Los Cabos Fishing Report – October 22, 2017

October 22, 2017

This week is traditionally really the time when things become very busy for local sportfishing fleets and sure enough the crowds have arrived in force, almost to capacity levels. The high stake billfish and yellowfin tuna tournaments are in progress, with the granddaddy of all events, the Bisbee Black Blue, scheduled for this next week. Weather conditions are near ideal now, though we have felt warmer than usual conditions recently, just the past couple of days we saw early mornings just slightly cooler, still in the 70s. We do believe the next couple of weeks should have pristine conditions. Ocean water temperatures have remained warm as well, with most of the region averaging from 85 to 88 degrees. Clean blue water now within a couple of miles from shore, swells were moderate, though slightly increased with the recent higher tidal swings, larger waves make it more difficult for the bait netters to safely reach where the schooling sardinas are. Most days they were able to find sufficient supplies of the sardinas, with schools found off of Palmilla, near marina jetties, as well as north near Vinorama. Squid has been the other bait that is being offered and if possible it is best to obtain both sardinas and slabs of squid in order to increase your chances, the more the better. This is always the time frame when bait supplies feel the heaviest demand, we will cross our fingers that supplies hold up throughout the fall season.

This week we saw scattered numbers of dorado up to 20 lb. accounted for, but as the week progressed we saw much fewer dorado, hard to say what the deal with that is. Only a handful of wahoo were reported for the entire fleet, warmer than usual water temperatures help make wahoo more sluggish. As currents cool down to the 80 degree range this will usually trigger more activity out of these highly sought after gamefish.

Most consistent action was for yellowfin tuna, bite was more hit or miss that the previous week, heavy pressure and long waits to obtain bait, just part of the factors that come into play this time of year. Best action was found near San Luis Banks. Though other areas also produced. The yellowfin were striking on sardinas and strips of squid while drift fishing over the grounds, sizes of the tuna ranged from 5 lb. footballs up to 100 lb. specimens. Catches varied from a few fish per boat, to easy limits, some days we saw a higher percentage of yellowfin in the 30 to 80 lb. class, while other days more numbers of smaller fish, with a handful of larger fish weighed in. Lots of tuna now in the area, though they can become even more finicky with increased angling pressure.

Very little billfish action reported, though tournaments teams are landing a few and there is definitely the chance that someone will be hooking into a big black or blue marlin during the big buck events. No inshore action to report, such as sierra or roosterfish, some big jack crevalle hanging around the marina jetty area. Off the bottom there was only sporadic catches of various pargo, cabrilla, bonito, pompano, amberjack and triggerfish

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 185 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 1 blue marlin, 1 black marlin, 3 sailfish, 4 wahoo, 6 amberjack, 880 yellowfin tuna, 78 dorado, 28 yellow snapper, 54 huachinango, 6 pompano, 95 Eastern Pacific bonito, 9 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 12 barred pargo and 140 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

Desert Gold: Baja 1000 Celebrates 50 Years of Epic Off-Road Racing

October 18, 2017

The most famous sporting event in Baja is also the most famous off-road racing event in the world: the legendarily rugged Baja 1000.

So devilish and dangerous did this annual off-road journey through the untamed heart of the peninsula prove that by the late 1960s and early 1970s it became a badge of honor, one that attracted Hollywood stars of the era like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and James Garner. Even traditional motorsports stars like Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones and 7-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson later felt the need to try it, as if driving fast over paved roads wasn’t enough of a challenge.

This year, the iconic race celebrates its 50th running – its golden anniversary – with a suitably epic 1200-mile point-to-point course from Ensenada to La Paz, scheduled from Nov. 14-18, 2017.

Over 350 entrants, from approximately 40 U.S. states and 30 countries, are expected to compete in the BF Goodrich Tires SCORE Baja 1000; and will do so across multiple classes – in motorcycles, cars and trucks, ATVs and UTVs. The race will be televised on the El Rey Network, available in over 45 million homes in the U.S.

When the Baja 1000 originally premiered back in 1967 – as a race from Tijuana to La Paz – it was under the auspices of off-road pioneers Ed Pearlman, Don Francisco, and their newly formed organization NORRA (National Off-Road Racing Association). Following the OPEC Oil Crisis in 1973, however, there was a change in organizers, and since 1975 the Baja 1000 has been run under the SCORE (Southern California Off-Road Enterprises) banner.

This year’s start and finish points are considered a bow to tradition:  Ensenada has served as the starting line a record 43 times; La Paz, meanwhile, has been the site of the finish line on 21 occasions.

The Baja 1000 has finished in Los Cabos only twice:  in 2000 and 2007, when the race was run from Ensenada to Cabo San Lucas. The cape cities, though, are home to a vibrant off-road racing culture. Numerous local companies offer dune buggy adventures across rugged beach, desert and mountain terrains, and one even offers excursions in actual Baja 1000 style race cars.

As a matter of fact, they’ll even let you enter one of the regional SCORE sponsored races (there are four each year, culminating with the Baja 1000), and provide in-race communications and other technical support. All prospective drivers need is plenty of nerve and a valid credit card number.

For more information about the SCORE Baja 1000 and other local events, call us TOLL FREE at 1-888-655-4548, visit www.LosCabosVillas.com, or email us at Info@LosCabosVillas.com.

Photo courtesy of SCORE International.

 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

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

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

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

Sabor a Cabo 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

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

 

 

 

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

The Day of the Dead in Los Cabos

Mexico isn’t the only country to honor the deceased with official days of remembrance, but the nation’s observances are so visually distinctive and emotionally resonant, its iconography so potent, that Day of the Dead is often thought of as an exclusively Mexican holiday.

The roots of Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, date back in Mexico to the time of the Aztecs, when festivals for Mictecacihuatl, queen of the underworld, were celebrated each year in August. After colonization by the Spanish, indigenous practices often became syncretized – essentially folded into the state religion of Catholicism – to avoid discrimination or suppression.

Since the Spanish colonial period, Day of the Dead remembrances have coincided with the Catholic observance of Allhallowtide, from October 31st to November 2nd. Traditions vary from region to region, but include visits to the graves of deceased forebears, and the building of altars (called ofrendas) at home to welcome the returning souls of children (Nov. 1) and adults (Nov. 2)

Ofrendas are one of the items most synonymous with Day of the Dead. These private altars are often adorned with traditional items like cempasúchil flowers (Aztec marigolds), calaveras de azúcar (candy skulls), and pan de muerto (a sweet bread made especially for Day of the Dead); but are also often stocked with favorite food and drinks of the dearly deceased.

Perhaps the most famous symbol of the holiday, however, is Catrina: an elegantly costumed female skeleton. Catrina was the creation of a famed Mexican illustrator named Jose Guadalupe Posada, and first appeared between 1910 and 1913, as an image meant to satirize Mexicans with pretensions to European gentility.

Another notable Mexican artist, Diego Rivera, helped to re-popularize the Catrina figure when he included her in his 1948 mural, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central (now housed in the Diego Rivera Mural Museum in Mexico City).

Today, Catrina figures proliferate throughout Mexico – they are a staple at art galleries and souvenir shops – and are commonly seen throughout Los Cabos during the Day of the Dead period.

Day of the Dead should not be confused with Halloween (which originated as a harvest festival), although they take place at approximately the same time, and many Mexican children, particularly in Los Cabos, have become fond of U.S. Halloween traditions like dressing up in costumes and “trick or treating” for candy.

So if you happen to be in cape cities Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo on Oct. 31, it couldn’t hurt to buy a bag of candy just in case…and to keep an open mind to the presence of powerful spirits.

Photo courtesy of Tomás Castelazo (Wikimedia Commons).

Call Los Cabos Vacation Rentals for Condos, Homes & Villas 1-888-655-4548

 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

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

LigaMAC Christmas Party – Dec. 5

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

Sabor a Cabo 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

 

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

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 – October 1, 2017

October 1, 2017

Finally the weather in Los Cabos has changed and it is now actually feeling like fall, with cooler mornings, slightly less humidity and daytime highs a moderate 85 degrees. No new tropical storms on the horizon, last week we were a bit nervous about TS Pilar, but it never amounted to much, as it make contact with mainland Mexica and dissipated. On Tuesday we did have some isolated rain showers which just kind of formed locally, not associated with any tropical storm front, charter boats still went out, because early morning things appeared okay, but most everyone that did venture out became drenched to some degree. Early in the week there were several water spouts sighted, as skies was very tropical. The Baja landscape has transformed into a lush green jungle as a result to this seasons high rainfall total.

