December 3, 2017 
The fall season is finally now starting to wind down, as fewer tourists were seen this past week, as Thanksgiving is now past and people now have other priorities preparing for the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays coming up. Weather is now ideal, north winds have not been over powering as they can be this time of year, clear skies with high temperatures of about 85 degrees. Ocean temperature now holding in the 78 to 81 degree range, very favorable for fishing prospects throughout the month of December. Great time to visit now, with lighter crowds, perfect weather conditions and a variety of gamefish opportunities now being found on local fishing grounds.
Supplies of sardinas continue to be sufficient for anglers, these small baitfish are now schooling off the rocky beach stretches from Palmilla to Cabo Real. Other bait options include slabs of squid or trying to find and catch your own chihuil, as well as using chunks of skipjack. Sardinas proved to be the most productive all around bait.
Most common catches were for yellowfin tuna in the 10 to 30 lb. range, we only saw a handful of tuna up in the 50 to 70 lb. range this past week. Even the smaller grade tuna were finicky much of the time, anglers could see the yellowfin jumping out of the water and feeding freely on the chummed sardinas, but they often would not readily take the baits with hooks in them. Very clear water, boat pressure, coming full moon, all can be factors for this. Though with patience, most charters were able to accountant for tuna catches averaging 4 to 8 fish per boat. The Palmilla Point, Santa Maria, Los Arcos, Iman Bank all produced fish, the larger grade of tuna were coming off of the Iman and San Luis Banks.
Wahoo slowed way down compared to the previous week when Vinorama was producing some wide open action. This week the wahoo were being found closer, such as off of Gordo Banks, Punta Gorda, Palmilla and Iman Bank, though not in any significant numbers, anglers were fortunate to land one of them, sizes ranged to 45 lb. With water temperatures still warm, we do anticipate having more wahoo activity throughout the month. Dorado were found scattered on the same grounds as were the tuna and wahoo, though numbers were very limited, and most of these fish were under 10 lb., with a rare larger specimen in the mix.
Reports from the Pacific for good action on striped marlin, with multiple fish per charter being the rule. In the direction of San Jose del Cabo, the billfish action was limited, a few single stripers and black marlin hanging around.
Ae water temperatures are slowly cooling, we are see some more sierra show up closer to shore, a few nicer fish to over 5 lb. Also some of the more elusive island jacks were found. Off the bottom structure we saw a little more production of amberjack, barred pargo, triggerfish, leopard grouper (cabrilla) and at least one nice 28 lb. yellowtail was landed. Quite a few white skipjack were mixed in with the schools of yellowfin tuna and a few of the Eastern Pacific bonito.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 91 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 black marlin, 1 striped marlin, 26 wahoo, 36 sierra, 440 yellowfin tuna, 46 dorado, 15 amberjack, 13 yellow snapper, 12 huachinango, 26 island jack, 12 barred pargo, 14 Eastern Pacific bonito, 110 white skipjack, 1 yellowtail, 16 cabrilla and 145 triggerfish.
Good fishing, Eric
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
