YELLOWFIN TUNA BITE AT IMAN BANK
SLOWS DOWN FOR LA PLAYITA PANGAS

Oct. 1, 2006, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas Los Cabos, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The combined La Playita sportfishing panga fleets at San Jose del Cabo sent out approximately 58 charters for the week for a fish count of: 12 amberjack, 6 dog snapper, 202 yellowfin tuna, 11 rainbow runner, 3 sailfish, 8 grouper, 72 dorado, 16 skipjack, and 2 hammerhead shark.

San Jose del Cabo fishing changed this week and became more spread out.

The hot yellowfin tuna action of the past couple of months at the Iman Bank slacked up and the numbers of fish caught dropped significantly, although yellowfin were still dominating the daily catch. Tuna per charter were down to an average of 3 or 4, instead of wide open.

Sportfishing cruisers from the East Cape are still making the long run south to Iman Bank, so that must mean that not much is going on their local fishing grounds.

There was also tuna action at Palmilla, Red Hill, Santa Marina and the Hyatt Hotel area close to Cabo San Lucas.

The average yellowfin ranged from 8 to 25 pounds, although there are many larger tuna reportedly seen. Most of the big fish were not interested in either lures or bait, as they were feeding on schools of bait fish.

On Saturday there was one huge 275-pound yellowfin tuna landed from the panga Gaviota with skipper Modesto out of La Playita. The big tuna was supposedly hooked outside of the Iman Bank.

Dorado fishing was best near Cabo San Lucas. Do-dos were found in schools and most of the time not associated with floating debris. However, most of the larger dorado appear to be further into the Sea of Cortez, particularly around La Paz.

Billfish action was concentrated off Cabo San Lucas from the 95 spot and towards the Pacific. Several blue marlin reported weighed more than 300 pounds.

San Jose del Cabo weather is still quite humid and tropical. There are no storms on the horizon now, although there is still a chance of a late season tropical system developing. The feeling is that the Los Cabos vacation area has escaped another hurricane season without any significant damage.

Water temperatures off Los Cabos are averaging 80 to 87 degrees. There have been minimal swells and light afternoon breezes, predominately from the north. Sardina bait remained plentiful off La Playita and most of the fishing by the panga fleets was with these bait fish.

(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.