LOS CABOS PANGA YELLOWFIN TUNA BITE SPREADS OUT FROM IMAN BANK

Oct. 8, 2006, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, San Jose del Cabo, Los Cabos, Mexico:

The sportfishing panga fleets from La Playita sent out approximately 144 charter boats for the week for a catch including released fish of: 28 sailfish, 1,296 yellowfin tuna, 288 dorado, 80 miscellaneous pargo, 15 rainbow runner, 18 tooth snapper, 12 amberjack, 18 grouper, 36 triggerfish, 7 yellowtail, 5 wahoo, 1,730 skipjack, and 75 bonito.

San Jose del Cabo fishing continued to be dominated by yellowfin tuna and dorado. The majority of the tuna being caught have ranged from 10 to 20 pounds. Some specimens up to 50 pounds have been mixed in with the same schools. Other anglers reported having monster strikes by yellowfin that could have topped the 200-pound mark, but these fish came unbuttoned.

The bite has been more scattered recently as action is being found in new locations. Boats have been fishing off the Pacific, Chileno, Red Hill, Palmilla, Gordo Banks, La Fortuna and Iman Banks. Fishing has been more consistent within several miles of shore than far offshore.

Trolling or drifting with the smaller baits has been more productive than dragging lures.

Anglers are showing up by the hundreds at San Jose del Cabo to take advantage of the excellent fishing opportunities the Los Cabos area has to offer. The weather has lots of sunshine, very little wind, cooler mornings and humid afternoons. Ocean conditions off Los Cabos were comfortable, with minimal swells with water temperatures ranging from 86 to 88 degrees.

Sardina bait remained plentiful off the La Playita-Puerto Los Cabos area. With the ocean water temperatures so high there still is a chance of a late season storm.

Schooling dorado were found spread throughout the area. Most of the fish were in the 5 to 15 pound class, with a few bulls over 30 pounds. A higher percentage of strikes came while trolling with bait.

More sailfish moved onto the San Jose del Cabo fishing grounds, apparently attracted by the warmer water and abundant bait fish.

Other billfish action was better off of Cabo San Lucas area, with a mix of striped and blue marlin being found. Striped marlin were outnumbering the blues.

Inshore a few of the season's first sierra were found despite the water temperature still being in the upper 80s. As the water temperature drops we anticipate greater numbers of the sierra to move into Los Cabos inshore waters.

(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.