The Big Show: A Guide to Whale Watching Season in Los Cabos

High season in Los Cabos traditionally runs from October through May, but travel rates achieve peak intensity during the winter months – December to March – when thousands upon thousands of tourists flock from the frigid temperatures in the U.S. and Canada to soak up the perpetual sunshine on beaches in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.

But snowbirds aren’t the only ones who think heading south to Cabo for the winter is a good idea.

During the same time period, many of the world’s largest creatures travel across immense distances (longer than the longest non-stop plane flight on earth), making their way from arctic feeding grounds to warm water breeding grounds in the coves and lagoons of Baja California Sur.

“They,” of course, are whales, and their winter migration is the reason whale watching season and high tourist season in Los Cabos are virtually synonymous.

Grays and humpbacks are the leviathans most commonly seen by those in residence at local hotels and rental properties, but it is not uncommon to also see blue whales, sperm whales and even orcas. The breeding grounds for gray whales are centered around Magdalena Bay on the Pacific Coast, while the other species continue into the Sea of Cortez.

From 2014 to 2015, a gray whale dubbed Vavara made what is the longest mammalian migration ever recorded: nearly 14,000 miles round-trip, from Russia to Cabo San Lucas and back. Varvara had plenty of company along the way, though. Between 5,000 and 10,000 whales make the journey to Baja California Sur each year.

Humpbacks are the most flamboyant of these massive visitors, prone to spectacular breaches in which they lift their entire bodies out of the water before splashing down in epic belly flops. There is no single explanation for this behavior: some speculate that these acrobatic leaps are made to rid the whales of barnacles, others that it is a form of non-verbal communication.

Whatever the reason, the high-flying humpbacks are the primary attraction during seasonal whale watching tours in Los Cabos.

Although whales can often be seen from shore, most visitors interested in up-close looks at these gargantuan creatures sign up for one of the many local whale watching expeditions.

During whale watching months, mid-December to mid-March, seemingly every tour boat in Cabo San Lucas offers some sort of whale-focused excursion, from small pangas and fast inflatables to fishing boats, sailboats and luxury yachts.

Some local adventure companies even offer hydrophones, so that in addition to the sight of these magnificent creatures, guests can also listen to their incredible “songs,” a form of language so complex scientists are still struggling to achieve an even rudimentary understanding.

But we can guess what they’re saying: “Los Cabos sure is beautiful this time of year!”

For more information about whale watching season in Los Cabos, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of Cabo Adventures.

 Upcoming Event Calendar

November

San José del Cabo Art Walk – Thursday evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., November through June

WON Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot Tournament – Nov. 1 – 4

Jim Flick Invitational Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 7 – 12

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12

Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12

50th SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolucion (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Día de Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving) – Nov. 23

Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

December

Sabor a Cabo Rural Food and Wine Tasting – Dec. 3

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 8

Sabor a Cabo International Food and Wine Festival –  Dec. 9

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve with DJ Paul Oakenfold at Blue Marlin Ibiza/ME Cabo Hotel – Dec. 31

Gatsby Theme New Year’s Eve Party at Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa – Dec. 31

January

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 11 – 21

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3

 February

Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour –  Feb. 10 – 11

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa – February 14

Carnaval La Paz – Dates Not Yet Announced

Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced

 March

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Arts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 19

Semana Santa – March 25 – 31

Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar – Dates Not Yet Announced

April

Paws n’ Claws Golf Tournament and Dinner – Dates Not Yet Announced

NORRA Mexican 1000 – April 20 – 26

Koral Pets Race – Dates Not Yet Announced

Gastrovino Food & Wine Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

http://www.loscabosvillas.com/los-cabos-activities/

Los Cabos Fishing Report – October 15, 2017

October 15, 2017

Large crowds of anglers are arriving early this fall season and sportfishing fleets are very busy with near capacity crowds. Weather settled down after we saw very strong wind gusts last Sunday, lingering until Wednesday, this limited what options were practical, especially in the direction of Vinorama, being too far north when the south winds picks up is not fun. Calm days are prevailing once again and anglers are scoring well for both yellowfin tuna and dorado.

