Cabo San Lucas
WATER AND WEATHER: Clear weather, calm seas, and only 2 to 3-feet wave heights. The water temperatures are still in the 75 to 76-degree range, and daily temperatures are in the low to mid-seventies.
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While it is uncommon in most parts of the world, offshore fishing here in Cabo has been remarkably good for visitors and our local fleets, who have enjoyed a continuous run of striped marlin, dorado, and yellowfin tuna as well as sierra and skipjack throughout the end of the year and to kick off the beginning of the New Year.
Cabo has become a popular destination for Big Game Anglers in search of billfish, large yellowfin, dorado, and wahoo, plus inshore species including sierra, roosterfish, various jacks, and yellowtail, as well as numerous bottom fish, which include a variety of grouper and cabrilla.
The first week of the New Year began with calm seas, much to the delight of local charter boat owners and the many charter boat operations that operate in Cabo year-round.
Throughout the week, local crews led their clients to the action-packed sport fishing yielding double-digit scores of released striped marlin, plus trophy-sized yellowfin tuna sometimes exceeding 100 pounds that has made Cabo San Lucas famous.
Returning from the fishing grounds daily with their numerous multi-colored fish flags flapping from out-riggers, displaying their billfish releases proudly and their many dorado and yellowfin tuna catches, creating a colorful sight. …Pisces Sportfishing Fleet
San Jose
Tuna, dorado, and marlin bite! Jan. 7th, 2023…Good Fishing
January 7, 2023
We have seen fewer anglers arrive after the holidays. After experiencing a cold front, our temperatures have been colder than usual, with mornings in the mid-50s and days in the low-70s. To add to the mix, we have also had some windy days, most coming from the northeast and northwest, with a few days of 15 to 20 mph gusts. Even though it has been windy on most days, the fishing continues to be hot and full of action.
This highlight recently has been yellowfin tuna and dorado, with many striped marlin in the mix. The fleet focused on the inner Gordo earlier in the week when the tuna bite from the previous week at Cabeza de Ballena disappeared. There has been lots of bait at the Gordo, though often it was difficult to keep the bait in the water as the skipjacks would come up in big schools. If you had plenty of sardina, you could bring up some nice-sized tuna and have a good chance of hooking a couple. We saw a few fish pushing the 100-pound mark, and although these large fish were caught on squid strips and skipjack, the smaller 30 to 50-pound tuna were hooked on live sardina.
Within the same area, it is not uncommon to run into the big dorado schools and see big bulls in the mix.
Throughout mid-week, the bite at the Gordo seemed to slow down as many boats were fishing the area. The fleet started motoring to Iman Bank to scout out the area, and they were successful. The tuna and dorado bite was great right off the bat. A few nice-sized tuna have been hooked at Iman, too, with the average being around 30 pounds. We have seen a few 60 to 70-pounders in the same area and heard of many bigger ones lost. For these fish, we are mainly using 40# fluoro; hooking one of those 70-pounders on this setup puts up a great fight.
We also see good numbers of striped marlin from Iman to the Gordo. Many boats that target these marlin have seen significant action between the inner and outer Gordo. If they are hungry, the fish have been hooked on live skipjack, fast trolling ballyhoo, a combination of lures, and live sardina.
Sierra action has been decent throughout the shore, closer to Palmilla Point. There has not been a lot of bottom action at this time. The wahoo bite has been slower than usual, although a few boats could pick up a few throughout the week by trolling Rapalas. Most wahoo were caught at Iman. … Brian Gordo Banks Pangas
East Cape
As odd as it seems at the time of year when windsurfers crowd most beaches, some locals and hotel fleets say, “The winter fishing has been “on fire” at the East Cape!!! Striped marlin and dorado bites continue to be excellent during the recent weather window.”
Surprisingly, fresh dorado was served at numerous New Year’s gatherings this year.
Even some Tin Boat Fleets fishing near shore reported a few smaller-sized dorado mixed with the usual jacks, sierra, and small roosterfish usually caught this time of year. How long it will last will depend on when the North Winds, typical this time of year, arrive. Meanwhile, some local fishing fleets offer charter trips if you are interested.
La Paz
FISH BITE WHEN WIND SLACKS
La Paz-Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay Fishing Report for Week of Dec. 23-Jan. 1, 2023
WEATHER: Comfortable day and night temps, but still some gusty seasonal winds up to 20 mph at times that are prohibitive for being on the water, whether you are fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, or SCUBA. So, you should find the dates when the wind is blowing less.
WATER: Simple. If it’s windy, the water is rough and cloudy. If it’s not windy, the waters settle down nicely. Surprisingly, it’s warmer than average!
FISH HOOKED THIS WEEK: Dorado, sailfish, roosterfish, tuna – you have to be kidding me! Plus, sierra, pargo, cabrilla, jack crevalle, and yellowtail.
BAIT USED: Getting live bait is tough if it’s windy. Plus, this is off-season, so there are not that many fishermen on the water. That means the live bait guys sometimes won’t go catch bait to sell. Not practical. If you don’t have live bait, use dead bait; frozen bait and lures can still be effective. … Tailhunter, Jonathan Roldan.
