ACTION SLOW FOR GORDO BANKS PANGAS CHARTER BOATS

Aug. 7, 2005, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

Anglers enjoyed calm ocean conditions in the San Jose del Cabo vacation fishing area this past week, though the numbers of tourists in town were relatively light. San Jose del Cabo weather was warm, as would be expected during the month of August, with highs of about 95 degrees and humidity of about 60 percent. At this time there are no new storm systems developing to the south and so far the tropical storm season has been very mild.

San Jose del Cabo sportfishing charters were fishing on both the Pacific and into the Sea of Cortez, with the region from Chileno to the Gordo Banks and then north to Destiladeras, San Luis and Vinorama being more popular. Fishing water temperatures varied from 78 degrees on the Pacific, up to 85 degrees into the Sea of Cortez

Live bait along the shoreline continued to be scarce at San Jose del Cabo, but on most days anglers were able to find limited supplies of sardinas, mullet or caballito. Schools of bolito and skipjack were found on San Jose del Cabo offshore fishing grounds, but they proved hard to catch after the early morning hours.

Overall, San Jose del Cabo fishing action would have to be considered to be slow, though the variety of species being found was extensive. No particular species was abundant and the average charter was only landing maybe two, three or four fish in combination.

The Gordo Banks area off San Jose del Cabo was starting to show a bit more activity, but still not providing the action that would be expected for this time period.

A few yellowfin tuna up to 70 pounds were hooked into by San Jose del Cabo anglers using chunk bait, along with several medium sized dorado and dogtooth snapper. Divers that were probing on the same spot reported seeing some dorado and tuna, but they were not in any significant numbers.

There were more fish being found around the vicinity of the San Luis Bank, but the yellowfin in this area were mostly in the 20 to 30 pound class. Many could be seen feeding, but with the limited bait supplies it was not easy to chum them up and entice them into the feeding mood.

Bottom anglers using yo-yo jigs were hooking into a few cabrilla, huachinango, amberjack, yellowtail and tuna, but once again these numbers were few and far between, though of the fish landed they were of quality.

Dorado continued to be scattered and being caught at the rate of about one fish for every two or three charters. Sizes ranged to over 30 pounds.

This week there were only a few wahoo catches reported at San Jose del Cabo.

Along the San Jose del Cabo shoreline there were some roosterfish and jack crevalle to 30 pounds that were striking on trolled mullet, though most anglers were now targeting offshore species.

Surf fishermen using live mullet for bait off of the San Jose Estuary area reported catching a handful of snook.

The La Playita panga fleets at San Jose del Cabo sent out approximately 67 panga charters for the week and anglers accounted for a fish count of: 1 black marlin, 1 blue marlin, 11 striped marlin, 9 sailfish, 1 wahoo, 32 dorado, 44 yellowfin tuna, 2 yellowtail, 22 amberjack, 14 cabrilla, 40 huachinango, 28 yellowtail snapper, 8 rainbow runners, 22 jack crevalle, 16 roosterfish and 15 bonito.

(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.