Ocean swells were minimal, supplies of sardinas were still holding up, anglers were also using strips of squid. Ocean temperature was averaging in the 82 to 85 degree range and water color was clean and blue close to shore. Most productive fishing grounds were found from the Gordo Banks, north to Vinorama. Drift fishing over the various high spots produced limit style numbers for yellowfin tuna, most of the tuna were in the 7 to 15 lb. class, but every day there were much larger yellowfin found mixed in the same schools, or on other quieter locations, that were ranging up to 80 lb. or more. The tuna were a bit line shy and anglers found better success using lighter leaders, but then they could be in trouble if they hooked a larger fish.

This week with we saw more numbers of dorado moving onto the same tuna grounds, striking on trolled lures, as well as on various baits. Most of the dorado found were under 15 lb., with an occasional larger bull reported. Only a scattering of wahoo reported, though they are in the area, on Thursday there was a 50 lb. wahoo landed out of Puerto Los Cabos, this fish hit on a strip of squid, lucky with no wire leader. Actually more wahoo were talked about this week, as compared to last, they did show more signs of activity, usually the first part of November they start biting more readily.

Not much billfish action being reported, though there was a 200 lb. blue marlin landed off of a panga early in the week. A few sailfish scattered about as well. Bottom action consisted of huachinango, yellow snapper, cabrilla, island jack, bonito, pompano and amberjack, no big quantities, but as strong currents resided some, this was opening up more opportunities for working the bottom structure with both yo-yo jigs and bait.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 139 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 blue marlin, 1 black marlin, 9 wahoo, 8 amberjack, 1150 yellowfin tuna, 110 dorado, 4 sailfish, 18 yellow snapper, 52 huachinango, 1 island jack, 2 pompano, 6 bonito, 11 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 5 barred pargo and 120 triggerfish.

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

Los Cabos Fishing Report – October 8, 2017

October 8, 2017

We are now seeing increasing numbers of tourists and visiting anglers arrive in Los Cabos, as the fall season is now underway, in another couple of weeks things will be crazy busy.. Weather patterns have settled down, calmer days, though still quite warm and humid due to low pressure systems forming further to the south, none of this is expected to have any impact with land, just makes it more humid and tropical, increase in swell expected over the weekend. The Baja landscape has definitely transformed to lush green foliage.

The majority of the fleets based out of Puerto Los Cabos Marina are now fishing the grounds from the Gordo Banks to Iman, San Luis and Vinorama. Bait options have included sardinas, caballito and slabs of squid. Most consistent action recently was for yellowfin tuna, drift fishing with various baits was the main technique and average size yellowfin was in the 6 to 15 lb. class, though these same grounds have produced larger tuna in the 30 to 100 lb. range, though there were no big numbers of the larger grade tuna, just mixed in with the smaller fish. Though there is definitely a chance at hooking into a bigger fish.  The largest Yellowfin reported this week was taken on Friday by Frank Harbin, from Chico, Ca., while fishing with Gordo Banks Pangas skipper Jesus Pino, the tuna weighed in after a long three hour battle and having died down deep, then slowly inched towards the surface. All around the numbers of fish caught increased this week.

Dorado remained scattered and in limited quantity, most fish were under ten pounds, only an occasional larger specimen accounted for. A few more wahoo starting to be seen, most of these came from the San Luis Bank area and were striking on Rapalas. Sizes ranged 20 to 35 lb. Though still no significant numbers. Ocean water temperatures now in the 82 to 85 degree range, when it cools down a few more degrees that usually helps make the wahoo more active.