Anglers were using a mix of strips of squid and sardinas, concentrating on the fishing grounds from the Gordo Banks north to Vinorama. Very strong current has been running, pushing in off colored greener water on certain grounds, changing daily as to clarity on one area versus others. As a general rule the fishing action can become more sporadic and tougher when such strong currents are present. The most common target species has continued to be the yellowfin tuna, sizes ranging from 5 lb. footballs to 100 lb. Numbers were down in recent days, but some quality tuna were accounted for, all were taken while drift fishing various baits, sardinas, chunks of skipjack, cocinero or strips of squid. The yellowfin were finicky and line shy, so best results came on lighter leaders and smaller pieces of bait. Some of the more significant catches per boat consisted of landing several nicer grade tuna in the 60 to 90 lb. class per morning, though for the most part anglers were fortunate to account for one nice tuna, along with maybe a mix of a few pargo, small dorado or others, no big numbers of anything, but there were some quality fish being brought in every day.

Dorado bite was scarce and mainly for an occasional fish under ten pounds, no wahoo to speak of, though if anglers were to specifically target these fish near Vinorama there is a chance, because East Cape charters have been doing that. A couple of nice amberjack to over 50 lb., one rare 17 lb. golden phased leopard grouper, a handful of huachinango (red snapper) and yellow snapper rounded out the limited bottom action.

Billfish were very scattered, not much being reported on the grounds off of San Jose del Cabo, perhaps better chance for marlin now on the Pacific. No inshore panga action reported, though local surf anglers out of La Playita reported good numbers of barracuda, jack crevalle and a couple of days of nice tripletail action.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 105 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 3 sailfish, 35 dorado, 4 wahoo, 1 rainbow runner, 6 amberjack, 225 yellowfin tuna, 12 yellow snapper, 26 huachinango, 1 golden leopard grouper, 1 sierra, 4 barred pargo, 3 glass eye snapper (local name) and 80 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

Art Walk Season Returns Soon to San Jose del Cabo

Although to-dos in Cabo San Lucas tend to get more press, cape sister San Jose del Cabo hosts its fair share of notable events: Jazz Weekend in February; the patron saint festival, or Fiesta Patronal, in March; the Fiesta de la Musica each June: and of course Sabor a Cabo (Taste of Cabo), a massive year-end food and wine festival that not only features top regional chefs and winemakers, but some of the world’s most popular live music acts.

The city’s signature event, however, remains its seasonal Art Walk. Every Thursday evening from 5 – 9 p.m. during the high tourist season (November through June), galleries in the historic, cobblestone studded Distrito del Arte invite visitors to sip wine and view the works of some the country’s finest artists, and to enjoy a thriving district street scene that includes wandering musicians and other performers, as well as up-and-coming painters displaying their creations at impromptu sidewalk studios.

The Distrito del Arte, or Art District, has its own association comprised of 14 major galleries, who showcase everything from contemporary painting, sculpture and jewelry to traditional Mexican folk art forms like Mata Ortiz pottery or Huichol Indian art.

The folk art is likely to be the most fascinating discovery for first-time visitors. Distinctive, hand-painted Mata Ortiz pottery, for instance, all originates from the small village of Mata Ortiz, located in Chihuahua near the ancient Mesoamerican city of Paquime, where traditional pottery has been practiced without benefit of a potter’s wheel for over a millennium.

The Huichol, who live in the Sierra Madre Mountains and still maintain their ancient traditional beliefs – including the ritualistic use of peyote – create remarkable paintings and pre-Columbian style animal figures (jaguars, deer, eagles) using colorful yarn and beads.

The art district is just off the town square in San Jose del Cabo, Plaza Mijares, and Art Walk spills over into the downtown area, with arts and crafts vendors setting up displays in front of historic attractions like City Hall, which boasts an historic clock tower, and interior murals that trace the history of Baja California and Mexico at large; El Jardin de los Cabeños Ilustres, the sculpture garden dedicated to regional heroes and heroines; and the old Catholic church, Parroquia San Jose, with its tile mosaic depicting the killing of Jesuit missionary Nicolas Tamaral in 1734 by the area’s original inhabitants.

The Distrito del Arte is also home to abundant drinking and dining options. The state’s first brewery, Baja Brewing Company, opened its first location in the heart of the art district in 2007, where they also serve delicious burgers. Neighboring La Lupita, meanwhile, is the go-to destination for spit-grilled tacos al pastor and shots of artisanally crafted, agave distilled mezcal.

The return of Art Walk typically coincides with Day of the Dead celebrations, offering yet another perspective on Mexican cultural traditions. For more information about San Jose del Cabo’s Art District and its seasonal Art Walk, visit www.artcabo.com.

Photo courtesy of www.artcabo.com.

 

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

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