January 20, 2019 
The crowds of tourists were lighter this last week, which can be a typical lull, as school semesters begin again and vacation time is used up. We except with chilly conditions across much of North America, that more people will be coming to Los Cabos looking for warm sunshine. Despite there be being morning cloud cover, days have been mostly sunny, with high temperatures averaging near 80 degrees. Winds were still predominately from the north, but not as strong is previous weeks, hard to predict from day to day, a lot of the better fishing action was found closer to shore on calmer grounds.
This is peak season now for whale activity, also sea lions and porpoise being spotted. Ocean water temperature was holding in the 72 to 75 degree range, clarity was good, clean blue water found within a mile of shore. There were supplies of caballito in the marina area, also ballyhoo and slabs of squid. Some charters are catching some mackerel, sardineta or chihuil, a bit day to day as to what exact baits are available and which end up working the best.
The great action we had the previous week for wahoo and dorado faded out this week, hard to say why, water conditions are similar, no drastic changes, we are optimistic that these fish are still in the region. There had been very limited action for yellowfin tuna, tuna are starting to be encountered traveling with porpoise, much of this found 25 miles plus offshore. Just in recent days the yellowfin are becoming active on the Inner Gordo Banks. This bite had become a late afternoon local commercial deal, hooking tuna only late in the afternoon, returning to the docks in the dark. There was a 200 lb. yellowfin brought in earlier in the week. Other fish of 150 lb. or more. These yellowfin are now finally striking in the morning as well, drift fishing with squid has been the main thing these fish have been striking consistently on. Most of these fish are weighing in the 30 to 90 lb. class, but there are tuna much larger on these same grounds now. No huge numbers of these fish are being brought in, but there is a fair chance now at catching one or two, at least we are seeing yellowfin again, especially since the wahoo and dorado action came to a standstill.
Besides looking for these tuna, the main bite being targeted are the Eastern Pacific bonito off of La Fortuna. Striking readily on jigs, Rapalas, hoochies, etc.. Good action on light tackle, ranging 4 – 8 lb., good eating as well, different than the California bonito. A few pargo, red snapper, cabrilla, amberjack, but no numbers, more triggerfish off the bottom structure than anything else.
Striped marlin has been on and off of San Jose del Cabo, still a better chance south, closer to Cabo San Lucas. As more baitfish move in the direction of the Sea of Cortez, then we will see the marlin more prevalent.
Along the inshore stretches there has been some sierra and roosterfish found, without any sardinas it makes it more limited inshore.
The combined sportfishing fleet out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina reported an estimated 68 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 9 striped marlin, 12 dorado, 24 yellowfin tuna, 5 wahoo, 225 bonito, 13 red snapper, 4 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 12 yellow snapper, 6 mohara, 10 tijareta, 8 roosterfish, 4 surgeon fish, 12 sierra and 80 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
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