GOOD YELLOWFIN TUNA CATCHES FOR LA PLAYITA PANGA FLEET

Aug. 13, 2006, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, Los Cabos, San Jose del Cabo fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The Los Cabos fishing area had clear skies, high humidity, and no tropical storms. Ocean swells were minimal and there was very little wind. Los Cabos water temperatures averaged 82 to 85 degrees. Adequate supplies of sardina bait was available on most days.

The combined San Jose del Cabo sportfishing panga fleets out of La Playita sent out approximately 72 charters for the week and anglers accounted for a fish count of: 6 striped marlin, 8 sailfish, 1 wahoo, 780 yellowfin tuna, 68 dorado, 28 snapper, and 14 amberjack.

Yellowfin tuna continued to dominate Los Cabos fishing action. Anglers enjoyed wide open action for yellowfin tuna averaging 20 to 30 pounds. The fishing grounds were from La Fortuna to Iman to San Luis. San Jose del Cabo charter fishing boats averaged 8 to 15 tuna.

These tuna were not small football sized fish. The average has been around 25 pounds. There are also some much larger yellowfin tuna present, but most anglers were using tackle of 30 to 40 pounds. When a big tuna was hooked they did not have much of a chance. But, it is hard to fish small sardina baits on too heavy of tackle.

A few yellowfin tuna were also hooked on chunk bait while skippers were filleting freshly caught fish. With hot weather now at Los Cabos, it is important to get your catch on ice as soon as possible.

Other catches by the La Playita sportfishing panga fleet included some smaller striped marlin, a handful of sailfish up to 80 pounds, snapper to 10 pounds, and dorado.

Dorado were found mixed with the tuna, in small schools and most of them juveniles. There was a scattering of larger bull dorado also accounted for.

Off of Loreto, they have had a banner season for dorado, many of them being found around the FAD devices that have been set. Maybe this is an idea Los Cabos might want to consider.

(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.