East Cape - The cows have come home
Capt. Mark Rayor
December 30, 2016
Buena Vista - Saltwater Fishing Report
East Cape - The cows have come home
As winters go so far this has been a very mild one. We have had our share of windy days but the air temperature has remained comfortable. I can remember many years where I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning and put my bare feet on our freezing tile floor or peel my Ugg boots off until 10 in the morning. There has been none of that so far this year. Typically November through February are our tough weather months so the way I see it we are half way out of the woods.
Prospects for 2017 are incredibly bright. After fishing being a bit off the last three years all signs are that the tide is going to turn.
Early October reports were that Mag Bay was starting to go off. It appeared that gamefish that migrated north through the years of El Nino conditions were heading south. Mag also experienced 3 tough years and now is still going off like the years before the severe El Nino.
In November the Los Cabos Tuna Jackpot was more evidence of good things to come when more cow tuna were weighed than any previous tournament.
The day before Christmas I arranged a charter for a family staying in our guest house. Seems a bit strange for me to hire an outside boat but this time of year we just don't fight the elements. Anyhow, they scored 4 dorado, 2 tuna, released a striped marlin and also 2 sailfish. Pretty incredible for December 24th. It is starting to look like the Sea of Cortez I know.
On December 26th several boats in Cabo San Lucas encountered yellowfin in the Pacific and several cow tuna between 200 and 300 lbs plus were landed.
After a couple of the best fishing years in recorded history for Southern California it looks like those lights are starting to dim, game fish are heading south and returning home. Yes, the cows have come home and 2017 is going to be a barn burner.
It can't all be good though. Here's a little Mexican economics 101.
In 2015 fuel prices raised dramatically. Fuel is a government monopoly and prices are controlled by them. At the beginning of 2016 the government vowed to stabilize the price. For the most part they did and we only experienced a few small bumps. During all of this time the Mexican peso continually went south and has suffered a large devaluation. For example, at the beginning of this year with the exchange a one day fishing license was about fifteen bucks. Today that same license converts to under ten dollars.
With the devaluation of the peso and stabilization of fuel costs we have been able to maintain the same price for our charters for the last two years. Now, the good Mexican government has announced a 20% increase in the price of fuel. When fuel goes up it is certain everything will follow. Please don't get the impression I am complaining. The cost of living in Baja is still much lower than most places north of the border. Visiting Baja is still a bargain for anglers but the moral of this story is we will have to raise prices for 2017.
2016 at a glance.
January Mag Bay sunset
February beating our drum
March sailfish
April striped marlin
May dorado
June super cow
July wahoo
August rooster
September Bubba sized rooster
October blue marlin
November cow yellowfin
December time to relax
Mark Rayor
Team Jen Wren
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