Minimal bottom action going on, an occasional red snapper, pargo, amberjack, leopard grouper or triggerfish. Not a lot of billfish action going on, but the anglers that did specifically target these, there were a couple of black marlin landed this past week, other blue and blacks were seen chasing hooked tuna, so even though these billfish are not being found in big numbers, they were in the area, just need a lot of patience if looking to hook into one.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 114 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 black marlin, 12 wahoo, 4 rainbow runner, 4 amberjack, 630 yellowfin tuna, 38 dorado, 1 sailfish, 5 yellow snapper, 23 huachinango, 8 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 2 barred pargo and 110 triggerfish.

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

Los Cabos Events 2017-18

Event Season Kicks Off in Los Cabos

Los Cabos has now become such a popular year-round travel destination that the traditional lines between high and low tourist seasons have become blurred. The distinction is still observed, however, when it comes to event scheduling. October remains the banner month for signature local events in Cabo San Lucas, symbolically kicking off the high season – October through May – in high style.

Sammy Hagar Birthday Concerts – October 9, 11, 13 and 14 in Cabo San Lucas

Every year, loyal “Redheads” from around the world flock to Cabo San Lucas for Sammy Hagar’s Birthday Bashes. This year is particularly big, as the former Van Halen and Montrose frontman turns 70 on October 13. An all-star cast of visiting musicians – including fellow members of The Circle:  Michal Anthony, Jason Bonham, and Vic Johnson – will join the “Red Rocker” for a series of special shows at Cabo Wabo Cantina, the landmark local bar and live music venue that Hagar opened with Van Halen bandmates in 1990.

Patron Saint Festival – Oct. 17 – 22 in Cabo San Lucas

Many place names in Spanish, particularly those in the “New World,” were bestowed by explorers based on the Catholic calendar, in which days were associated with different saints. Cabo San Lucas was named for Saint Luke, whose feast day is October 18. Each year, the Land’s End city hosts a Patron Saint Festival (called Fiestas Patronales), remembering the day – October 18, 1541 – when the place was named by Spanish sailor Francisco de Bolaños. Highlights include the crowning of a festival queen, and a colorful parade down Marina Boulevard.

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 15 – 19 in Cabo San Lucas

Bisbee’s two cash-rich tournaments get most of the publicity, but the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament also sends out a siren call to big-game fishermen eager for big-money prizes and jackpots. The three tournaments combined this year are expected to pay out over $4,735,000 to the winners. The 19th annual LCBT has three entry levels:  a $5,000 base entry for each 6-person team; daily jackpots for the largest tuna, wahoo and dorado; and daily billfish release jackpots.

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – Oct. 19 – 22 in Cabo San Lucas

Commonly known as “Little Bisbee’s,” to differentiate it from the “Big Bisbee’s” Black & Blue marlin fishing tournament that also takes place each October in Los Cabos, the Los Cabos Offshore dates back to 2002, and is considered a more laid-back, charity focused endeavor than the Black & Blue. Cash prizes are awarded to the teams with the three biggest qualifying fish in the game and billfish categories at the LCO, and large amounts of money are always donated to local causes.

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 24 – 28 in Cabo San Lucas

Oft billed as “The Super Bowl of Sportfishing” thanks to its million dollar payouts, this marlin focused fishing tournament originally premiered in 1981, and remains to this day the highest profile annual event in Los Cabos. The $4.165 million payout in 2006 was and still is the largest in sportfishing history. Those who can’t afford the base entry and jackpot fees can still gather each day behind Puerto Paraiso to watch the weigh-ins.

David Pack’s Legends Live at Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 28 in Cabo San Lucas

Bisbee’s Black & Blue is going bigger than ever this year, bringing in five rock star legends – David Pack of Ambrosia, John Elefante of Kansas, Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger, Wally Palmar of The Romantics, and Jim Peterik of Survivor and .38 Special – to perform at the post-tournament awards banquet on the A.P.I. Cruise Ship Pier in Cabo San Lucas. The concert is part of a fundraising effort for the Bisbee’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fund.

For more information on local events, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photos courtesy of Bisbee’s and Cabo Wabo Cantina.

