GORDO BANKS PANGAS SPORTFISHING BOATS
CATCH MIXED SPECIES CLOSE TO SHORE

June 5, 2005, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, San Jose del Cabo fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Overall fish counts for a total of 105 panga charters launching from La Playita included: 1 snook, 95 pargo colorado, 90 dogtooth snapper, 125 yellowtail snapper, 45 huachinango, 110 barred pargo, 80 African pompano, 28 amberjack, 125 jack crevalle, 105 roosterfish, 65 sierra, 85 cabrilla and 180 triggerfish.

The weather has remained spring like in the San Jose del Cabo vacation area, with highs in the mid 80s. There were continued breezes coming from the south most of the week and on Thursday morning anglers encountered an unusual marine fog layer that made visibility impossible for several hours in certain locations. San Jose del Cabo fishing water temperatures averaged a cooler 66 to 72 degrees. Over the weekend a warmer current appeared to be working back into the areas to the north of San Jose del Cabo. Live bait supplies consisted mainly of sardinas and mullet, and both were plentiful off of the La Playita beach.

Billfish were found north of San Jose del Cabo from Destiladeras to Los Frailes, but this was a very long run for boats. The boats capable of making this extended trip were rewarded with decent action on striped marlin. Several swordfish were reported by the cruiser fleet this past week; they are one fish that prefer cooler and greenish water conditions.

The majority of the San Jose del Cabo (Los Cabos) sportfishing fleets were fishing closer to shore, for species such as pompano, sierra, roosterfish, jack crevalle, pargo colorado and dog tooth snapper. Hot spots were near Cardon to San Luis, as well as from Regina to Chileno. Snapper and roosterfish to 40 pounds were accounted for, with numerous larger hook ups reportedly lost. Trolling with mullet was particularly effective for the larger roosters and snapper, while using sardinas proved better for pompano, sierra and smaller pargo. Pompano weighed 6 to 15 pounds and provided incredible sport on lighter tackle. Sierra were not as numerous now, but the few that were found were larger specimens of 4 to 8 pounds.

One rare 15-pound snook was landed on Saturday from a panga fishing near the mouth of the San Jose del Cabo Estuary, the same place where some quality pargo Colorado were also found.

San Jose del Cabo's Puerto Los Cabos marina project is progressing rapidly, as they are now hauling in huge boulders that will be used to construct the breakwater for the marina entrance. It makes you wonder what will happen to this hot spot for trophy sized snook. The entire beach will be changed with the detoured flow of sand and who knows how this will effect the migration of bait fish.

On May 29 there was the annual panga tournament held off of the La Playita, in the past this event was intended to be for dorado only, but due to shortage of that species during the last several tournaments this years other species were included, namely being yellowfin tuna, wahoo and roosterfish. Some 18 to 20 pangas participated and Gary Weis won the event with a 31-pound yellowfin tuna. He was fishing on the Gordo Banks Pangas super panga " Ginny" with skipper Tony and they shared close to a $2,000 purse.

Surf fishermen off the San Jose del Cabo Estuary area reported a few nice sized halibut up to 16 pounds and a mix of jack crevalle and smaller croaker, also a couple of lost snook hookups.

(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.