August 23 to 29, 2024, the Overall Catch Success Rate, All Species Combined 98%; Catch Success Rate 98%, Billfish, 74%, Dorado 20%, Tuna 28%, Other Species 22%.
Although yellowfin tuna and Billfish dominated the catch, the yellowfin tuna taken by the Pisces boats were as large as 180 pounds, and there was an increased number of wahoo caught.
Another popular release target for many of our clients was the roosterfish. The dorado featured more of a bull category, though plenty of the smaller ones were released.
We anticipate another exciting week with favorable weather and many different species to target. If you are still looking for a bucket list of candidates to chase, “suerte!” We hope to see you at the scales.
The following are some of the most notable catches of the Pisces fleet recently.
“LA CHINGONA,” a 46-foot Viking, with Captain Miguel and Mates Antonio, Jr., Alan, Nestor, and Luis all on board angler helped Antonio Bojorquez, Jr., catch 15 Yellowfin Tuna in the 40 to180-pound range all on kites using live or fresh dead bait including curry and cabrilla.
The ‘KARINA,’ a 30-foot Bertram with Captain Orlando Murillo and Mate Jorge Velez, had a memorable day. They took Marlin and Melanee Woodman to Destiladera, where they released Five Striped Marlin and One 126-pound Blue Marlin in the 80 to 130-pound class that took curry or caballito.
On the “MY WAY,” a 45-foot Viking, Captain Pepe, and Mates Daniel and Josue with anglers Caleb Jones, Joshua Lee Jones, Lacy Nicole Jones, Lee Matthew Jones, and Stephanie Ann Jones had a great time. The fishing group caught and released one 100-pound Striped Marlin on bait, plus they caught One 36-pound Dorado and Four Yellowfin Tuna, around 15 pounds on average, at the Outer Punta Gorda.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Calm seas with little wind and five to six-foot seas in the afternoons.
AVERAGE WATER TEMP: 82-84 Degrees F.
BEST BAITS & LURES: Mackerel, Curry, cuchy and caballito, cedar plugs, Plumas, and marlin lures.
Gordo Banks
It has been sweltering and humid in Los Cabos recently, and there is low tourist activity. Cabo is expected to continue seeing light crowds of anglers throughout September.
Caballito and sardina remain the primary bait source from the local marina, and the primary target species has been the striped marlin. Frozen Ballyhoo has been the go-to bait, producing most marlin bites with the marlin fishing grounds considered any local site. There is a good chance of hooking into a marlin from three to twenty miles from the marina while looking for surface activity. The inner or outer Gordo is an excellent site to begin since sufficient bait is concentrated in that area. There have been a few reports of small blue marlin (under 200 pounds) hooked in the surrounding areas. A group of divers reported seeing a black marlin well over 500 pounds at the inner Gordo.
The best chances of finding a wahoo or dorado have been within the same area while searching for marlin. Fast-trolling Ballyhoo produced the most strikes, though some hookups were on lures and live caballito. Most dorado are averaging 8 to 14 pounds, though there was a big bull weighing over 40 pounds in the mix. The few wahoo that were landed were all over 30 pounds.
There were also snapper, amberjack, and grouper from the Vinorama, Iman, and La Fortuna rock piles; however, strong currents have made bottom fishing tough.
Closer to shore, there are still some nice roosterfish, pompano, and jacks, with a handful of big Spanish mackerel (Sierra) also caught along the shore. Most of the Sierra were between 8 and 12 pounds. …Good Fishing, Brian Brictson
East Cape
Recently, fishing has been good overall. Yellowfin tuna were the main species caught, and they were within 25 miles of shore. They were good-sized fish, averaging between thirty and forty pounds, although many fish were caught in the 100 to 130-pound range.
There continues to be a decent blue marlin and sailfish bite with a few striped marlin in the mix. The best spots to find them were off Leonero, about twenty-three miles, or to the South, off Cabo Pulmo, about the same distance.
As far as dorado, they are few and far between. The fleet has not seen dorado around this year as in past years.
Inshore, the water is clearing up after a few days of being very green. The dirty water extended offshore a couple of miles but is improving daily. Recent reports indicated that while conditions have improved, the jack and roosterfish are mostly still among the missing. However, beach fishing should improve with the water starting to clear up.
La Paz
Weather: Oddly, it has been rather chilly and windy some mornings, and then again, it can be cloudy, but by late morning, it’s blazing sunny! Then, it’s just plain hot. At least it’s not very humid. Daytime temps are in the high 90s, and nights are in the 70s and are very pleasant.
Water: Some spots are now into the mid-80s on the surface and are pretty blue, but the mornings can sometimes be a bit bumpy if the wind is breezy, but then it flattens out. The waters have gotten too warm for the yellowtail bite, which is almost over. But now, bluewater species are showing up. Storms are moving from the East Coast and are not doing us any favors.
Fish Hooked This Week: Dorado, tuna, roosterfish, striped marlin, blue marlin, white marlin, bonito, jack crevalle, yellowtail, pargo, cabrilla, snapper, pompano, trevally, and shark.
Fishing Scale 1-10: 5 to 6.5 (erratic/unpredictable).…Jonathan Roldan, Tailhunter Sportfishing