GORDO BANKS PANGAS FISHING NEAR
SHORE FROM PALMILLA TO CABO REAL

April 17, 2005, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico Report:

The combined La Playita panga sportfishing fleets at San Jose del Cabo (Los Cabos) sent out approximately 64 charters for the week and anglers accounted for: 16 striped marlin, 22 dorado, 4 yellowfin tuna, 110 pargo, 2 dogtooth snapper, 26 pompano, 55 barracuda, 28 cabrilla, 8 grouper and 310 sierra.

The majority of the San Jose del Cabo sportfishing panga fleet concentrated closer to shore most of the week. They found the best fishing action from Palmilla to Cabo Real. The main species was sierra, ranging up to 6 pounds, and there were also jack crevalle, pompano, pargo and barracuda were mixed in the same inshore areas. The San Jose Estuary produced fair number of pargo Colorado early in the week. They were striking a surface trolled live baits in shallow water, weighing in the 8 to 14 pound range, excellent fighters on light tackle and quality eating as well. Never in recent years were there so many barracuda found off of San Jose del Cabo, not very large, up to 5 pounds, but a different variety than normal.

With spring break now over with and children back in school, the crowds of anglers and tourists were only moderate at San Jose del Cabo. Weather patterns were unpredictable during this transition period as we change from early springtime towards the summer season. Average daytime temperatures at San Jose del Cabo are reaching up to 80 degrees and skies have been mostly sunny with a scattering of clouds. Water clarity has been clear and blue to within several miles of shore and the San Jose del Cabo fishing water temperature has averaged from 68 to 71 degrees. The San Jose del Cabo sportfishing fleet has been searching throughout the area for the best action, with the most consistent action now being found on the Sea of Cortez side, from Cabo San Lucas to the Gordo Banks area.

Striped marlin counts went up this past week, as large concentrations of feeding marlin were found from 5 to 10 miles offshore. Over the weekend the area of La Laguna to Red Hill, about 7 to 9 miles out was particularly active with feeding stripers on the surface, chasing various balls of bait, including mackerel and squid. Charter boats, both cruisers and pangas were landing as many as two, three of four of the billfish, fish averaging 100 to 130 pounds were striking on trolled lures, but were especially interested in bait, best when live, but also they hit on fresh dead baits.

The same fishing region had more dorado starting to appear, still no significant numbers, though practically every other San Jose del Cabo charter boat did report some type of dorado action.

Wahoo continued to be a surprise catch occasionally while were trolling the offshore open waters, just one or two here and there, but it is a good sign that when water temperatures warm a bit more that these elusive speedsters might go on a bite as they have the last few seasons during the late part of April, we will keep our fingers crossed.

Yellowfin tuna continued to be found offshore of San Jose del Cabo, anywhere from 8 to 25 miles out, in different spots everyday, generally being located among large pods of porpoise, with most of the tuna caught being in the 10 to 20 pound class, though over the weekend larger tuna were seen feeding along with the striped marlin, though they proved to be hook shy.

San Jose del Cabo fishing area winds continued to blow out of the north and then would switch to the south in the afternoon. Typically these winds start to diminish at this time of year, so we are hoping they do so soon, because on certain days the breeze limited where especially the smaller boats were able to comfortably fish. The swell also picked up in recent days at San Jose del Cabo, a bit unusual for this early in the season.

Sufficient supplies of live bait fish mackerel and sardinas were available at San Jose del Cabo, with the sardinas now being found right off of La Playita.

(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.