Cabo San Lucas
Pisces Report – 17th Week of 2024, Overall Catch Success Rate, All Species Combined 81.82%.
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Billfish Catch Success Rate: Billfish, 40.91%, Dorado 9.09%, Tuna 22.73%, and Other Species 34.09%.
Over the past few weeks, several banks have consistently produced striped marlin, yellowfin, and a few dorado, and the calm seas, clear skies, afternoon breezes never exceeding 8 kts., and sea temperatures ranging from 69 to 74 degrees F. have made conditions perfect for spring fishing.
Most of the Pisces fleet followed their lead from the previous weeks, which was best in the Punta Gordo area for striped marlin plus nice-sized yellowfin tuna.
However, Captain Arturo, with Mates Daniel and Joel aboard the “MY WAY,” a 45-foot Viking, had information that the Iman Bank, traditionally attracting the yellowfin, this time of the year farther up in the Sea of Cortez, had been productive for a few boats. They followed the lead, and the gamble paid off for Marshall Cromer from Oakland, California. By the end of the day, he had landed two yellowfin weighing 45 to 50 pounds and several grouper in the area on live sardina.
The “RUTHLESS,” a 31-foot Bertram with Captain Beto Lira and Mate Jesus Romero, added another to our growing list.
Their group, Brandon Honea, Jason Dyer, and Jason Toothman, from McKinney, Texas, released two striped marlin estimated to weigh 100 to 120 pounds that they hooked on cocinero/caballito five miles out from Del Cerro Bank and two 15 to 20-pound dorado that they caught on Ballyhoo in the same area.
Once again, the Pisces Fleet Team kept up with which Banks were producing and followed the fish as they moved from one Bank to another. …Rebecca Ehrenberg
San Jose
We have seen ideal conditions lately, with mostly clear sunny skies and lows of about 65 degrees. We could fish the tuna grounds comfortably with the slight ocean swells and minimal wind. Our marina stayed busy due to the hot tuna bite.
Our primary highlight was the yellowfin tuna at Iman Bank using live and dead sardina. We did notice that the bite was best earlier in the morning. Most Captains reported that the yellowfin would only come up for an hour or two, and the bite was best Monday through Friday. It was slower throughout the weekend. Monday was the best day as the majority of the boats returned early with over SEVEN tuna per boat. Most of these averaged around 20 to 30 pounds, though there were some big ones in the mix. The largest tuna weighed 122 pounds and was caught on a dead sardina. However, many of them weighed between 70 and 100 pounds. Although we mainly used 40 and 50-pound test lines, as these fish can be finicky, there is still a good chance of landing a big one on this gear. However, it could be a long battle. According to our clients, the fight on the 122-pounder was close to two hours. Many locals tried to catch tuna throughout the afternoon, though they reported almost no bites or surface activity.
We also caught a handful of dorado and wahoo on the same Iman grounds. Most of the dorado were on the smaller side, although we did see some larger wahoo. The biggest weighed close to 40 to 54 pounds. All of this action came on live sardina while fishing for tuna. … Good Fishing, Brian Brictson
East Cape
Recent reports indicate bait schools are at the marina, with small to medium-sized roosters scattered throughout the area. There are also occasional marlin in front of La Ribera, along with snapper and grouper in the rocks from Punta Pescadero to Cardinal. At the Isla Cerralvo are larger roosterfish, jack crevalle, and a few dorado.
The Barry Bunch from San Diego, Calif., landed this 101-pound yellowfin recently while fishing on the Cazadora 2 out of Hotel Palmas De Cortez in Los Barriles with Captain Damian Cosio and Deckhand Rigo Cosio.
One group fishing locally reported they had caught and released 17 roosters weighing an average of seven pounds on the fly. They caught the fish up and down the coast from Punta Colorado to Palmas de Cortez.
While inshore, the East Cape Torneo Dia Del Nino drew a remarkable number of participants ( 40 kids) who caught many inshore fish, including triggerfish, snapper, and grouper from the shore. The tournament, supported by FONMAR, IGFA, and many locals, was a resounding success! … Jeff de Brown, Reel Baja
La Paz – Las Arenas/ Muertos Bay/ Suenos Bay
Although it was a bit picky earlier, everyone had fun, even though the fishing was somewhat scratchy. Everyone was catching fish, but it wasn’t as good as the prior week. I couldn’t figure out why!
Then, one dark morning, I looked up as I put out the boats! DANG IT! There was a full moon! That had to be it. I’m not a big “full moon theory person, but that was the only variable I could point to. (And, of course, I could throw blame like any good fisherman!)
What else could it be? Because as the full moon diminished, the fishing got better. I mean—it improved tremendously! Everyone was catching and taking home fish. But then, as the week passed and the full moon got darker, the fish got more active. We began getting more variety, and the fish got bigger.
The list of fish hooked this week was pretty impressive, which was not entirely unusual for this time of the year: Yellowtail, Amberjack, Jack Crevalle, Pompano, Trevally, Dorado, Sierra, White Bonito, Skipjack, Roosterfish, Barred Pargo, Dog Tooth Snapper, Mullet Snapper (Pargo Liso), Yellow Snapper, Cabrilla, Grouper, and Commercial guys also hooked some big Tuna.
It will probably be like that for a few weeks as the waters get warmer. The patches of colder water will encourage the colder water species, and the patches of warmer water will kick out the blue-water, pelagic species like the tuna and dorado.
I must tell you, it’s reflected in the daytime temps. The nights and mornings can be chilly, sweatshirt weather with temps down to the mid-50s and breezy, and then, within a few hours, the thermometer will zoom up to the high 80s or low 90s. Frankly, it’s been primarily gorgeous sunny weather with minimal humidity—an excellent time to be here.
As the waters get warmer, we’ll see fewer species but more dorado (we hope), plus tuna, billfish, wahoo, and larger roosterfish.
The fun thing is that if you have bait in the water, there’s no telling what will bite it. It could be any number of species! And each day can be completely different than the other! … Tailhunter Sportfishing.
