, which does make this style of drift fishing more difficult.
There has been a variety of billfish now found in local waters, namely striped, blue and black marlin, as well as sailfish. Some offshore charters had as mainly as three of four fish, striped marlin and sailfish being the most common, but also some blues and blacks lurking, this is the time of year when some of the biggest marlin are encountered. As anglers Vern and Gerry Eickhorn, from Canada, will attest to. The Eickhorn’s were fishing aboard the super panga “Killer II” with skipper Chame Pino, when they were trolling a live skipjack on the Gordo Banks around 10 a.m., they hooked into a huge black marlin that they battled, along with other additional back up help for some 12 hours while using 80 pound tackle, the group was never able to get the giant fish alongside the boat, it would stay just far enough away for anyone to be able to grab the 20 foot leader. This was one of those gladiator battles, addition supplies were dropping off, water, food, etc…none of it mattered, as the fish eventually broke the line and gained its freedom. Sure made for a good fish story though and some video footage helped verify that the marlin was estimated to weigh in the 800 pound range.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 70 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of:
5 striped marlin, 12 sailfish, 280 yellowfin tuna, 9 cabrilla, 84 dorado, 15 wahoo, 15 dogtooth snapper and 4 amberjack.
Good fishing, Eric
—
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
You are invited to participate in the Second anual edition of Los Cabos Open set to be held Oct. 17-19, 2013 at Cabo Real and Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico.
The entry deadline is Sept. 25, 2013.
Cost per player $500 dlls.
Includes:
Welcome kit
Coctail reception at Pitahayas restaurant Oct. 17 7:00 Pm.
Round of golf at Palmilla Oct 18 9:00 Am.
Courtesy food and beverages
Round of golf at Puerto Los Cabos Oct 19 8:00 Am.
Courtesy food and beverages
Awards dinner at Pitahayas Restaurant Oct.18 7:00 Pm.
Trophys, prizes and raffle
5 O’yes closest to the pin 20,000 Dlls purse!!!
https://www.facebook.com/LosCabosOpen
August 16, 2014 
Light crowds of visitors this past week, as many families are now busy preparing for the start of fall school semesters. Another factor for the limited crowds of anglers is that Southern California is now enjoying an epic El Nino season, where they are catching yellowfin and bluefin tuna, dorado and yellowtail, all in local waters. Weather patterns in Southern Baja continues to be unpredictable, forecasts have called for scattered thundershowers for much of the past two weeks, most of this activity has been over the mountain regions in the afternoon and not on the coastline, though there were isolated heavy showers over the coastal stretches as well. Ocean conditions have varied from day to day, swirling seas with increased swells, breezes from the north, east and south, then the next day would be calm. Charter fleets were able to launch every day, though on certain days it was wise to stay in closer proximately in case the weather turned unfavorable. There is a newly formed Tropical Storm Karina, now heading westward and far away from having any impact on land.
Ocean temperatures ranged from 82 to 88 degrees through most of the area, clean blue water was found within one mile of shore, lots of schooling skipjack now on the fishing grounds, sardinas are now being netted from the Puerto Los Cabos Marina Jetty area, very small in size. This has been the bait of choice for enticing the schooling football sized yellowfin tuna off of Palmilla Point, the tuna are also now found schooling off of Punta Gorda and La Fortuna, the key is obtaining the sardinas, this is a limited resource that really needs to see Government restrictions enforced in order to maintain a sustainable fishery.
This week local San Jose del Cabo fleets found action close by, with Palmilla Point being one of the more productive spots, anglers were fly lining live sardinas for yellowfin tuna in the 6 to 14 lb. class., some days there were quite a few skipjack to deal with, other times smaller sized schools of dorado would appear and to keep things interesting there were chances at hooking into a wahoo, striped marlin of sailfish. Hard to predict the exact time of day that this inshore action would be best, one morning it would be very early when the fish were most active, then the very next day they would not get going until 11 a.m., who’s to figure why?, current, tides, barometer, full moon, a lot of factors involved.
The Gordo Banks is starting to come alive, with cow sized yellowfin tuna making an appearance, but not in the biting mood yet, another grade of tuna in the 40 to 60 lb. range was also holding on these grounds and several of these were landed, early in the day striking on chunked skipjack or sardinas for bait. A handful of wahoo strikes off of these banks as well and at times the dogtooth snapper were in the mix. These grounds are coming alive, anything could happen on any given day. A black marlin estimated to be in the 450 lb. range was battled for two hours from a local panga, only to have the hook pull free as the fish was near the boat.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 69 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of:
2 striped marlin, 8 sailfish, 320 yellowfin tuna, 5 cabrilla, 8 jack crevalle, 66 dorado, 7 wahoo, 12 dogtooth snapper, 18 red snapper, 150 skipjack and 6 roosterfish.
Good fishing, Eric
—
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
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