Larger Size Tuna Break Wide Open on Gordo Banks
Capt. Eric Brictson
November 1, 2009
San Jose del Cabo - Saltwater Fishing Report
November 1, 2009
Anglers –
Weather patterns were back to normal for the fall season, clear sunny skies, ideal temperatures, with highs of about 85 degrees. Ocean conditions varied, with more wind reported out of Cabo San Lucas and calmer seas in the direction of the Sea of Cortez. Water temperatures ranged from 79 to 83 degrees throughout the region, with clarity fluctuating according to shifting currents, conditions had become stirred up after recent storms, but are now slowly returning to how they had been prior to recent storms.
There are now plentiful supplies of sardinas available, found near La Playita and off of Palmilla, sizes varied, there are also limited quantities of caballito.
San Jose del Cabo fleets have been spread out from the Gordo Banks to Vinorama. Most common catches have been for dorado and yellowfin tuna. It has not been easy to find consistent action from day to day. Vinorama produced early morning action for yellowfin tuna in the 15 to 60 pound class, but as fast as the bite turned on it also shut off just as quickly. The Gordo Banks is showing signs of coming to life this past week, larger sized tuna of 60 to 250 pounds were schooling in this area and anglers drift fishing with sardinas and chunk bait did report hook ups, dead sardinas were working better than live. These fish were line shy and lighter line and leader were resulting in more strikes, also many larger fish were lost. On Saturday the father and son team of Hugo and Augustine Pino landed a 240 pound yellowfin tuna that hit on a live bolito. Surely this area will get a lot of attention during the upcoming WON Tuna Jackpot Tournament.
Dorado were scattered throughout the area, not in great numbers, but most charters are accounting for two or more per trip. Sizes averaged 8 to 15 pounds, though larger sized fish were mixed in. Sailfish were encountered most days as well, striking on the same sardina baitfish, in the same areas where the tuna and dorado were found.
Wahoo are being stubborn, but everyday a handful of them are being hooked into. Trolling Rapala type lures accounted for the majority of strikes, with the areas from
La Fortuna to VInorama showing more activity for these sought after gamefish.
The combined panga fleets launching from the La Playita /Puerto Los Cabos area sent out approximately 144 charters for the week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of:
13 sailfish, 13 wahoo, 212 dorado, 129 yellowfin tuna, 12 sierra, 33 rainbow runner, 9 cabrilla and 28 bonito.
Good Fishing, Eric
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