Cabo San Lucas Sportfishing Report and Baja Fishing
Capt. Jerry Chapman
January 26, 2014
Cabo San Lucas - Saltwater Fishing Report
Jc Sportfishing Weekly Fish Report.
As the Admiral Seas It
Fishing Report: 1/20/14 to 1/27/14
Stop by Our Office for up to Date Fishing Report.
Jc Sportfishing Charters is a family owned and operated business and has been fishing in Cabo San Lucas for the past 18 years. Jerry, explains that his charter business is geared more for families and novice anglers, making sure everyone who charters a boat with him have a great time and lots of fun. We welcome families, and groups. We want everyone who fishes with us to take all the sites in and have memorable experience. This is what is most important to us. We have and do a few tournaments each year and can cater to fisherman who might be interested in tournament fishing. Lets get on with the report for this past week.
WEATHER: The weather has been actually a little warmer than normal for this time of year. What winter we have here in Cabo has been really nonexistent so far this year with temperatures above average. I would say today it was pushing 85 to 90 degrees.
WATER: Cooler water temperatures this past week hasn't changed the good fishing we are still catching Dorado, Tuna and of course Striped Marlin.
Information on Cabo and Water
Cabo San Lucas once known as a sleepy seaside village has grown into one of Mexico's foremost tourist destinations. It is situated at the southern most tip of the 800-mile long peninsula of Baja California and boasts the famous "Arch", a rock formation known as Land's End. Just off the arch, the ocean bottom drops off to depths of about 1,200 feet or 400 meters. Along the edge of a deep canyon formed by the San Andrea's Fault is a unique undersea Waterfall, where cascades of sand continuously pour over the edge of the canyon below. This extraordinary phenomenon referred to as the "Sand Falls" does not occur anywhere other than here in Cabo San Lucas! All of the Cabo San Lucas Bay is a protected underwater marine sanctuary. .
With an approximate population of 96,000, Cabo San Lucas has a year round tropical semi-desert climate and average annual temperatures between 75 and 85 F. We usually have over 300 sunny days with our average normal rainfall being somewhere around 5 inches. The rainy season is in the late summer and early fall. From Winter to Spring the temperature drops to about 60 F at night, so bring a sweater!
Cabo San Lucas is well known throughout the world for its sportfishing, for Marlin in particular. Fishing is all catch and release, however we have an amazing array of fine restaurants that serve incredibly fresh seafood. In total, over 640 species of fish inhabit the coastal waters of Baja California Sur. Scores of migrating whales visit our waters between December and March. Their yearly migration from the northern Pacific brings them toward the warmer waters in the Sea of Cortes. During this season you can spot at least six different types of whales. They include the California Grey Whales, the Finbacks and the mighty Blue Whales who are the largest animals to ever inhabit the earth. Whale watching is a favorite pastime in Cabo so we invite you to join us on a whale watching expedition and keep your cameras poised .Remember that the Cousteau Society has done some of their very best film making right here!
The rugged desert that surrounds this area seems stark and hostile at first glance, however it is amazingly fertile and even a small amount of rainfall turns the landscape a vibrant green. Over 60 distinct varieties of cacti thrive here as well as numerous indigenous plants and an abundance of wildflowers. In an expression of gratitude for each rainfall the hills and the desert dress themselves in lush green foliage with pink and yellow accents. Geologically, the Peninsula is the result of violent seizures of the San Andrea's Fault Ten or fifteen million years ago in a volcanic swelling, a long slab of Mexico's west coast was torn away and between this newly formed peninsula and the Mexican mainland, a gaping chasm opened. Filled by waters from the Colorado river and the Pacific Ocean, the youngest of the world's seas was born,the Gulf of California or as it is locally known, The Sea of Cortes.
Cabo San Lucas also has some historical monuments that were man-made, such as the old cannery building near the dock. For fifty years the seafood canning plant was the financial support for the town. It closed in 1979. There is also the old lighthouse building high above the shore just north of town on the Pacific coast. Directly above it you can see the new lighthouse which replaced it in1961. For centuries prior to the construction of the old lighthouse in 1905 there has been a need for one. Historically this area has been an obligatory water provision stop for all sea vessels since before Hernan Cortes sailed into the Bay in 1535. Because of its clean drinking water, which came from underground springs, Spanish sailors called the shores between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, la aguada segura or the sure water supply. The coves and harbors around the cape provided ideal hideouts for pirates who preyed on the fruitful spoils of passing galleons. Many of the most famous pirates, including Francis Drake, Thomas Cavendish and Alexander Selkirk raided and plundered in these waters. Even now an occasional treasure hunter still may chase rumors and be seen poking around our rocky shores with a dream and a shovel!
Those who arrived from the "Old World" suffered from tropical disease, hunger and the wrath of the native Pericue Indians. In fact, the church in San Jose del Cabo has a mural above its entrance that shows a Jesuit priest being killed by the Pericues, their hair adorned with pearls and white feathers. The Indian population which was about 75,000 at the time of Cortes' arrival, dwindled to below 1,000 during the period of Spanish colonization. Somehow, amidst bloody pirate battles, epidemics, hurricanes and famine Cabo San Lucas managed to survive. Still quite primitive, this coastal area remains as beautiful, and in some locations as unexplored as it was in the days of Hernan Cortes.
TUNA: Well the fishing hasn't changed to much still good numbers of Tuna but a little harder to find the fish this week. It seems the commercial Tuna boats showed up and scattered the fish. Still large numbers of Tuna up at the San Jamie Banks with lots of fleet boats reporting limits on Tuna and most don't seem to be that big but there is a lot of them around this area. They seem to be landing the fish by using cedar plugs and king busters. If you look for the Porpoise they are still in the area but they seem nervous when the commercial guys show up.
BILLFISH: Fishing was really good in Cabo this week and although striped marlin catches edged out the other species as the most likely catch, sheer numbers of tuna beat them by far. This made for great fishing because not only did close to half the boats catch marlin, they could also load up on tuna and even the Dorado were being landed in decent number but still the Marlin fishing is very hot with lots of boats reporting 1 to 4 fish per boat. Dropping baits and drifting them 4 miles off the Light House has been working pretty good for us this past week and still up and around the Golden Gate has been productive, not many fish tailing or taking pitched bait or lures. All the Marlin seem to be from 60 to 160ft drifting.
DORADO: The Dorado fishing is still good with some days better than others but still steady with fish up and around Ranch Migrano and as far north as the Golden Gate and most fish are being landed with live bait and real small hootchies. The fish are being caught about a quarter mile to a mile off the beach.
From The Admirals Kitchen
Oven Baked Red Snapper
Directions
1 (1-pound) red snapper, cleaned
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
5 tablespoons butter, plus more for greasing foil
1/4 pound okra, chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 tablespoons white wine
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Wash the fish thoroughly and dry on paper towels. Score both sides of fish 3 times. Combine the minced garlic and jalapeno and stuff mixture into each of the 6 slits. Rub the fish with salt and pepper. Let fish marinate for 30 minutes (or overnight in the refrigerator for more intense flavor.)
In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add the okra and bell pepper and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Make a slit down the center of the fish's belly. Stuff the belly of the fish with the okra and peppers and the chopped parsley. Place the fish on a rectangular piece of buttered foil. Place the remaining butter on top of the fish and drizzle with with the white wine.
Seal the fish in the foil, but leave a slight opening to allow the steam to escape. Place the fish on a baking sheet and bake until cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven, and transfer from foil to a serving dish, along with the juices collected in the foil.
INSHORE: Still all the Sierras you want throughout this past week with the hottest area being the Solmar to the Light House and as far north as the Migrano has been really good. We are catching the fish on Rapalas, hootchies and stripped bait in tight to the beach. Very few Yellowtail yet but we are waiting for that bite to set in and get good. The Panga action has been really good for Snapper and Groupers close to shore in 40ft to 60 ft of water in the rocks using cut bait.
WAHOO: This week a slowed Wahoo bite reported compared to last week. We were landing them on lures and jet heads with some in the 50lbs to 60lbs range with a few being landed at Grey Rock on jet heads and down rigged rapalas in about 200ft of water but that has slowed this week.
BEWARE: Remember if your not renting charter boats from companies who have been established in Cabo for the past 20 years ( Jc sport Fishing, Pisces Sport Fishing, Minervas, Redrum, Picante Fleet) you might have problems. They don't even have an office you can go and confirm your charter boat. You do not want to spend a day walking around looking for the boat and where you board. If you wait till the day you are fishing and go to the dock where your boat is many times people will mislead you to another boat or dock trying to put you on a boat that was not meant for you. You need to have a person guide you to your boat, who is from a reputable charter company. This way there is no confusion or misleading. Please remember when renting Sport fishing boats in Cabo that you rent your boat from reputable and established business. Walk into a fishing fleet office and ask questions about what you are getting and what are the costs? You dont want to rent boats from vendors in the streets and you do not want to book through shady websites offering you the world. Check through travel forums about reputable fishing fleets to deal with. Look for testimonials about the fleet your booking your charter with. Ask about what will the boat be supplying? Will it include beverages or lunches? How much does it cost to fillet your catch? Check to see if charter boat is insured? Ask about getting your catch smoked? Check cost of fishing license. These are just a few things to consider when booking your charter boat. We will be talking more about this in next weeks fishing report. Until next time good fishing and we hope to see you in Cabo soon. Come by the office here in Cabo and get all the latest up to date fishing report. http://www.jcsportfishing.com http://youtu.be/Ld4X16bFT-c
Target Species:
dorado,marlin,grouper,sierra,sailfish,red snapper, tuna, dorado
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