May 18, 2015 
As summer season nears, we are started to feel progressively warmer days, actually the climate is ideal now, as evenings do still cool off comfortably and daytime highs are averaging about 85 degrees. Unpredictable winds blowing from the north and then switching from the south have stirred up conditions some and limited some of the options for anglers.
Swells have been higher once again, making surfers very happy, but not helping the bait netters any, as there are still no signs of any sardinas being found in local waters. There continue to be caballito and now moonfish are also appearing in the marina channel, ballyhoo has been another available bait option. Ocean temperature has been in the 74 to 76 degree range throughout most of the region. Currents have fluctuated, raging at times and completely slacking on other occasions. Hard to predict from day to day, as is normal for this time frame. Not much action being reported on the Pacific side of Cabo San Lucas or out of the East Cape, this is normally a good time for that area. Hard to say what factors might be causing this situation. Lack of sardinas is a normal scenario when southern swells arrive and it is normal to be relying on large sized baitfish at this time. In the coming weeks the fishing action will depend a lot on what weather patterns do.
Striped marlin has been really the only action found offshore, recently they have been found from 3 to 12 miles from shore. There are good numbers of these billfish now in the area, many can be seen free jumping, tailing on the surface and also feeding on balled up bait schools, including squid, which apparently are plentiful. The marlin are striking on rigged ballyhoo, caballito and other available baitfish. At times they have proved finicky, as they are filling up on natural bait sources and not much interested in anything else. Though with persistence many charters are reported one, two or three marlin per outing, best bite has been late morning and into the afternoon.
Dorado have continued to be scarce, only an occasional fish being encountered, no large schools of these fish now. Wahoo are holding on the ledges north or Punta Gorda, to Vinorama, these fish are striking best on slow trolled baits, most of these fish are ranging in sizes up to 30 pounds. Some charters accounted for up to five wahoo, though the majority were fortunate to land one or two of these elusive and tricky speedsters. Many yellowfin tuna could be seen breezing on these same fishing grounds, especially around the Iman Bank, but with no sardinas now available, these tuna have been hard to entice, a handful of yellowfin in the 25 to 40 lb. class were accounted for, these fish hit on live chihuil or caballito.
When the weather allowed, anglers found much improved action off of the bottom structure, from La Fortuna, Iman and San Luis Bank, a variety of quality species were taken, leopard grouper, including at least one of the rare golden phase variety, yellow snapper, bonito, huachinango (red snapper), grouper and amberjack. Grouper to 40 pounds and amberjack weighing to over 60 pounds were accounted for. Most of this bottom action was found in relatively shallow water and the fish hit on whole and cut baits, not much on yo-yo jigs recently.
With the recent larger swell activity there was not much going on close to shore recently, as swells reside we do expect to see more roosterfish activity, maybe even some dogtooth snapper will start to move in.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 60 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 18 striped marlin, 11 yellowfin tuna, 19 wahoo, 14 dorado, 24 amberjack, 16 huachinango (red snapper) , 23 cabrilla, 1 golden phased leopard grouper, 3 broomtail grouper, 2 gulf grouper, 48 yellow snapper, 18 bonito and 28 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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