May 11, 2014

Perhaps the perfect weather conditions have attracted more crowds of tourists, as this past week we have noticed an increased number of visitors. Early in the week there were some unusually gusty winds sweeping through from the north, though after this front moved through conditions settled nicely and anglers were greeted with great ocean conditions. Air temperatures were nearing 90 degrees, some marine layer, scattered cloud cover created a semi tropical feeling. Everyone is enjoying the wonderful climate now, if only this could last through the summer. Ocean water temperatures fluctuated more, with cooler currents on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas now in the upper 60s, while outside of the Gordo Banks water ranged into the upper 70s, most of the zone where anglers were now fishing was in the 74/75 degree range.

The winds during the early week stirred up ocean conditions and dropped water temperatures by a few degrees. Striped marlin continue to be the most prevalent species found offshore, the big bite that had been going on very close to shore, off of the Puerto Los Cabos Marine entrance, within one mile of shore, this action tapered way off, though a few scattered striped marlin are still being landed each day from this area. It seems the main concentration of marlin has moved further offshore, as far as 18 miles out, scores of stripers were seen riding the surface swells, many of them not interested at all in feeding on the available bait source of moonfish, jacks or ballyhoo, though a percentage of the marlin would strike and some charters were accounting for multiple billfish days. Some charters reported seeing many marlin on the surface but not be able to draw a strike for anything, this can happen when the fish get a taste for a certain food source that is abundant at a particular time, fish just are not hungry for anything else.

Dorado were more scattered even than were the marlin, only an odd fish here of there, no schools found, maybe one dorado landed for every five charters. Weights of the few dorado accounted for ranged up to 20 pounds. Wahoo were in the area, though only a handful were actually caught, most of these were found north of Punta Gorda and towards Vinormama, various rigged baits and Rapalas both produced fish, which averaged from 20 to 30 pounds.

Mid week a significant sized school of yellowfin tuna in the 20 to 30 pound class came up and was feeding on the surface near the Outer Gordo Bank, no one reportedly could tell what type of baitfish they were attacking and all of this activity was over as fast as it appeared. It was an encouraging sign to show that these fish were at least in local waters and hopefully a bite will develop soon. There were 10 to 20 lb. yellowfin landed on trolled lures, but that was it in the way of tuna. The bonito are still prevalent on the various high spots, but not in the number they had been, striking on yo-yo jigs. A few pargo, amberjack and cabrilla rounded out the bottom action, which was basically limited, some days better than other. Most charters are doing a mix of a little bottom structure fishing before trying their luck for surface species or drifting baits offshore for marlin, which had been one of the more productive techniques recently.

Inshore we have seen some larger sized roosterfish up to forty pounds moving in, no big numbers to speak of, but a great option for anglers wishing to target these powerful gamefish. Slow trolling the caballito, jacks or moonfish was the best method to entice a strike, some large sized jack crevalle were also patrolling the shoreline.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 90 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 3 sailfish, 8 yellowfin tuna, 29 striped marlin, 11 wahoo, 2 yellowtail, 18 amberjack, 18 huachinago, 2 grouper, 11 cabrilla, 22 jack crevalle, 8 sierra, 20 dorado, 3 yellowtail, 5 dogtooth snapper,112 bonito and 26 roosterfish.

Good fishing, Eric

619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM

March 22, 2014 

The majority of the dorado being encountered recently were found closer to shore, this is where concentrations of half beaks (ballyhoo) were schooling. Trolling various baitfish was the most successful for these gamefish, though some anglers did report catching dorado on lures as well. Sizes were averaging 5 to 15 pounds, with a handful of larger specimens accounted for. Most charters were fortunate to average about one dorado per day.

No action on yellowfin tuna being reported, only a few fish reported, mixed in with bonito off the high spots from Iman to San Luis Banks, Yellowfin have been holding in this region through the winter, though with the lack of sardinas to entice them, we have not seen any consistent action on these tuna since the Fall. The only live baitfish that has been plentiful has been caballito, rigging fresh dead ballyhoo has been another option.

Off of the high spots, where anglers were jigging over the structure, bonito was the most common species being landed; these feisty fighters were running in the 4 to 8 pound class. Only an occasional amberjack or yellowtail is being hooked into, most of these striking on yo-yo style jigs and ranged from 20 to 35 pounds. There are big yellowtails now on the Outer Gordo Banks, lots of bonito on these same grounds, striking on the iron jigs, drifting live caballito down deep can be productive for the big yellows, though a problem has been there are many hammerhead sharks lurking down deep on these grounds, hard to stay away from them while trying for the jacks. These rock piles also produced some cabrilla and snapper, though that massive red snapper run during the red crab bloom of previous week has not redeveloped, need these winds to reside for that to happen. We are in transition time now, still unpredictable as to what can happen with the weather conditions from day to day.

With the water temperatures holding a bit warmer than normal, baitfish migrations are off and so are typically gamefish patterns. Wahoo have been found though the winter, they are still being hooked into practically daily, though a bit sporadic, most of this action was reported on the inshore grounds from Punta Gorda to La Fortuna, water depths from 100 to 150 ft., strong winds last week turned over this water some and anglers found varied success.

We are still seeing numerous whales, though surely these will be the final weeks of this activity, many of these mammals have already begun their northern migration.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 78 charters for this past week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 8 striped marlin, 5 wahoo, 2 yellowfin tuna, 9 yellowtail, 16 amberjack, 395 bonito, 6 jack crevalle, 7 sierra, 42 dorado, 24 roosterfish, 18 cabrilla and 12 hammerhead sharks (released).

Good fishing,

—
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM