Inshore Action is More Productive than Offshore
Capt. Eric Brictson
April 2, 2011
San Jose del Cabo - Saltwater Fishing Report
April 2, 2011
Pristine weather conditions in the Los Cabos area has attracted below than normal spring break vacationers. The tourists that have made the trip were enjoying plenty of warm sunshine, daytime highs in the low 80s. Winds were prevalent from the south and anglers reported rough ocean conditions on the Pacific, while in the direction of San Jose del Cabo seas were much calmer. We look forward to the coming months which offer some of the most ideal weather patterns, more significant is the incredible variety of fishing options for anglers.
This week the fishing report was pretty much the same as last, ocean currents ranged from 68 to 71 degrees through most of the region, with warmer spocts found 10 to 20 miles off of the Gordo Banks to Desteladera. Water was cooler and murkier closer to shore, cleaner blue water was found ten miles offshore. Despite finding clearer waters offshore, there was not much action for gamefish such as striped marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna or wahoo. Only scattered reports of striped marlin, fewer dorado or tuna. It is that time of year now, when the offshore action has just not taken off yet. We anticipate improvement in the near future, as spring time days are progressively warming. No schooling baitfish being found offshore now, lack of flying fish, mackerel or bolito, no food source to attract the larger game at this time.
Sardinas were harder to find, scattered schools near VInorama and from Palmilla to Chileno, surf conditions also made it more difficult for the netters. These baitfish were the preferred choice for the inshore fishing and with some patience.were obtainable daily. At the panga docking area in La Playita they were selling fresh brined sardinas by the bag for $10, early in the morning, this was a good option for drift fishing over the shallow rock piles.
For the past few weeks offshore action was not consistently producing much or anything and anglers found that there was a much better chance at catching fish closer to shore. Most common species being sierra, scattered along the coastline from Cabo to San Jose and north, striking on sardinas, hoochies and rapalas. Other species found close to shore near rocky structure were yellow snapper, pompano, bonito, cabrilla, dogtooth snapper, barred pargo, yellowtail, triggerfish and the list goes on. The majority of these fish were in the 3 to 8 pound range, occasionally a larger yellowtail, amberjack or grouper up to 40 pounds. Anglers found success on dead and live bait, as well as working yo-yo iron off of the deeper rocks. Charters averaged ten to twenty fish in the overall catch, most all of the species taken being very good eating varieties.
Still quite a few numbers of humpback whales in the area, we expect they will be migrating north soon. Lots of manta rays were seen jumping, sea lions hanging out on the fishing grounds, a few hammerhead, thresher and mako sharks making a presence to add diversity.
The combined panga fleets launching from La Playita/Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 57 charters this past week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 mako shark, 1 thresher shark, 8 hammerhead shark, 2 dorado, 17 amberjack, 16 pompano, 135 pargo, 25 roosterfish, 20 triggerfish, 28 cabrilla, 56 yellowtail, 14 bonito and 390 sierra.
Good fishing, Eric
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