TWO NEW FISH SPECIES CAUGHT WITH CAPT. PATA ON THE PANGA SALOME

Oct. 4-6, 2005, John Snow, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico Species Fishing Trip Report:

Executive Summary: Two New Species, a Longtail Stingray, Dasyatis longa, and a Gulf Grouper, Mycsteroperca jordani. Three days, one strong, two so-so, of panga fishing at San Jose del Cabo with Captain Pata with one day postponed due to ocean conditions related to Otis.

The water temperature was a consistent 86-degrees and was pristine blue since all San Jose del Cabo fishing time was spent in a small area 25 miles north of La Playita. Water conditions were excellent and the weather condition “very toasty.” Overall, came in contact with only 23 individual species, of which two were new as listed above. The bait guys were present and provided an abundance of high quality bait and helped significantly with my species collection activities. Major targeted game species count from three days of Panga fishing: Gulf Grouper 1; Yellow Snapper 5, Yellowfin Tuna (Muy Fuerte!) 9. I would rate this week as good. It very frustrating to recognize that as the tourist business/sportsfishing interest expands in the San Jose del Cabo area that problems related to the supply of quality live bait and crowded fishing conditions will escalate.

Species, 21 known and 2 new: *Anchovy, Slender (Fish Number 28); *Bobo, Yellow (Fish Number 25); *Crab, Rough Swim (Fish Number 131); Creolefish, Pacific (Fish Number 62); *Croaker, Yellowfin (Fish Number 35); *Flounder, Speckled (Fish Number 168); Grouper, Gulf (Fish Number 170) – NEW!; *Herring, Flatiron (Fish Number 19); *Herring, Yellowfin (Fish Number 10); *Jack, Bigeye (Fish Number 98); Jack, Green (Fish Number 65); *Ladyfish (Fish Number 100); *Mojarra, Graceful (Fish Number 190); *Mullet, White (Fish Number 156); Needlefish, Gaint Mexican (Fish Number 87); Ray, Longtail Sting (Fish Number 169) – NEW!; *Salema, Longfin (Fish Number 90); Snapper, Blue and Gold (Fish Number 73); Snapper, Yellow (Fish Number 4); Triggerfish, Orangeside (Fish Number 26); Triggerfish, Finescale (Fish Number 9); Tuna, Skipjack, Black (Fish Number 79); Tuna, Yellowfin (Fish Number 89). *Collected in the bait tank.

Fishing with Captain Pata, Panga Salome, La Playita. La Playita Sport Fishing activity picked up a little but has been plagued by Hurricane Otis and the lack of live sardines.

Day 1, October 3, 2005 – Scrubbed due to Hurricane Otis.

Day 2, October 4, 2005 - Fishing for five hours with Captain Pata. Ocean was tranquil with a slowly building El Norte that was not a problem. Excellent supply of live bait available. Water was pristine blue, 84-degrees. Fished a small area 25 miles northeast of La Playita. Style was either yo-yo iron (non-productive), traditional bottom fishing with sardines, fish scraps or squid (non-productive) and flylined Sardines. Catch can be summarized as: one Green Jack, 4 pounds, one (that quickly turned into 6! In the fish box as mama gave birth to five babies) Longtail Stingray, 6 pounds, one Finescale Triggerfish, 4 pounds, three Orangeside Triggerfish, to 2 pounds – all catch and release, two Black Skipjack Tuna, to 10 pounds, and seven Yellowfin Tuna, to 25 pounds. Miscellaneous: NADA!

Day 3, October 5, 2005 - Fishing for six hours with Captain Pata. Ocean was tranquil the whole day. Excellent supply of live bait available. Water was pristine blue, 84-degrees. Fished a small area 25 miles northeast of La Playita. Style was either yo-yo iron, traditional bottom fishing with sardines, fish scraps or squid (non-productive) and flylined Sardines. Catch can be summarized as: two Pacific Creole Fish, to 3 pounds, one Giant Mexican Needlefish, 4 pounds, two Yellow Snappers, to 8 pounds, five Orangeside Triggerfish, to 2 pounds – all catch and release, three Black Skipjack Tuna, to 10 pounds, and one Yellowfin Tuna, 15 pounds. Miscellaneous: The cattle boats en mass (perhaps 50 in total) arrived at the fishing hole and thus the bite was nonexistent.

Day 4, October 6, 2005 - Fishing for six hours with Captain Pata. Ocean was tranquil the whole day. Excellent supply of live bait available. Water was pristine blue, 84-degrees. Fished a small area 25 miles northeast of La Playita. Style was either yo-yo iron, traditional bottom fishing with sardines, fish scraps or squid, flylined Sardines (non-productive) and flylined Gaint Squid. Catch can be summarized as: one Pacific Creole Fish, 3 pounds, one Gulf Grouper, 55 pounds, one Green Jack, 5 pounds, three Yellow Snappers, to 8 pounds, four Gold and Blue Snappers, to 1 pound, six Orangeside Triggerfish, to 2 pounds – all catch and release, two Black Skipjack Tuna, to 10 pounds, and one Yellowfin Tuna, 20 pounds. Miscellaneous: The cattle boats en mass (perhaps 50 in total) arrived at the fishing hole and thus the bite was nonexistent.

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