WINDY FISHING FOR THE SEA OF CORTEZ

Dec. 3, 2006, Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas, La Playita Beach, Los Cabos, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The Los Cabos panga sportfishing fleets from La Playita sent out approximately 116 charters for the week, with a fish count of: 55 yellowfin tuna, 2 wahoo, 15 rainbow runner, 65 dorado, 135 skipjack, 16 amberjack, 14 cabrilla, 365 sierra, 205 triggerfish, 42 yellowtail snapper, and 38 pompano.

San Jose del Cabo fishing for yellowfin tuna has slowed to a standstill, with only an odd fish here and there, most them hooked on sardinas from La Fortuna to Iman. The average weight of the few tuna landed was from 15 to 30 pounds. One exception was a 75 pound tuna caught by Bill Gray of Cottonwood, California, on Friday while fishing with Gordo Banks Pangas Capt. Jesus on the super panga "Katie."

Surprisingly, there still are good crowds of tourists in the Los Cabos area. The week after Thanksgiving is when there are fewer people traveling on vacation, as they start preparing for the Christmas Holiday.

In the San Jose del Cabo fishing area, north winds were relentless starting on Wednesday night, blowing through the weekend, at times gusting up to 25 m.p.h. Daytime temperatures were cooler, with highs of about 75 degrees,

Water temperatures are still warm, averaging from 79 to 81 degrees, but we expect this cooler weather will now put the water on cooling trend.

The all around San Jose del Cabo fishing action was flat-out cold for most of the week. Fish counts dropped off considerably and with the winds San Jose del Cabo sportfishing fleets were limited where they could concentrate their efforts.

Charter boats were spread out in all directions. For the most part they found that inshore was the best bet, as more sierra were now moving in along Los Cabos beaches.

The panga fleets found the most consistent action inshore for sierra of 2 to 5 pounds from Punta Gorda to Red Hill with a combination of live sardinas, Rapalas and hoochies.

Live sardina baits were now being found along the beaches from Red Hill to Santa Maria, and also off of the San Jose del Cabo estuary, but at times anglers had to wait patiently in order to obtain their daily supplies.

Dorado fishing at Los Cabos was scattered as well. Early in the week there were some respectable dorado accounted for, but after the strong northerly winds kicked up the water turn colored and this slowed the action considerably.

With the cooler and greener water conditions it was tough to find wahoo off San Jose del Cabo, but everyday there was talk of a few being seen or hooked.

(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.