LOS CABOS TRIPS PRODUCE 33 FISH SPECIES CAUGHT

Aug. 26, 2004, John Snow, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico Species Fishing Report:

Executive Summary:

Six, one to three hour, San Jose del Cabo surf trips with exceptional results on three of the six trips. The major catch were the feisty Burrito Grunts, one gigantic lobster and a series of the usual cast of characters.

Four, five to seven hour, Panga trips with San Jose del Cabo's Captain Pata which had one phenomenal day and three slow days. There were a limited number of Gringos fishing except the last day possible due to a horrific high surf thrill packed launch.

The highlight of the week were two Dorado, up to 15 pounds and five Yellowfin Tuna, to 25 pounds.

Overall came in contact with 33 individual species with three new species – a monster lobster caught out of the surf, a Threadfin Bass and a completely lost very interesting catch, a Peruvian Scorpion Fish.

San Jose del Cabo weather from a temperature perspective was strict “roasty toasty!” Wind was not a significant factor however the final day had massive rolling waves.

San Jose del Cabo water temperature was an excellent 85 degrees. Major targeted game species count from four days of Panga fishing: Dorado – 2; Red Snapper – 3; Yellow Snapper – 2; and Yellowfin Tuna - 5. I would rate this week as better than the resent months but still well below average.

August 19 - 25, 2004

Species, Executive Summary – 33 30 known and 3 new:

*Anchovy, Northern Gulf (Fish Number 135) *Anchovy, Slender (Fish Number 28 *Herring, Flatiron (Fish Number 19) *Herring, Threadfin (Fish Number 48) *Mexican Lookdown (Fish Number 22) Bass, Threadfin (Fish Number 142) – NEW! Blenny, Largemouth (Fish Number 74) Bobo, Blue (Fish Number 96) Bonito, Mexican (Fish Number 64) Croaker, Yellowfin (Fish Number 35) Dorado (Fish Number 82) Goatfish, Mexican (Fish Number 14) Green Jack (Fish Number 065) Grunt, Burrito (Fish Number 1) Grunt, Graybar (Fish Number 83) Hawkfish, Giant (Fish Number 47) Lobster Sp. (Fish Number 143) – NEW! Needlefish, Giant Mexican (Fish Number 87)

Pompano, Gafftopsail (Fish Number 24) Puffer, Bullseye (Fish Number 18) Scorpionfish, Peruvian (Fish No. 144) – NEW! Sergeant Major (Fish Number 41) Skipjack, Black (Fish Number 79) Snapper, Mullet (Fish Number 27) Snapper, Red (Fish Number 16) Snapper, Yellow (Fish Number 4) Squirrelfish, Tinsel (Fish Number 113) Tilefish, Pacific Golden Eye (Fish Number 49) Triggerfish, Finescale (Fish Number 9) Triggerfish, Orangeside (Fish Number 26) Tuna, Yellowfin (Fish Number 89) Whitefish, Ocean (Fish Number 15) Wrasse, Spinster (Fish Number 94)

*Collected in the bait tank.

Part I, San Jose del Cabo Surf Report, 100% Catch and Release.

Day 1, August 19, 2004:

Fishing one hour at Km 14, Twin Dolphins, San Jose del Cabo, one and half hours before sunset, nominal surf, falling tide, water temperature 85-degrees, utilizing a fish finder rig – 15-pound test, 0.5-oz barrel sinker, bead, swivel, 15 pound test and size 6, Mustad 92553 hook with cut Squid. Catch summary: three Gafftopsail Pompano, 5 inch models, one Burrito Grunt, 12 inches, one Sergeant Major, 7 inches.

Day 2, August 20, 2004:

Fishing one hour at Km 20, Cabo Real, San Jose del Cabo, and one hour before sunset, nominal surf, high tide, water temperature 85-degrees, utilizing a fish finder rig – 15-pound test, 0.5-oz barrel sinker, bead, swivel, 15 pound test and size 6, Mustad 92553 hook with cut Squid. Catch summary: one Tinsel Squirrel Fish, 8 inches and two breakoffs.

Day 3, August 22, 2004:

Fishing with amigo Dave, one and a half hours at Todos Santos Commercial Beach, mid day, no surf, rising tide, water temperature 82-degrees, utilizing , utilizing a fish finder rig – 15-pound test, 0.5-oz barrel sinker, bead, swivel, 15 pound test and size 6, Mustad 92553 hook with cut Squid. Catch summary: one Largemouth Blenny, 6 inches.

Fishing with amigo Dave, one and a half hours at the Trailer Park, large waves, falling tide, water temperature 82-degrees, utilizing , utilizing a fish finder rig – 15-pound test, 0.5-oz barrel sinker, bead, swivel, 15 pound test and size 6, Mustad 92553 hook with cut Squid. Catch summary: one Blue Bobo, 12 inches, one Lobster, 10 pounds, one Bullseye Puffer, 5 pounds, and one Yellowfin Croaker, 2 pounds.

