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Fishing Report for San Jose del Cabo, Baja
Capt. Eric Brictson
March 21, 2004
San Jose del Cabo - Saltwater Fishing Report
Anglers -
March 21, 2004
Springtime is now officially here and just like clockwork the clouds have cleared and warm sunny days are prevalent. Crowds of visitors are on the increase and local business owners are encouraged that after a dismal start of 2004, that they will be able to salvage the season. The cold northern winds have become less dominant and the days are now progressively warmer, in turn this has attributed to a warming trend of local water temperatures, averaging 69 to 73 degrees. As a result anglers found the fishing to be much improved over last week, when the water had been a chilly 66 to 68 degrees. The majority of charter boats were concentrating their efforts in the areas off of San Jose del Cabo, anywhere from 12 to 25 miles offshore. Warmer currents also attracted significantly more dorado and striped marlin into the area. On most mornings anglers were able to obtain ample supplies of live bait, with caballito, mackerel, sardinas and mullet available. On the fishing grounds there were occasional schools of mackerel encountered and flying fish were seen in large concentrations, fishes stomachs were noticeably plugged with various sized squid, which appear to be the most plentiful natural bait supply in the area at this time.
Yellowfin tuna were found associated with pods of migrating porpoise, early in the week the action developed further from shore, 20 to 30 miles out, but by the weekend the yellowfin were located much closer, 10 to 15 miles, and other schools were found within several miles off of Punta Gorda. The fish hit on lures and live bait, but for the most part lures accounted for the majority of strikes, cedar plugs, rapalas and skirted squid lures were particularly effective. At times the tuna would be down deep and be off the bite, but then just as quickly they would come to the surface and many multiple hook ups were reported. Sizes ranged from small footballs to hefty 80-pound specimens, many of the tuna averaged 30 to 60 pounds. Charters were commonly accounting for 6 to 12 tuna in the overall catch. Dorado moved into these same warmer waters, apparently attracted by the abundance of flying fish and squid, striking on a variety of trolled lures, their sizes were very respectable, ranging from 15 to 35 pounds. Most boats accounted for one or two dorado in their daily catches.
Striped marlin were found spread out throughout the offshore region, still no huge numbers, but definitely more than there had been. Anglers reported having blind strikes on lures, as well as hook ups resulting from casting baits to tailing fish. Swordfish continued to be spotted by cruisers venturing 20 or miles out and several hook ups were reported, including a 180-pound broadbill that hit on a dead caballito and was landed by Julio Zumaya off the 28 ft. Leona out of Palmilla.
Off the bottom anglers reported fair catches of yellowtail, amberjack, pargo, cabrilla and grouper. Bait and jigs both worked, though more of the quality sized fish were taken on the iron yo-yo jigs. Numerous stories of large fish cutting lines off on the rocks were being told. Rock piles off of La Fortuna and Iman produced more consistent action than off of Red Hill, where the hot bite was last week.
Good Fishing, Eric
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