SEA OF CORTEZ SIDE FISHING WATER TEMPERATURES
AT CABO SAN LUCAS ARE COOLER THAN THE PACIFIC SIDE

Sept. 20-26, 2004, Capt. George Landrum, Fly Hooker Sportfishing, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The Cabo San Lucas weather this week was just awesome, that about the best way to put it. Our humidity was down, our high temperatures were in the low to mid 90‚s, nights were in the high 70‚s and there was just enough of a breeze that things stayed cool. At least it was cool if you were not hunkered down in the engine room wrenching on stuff! I saw a lot of that this week as boats were getting ready for the Cabo San Lucas fishing tournaments coming up. Cabo San Lucas had partly cloudy skies early in the week and that helped things a lot also.

In an unexpected change of Cabo San Lucas fishing conditions, the water on the Sea of Cortez side of the Cape was actually cooler by a few degrees than the Pacific side at the end of this week.

Between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose we were seeing water temps in the 83 degree range and on the Pacific side around the San Jaime and the Golden Gate Banks there was mostly 85-88 degrees. There was a small temperature break to the south of the cape around 20 miles that seemed to have some fish concentrated but otherwise things were really spread out. The surface conditions were great this week with just a slight swell and very little wind.

No change in Cabo San Lucas bait availability this week, the normal summer Caballito at $2 per bait and some Mullet as well.

Marlin and Sailfish cooperated this week as conditions continue to improve.

There were plenty of Sailfish to be found and often small packs of them would attack the spread.

Cabo San Lucas Striped Marlin showed themselves as well and live bait seemed to be the key for them.

Blue Marlin appeared in the spread on almost every trip this week but bites were a little more difficult to come by. Blue Marlin were almost everywhere but not in any concentration, they were found from the Gorda Banks to the Golden Gate Banks and well offshore as well as in close.

Cabo San Lucas Sailfish action was almost all on the Pacific side with most of the action around the temperature break to the south of the lighthouse and also close to shore up inside the Golden Gate area.

YELLOWFIN TUNA: It was a good week for Yellowfin Tuna at Cabo San Lucas and it was a bit of a toss-up as to which fish would take my fish of the week award, the Yellowfin or the Dorado. I saw Tuna flags on almost every Cabo San Lucas fishing boat that returned to the Marina this week and some of the fish were beauties! Many boats were able to get into triple digit fish if they were the first to the Porpoise and some of them got multiple hook-ups. These fish were found offshore as well as just a few miles off of the lighthouse near the ledge drop-off. Fish in the #18-#35 range were more common though and they could be found near the temperature break 20 miles south of Cabo San Lucas. Football size Yellowfin to #10-#12 could be found nearer shore, sometimes as close as a half mile, and almost all of them were on the Pacific side.

DORADO: The Cabo San Lucas inshore fish this week ran between #10 and #25 on the Pacific side and the key was to watch the Frigate birds at the beginning of the week and work the Turtles at the end of the week. Off shore the fish were larger and fish in the #50-#60 were not uncommon. Of course, for multiple hook-ups live bait dropped behind a fish hooked on a lure often resulted in great action. The offshore fish were scattered but almost all of them came from the Pacific side.

WAHOO: There were a lot more Wahoo caught this week than last week and about 50% of the boats at least had a Wahoo strike. The areas near drop offs seemed to show a bit more promise as the fish came in, and that was making it worth putting in a bit of effort at the edges of the Banks and ledges. Most of the fish were between #20 and #50 with a few larger ones in the #80 range being boated by a few lucky anglers.

INSHORE: Skipjack, Yellowfin, Dorado and Sailfish provided action for Cabo San Lucas Panga fishermen this week. There were not very many Roosterfish caught, but the ones that were found were really nice sized, going to #50 on the high end and #30 on the low. Cabo San Lucas bottom fishing improved as well with a good variety of Snapper and Grouper being caught on large live baits as well as cut bait.

Cabo San Lucas fishing is getting better and we are looking forward to the Blue Marlin bite turning on. We know the water is just right as there are a large number of Turtles to be found on the Pacific side, and every year I have been here that has been a good indicator of a great Marlin bite about to happen.

