TOUGH FISHING CONDITIONS THIS WEEK FOR LOCAL BOATS

June 25, 2006, Larry Edwards, Cortez Yacht Charters, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Where'd they go? That seemed to be the big question from Cabo San Lucas this past week, as the sportfishing catches were down and live bait was very difficult.

The Gaviota Fleet did have a respectable fishing week, with a billfish ratio of just above 50 percent, which was better than most.

Overall catches for 40 Cabo San Lucas fishing days with Gaviota Fleet reflected 23 stripers, (19 releases), 14 dorado, 1 roosterfish and 51 yellowfin tuna.

The charter boats "Fish Cabo" and "Fish Cabo I", reported for 6 fishing days and reflected 2 stripers released and 1 dorado.

Cabo weather was mostly sunny with clear skies, warm, 71 degree nights to 100 degree daytime highs. Greenish water had wrapped the Cape and the water temperatures fell to about 65 degrees from Cabo San Lucas out to the 95 spot. From there, it warmed to 72 degrees at the 1150 spot and inched up to 76 degrees at Gorda, winding up at 81 degrees at Destiladeras.

The boats fished far and wide this week, from 35 miles south of Cabo to Destiladeras, with the better catches coming from the Destiladeras area. Live bait was best, if you could get it. The live bait supply was very difficult. Some days there was none.

(See "Mexico Fishing News" online for current fishing reports, photos, weather, and water temperatures from Cabo San Lucas and other major Mexican sportfishing areas. Vacation travel articles, fishing maps and seasonal calendars, and fishing related information for Cabo San Lucas may be found at Mexfish.com's main Cabo San Lucas page.