Day 4, August 24, 2004:

Fishing with amigo Dave, at Km 14, Twin Dolphins, one hour prior to sunset, churning surf, falling tide, water temperature 85-degrees, utilizing , utilizing a fish finder rig – 15-pound test, 0.5-oz barrel sinker, bead, swivel, 15 pound test and size 6, Mustad 92553 hook with cut Squid. Catch summary: skunked.

Day 5, August 25, 2004:

Fishing with amigo Dave, at Km 20, Cabo Real, three hours at sunrise, churning surf, falling tide, water temperature 85-degrees, utilizing , utilizing a fish finder rig – 15-pound test, 0.5-oz barrel sinker, bead, swivel, 15 pound test and size 6, Mustad 92553 hook with cut Squid. Catch summary: six Buritto Grunts, to 5 pounds, two Graybar Grunts, to 7 inches, one Giant Hawkfish, 3 pounds, one Mexican Goatfish, 2 pounds, one Sergeant Major, 7 inches, one Yellow Snapper, 3 pounds.

Part II. San Jose del Cabo 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.

Day 1, August 20, 2004:

Fishing for six hours with Captain Pata. Ocean had a modest El Norte pushing up significant waves gradually increasing throughout the morning. Reasonable supply of live bait consisting of small sardines and dead anchovies. Water a quality 85-degrees of pristine blue color. Fished an area 10 to 25 miles north of La Playita. Style was a blend of trolled jigs (unproductive), flylined sardines or bottom fishing with yo-yo iron (unproductive), or live sardines or cut squid (two dropper loops, size 2/0, Mustad 92553 hooks with 30-pound main line, swivel and 40-pound shock leader). Catch can be summarized as “OK” as follows: three Yellowfin Tuna, 25, 20 and 10 pounds; two Finescale Triggerfish, to 3 pounds, and eight Orangeside Triggerfish (catch and release), to 2.5 pounds. Miscellaneous: Not much of interest!

Day 2, August 21, 2004:

Fishing for six hours with Captain Pata. Ocean was dead flat calm creating an oven environment and the day progressed. Reasonable supply of live bait consisting of small sardines. Water a quality 85-degrees of pristine blue color. Fished an area 10 to 25 miles north of La Playita. Style was a blend of trolled jigs (unproductive), flylined sardines or bottom fishing with yo-yo iron (unproductive), or live sardines or cut squid (five dropper loops, size 1/0 hooks with 30-pound main line, swivel and 40-pound shock leader). Catch can be summarized as “horrible” from the locals perspective but “great” from my perspective as follows: one Threadfin Bass, 7 inches, one Mexican Bonito, 6 pounds, one Giant Mexican Needlefish, 18 inches, one Mullet Snapper, 3 pounds, one Pacific Golden Eye Tilefish, 5 pounds, eight Orangeside Triggerfish (catch and release), to 2.5 pounds, two Ocean Whitefish, to 4 pounds, one Spinster Wrasse, 10 inches.

Day 3, August 23, 2004:

Fishing for five hours with amigo Dave and Captain Pata. Ocean was dead flat calm creating an oven environment and the day progressed. Reasonable supply of live bait consisting of small sardines and dead anchovies. Water a quality 85-degrees of pristine blue color. Fished an area 10 to 25 miles north of La Playita. Style was a blend of trolled jigs (unproductive), flylined sardines or bottom fishing with yo-yo iron (unproductive), or live sardines or cut bonito, cut clams and cut squid (five dropper loops, size 1/0 hooks with 30-pound main line, swivel and 40-pound shock leader). Catch can be summarized as “phenomenal” as follows: two Dorado, 15 and 12 pounds, one Peruvian Scorpionfish, 7 inches, eight Black Skipjack, to 12 pounds, two Red Snappers, to 8 pounds, one Yellow Snapper, 5 pounds, ten Orangeside Triggerfish (catch and release), to 2.5 pounds, three Yellowfin Tuna, 25, 20, 20 pounds. Observations: one jumping 600 pound Blue Marlin about 100 yards from the boat.

Day 4, August 24, 2004:

Fishing for five hours with amigo Dave and Captain Pata. Ocean had huge rolling surf with a reasonable wind from the southeast. Good supply of live bait consisting of small sardines. Water a quality 85-degrees of pristine blue color. Fished an area 10 to 25 miles north of La Playita. Style was a blend of flylined sardines or bottom fishing with yo-yo iron (unproductive), or live sardines cut clams and cut squid (five dropper loops, size 1/0 hooks with 30-pound main line, swivel and 40-pound shock leader). Catch can be summarized as exceedingly slow (same location, same efforts, no results) as follows: three Black Skipjack, to 7 pounds, one Green Jack, 4 pounds, one Red Snapper, 10 pounds, one Yellow Snapper, 5 pounds, one Finescale Triggerfish, 3 pounds, and twelve Orangeside Triggerfish (catch and release).

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