DAILY FISHING RESULTS (5 BOATS):

Dorado: Nine fish kept (#18-#35)

Yellowfin Tuna: Seven fish kept (#18-#100)

Striped Marlin: Two fish released

Sailfish: One fish tagged and released

"FLY HOOKER" CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 20, 2004:

Brian Howell, his father John and uncle Bob were fishing on the "FLY HOOKER" today and they wanted to get some meat to take home. Since Juan and Manuel had been able to find two big Dorado south of the San Jaime Banks yesterday they decided to return to the area. It was a good thing they did as there were still fish in the area. The catch for the day ended up being almost two fish per person as they boated 5 Dorado weighing between #25 and #40, lost one other and had a big Wahoo make two slashing passes on the short bait toward the end of the trip. The fillets totaled out at #55, skin off and required a new cooler to get them packed up in! Good going guys and good luck on the Panga tomorrow!

"FLY HOOKER" CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 21, 2004:

Our friends Tom and Nancy booked the "FLY HOOKER" for today and we were expecting to meet them last night at the Tanga-Tanga bar. Well, we did meet them but they are not the ones fishing, instead, they had recommended the boat to some friends and had done the booking for them. Not a bad way to do it and the three guys who went fishing today loved it! David, his son Donny and their friend Harry had a great time with Juan and Manuel. In fact, they had such a good time that they booked the boat for tomorrow as well! Juan and Manuel decided the area they worked yesterday should still be holding fish and back they went to the south of the San Jaime. They ran for an hour before putting lines in the water then trolled for another hour when Manuel spotted Porpoise several miles ahead. The water was a bit rough as they made the first pass on the Porpoise and that is when they picked up the smallest fish of the trip, a Yellowfin of about #18. With that fish quickly cranked in they made another pass and had a triple strike. These fish were a bit larger; the first two to the boat were in the #25-30 range. The third fish showed quickly that he outclassed all the others when he took the line well into the backing, taking out the 200 yards of top-shot and almost 300 yards of backing! David was on the fish for almost 40 minutes before Juan was able to place the flying gaff in the Yellowfin that they all estimated at well over #100! They were able to hook up with two other Yellowfin before the bite turned of and the area became crowded with boats. As they worked their way back toward the Marina they landed two Dorado of about #25 and had a nice Wahoo make a pass on a lure and just cut up the skirts! A great day with 6 Yellowfin and two Dorado, lets see what they can do tomorrow!

"FLY HOOKER" CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 22, 2004:

The second day of fishing for David, Donny and Harry started out at the dock as they came on the boat with a camera that had a good battery (no pictures yesterday because the battery died) and a new cooler (on wheels) for the fillets they were going to get. Well∑..maybe they should have brought them yesterday because it was really slow for them today. Donny caught the largest fish of today‚s trip, a Bonita about 6 pounds. They tossed a live bait at a Sailfish and the Sailfish just picked the bait off the hook. Around 10am they got a call about some Tuna action happening 8 miles from their location and they brought the lines in and ran to the action. By the time they got there, 13 boats were working the fish and they were down and not biting, the action was already over for the day. Oh well, one day fish, one day scales. They are heading up to the East Cape for the weekend; I hope they have good luck up there. Have a great time guys, and thanks for fishing with us!

"FLY HOOKER" CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2004:

Rick Parsons and Lee Peevy are here again and will be fishing aboard the "FLY HOOKER" today and tomorrow. This morning as he was loading ice on the boat Juan pulled a muscle in his back so Manuel worked the deck and Juan stayed on the bridge. They headed out to a temperature break 20 miles to the south of the lighthouse and it was there that they found fish. One Sailfish tagged and released, one that picked at the bait but would not eat and two Dorado, the largest about #35. Not a lot of action but there were fish out there. Tomorrow things may be different!

"FLY HOOKER" CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 25, 2004:

It was the second day of fishing for Rick and Lee and today Edgar worked the deck as Juan stayed at home helping his back to heal with ice packs and heat pads. Manuel decided that the area they were at yesterday held promise again as the temp break had not moved so off they went. This time both Rick and Lee caught a Striped Marlin, but neither fish was tagged, just released. There was a nice #30 Yellowfin Tuna as well and lots of Porpoise around. They guys get to head for home with fish and with the knowledge that two day of fishing resulted in three Billfish released. Not bad!