STRIPED MARLIN AND TUNA FOR LOS CABOS FISHING BOATS

Feb. 11, 2007, Gordo Banks Pangas, Eric Brictson, San Jose del Cabo fishing, Baja California Sur, Mexico:

The combined La Playita sportfishing panga fleet sent out approximately 63 boats for the week for a fish count of: 265 yellowfin tuna, 12 hammerhead shark, 3 sailfish, 11 striped marlin, 28 dorado, 58 pargo, 16 amberjack, 22 cabrilla, and 32 bonita.

The San Jose del Cabo vacation area of Baja finally some weather to smile about, as high temperatures were close to 80 degrees and lows were in the 60s. There was plenty of sunshine here, and the pesky winds from the north diminished.

We hope that with the weather now on a warming trend that the water conditions will do the same.

Anglers fishing at Los Cabos found ideal ocean conditions with minimal swells. Water clarity fluctuated. Blue water was found further from shore. Water temperatures off San Jose del Cabo ranged from 69 to 71 degrees. Sardinas and mackerel bait fish are schooling in local waters and the most consistent fishing action has been while using these baits.

The Cabo San Lucas cruiser fleets were switching most of their effort toward San Jose del Cabo, where the striped marlin have been more numerous from Chileno to the Gordo Banks, and from 4 to 14 miles offshore.

At times dozens of stripers were seen tailing on the surface. Casting live mackerel bait in front of these tailers proved to be the hot ticket. Striped marlin averaged 100 to 130 pounds.

There were also a few surprising sailfish and a mix of medium to quality sized dorado still hanging around in the cooler fishing waters.

The San Jose del Cabo panga fleets fishing out of La Playita found the most consistent action at the Inner Gordo Bank, where they found big schools of yellowfin tuna. On some days the bite did not happen until late morning, but most anglers found good action for tuna ranging from 20 to 40 pounds on both live and dead sardinas. The tuna were not striking mackerel as aggressively as the smaller bait fish.

At La Fortuna and Iman Banks there was improved bottom fish action for a mix of pargo, cabrilla, bonita and amberjack, still not in large numbers, but more of these fish are now showing up. Yo-yo jigs were starting to produce, as well as various baits off the rock piles.

With offshore conditions being productive there were not many anglers fishing inshore around San Jose del Cabo.

Whale watching continues at its peak, especially for humpback whales from the Gordo Banks to Iman. In the same areas where sportfishing fleets have been concentrated, these whales at times are putting on incredible aerobatic displays. Other sea life seen included turtles, sea lions, porpoise, manta rays and flying fish.