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Fishing Report for San Jose del Cabo, Baja
Capt. Eric Brictson
August 11, 2001
San Jose del Cabo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers -
August 11, 2001
Vacationers were greeted to another wonderful week in this tropical paradise, with no storms immediately threatening the Southern Baja, the seas remained mostly calm, with only some afternoon breeze and anglers enjoyed good all around fishing for species including blue marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo, amberjack, yellowtail, pargo and grouper. Charter fleets concentrated their efforts mainly from Red Hill to the Gordo Banks but fish were found scattered throughout the region. Water temperature averaged a warm 80 to 85 degrees, though over the weekend it did drop a few degrees due to the unseasonable breeze out of the northeast on Friday, which also pushed in greener water. Obtaining particular baitfish has not been consistent, as the schools of sardinas have become very limited and with the combination of the summer surf conditions, it has been more difficult for the pangeros to net the bait. The live sardinas has been the bait of choice for the tuna, but when they were not available one would have to do without and use whatever other baitfish they could catch offshore and also things up by trolling with lures. This combination was working, as many anglers were successful with using live bolito, which have moved onto the fishing grounds in large quantities and are a favored food for all of the pelagic gamefish.
The yellowfin tuna bite remained very good in the area off of Punta Gorda, with everybody able to get into the close by action, at least that was until the weekend when the bite did taper off due to the bait situation, along with the cooler and dirty conditions. The tuna were taking live sardinas best, either fly lined or with about a half-ounce sinker, the sizes ranged from 10 to 55 pounds, with the average tuna weighing 25 pounds. Daily panga catches averaged about 3 to 8 fish in combination per boat. Tuna were dominating the action but many other species were also being taken, and from the same areas as the tuna. Yellowtail were taking the drifted sardinas that were fished deeper and the ones landed weighed in the 10 to 18 pound class. Dorado were coming in at an average of one per boat, sizes varied greatly, from small 5 pound fish, up to monstrous 50 pound bulls, a few boats did get lucky and landed as many as four dorado.
A few wahoo being caught over the previous weekend had created much excitement, but not much more has developed from it, though hope is out that as this recent full moon diminishes and the conditions improve the fish will become more aggressive towards striking the high speed trolled lures.
The blue marlin have really started to bite around the Gordo Banks in recent days, as large schools of skipjack, bolito and other baitfish have moved into the area. More than a dozen marlin were reportedly being hooked each day, with most of the fish landed weighing in the 150 to 250 range, but there were larger blues reported, including one that weighed over 600 pounds, landed out of a cruiser from Palmilla.
Without a doubt, the most impressive catch of the week out of La Playita was that of panga skipper Chame Pino. Fishing with a pair of regular clients, Chame personally hooked and landed a 134 pound gulf grouper on a light 40 pound outfit while working a yo-yo jig off the bottom, in front of Palmilla. The same day they also had amberjack to 65 pounds.
Good Fishing, Eric
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