SEVERAL WAHOO LANDED TO 40 POUNDS BY LOS CABOS PANGAS

Aug. 28, 2005, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The La Playita sportfishing panga fleets at San Jose del Cabo sent out only 7 charters from Monday through Saturday and anglers reported catching: 3 wahoo, 4 dogtooth snapper, 1 dorado and 33 yellowfin tuna.

Fishing operations at La Playita beach came to a standstill this week due to high stormy surf created by Hurricane Hilary, which passed within 200 miles of San Jose del Cabo and pushed in waves as large as 12 to 15 feet. The weather became very humid and tropical. On Monday the San Jose del Cabo fishing area saw some major rainfall, though there was not much wind associated with it. Roads were flooded and a general mess, but overall there was only minimal damage.

The rain was desperately welcome at San Jose del Cabo, as the entire region has been in the midst of a drought for the past two years. In spite of this not being the optimum time to start work on the much talked about and anticipated Puerto Los Cabos jetty in the new La Playita marina project, they have started placing the first rocks for the new breakwater, which most certainly will be a long and challenging process.

On Thursday a few sportfishing pangas did try to venture out to the Gordo Banks, but quickly were forced to turn back and head for the beach, as the skies were extremely dark and threatening to rain at any moment. Combined with strong gusty winds it was time to get off of the water as quickly as possible.

On Friday the skies were clear at San Jose del Cabo, and seas were calm enough for pangas to easily launch.

Live sardinas were also plentiful at San Jose del Cabo and proved to be very effective for catching yellowfin tuna on the Inner Gordo Bank.

San Jose del Cabo charter fishing pangas averaged 5 to 7 tuna each, with weights going from 15 to 35 pounds. Also they had some action on large dogtooth snapper, which could be seen far below the boats and were striking on drifted chunk bait. Most of the snapper that were hooked into ended up snapping off leaders, either with their teeth or by reaching the rocky reef below. The few that were landed weighed in the 30 pound range.

Wahoo also started to become active on the Banks. Several to 40 pounds were landed on trolled lures and other strikes were reported while anglers were trolling with bolito.

San Jose del Cabo sportfishing cruiser fleets reported better offshore action on the days they were able to fish, for a mix of sailfish, blue marlin, striped marlin, yellowfin tuna, dorado and wahoo. Blue marlin to over 300 pounds were accounted for while trolling lures in the open blue water, which has been averaging 83 to 86 degrees.

(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.