A FEW SCATTERED WAHOO CAUGHT BY LOS CABOS PANGAS

Dec. 4, 2005, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, San Jose del Cabo sportfishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The San Jose del Cabo (Los Cabos) panga charter fishing fleets from La Playita sent out approximately 84 boats for the week, with a fish count of: 2 striped marlin, 6 wahoo, 45 dorado, 380 yellowfin tuna, 450 skipjack, 28 pargo, 22 amberjack, 32 cabrilla, 84 sierra, 6 rainbow runner and 20 triggerfish.

Moderate crowds of tourists were at San Jose del Cabo this week, a typical slack period between holidays.

The north winds were relentless at the start of the San Jose del Cabo fishing week, blowing all night long and throughout most of the day, anywhere from 15 to 20 miles per hour, with daytime highs around 75 degrees.

San Jose del Cabo fishing water clarity was churned up from the winds and greenish throughout much of the region. The average water temperature ranged from 72 to 74 degrees.

Ocean swells were minimal, but the wind chop was significant on Monday and Tuesday and anglers were limited where they could actually fish. San Jose del Cabo fish counts were down due to the cooler and rough weather, but over the weekend bounced back up as the weather improved.

Live sardina baits were now being found along beaches from Red Hill to Santa Maria, which meant back tracking for San Jose del Cabo anglers launching from La Playita and then returning north to fish on the spots from La Fortuna to San Luis.

San Jose del Cabo panga fleets found the most consistent action north of Punta Gorda and the bait of choice was sardinas, though some trolling of surface lures and jigging with yo-yos was also producing mixed results.

The yellowfin averaged 10 to 20 pounds, but several tuna up to 50 pounds were found in the same schools. Dorado continued to be scarce.

It was tough to find wahoo, but everyday there was a handful of them being hooked into. The 'hoos that were brought in weighed from 25 to 45 pounds and as long as the water temperatures stays in the range of 73 to 75 degrees there should still be a chance at catching the elusive wahoo through the month of December.

Sierra are showing more of a presence along the shorelines, striking on bait and lures weighing up to 8 pounds.

(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.