 Upcoming Event Calendar

October

Sammy Hagar Birthday Concerts – Oct. 9, 11, 13 – 14

Fiestas Patronales (Patron Saint Festival) in Cabo San Lucas – Oct. 17 – 22

Los Cabos Billfish Tournament – Oct. 15 – 19

Bisbee’s Los Cabos Offshore – Oct. 19 – 22

Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 24 – 28

David Pack’s Legends Live at Bisbee’s Black & Blue – Oct. 28

IAGTO Golf Tourism Convention – Oct. 29 – Nov. 4

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) – Oct. 31 – Nov. 2

 November

San José del Cabo Art Walk – Thursday evenings, 5 – 9 p.m., November through June

Jim Flick Invitational Golf Tournament at Cabo del Sol – Nov. 7 – 12

Los Cabos International Film Festival – Nov. 8 – 12

Ironman Los Cabos Triathlon – Nov. 12

50th SCORE Baja 1000 – Nov. 14 – 18

Día de la Revolucion (Revolution Day) – Nov. 20

Extreme Sailing Series – Nov. 30 – Dec. 3

December

Sabor a Cabo Food and Wine Festival –  Dates Not Yet Announced

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

Dressed to the K-9s Charity Gala – Dec. 8

Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Dec. 12

Whale Watching Season – Mid-December to Mid-March

Las Posadas – Dec. 16 – 24

Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) – Dec. 24

Navidad (Christmas) – Dec. 25

Día de los Inocentes – Dec. 28

Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) – Dec. 31

January

Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day)  – Jan. 6

Tropic of Cancer Concert Series in Todos Santos – Jan. 11 – 21

Los Cabos Pro-Am Golf Tournament – Jan. 15 – 19

La Ventana Classic (Kiteboard and Windsurfing Tournament) – Jan. 17 – 21

Todos Santos Writers Workshop – Jan. 27 – Feb. 3

 February

Todos Santos Open Artists’ Studio Tour –  Feb. 10 – 11

Valentine’s Day Dinner at Sunset da Mona Lisa – February 14

Carnaval La Paz – Dates Not Yet Announced

Los Barriles Dog Show – Dates Not Yet Announced

 March

Todos Santos Film Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Baja Shakespeare Festival – March 9 – 11, 14 – 17

El Triunfo Arts & Crafts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

East Cape Arts Festival – Dates Not Yet Announced

Fiestas Patronales in San José del Cabo – March 19

Annual Cheese & Wine Festival at Sheraton Hacienda del Mar – Dates Not Yet Announced

COME TO CABO FOR FUN IN THE SUN!

 

Los Cabos Fishing Report – September 24, 2017

September 24, 2017

Last week we were preoccupied following Tropical Storm Norma, local Ports were shut down for three days, Saturday thru Monday, due to higher storm swells, though the storm stalled and veered further off to the west and never did impact land. Hardly any rainfall at all was reported in Los Cabos and we felt 30 mph wind gusts, but basically we dodged a bullet this time. We have now officially started the fall season, though with the high humidity it still feels more like summer. Light crowds the past couple of weeks, with people being more nervous about traveling during possibility of storms moving through the area.

Fishing action has been mainly centered on the Gordo Banks and north to Iman Bank. Early in the week water clarity was greenish near Iman and the better action was found on the Gordo Banks, most common catches were for yellowfin tuna in the 50 to 100 lb. class, drift fishing with strips of sardinas, no big numbers of tuna being landed, though at times lots of yellowfin could be seen breezing the surface, just very finicky in striking the baits that had hooks in them. Anglers were doing well to land one or two of these quality tuna. Later in the week bait suppliers found some sardinas off the beach stretches further to the north and with the water cleaning up on the Iman Bank the medium sized tuna in the 5 lb. to 30 lb. range bit well there. Also some dorado in the mix, but most all under ten pounds and not nearly as numerous as before the most recent storm system passed by.

