YELLOWFIN TUNA AND BONITO TOP LA PLAYITA PANGA ACTION

Jan. 15, 2006, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja sport fishing, Mexico:

The combined La Playita sportfishing panga fleets a San Jose del Cabo sent out approximately 92 charters this week, for a fish count of: 14 cabrilla, 4 striped marlin, 36 sierra, 22 pompano, 26 pargo, 8 amberjack, 275 bonito, 360 yellowfin tuna, 192 dorado, and 3 yellowtail.

Increased crowds of tourists are swarming south to San Jose del Cabo in search of warm sunshine. Winds were from the northwest, blowing up to about 12 miles per hour, but did not affect sportfishing much, since San Jose del Cabo fleets were now fishing relatively close to shore in more protected waters.

The majority of the sportfishing was concentrated from Cabo San Lucas to Red Hill, where water temperature were averaging 73 to 74 degrees, compared to surrounding waters that were dipping down into the 69 degrees range.

Live bait supplies were inconsistent, though on most days sufficient mackerel and sardinas were available.

Striped marlin concentrations were not as high, though some San Jose del Cabo fishing charters were accounting for multiple billfish days. Striped marlin could be spotted tailing on the surface, riding swells, or lighting up into the lure spread, the majority located from 4 to 12 miles from shore, not always eager to actually take the offering.

Dorado were also scattered, with more of the 5 to 15 pound do-dos actually being found closer to shore, apparently attracted by the warmer currents and schools of bait fish.

Yellowfin tuna and bonito were the most common catches from day to day, most of them striking on smaller bait within a couple miles of shore and ranging 5 to 15 pounds. Overall the average catch per sportfishing panga charter was about 8 to 15 fish in combination, not too bad for wintertime action.

With northern winds and cooler off colored water through areas north of Punta Gorda there have not been that many anglers fishing in that direction. Strong currents were also reported, which made it more difficult to work the bottom rock piles.

On Saturday commercial pangueros reported red crab activity on the Gordo Banks and caught pargo using them as bait. This was the first day this happened.

(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.