EXCEPTIONAL, DEEP BLUE TO PURPLE
FISHING WATER OFF LOS CABOS

Dec. 19, 2004, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja sport fishing, Mexico Fishing Report:

An overall roundup of San Jose del Cabo's La Playita combined panga fishing fleets goes like this: there were 62 total pangas launched catching an approximate total of 65 wahoo, 190 dorado, 155 yellowfin tuna, 5 striped marlin, 120 skipjack, 50 pargo, 40 triggerfish and 20 sierra. This works out to be an average catch per panga of just slightly over 10 fish per boat and the majority of these fish were quality specimens.

Crowds of tourists are now increasing at San Jose del Cabo as we are rapidly approaching the Christmas Holiday season.

San Jose del Cabo fishing weather this past week was a bit unpredictable, at times it was quite warm with highs in the low 80s, then just like that the cloud cover would move in and cool temperatures down in a hurry. The wind was only moderate and predominately out of the north, nothing like the cold gusty days that started the month of December.

San Jose del Cabo fishing water clarity was exceptional, with deep blue purplish water averaging 75 degrees being found within one-half mile of shore and the overall fish counts increased substantially over what they had been the previous week.

Combined daily fishing catches off San Jose del Cabo included striped marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna, skipjack, wahoo, sierra and a mix of bottom species. Live sardinas and mackerel were available on a regular basis and the candy bait for wahoo, chihuil, were also being cooperative for anglers early in the morning on the Gordo Banks.

La Playita panga fishing fleets found the most consistent action close to shore, from Punta Gorda (Zero) to Cardon and La Fortuna, from 1 to 2 miles from shore. The best bite was with live bait, either chihuil or sardinas, though at times the needlefish became a serious nuisance, particularly for anglers targeting the yellowfin tuna with the smaller sardinas off of Punta Gorda.

San Jose del Cabo tuna ranged from 10 to 25 pounds.

San Jose del Cabo dorado actually out numbered the tuna this week, about two to one, and were of similar sizes.

Wahoo were the fish that everyone got excited about this week at San Jose del Cabo, as they became much more active, striking mainly on slow trolled live chihuil, but also some were taken on sardinas, yo-yo jigs and higher speed trolling lures.

Pangas accounted for an average of one or two wahoo, with some luckier anglers landing as many as five in one morning, from 15 to 45 pounds.

Off the bottom it was mainly triggerfish and pargo that were biting on sardinas, not much in the way of larger bottom species being reported these days.

The striped marlin action was found outside of Cabo San Lucas, the fish were striking best on live mackerel, by casting to tailing or feeding fish, most of the marlin averaged 100 to 130 pounds.

Not much to report off the San Jose del Cabo beaches besides some early and late action for sierra, along with fair numbers of smaller pompano and croakers being hooked on chunk bait.

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