VERY SLOW FISHING FOR SPECIES AT LOS CABOS

June 4, 2004, John Snow, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico fish species results:

Executive Summary: Two, one to one and half hour, San Jose del Cabo surf trips with one good and one poor producing a total of five fish! Three, six to seven hour, San Jose del Cabo panga trips with Captain Pata which were slow by normal standards, with the exception of a two hour stretch on one day that was truly fascinating.

There were a nominal number of Gringos fishing but they had very limited catches. The highlight of the week was the ability to chum in a group of Dog Snappers and similarly a school of Purple Surgeonfish.

Overall came in contact with 25 individual species of which one was new (what I believe to be a Jack Smelt) that requires additional study.

The weather from a temperature perspective varied from excellent to ice cold on the last day with strong early wind. San Jose del Cabo water temperature improved slightly but still was a frigid 72 degrees.

Major targeted game species count from three days of Panga fishing: Flag Cabrilla – 3 (19 last trip); Leopard Grouper – 1 (9 last trip); Mexican Bonita – 1; Sierra - 2; Dog Snapper – 3, Yellow Snapper – 3 and Purple Surgeonfish - 3.

I would rate this as the poorest week that I have experienced in five years.

Fish species caught or collected in bait tank on this San Jose del Cabo trip:

*Anchovy, Slender; Baloonfish; Barracuda, Mexican; Blenny, Largemouth; Bobo, Blue; Bonita, Mexican; Cabrilla, Flag; Croaker, Yellowfin; Graysby, Panama; Grouper, Leopard, Spotted; Grunt, Yellow Stripe; Herring, Flatiron; Herring, Yellowfin; Jack Crevalle; Jack Smelt; Mexican Lookdown; Mullet; Needlefish, Mexican; Sergeant Major, Panamic; Sierra, Pacific; Snapper, Dog; Snapper, Yellow; Surgeonfish, Purple; Triggerfish, Finescale; and Triggerfish, Orangeside.

San Jose del Cabo Surf Report, 100% Catch and Release, May 30, 2004: Fishing one and one half hour before sunset at Km 14, Twin Dolphins, nominal surf, high tide, water temperature 72-degrees, utilizing a fish finder rig – 15-pound test, 0.5-oz barrel sinker, swivel, 15 pound test and size 6, Mustad 92553 hook with cut Squid. The bite included one Flag Cabrilla, 4 inches, one Baloonfish, 8 inches, and two Largemouth Blennies, 4 inches each.

San Jose del Cabo Surf Report, 100% Catch and Release, June 2, 2004: Fishing one hour before sunset at Km 14, Twin Dolphins, raging monster surf, high tide, water temperature 72-degrees, utilizing a fish finder rig – 15-pound test, 0.5-oz barrel sinker, swivel, 15 pound test and size 6, Mustad 92553 hook with cut Squid. The bite was slow with one Panamic Sergeant Major, 6 inches.

San Jose del Cabo, panga fishing with Captain Pata, Panga Solome, La Playita. La Playita Sport Fishing was slow with news widespread that fishing was slow. Only a handful of Gringos present.

San Jose del Cabo, panga fishing with Captain Pata, Panga Solome, La Playita, May 31, 2004: Fishing for six hours with Captain Pata. Ocean had a modest El Norte pushing up significant waves gradually building throughout the morning. Excellent supply of live mullet, live sardines and dead anchovies available of high quality. Water an improved 72-degrees and the water quality was off green and dirty where we fished. Fished an area 25 miles north of La Playita. Style was a blend of flylined mullet (non productive) or bottom fishing with live sardines or cut clams, cut mullet or cut squid (two drop loops, size 2/0, Mustad 92553 hooks with 30-pound main line, swivel and 40-pound shock leader). Catch can be summarized as “slow” as follows: one Mexican Bonito, 10 pounds, one Flag Cabrilla, 3 pounds; two Pacific Sierra, to 6 pounds; four Finescale Triggerfish, to 6 pounds, and two Orangeside Triggerfish, 1 pound (both catch and release). Miscellaneous: Nada observed.

San Jose del Cabo, panga fishing with Captain Pata, Panga Solome, La Playita, June 1, 2004: Fishing for six hours with Captain Pata. Ocean had a modest El Norte pushing up significant waves gradually building throughout the morning. Excellent supply of live mullet and live sardines (which are incompatible in a Panga bait tank!) available of high quality. Water a cool but better 72-degrees and the water quality was off green and dirty where we fished. Fished an area 25 miles north of La Playita. Style was a blend of flylined mullet (semi-productive) or live sardine or bottom fishing with live sardines and cut mullet (two drop loops, size 2/0, Mustad 92553 hooks with 30-pound main line, swivel and 40-pound shock leader). Catch can be summarized as “phenomenal” as follows: three Dog Snappers, to 30 pounds, two Flag Cabilla, to 3 pounds, two Mexican Needlefish, to 10 pounds, two Orangeside Triggerfish, 1 pound (both catch and release), three Purple Surgeonfish, to 4 pounds, and one Yellow Snapper, 10 pounds. Miscellaneous: large 1 acre school about 500 yards out to sea on a feeding frenzy with birds working above.

San Jose del Cabo, panga fishing with Captain Pata, Panga Solome, La Playita, June 3, 2004: Fishing for six hours with Captain Pata. Ocean had a Southeast Blow early with huge enormous waves which followed an full moon night. The wind and the waves subsided later in the morning. Excellent supply of live mullet and live sardines available of high quality plus a series of odd balls making for a fish species guru’s delight. Water a cool but better 72-degrees and the water quality varied from off green to pristine blue where we fished. Fished an area 10 to 25 miles north of La Playita. Style was a blend of flylined mullet (non) or live sardine, bottom fishing with live sardines and cut mullet (two drop loops, size 2/0, Mustad 92553 hooks with 30-pound main line, swivel and 40-pound shock leader) or yo-yo iron. Catch can be summarized as “as slow as I have ever seen it” as follows: one Leopard Grouper, 5 pounds, two Panama Graysby, to 1.5 pounds, two Mexican Needlefish, to 10 pounds, one Orangeside Triggerfish, 1 pound (catch and release), and two Yellow Snappers, to 4 pounds. Miscellaneous: Nothing of interest!

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