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Fishing Report for San Jose del Cabo, Baja
Capt. Eric Brictson
April 21, 2002
San Jose del Cabo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers -
April 21, 2002
The weather pattern regressed this past week, from warm sunshine to generally breezy and cloudy conditions. This latest cold front swept in from the southwest and water temperatures remained on the cool side, averaging 68 to 70 degrees. Warmer water was found far offshore and to the north, at the East Cape. Crowds of tourists in Los Cabos were moderate and sportfishing fleets were patiently waiting for the busy season of May, June and July to arrive. The main factor so far for this fishing seasons slower start, seems to be the cooler water temperatures along with unpredictable changing weather conditions. Everyone does stay optimistic about the prospects of the action breaking wide open before too long. Supplies of live bait included mackerel, caballito, mullet and sardinas.
There were reports from Cabo San Lucas of yellowfin tuna in the 50 to 80 pound class being found near Golden Gate Bank, but this was a bit out of range for most day charters and with the unpredictable wind made it unpractical. Most of fishing recently was concentrated on the
Sea of Cortez side of the Peninsula, from Red Hill to Los Frailes. The Gordo Banks has had no reports of tuna recently, but to the north, near Vinorama, yellowfin tuna were seen mixed in with migrating porpoise but at the time had lockjaw and would not take any of the baits or lures offered. So there are some encouraging signs that the tune bite will take back off soon.
Cruisers targeting marlin were finding dorado in areas of warmer water, most notably further offshore. Boats were averaging a couple dorado per boat in the 10 to 25 pound class, while trolling lures anywhere from 10 to 30 miles offshore. Striped marlin were being found throughout the offshore area, though they were not numerous in any particular areas, hitting both trolled lures and live baits. In recent days there have been good reports from the Cabo Pulmo and Los Frailes areas on action for marlin, tuna and dorado, these reports are unconfirmed, but are believable, because this is the time of year when the water is warmer at the East Cape. The areas from Los Frailes north do not become so affected by the Pacific current and the warm water gamefish species typically show back up in this area earlier than they to off of San Jose or Cabo.
In the meantime the fleets have been relying on both inshore and bottomfish action in order to
fill fish boxes. The La Playita panga fleets spent much of the week fishing off of Red Hill, this is where the sierra fishing was wide open and the fish were averaging 5 pounds or more. Early in the week there were concentrations of pargo colorado being found close to rocks off of Palmilla, trolling with mullet produced quality fish up to 14 pounds, but this was tricky fishing due to the southern swell and close proximity of the rocks. Bottomfish consisted mainly of catching red crabs and using them for bait, there was never a guarantee that the crabs would be on the surface in order to net them for use as bait, but they were definitely down deep, particularly from the Gordo Banks to San Luis, this is what the fish are now gorging on and it has proven hard to entice these bottomfish with any other offering. The crab fishing was producing pargo up to 10 pounds and
yo-yo fishing was only producing an occasional amberjack, pargo or grouper. The weather was a factor as to where anglers could comfortably target their efforts, with the second half of the week consisting of mostly inshore fishing, due to breezy offshore conditions.
Many whales and porpoise have provided additional entertainment for anglers, but the sea lions have become very pesky, hanging around the fishing grounds, just waiting fro the opportunity to steal an anglers hook up. More bait schools are moving inshore off of San Jose Cabo beaches and this has attracted a variety of gamefish, mostly sierra, pargo and jack crevalle. This has been good news for surf fishermen, as they have been reporting some better action.
Good Fishing, Eric
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