CONTINUED RED-HOT LOS CABOS TUNA

Aug. 27, 2006, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, La Playita, San Jose del Cabo fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The combined Los Cabos sportfishing panga fleets launching at La Playita reported approximately 78 charters for the week for a fish count of: 940 yellowfin tuna, 2 striped marlin, 3 blue marlin, 6 sailfish, 56 dorado, 44 bonito, 66 skipjack, 4 cabrilla, and 38 miscellaneous pargo.

This week Hurricane Ileana developed off of Manzanillo and the powerful category three storm came to within 300 miles of Los Cabos. The main effect was the high swells. The surge of high surf arrived midmorning on Wednesday, and peaked on Thursday, before gradually residing by the weekend. The sportfishing panga fleets of La Playita shut down all launching on Thursday, but were able to resume on Friday. Once again, the new Puerto Los Cabos rock jetties did not appear to block the waves as planned.

The fishing fleets out of San Jose del Cabo continued to enjoy incredible action for yellowfin tuna in the area from La Fortuna to the Iman Bank. The schools of sardinas did not seem to scatter and the tuna bite picked up right where it had left off on Wednesday morning. Average tuna was ranging in the 15 to 30 pound range, quality fish and very plentiful. The average catch per boat was about a dozen tuna, with some boats going much higher. Drift fishing with fly lined baits continued to be the most productive method.

Dorado were mixed in with the yellowfin tuna, but were not consistent. Some days boats were accounting for one, two or three dorado in their combined catch, most of them medium sized.

A handful of blue and striped marlin, as well as sailfish were found in the same areas as the tuna, striking on the same smaller bait fish. Other catches include a scattering of pargo, bonito, skipjack and cabrilla.

With the high surf conditions for much of the week there was not much reported by San Jose del Cabo surf fishermen.

(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.