GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
February 21, 2016
Warm wintertime sunshine is now attracting more tourists and they are
enjoying temperatures reaching close to 90 degrees, feels like spring
already. Winds have continued to be unpredictable, mainly from the north,
but also switching out of the southeast, not as strong as during weeks
past. Strong currents have been an issue, but they now seem to be slacking
way down.
Crazy season, even the whale migration seems off, not as many being seen
off of the San Jose del Cabo area as would be normal for this time of year.
Plenty of sea lions on the fishing grounds, awaiting their opportunity at
an easy meal, grabbing fish that are hooked on angler’s lines. The bait
situation remains the same, sardineta continue to school offshore and can
be caught on sabiki rigs early in the morning, caballito, cocinero, squid
strips and ballyhoo are also available, though we heard of no reports at
all of any sardinas being found.
Ocean clarity became a bit more greenish close to shore, north to Los
Frailes, water temperature was also coolest closer to shore, about 72/74
degrees on the average, while five or more miles offshore there was 75/76
degree water reported. All around the fishing action was more scattered
this past week. Yellowfin tuna, dorado and wahoo action became very
limited. A few tuna were being hooked, most of these found from La Fortuna
to the Iman Bank, and best chances were early in the day, also getting a
hooked yellowfin actually in the boat was a challenge with the ever present
sea lions lurking nearby. Most of these tuna were in the 15 to 25 lb. range
and anglers were fortunate to land one or two of these fish. Dorado were
almost nonexistent, who knows where they have gone, wahoo were still
around, but fewer were being hooked up, more action early in the week, with
very few of these speedsters being reported later in the week. Water
temperature cooled off where these wahoo had been schooling off of Punta
Gorda, also a bit off colored, with winds settling down these fish could
decide to become more active again as conditions improve.
Bottom action was spotty, most common catches being triggerfish and smaller
sized snapper/pargo species, with a handful of cabrilla (leopard grouper)
in the mix. More hammerhead moving in on the structure, where we commonly
bottom fish, makes for an additional challenge. On at least a couple of
occasions, anglers reported that something very large grabbed on to their
hooked up tuna, only to head for the rocks and break the line, sounds like
some grouper or dogtooth snapper are moving in.
The action for striped marlin continues off of San Jose del Cabo, mostly
centered from 3 to 5 miles offshore, changing daily, most charters
targeting these billfish are having chances, some several per day, majority
of hook ups came while drift fishing with the available larger baits, sizes
on the marlin ranged from 70 lb. to 120 lb.
Inshore there was some roosterfish and sierra action, a few nicer sized
roosterfish were accounted for, up to 25 lb., impressive for this time of
year. There was a reported 25 lb. class snook landed from a panga charter
while trolling close to shore for roosterfish, off of the Estuary area,
definitely an unusual catch.
A few more sierra in recent days, the lack of sardinas has really hurt the
sierra season, fun fish on light tackle, scrappy and very fast fighters.
Just no big numbers of any particular species at this time, though spring
is now right around the corner, transition time can be like this, but
things can also change very fast.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 60 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 1 snook, 18 striped marlin, 7 wahoo, 16
yellowfin tuna, 2 dorado, 6 amberjack, 8 cabrilla (leopard grouper), 16
huachinango, 22 yellow snapper, 15 sierra, 18 roosterfish, 12 parrot fish,
8 bonito, 10 hammerhead shark (released), 2 thrasher shark, and 28
triggerfish.
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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