Some days the yellowfin tuna were more active early in the day, especially on the Gordo Banks, but then things switched around and more action on these grounds was found later in the day. Tuna of 170 lb., 238 lb. and another close to 300 lb. were accounted for by groups of local anglers, specifically targeting these larger tuna, putting in long extra hours and bringing ample supplies of slabs of squid to continue chumming throughout the day.

Anglers using yo-yo style jigs had mixed success on various red snapper, pargo and amberjack, no big numbers, but a few nice fish accounted for, a handful of nice yellowfin were also hooked into on these jigs.

Not much billfish action reported, though this week most anglers were targeting the tuna or dorado action. There was a lack of skipjack and other baitfish on the grounds early in the week, but as the week progressed and water conditions stabilized, there was more bait schools being reported.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 46 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 wahoo, 44 dorado, 1 blue marlin, 3 rainbow runner, 9 amberjack, 144 yellowfin tuna, 4 yellow snapper, 25 huachinango and 85 triggerfish.

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

Los Cabos Beach Front Condo For Sale!

The Upscale Shopper’s Guide to Los Cabos

One can walk down almost any street in Los Cabos and find a varied selection of curios and keepsakes. For those whose ideas of souvenir shopping are decidedly more upscale, however, the shops and gallerias of choice are much easier to pinpoint.

Forget the flea markets, t-shirt shops and tequila emporiums, and concentrate on the small but outstanding group of high-end malls found in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Here, in exquisitely appointed and maintained surroundings, are boutiques featuring the world’s best luxury brands, as well as posh offerings from Mexican and Latin American specialists in beach and resort wear, jewelry and adornments, and – for seasonal residents – arts, crafts and furnishings.

Cabo San Lucas

The most fashionable address in Cabo San Lucas is found at Luxury Avenue, a luxurious marina boardwalk based shopping destination far too distingué to be considered a mere mall. This is the place to go for your tropical weight Fendi bag, or the latest diamond encrusted accessories from Cartier.  Yacht dockage nearby is optional, but by all means make a grand entrance via the often red or white-carpeted front steps.

Alternative entry is available, however, from the adjoining Puerto Paraiso shopping mall. Puerto Paraiso lacks Luxury Avenue’s majesty, but boasts a much more comprehensive roster of shopping options, ranging from a bank and pharmacy to jewelers, art galleries, beachwear and resort style clothiers, and even a cinema with VIP service and recliners. Nautica, Lacoste, Tommy Bahama and Kenneth Cole stores are in residence here, and Puerto Paraiso is also home to the Land’s End city’s best steakhouse, a far-flung outpost of American chain Ruth’s Chris.

San Jose del Cabo

Luxury Avenue may be a hit with well-heeled visitors, but the preferred stop for flush locals is The Shoppes at Palmilla. Set near San Jose del Cabo and ultra-luxury resort non pareil One&Only Palmilla, this exclusive palm-lined shopping mecca features top-tier fashions and furnishings, and also offers secondary locations for the area’s best sushi restaurant, Nick-San, and the area’s premier organic grocery, California Ranch Market. And, should one become involved in any international intrigue, it also hosts the only U.S. consular agency in Los Cabos.

Plaza del Pescador is the newest of Los Cabos’ upmarket shopping plazas. This strikingly designed commercial center is set across from the Playa Hotelera, the picturesque stretch of golden sand which is home to the city’s biggest and best beachfront resorts. Not only does Playa del Pescador host retail shops showcasing top-of-the-line beachwear and Tommy Bahama resort clothing, it also is home to a silver jewelry outlet, excellent restaurants (including the superb Italian themed eatery La Forchetta), and it hosts the annual San Jose del Cabo Jazz Weekend.

For more information on shopping, as well as luxury villa rentals in which one can stash precious new purchases, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo of Puerto Paraiso courtesy of Solmar Hotels and Resorts.

