AFRICAN POMPANO LEAD ACTION FOR
LA PLAYITA SPORTFISHING PANGAS

May 29, 2005, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, San Jose del Cabo, Baja fishing, Mexico Report:

The combined San Jose del Cabo panga sportfishing fleets from La Playita sent out 112 charters for the week and anglers accounted for an overall catch of: 8 striped marlin, 1 sailfish, 2 mako sharks, 44 roosterfish, 230 pompano, 185 pargo colorado, 115 dog tooth snapper, 95 sierra, 14 dorado, 22 amberjack, 40 jack crevalle and 12 yellowfin tuna.

A southern wind has pushed cooler water around Cabo San Lucas and into the Sea of Cortez, and water temperatures ranged from 67 to 72 degrees around San Jose del Cabo, with the warmest spots north towards the Sea of Cortez. Air temperatures have been very pleasant, with highs near 85 degrees.

The San Jose del Cabo (Los Cabos) fishing grounds from the Gordo Banks to Vinorama, where the most consistent action was being found, have been quite calm and water conditions now seem to be improving each day, with clearer and warmer fishing water working its way back in closer to shore.

With offshore fishing slowing down, the inshore bite at San Jose del Cabo has taken up all slack and actually over the weekend went wide open for big pargo and african pompano off of San Luis.

Live bait supplies were sufficient in the San Jose del Cabo vacation area, with mullet now being more abundant, along with a mix of sardinas. Slow trolling baits close to the shoreline was the most productive method and for the dog tooth snapper (pargo). Heavy line was required due to the close proximity of rocks, and the majority of the largest hookups resulted in cut lines. Many fish weighing 15 to 40 pounds were landed. These brutes preferred live mullet and once hooked they were nearly impossible to muscle away from the nearby rocks.

Pargo Colorado were also one of the more common species being found around San Jose del Cabo, averaging 8 to 15 pounds and proving just as tricky to hook and keep from cutting lines off on the rocks.

Huge schools of African pompano were encountered in the same general fishing area of San Luis. The fish were eager to strike on sardinas and were even trying to swallow down the larger mullet. Weights ranged from 5 to 15 pounds and these fish preferred the lighter line and smaller sardinas.

On Saturday the bite was almost too good to believe, with all the fish anyone could have dreamed of catching. It was very fun fighting game fish on lighter equipment, and pompano is one of the finest eating fish caught from these San Jose del Cabo sportfishing waters. Speaking of great eating fish, there were leopard grouper, or cabrilla, mixed in, and again these fish are very tricky from keeping away from structure.

San Jose del Cabo offshore anglers found fishing slower for striped marlin. A combination of the cooler water, lack of food source and full moon all were contributing factors. Stripers were found in limited numbers around San Jose del Cabo. They were seen tailing on the surface and would strike best on live baits, though at times they were not easy to entice.

After going several days with no yellowfin tuna action at all, San Jose del Cabo charter fishing fleets are now locating tuna mixed in with porpoise anywhere from 10 miles on out, though the bite has not been consistent.

Dorado were scarce, though every dozen or so charters were finding one or two stray fish.

Other inshore action included sierra. Although their numbers were not like they were earlier in the spring, the size of some of these late season speedsters were impressive, 5 to 10 pounds.

Roosterfish are becoming more prevalent along the local beaches, attracted by schooling bait fish. Zacaton, and La Laguna to Chileno all have produced roosters up to 50 pounds. Jack crevalle also continued to patrol local beaches and providing additional sport. As well a handful of impressive sized halibut up to 30 pounds.

June 1 is when the Mexican national holiday of "Dia de la Marina " is celebrated. Particularly enthusiastic for this event are the residents whose work in the fishing industry. The village of La Playita traditionally has one of the largest fiestas in the area, though with the new Puerto Los Cabos marina project now well under construction, this appears to be the last year that it is held in traditional fashion.

(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.