Fish Report

BY GARY GRAHAM

Cabo San Lucas

After a slow week, the striped marlin fishing turned back on for the few boats that were fishing. Pisces 46’ La Chingona released 11 marlin in one week – 6 striped marlin and 1 dorado on their best day – by the anglers aboard.

Back-to-back-to-back AMAZING days on Pisces 37’ Viking BBII! Striped marlin has been picking way up with up to 10 marlin released per boat recently!

BBII had 5 nice stripers released plus 2 dorado with the largest dorado a 30-pound bull. The previous day on a 4-hour trip they released 6 striped marlin. Captain Osiel commented, “We’ve seen about 20 tailers today with 6 of 7 released by 10:30 a.m.”

Plus inshore, a few with skipjack (kawakawa), small roosterfish, along with ladyfish, and the seemingly ever-present needlefish.

LOCATION: The best locations have been out 25-miles, 110 degrees; the 1150 Spot; the 45 Spot; Fuera del 95; 3 miles outside of Cabeza de Ballena; outside Chileno 6 miles; and Cerro Colorado. 

WEATHER CONDITIONS: Clear and calm with 2-to-3-foot swells and the sea with 17-mph wind in the afternoon. The air temps to 85-degrees and sea temps to 70-72 degrees.

BEST LURES: The best bait or lures were live or dead caballito, mackerel, ballyhoo, sardina, Petrolero, and hoochies. 

Puerto Los Cabos 

Now into the new month, weather patterns continue to be slightly cooler than during a normal year. The transition period is taking longer than we would expect. It has been a slow process waiting for water conditions to warm and clean up, as well as for winds to become less of a factor. At this time, the ocean water temperature has ranged from 72 to 74 degrees.

Clarity has fluctuated, it seems. Just as we see blue water moving in, there is a setback as currents push off-colored currents again. Conditions can change very quickly at this time of year, so as days become progressively warmer, we expect to see offshore surface action pick up accordingly.

The main offshore species has been the striped marlin. These billfish are striking on trolled lures and cast or dropped back bait, mainly caballito at this time. The marlin are being found scattered throughout the zone, at times as close as a few miles from shore. They became a bit more finicky during the recent full moon, as well as with fluctuating conditions, though most charters are having at least a chance or two while targeting these fish, with some accounting for multiple catches. Not many dorado were seen in recent days compared to last week when we did see a few of them.

Only an occasional yellowfin tuna were being found, these tuna were taken while drift fishing with bait on grounds from Iman to Vinorama, though the fish we did see ranged to over 80-pounds. So, they are still in the area, just need the conditions to improve a bit more to their liking. Also, a handful of wahoo was seen in the same area, but they were very shy about striking any offerings.

The most common catches have been various species found off the rock structure, such as bonito, cabrilla, red snapper, fortune jack, almaco jacks, yellowtail, triggerfish, and others. Anglers reported mixed success depending on which area they were targeting and how favorable the conditions were on any given day.

Along the shore, the best action we saw was reported from areas to the south of Puerto Los Cabos, nice-sized sierra, some as large as 13 pounds, also a mix of jacks, and of course more triggerfish. … Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas

East Cape 

The water has been clear, flat, and warming. Only one windy day mid-week.

The mornings were cool, warming mid-day to the low 80s, with clear skies – beautiful spring weather.

The fishing has improved. The first two wahoo of the season were caught. The roosterfish bite has picked up with some 50+ pounders taken from the beach. The striped marlin fishing is wide open! Two or three yellowfin in the 40- to 70-pound class are coming to the cleaning table each day. The bottom fishing has been exceptionally good, Almaco jack, pargo, and pompano are biting aggressively. Lots of good bait is available, along with big sardina.

Roosterfish? The bite is on! Three Ranch anglers from Arizona took ATVs down to the Lighthouse. All three scored Gallos from 25-to-50-pounds. They cast from the beach using Orca surface poppers. There were lots of big roosters cruising the East Cape beaches.

The striped marlin were picky biters one day and wide-open biters the next. Over the last couple of days, boats have been releasing up to five. Close to the hotel the last couple of days, a few miles right off the front. They are going for the ballyhoo.

Big solitary yellowfin tuna from 30-to-70-pounds were taken drift fishing sardine off the Lighthouse, Rincon, and Los Frailes. There were two or three a day coming in.

There were two or three bottom fish a day coming in. Nice Almaco jack to 35-pounds, some quality pargo to 15-pounds, and as many African pompano as anglers wanted to bring home off the Lighthouse and Rincon ... incredibly good bottom fishing! …Rancho Leonero

La Paz  

We not only had a full moon with strong currents, but the winter winds came roaring back after giving us a few weeks of break. The wind didn’t just make it tough to be on the water, it was impossible to even get in the boats and onto the water. It was THAT rough!

So, we pretty much had to cancel half the week because no one could get out. After the first few days, the wind dropped back “a little,” but then no one wanted to go out…understandably. 

It was not only windy, but COLD! 

Hopefully, the last vestige of winter before things start being more “spring-like.”

I thought we were well on our way. But this week gave us a dose of reality again. 

However, at the end of the week, winds laid back down. The warm sun came out and the dirty, blown-out waters settled down; the fishing kicked back into gear with LOTS of variety. This included barred pargo, pargo liso (mullet snapper), big sierra, snapper, some huge cabrilla (seabass), as well as some of the biggest bonito we’ve seen all season.

In addition, we still pulled on some 15-to-20-pound yellowtail though a number were lost. Plus. roosterfish running as heavy as 30-to-60-pounds were biting off the beaches. Big pompano and jack crevalle rounded out the counts.  On top of that, we got our first marlin and first dorado of the season, which is indicative that hopefully, spring conditions are finally emerging …Jonathan Roldan, Tailhunter International

Gary Graham-That Baja Guy ,