 

Los Cabos Fishing Report – September 17, 2017

September 17, 2017

Now in the final weeks of the summer season, we are seeing lighter crowds of tourists, as families are now getting settled into the start of the new Fall School semester. This is now peak time for tropical storms to develop and potentially strike the Los Cabos area, this week is the three year anniversary of the incredibly destructive Hurricane Odile. Two weeks ago we felt the impact of a direct hit by TS Lidia, clean up and rebuilding is an ongoing process. This week we have been following three separate tropical systems off to the south of Southern Baja, Hurricane Max is now dissipating as it made landfall in Southern Mexico, the other low pressure area off to the west is not doing much, weakening and is circling far away from land. The storm we are now carefully watching is Tropical Storm Norma, forecast to reach category 1 hurricane status over the weekend. This system is presently moving very slowly and gaining strength, latest forecast has showed it veering further off the west, off of Todo Santos, but ii is unpredictable exactly what path Norma will follow. So precautious preparations are necessary, we are expecting storm surf surges to increase as large as 15 ft. to 20 ft. on Sunday, hopefully not too high of winds and surely we will have rainfall, hopefully nothing like the 27 plus inches we endured from TS Lidia.

Calm conditions prevailed this past week, light winds in the afternoons, mostly clear skies, very high humidity, slightly cooler temperatures at night, with daytime heat index averaging 100 degrees. Ocean water temperature has cooled slightly over the past couple of weeks, now averaging 84 to 86 degrees. Off colored greenish currents are swirling throughout the region, varied clarity in certain areas from day to day. Most of the floating debris from the storm wash out has now dissipated.  The fishing has been on and off ever since the passing of Lidia, there were good numbers of dorado found, though the majority were juvenile sized, an occasional fish over 15 lb. Dorado were found in schools throughout the region while trolling medium sized lures. Also they world readily strike on a variety of bait.

Bait suppliers were able to find sardinas near shore early in the week and along with strips of squid, these were the main bait options available. We expect sardinas will not be obtainable over the weekend with high storm swells, but as those reside hopefully sardina supplies will return and remain steady. Yellowfin tuna were being found from the Gordo Banks and towards the Iman Bank, action was sporadic, from scratchy to wide open, depended a lot on clarity and currents that were running at a given time. Often the yellowfin tuna were seen boiling on the surface, but they proved to be finicky, some days biting right off the bat early, then slim pickings, coming back up late, hard to predict. Average size tuna was in the 10 to 15 lb. class, yellowfin tuna to over 50 lb. were accounted for, though numbers were limited. Reports of tuna to 100 lb. seen in the mix, though the larger grade of tuna have not been striking much. The majority of all tuna action was found while drift fishing with strips of squid or sardinas.

Only a handful of wahoo strikes reported, more of them lost than actually landed. We expect when the water temperatures cool off a bit more and we see cleaner blue water back close to shore, that wahoo activity will improve. Billfish were scattered, a few sailfish, striped, blue and black marlin hook ups reported, though we only had limited numbers of angler visiting now and most of these were preferring to target species such as tuna and dorado. No bottom or inshore action to really report on, besides a few red snapper and triggerfish.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 49 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 black marlin, 6 sailfish, 12 white skipjack, 155 dorado, 3 wahoo, 170 yellowfin tuna, 5 yellow snapper, 14 huachinango and 42 triggerfish.

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

Destination Relaxation: Signature Spa Treatments in Los Cabos

Although big-game sportfishing and beautiful beaches remain the chief attractions in Los Cabos, there has been an increasing emphasis since the 1990s on upscale draws like championship-level golf courses and pampering world-class spas.

The results, in both cases, have been spectacular. Los Cabos currently boasts three golf courses ranked in the top 100 in the world, and dominates yearly rankings of the best spas in Latin America so thoroughly that it frequently accounts for at least half the entries on annual top 10 lists.

Virtually all of the better resorts in Los Cabos now showcase onsite spas, and most offer a broad variety of quintessential massages and treatments, including romantic couples’ rituals. But what sets these soothing onsite oases apart from the competition are their signature therapies, one-of-a-kind experiences that only they provide.

Here are three unique treatments to try out on your next visit.

