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Fishing Report for San Jose del Cabo, Baja
Capt. Eric Brictson
April 27, 2003
San Jose del Cabo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers -
April 27, 2003
Los Cabos vacationers are now enjoying ideal springtime weather conditions, the days have been warm and sunny, with some scattered cloud cover and high temperatures ranged from 80 to 85 degrees. Crowds of tourists were moderate, next month surely there will be increased numbers of people making the trip south, great time to enjoy all of the various outdoor activities. Anglers had excellent conditions for offshore fishing, with the northern winds having now resided, seas were calm, afternoon trade winds were prevalent, but did not hamper fishing efforts. Water temperatures jumped up several degrees in the areas off of Chileno, towards the Gordo Banks, ranging from 74 to 77 degrees, blue water was found within a couple miles of shore.
Overall the fishing action improved this past week, the majority of sportfishing fleets were fishing in the direction of the warm water, this is where they found action for striped marlin, sailfish, dorado, wahoo, yellowfin tuna, skipjack and more. Most of the tuna were now further offshore and out of range for pangas, there were reports of tuna to over hundred pounds, most of them were associated with porpoise and taken off of cruisers. More common catches for most charter boats were dorado, wahoo and marlin. Fishing was spread out, the most productive method was to troll lures, covering more area, along with the jig strikes, anglers were casting baits to fining marlin, and live mackerel was the bait of choice. Warmer currents attracted more dorado, some boats reporting more than five and most charters accounted for one or two, sizes ranged to 40 pounds.
Wahoo have continued to add excitement to the daily catches, this past week saw more of these elusive and highly sought after gamefish migrate into local waters. They were being caught on trolled lures in the areas from Cabo San Lucas to the Gordo Banks. Over the weekend, the pangas off of La Playita reported that schools of wahoo had moved onto the Inner Gordo Banks and the first boats to troll the high spot at first light accounted for fish weighing up to 50 pounds, up to four wahoo were taken per panga, but most anglers were lucky to hook one or two. The old standby Marauders and skirted lead heads were doing the trick. Once the word was out, more boats appeared, with the Inner Bank being a relatively small area, this would spook the wahoo and the bite would be over, just like that. This wahoo bite was just like clockwork, the same exact dates last year also produced wide-open action. As long as the water continues to warm and stays a clean blue color, this bite should only improve. Whale sharks were seen slowly cruising on these same fishing grounds and was an added attraction.
There was also some great inshore fishing in recent day off of the San Jose Estuary. The main species being pargo (red snapper), found schooling on the surface, right in the surf line, fly-lining bait was the hot ticket, but they also hit on trolled rapalas. This was a secret bite, but the word is now out and will likely be over soon. Dozens of snapper in the 6 to 12 pound range, in shallow
fifteen feet of water. This area is full of submerged debris and is attracting baitfish, which has in turn brought in the pargo. Gill nets have not been able to set their gear in this area, but are breaking out the hand lines to catch their share. Same spot held some monster sierra to ten pounds, as well as triggerfish and jack crevalle. Shore fishermen had much better reports as well, many pargo were hooked on bait on bait, one 20-pound halibut was also accounted for, as well as at least three snook, up to thirty pounds. Not many roosterfish reported, though the Pacific did have some activity. The weather is heating up and so is the fishing.
Good Fishing, Eric
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