July 29, 2018 
Ae we progress deeper into the summer season we are seeing limited numbers of tourists arriving, despite weather conditions being very tranquillo. No new tropical storms threatening for the near future. There was an increase in swell activity due to distant southern disturbances, also the wind picked up earlier in the week, mainly from the south, but swirling as well from the north and then out of the east, once again by the weekend conditions calmed down. The wind had pushed in greener water, especially closer to shore, also cooled the water a few degrees. Though now the water is becoming bluer with each passing calm day, water temperatures is back up averaging 78 to 83 degrees.
Finding the live sardinas has been tougher this week, some days hardly any could be located, other days there were sufficient supplies. Caballito still have been readily available, though some morning the bait moved into netting range later than at first light. There were still options of mullet for bait as well, these seem to be working best for the roosterfish, which are still in the area, but this is now the later part of the season for these gamefish. Some anglers are starting to use strips of squid for targeting the yellowfin tuna, bought from local super markets, this always becomes another option this time of year when the sardinas do normally become much scarcer.
Targeting the yellowfin tuna seemed to be the most productive option. Main center of activity has been from the Gordo Banks to the Iman Bank. Good numbers of the smaller football sized tuna have moved onto to both grounds, ranging from a few pounds to about 15 lb., mixed in with black skipjack and the Eastern Pacific bonito. The best chance of hooking into a larger grade of yellowfin has been near the Iman Bank, everyday a handful of tuna in the 50 to 70 lb. have been accounted for, these fish were finicky, a couple of yellowfin much larger were seen and even hooked into, though were lost due to extended battles on lighter than ideal tackle, this because the tuna were hitting the lighter line more readily.
Not much happening off the bottom, besides the bonito, a scattered of red snapper and an occasional amberjack or cabrilla. Still lots of sharks hanging on these same fishing grounds, most of them appear to be silky, also some hammerhead.
After seeing good numbers of dorado last week, though most were smaller in size, this week they were much fewer, no particular area that they were more concentrated, best chance at a nicer sized dorado seemed to be further offshore where charters were targeting billfish. Marlin action was limited, though a couple of blue marlin in the 200 lb. class were accounted for, also a few late season striped marlin and a few sailfish.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 58 charters for this week. Anglers reported a fish count of: 3 sailfish, 3 striped marlin, 2 blue marlin, 2 wahoo, 22 dorado, 265 yellowfin tuna, 190 bonito, 6 yellow snapper, 14 red snapper, 9 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 4 amberjack, 55 roosterfish, 22 jack crevalle and 34 triggerfish.
Good fishing, Eric
—
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