Vinotherapy at SOMMA WineSpa (Grand Fiesta Americana)

Chardonnay is available by the glass at Grand Fiesta Americana, but it and fellow grape varietals like Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are also integral parts of the wellness treatments at the resort’s unique SOMMA WineSPA. The vinotherapy focused spa is the first of its kind in México, using antioxidant-rich polyphenol extracts from wine grapes as key ingredients in massages, body wraps, scrubs, facials and other therapies.

Phases of the Moon Rituals at Luna Y Mar (The Resort at Pedregal)

At Luna y Mar, the onsite spa at the exclusive Resort at Pedregal, phases of the moon provide inspiration for a series of transformative two and three-hour treatments, each with a different point of focus, and a different protocol of wellness techniques. The Awakening Moon, for example, stimulates the senses with a seaweed and eucalyptus salt scrub before revitalizing both mind and body with a seaweed wrap and deep herb-infused chili oil massage.

Sea of Cortez Treatments at Saltwater Spa (Casa Dorada)

For many years locals have sworn by the curative powers of the mineral rich waters of the Sea of Cortez. The Saltwater Spa at luxe Medano Beach based resort Casa Dorada puts this belief to the test in its signature 50-minute treatment, as well as in a wide array of facials and body therapies.

For more information about Los Cabos spas and vacation rentals – including luxury villas – call Us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of The Resort at Pedregal.

Los Cabos Fishing Report – August 20, 2017

August 20, 2017

Another relatively calm week, tropical conditions prevailing, scattering of clouds, higher humidity and late in the week there were some isolated thunder showers, felt mainly over mountainous regions. Presently there is a newly forming tropical depression off some hundreds of miles to the southwest, forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it heads off to the west, too far to cause any impact to land. Ocean swells were now moderate, some afternoon winds picking up, related to passing thunder clouds. Water temperatures ranged from 83 to 87. Cooler greenish water found closer to shore.

Bait suppliers were selling slabs of squid, some caballito and also finding some nicer sized schooling sardinas off the beach stretches near San Luis. In recent days the most consistent fishing action was coming when using these live sardinas. Most common species have been yellowfin tuna and dorado, a few wahoo and bottom species also in the mix. Chance at hooking into a larger size black or blue marlin as well.

This week we definitely saw increased numbers of dorado, the majority were smaller sized fish, under ten pounds, but there were some larger specimens accounted for, up to over 20 lb. The dorado were striking on various trolled lures and on bait. Found throughout the zone, but more concentrations encountered within a few miles of shore, rather than far offshore.

Yellowfin action was concentrated from the Iman Bank to the Gordo Banks. Early in the week there was a higher percentage of finding a few yellowfin tuna in the 40 to 80 lb. class, but later in the week we saw smaller schooling football sized tuna dominate the action, particularly near Iman Bank, limits were the rule, same areas produced good numbers of dorado, outside chance at hooking into a wahoo. The Gordo Banks produced more sporadic action, seemed to be the area where the better chance at hooking into a larger sized fish might be. Some locals were reporting better activity later in the day, after the main charter fleet moved off the grounds.

Not much inshore action being found this time of year and with strong currents continuing to sweep through, this has made the bottom opportunities more difficult. Main species that were accounted for off the rocky areas, were triggerfish, pargo and leopard grouper, no big numbers, but a handful of quality eating fish being accounted for, anglers used yo-yo jigs and baits for this bite.

We heard of several hook up on larger sized black marlin, though these battles were lost. With the influx of smaller yellowfin tuna moving in, these are a favored food source for the largest of all pelagic gamefish. This is also the time we normally expect to see some of the 200 to 300 pound yellowfin tuna taking up residence on the local high spots.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 73 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 3 sailfish, 205 dorado, 7 wahoo, 4 surgeonfish, 2 dogtooth snapper, 16 yellow snapper, 490 yellowfin tuna, 17 leopard grouper, 3 pinto cabrilla, 15 huachinango and 78 triggerfish.

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