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Fishing Report for San Jose del Cabo, Baja
Capt. Eric Brictson
August 3, 2003
San Jose del Cabo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers -
August 3, 2003
On Wednesday July 30, there were overcast and drizzling conditions all day, this was a welcome relief from the hot and humid weather that has been scorching the tropical desert. There was not much measurable rainfall, but it was enough to rinse the plants off and keep the dust down for a day or two. We are now in the midst of tropical storm season, but at this time there is nothing developing on the horizon and ocean conditions have been very calm, with only a moderate three to four foot swell to keep surfers interested. Water temperatures have averaged from 77 to 80 degrees and the green cloudy water that had plagued much of the inshore area is now returning back to the normal blue. Baitfish along the shoreline have become more scattered and commercial pangueros are having to work harder to net mullet and limited supplies of sardinas, out of the Cabo marina there have been caballito and mullet available. Most sportfishing fleets are now concentrating their efforts from Chileno to the Gordo Banks and the highlight this past week was for yellowfin tuna, with striped marlin, dorado and wahoo rounding out the offshore action.
Early last week a bite for yellowfin tuna developed off of San Jose del Cabo, this action was in an area 13 to 20 miles out, where there was a temperature and color break in the water, the fish were associated with porpoise and feeding tuna could be seen in all directions, the best technique was to race to where the fish were seen feeding and quickly throw your live baits into the boils, some tuna were hitting the lures, but the most consistent action was on bait, these fish were all in the 30 to 100 pound class and boats were averaging three or more fish per day. These yellowfin were in the range of the pangas out of La Playita and though it was a long run, anglers were happy. Then towards the end of the week the tuna bite switched further south off Chileno and Cabo Real, close to twenty miles out, again they were found with the migrating porpoise, these fish were mainly striking on lures and were of the smaller variety, up to twenty pounds and boats reported as many as fifteen per day, though this was for the cruisers, too far for the pangas.
Dorado were showing up in more numbers, found on the same offshore tuna grounds, as well as closer to shore in the cleaner waters. Hitting on trolled lures and bait, with several monster fish accounted for, included one 70-pound bull caught from a Palmilla panga, along with a few others that topped the forty-pound mark. Though most charters found themselves lucky to account for a few dorado mixed into their overall catch. Another productive area was from Punta Gorda to Iman, where inshore conditions were improving daily, as clean blue water was found within one mile of shore. A handful of wahoo are also making their way into the fish reports, most of them were taken on trolled lures from boats that were further offshore targeting the yellowfin tuna.
Striped marlin continue to accountant for the majority of the billfish activity, with many fish being found off of Chileno to Red Hill, 3 to 10 miles from shore, when available live mackerel was the best bet, but the stripers were also coming up on trolled lures. The marlin were ranging from 100 to 180 pounds and some boats were having multiple fish days.
Other inshore and bottomfish species rounded out the action, there were still roosterfish along the local beaches and fish to 50 pounds were accounted for, also some nice snapper, jack crevalle and grouper. Not much action to be reported by beach fishermen, though some local anglers who were knowledgeable and persistent caught several snook and some smaller croakers while using sardinas or mullet for bait.
Good Fishing, Eric
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