WEATHER: It cooled down a few degrees this week as compared to last week. Our highs were in the mid 90's and our lows in the mid 80's, about 5 degrees less than our averages from last week. It was sunny this week with mostly cloud free days except the very beginning and the very end. On Sunday we had a cloud mass move in that looked as if it was going to drop a lot of rain on us, but most of it ended up in the mountains, as usual.

WATER: The surface on the Pacific side started out the week pretty rough due to the wind and clouds that had just moved into our area, but by Tuesday things had really settled down. The rest of the week it was very nice, a little bumpy at times but very fishable. On the Cortez side of the Cape the water remained in great shape on the surface all week long. Water temperatures were very steady across our area with the cold areas at 83 degrees and the warm spots at 86 degrees with the warmer water on the Cortez side of the Cape.

BAIT: Almost all the larger baits this week were Caballito and mullet at the normal $3 per bait. There were some Sardinas available up in San Jose at the usual $25 per scoop, but you needed to make arrangements the day prior to going out.

FISHING:

BILLFISH: We had a two day convention of Striped Marlin between the beach and five miles offshore up on the inside of the Golden Gate Bank this week. On Thursday and Friday the fish were packed up and almost everyone there was able to release at least one Striped Marlin, and a few boats released three or four. During the rest of the week the fish were there and along the rest of the Pacific coast as well, but the catch ratio was considerably lower. Also in the area, as well as offshore were Sailfish. They were between 40 and 100 pounds in size and occasionally attacked in packs with tow or three lines going off at once. Offshore there were a few Blues and Blacks found, but not very many were caught. I know of one Black that was tail wrapped and came in dead that taped out at #400 pounds. (Take the length from the tip of the lower bill to the fork in the tail, multiply that by the square of the girth, then divide the total by 800 and you will be within 10% of the correct weight) and one big Blue that came into the pattern on a friends boat that was bigger than that, his fish just stripped about 100 yards then left the scene.

YELLOWFIN TUNA: For most of the week it seemed as if the Tuna had departed the area for good, no fish were caught for almost four days. Lucky for us some showed up late in the week on the Pacific side of the Cape. In the area of the Golden Gate Bank a very large pod of Dolphin showed the way to a school that averaged 10 pounds, not big fish, but there were a lot of them. Boats that were in the area did well, and the first boat of the day to find them occasionally caught one of about 60 pounds. Limits were normal for several days. Other than that there were very few reports of Tuna found anywhere.

DORADO: Definitely the fish of the week once again. The water temperatures are perfect as are the surface conditions and everyone is coming in flying yellow flags if they want. Most of the fish have been found in the Pacific within five miles of the beach, but there were also concentrations found under floating objects. We had clients on Wednesday who were lucky enough to be the first boat to a floating dead seal and they managed to pick up four Dorado averaging 35-40 pounds, lost a couple more the same size, kept four more about 15-20 pounds and released a lot more that were smaller.

WAHOO: We are going through a new moon phase and I have not heard of any Wahoo this week.

INSHORE: Panga fishermen were getting a little bit of everything this week, ranging from Roosterfish to Jacks to Snapper to Grouper to Dorado to Sailfish, etc. Pretty much anything you wanted to fish for could be found from a Panga this past week.

NOTES: I am hoping that the weather we are seeing over on the mainland works it's way toward us and manages to dump a little rain, we sure could use it. The construction project renovating the main road through town is at least a month behind schedule so getting around by rental car is not really a viable option, I almost guarantee you will get lost, and then there is no place to park since they have started construction of the new cultural center in the big empty dirt lot near the Dolphin Center. This weeks report was written to the easy listening music of Jack Johnson, once again. Until next week, tight lines!