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Fishing Report for San Jose del Cabo, Baja
Capt. Eric Brictson
March 12, 2002
San Jose del Cabo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers -
March 12, 2002
With the arrival of springtime just around the corner this week anglers had the opportunity
to sample some of the excellent all around action that should dominate the activity in coming months. The weather was typical for late winter, unpredictable winds on and off, high temperatures of 80 degrees and plenty of sunshine. Blue water was found closer to shore, with the average ocean temperature 70 to 72 degrees. Live bait was plentiful, mackerel out of Cabo San Lucas and once gain schooling sardinas are being found along the La Playita beach. The swells have been minimal, but there has been a powerful current running from the south and at times this did affect anglers techniques and fish movement. Overall the week was great, ideal weather, and some quality action for striped marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna, sierra and a mix of other bottom species.
For several days the pangeros from La Playita reported seeing yellowfin tuna feeding on the surface in the areas from Cardon to Iman Bank, they were moving quickly and would shy away from the boats, though some were being hooked. For the anglers that happened to be at this spot on Friday, they were in the right spot at the perfect time, as the bite turned on red hot, it did not start until mid morning, but when it did the surface exploded into a feeding frenzy, with pangas accounted for up to 15 yellowfin tuna each, average size was 15 to 25 pounds, but there were others that went up to 35 pounds. This was the fleet's best bite all winter for yellowfin tuna from this particular area close to shore. Larger boats have reported mixed success further offshore for tuna, mainly fish associated with porpoise. These inshore schooling tuna preferred live sardinas, with the chum setting them into the feeding mode, though a small percentage of fish were also hooked on various styles of lures. The next day the tuna were seen feeding all over on the surface, but once again were boat shy and very finicky, with only a handful of the large football sized fish accounted for by the entire fleet, which included cruisers, they had heard about the hot bite on the previous day. Though the tuna did not cooperate on Saturday, the dorado did, the cleaner water seemed to of brought more these fish closer in and pangas averaged from 2 to 5 fish, hitting on both live bait and lures, ranging up to 20 pounds. Earlier in the week the best area for dorado had been right off of San Jose del Cabo, anywhere from 3 to 15 miles out, same area had reports of striped marlin showing in greater numbers, many tailing fish were seen and they were being hooked on trolled lures and live mackerel.
The increased surface action was a nice change for the pangeros, they had been relying so heavily on bottomfish in order to get fish into the box. Most charters are now mixing the morning up, with some bottom action early and then concentrating on the surface. Working the yo-yo's off of the bottom proved to be most productive for a combination of fish ranging from 5 to 30 pounds, amberjack, grouper, cabrilla, bonita, pargo, yellowtail and skipjack were most common.
Along the shoreline sierra action was improving, the week started off with new schools of these mackerel family fish moving inshore, but after a couple of days of great angling action this bite wad over with. The local gill netters really went to work, in one or two days they striped the shoreline off of San Jose clean, tonnage of sierra were brought in, along with other species including roosterfish, pompano, croakers, needlefish and jack crevalle, which are by catch and wasteful victims of this form of commercial fishing. Supposedly the permits for these gill nets last through April, unfortunately by then it might be too late for this seasons inshore migration of gamefish to recover.
Good fishing, Eric
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