Anglers continue to be greeted with ideal weather conditions, with the start of the summer season just around the corner we are now in the midst of transition time. There has been plenty of sunshine, only some scattered clouds, high temperatures in the upper 80s and hardly any wind at all in the direction of the Sea of Cortez. On the Pacific side of the peninsula, just around the corner from Cabo San Lucas it was windy and the water temperature dipped to a chilly 61 degrees, while a mere 30 miles away on the Gordo Banks and to Desteladera the water temperature was a steady 77 degrees, that is an incredible difference in such close proximity. Obviously the more consistent fishing action recently has been in the direction of the warmer water.

Live Bait supplies were plentiful for sardinas, mullet and on the offshore fishing grounds there have been concentrations of bolito, chihuil, mackerel and sardinetas that are also being used for baits. Striped marlin continued to provide most of the action offshore, the center of activity was around the Desteladera Banks, and fleets from Cabos San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the East Cape have all been converging on this area, where congregations of baitfish have attracting the billfish. Casting baits into feeding fish, slow trolling various live baits and drifting with baits down deeper all proved to be successful techniques. Over the weekend the effect of the full moon seemed to attribute to slower action, though most of the charters that did target the striped marlin accounted for an average of one fish and some reported up to two or more marlin per outing. The stripers ranged in sizes from 70 to 150 pounds and one specimen that was caught and released from a Gordo Banks super panga was estimated at over 200 pounds.

There were a few more reports this past week about yellowfin tuna and dorado, but these fish were scattered and there was no consistent action for them being reported. Some smaller sized yellowfin tuna were being caught on trolled hoochies and smaller feathers a handful of large tuna were seen feeding in with striped marlin but were not hooked up. Dorado was the same situation, basically just a couple of stray fish being found spread out through the areas of warmer and cleaner water. Wahoo activity was even scarcer, but at least there were a couple of encouraging reports of anglers having jig strikes in the area of Iman, but these fish were not landed, coming unhooked for some reason or other.

Along the shoreline there was some excellent action found, African pompano, golden jacks, dogtooth snapper, pargo Colorado, sierra, jack crevalle and roosterfish were the main species accounted for. On Thursday the bite off of the La Laguna shipwreck was absolutely wide open for the pompano, fish averaged 6 to 10 pounds, but several close to 20 pounds were accounted for and one monster 30 pound golden jack was also landed from the same area. This same shipwreck, which lies in forty feet of water, holds large dogtooth snapper, but they have been spooked in recent days to increased spearfish activity, even though this sport is legal when not using air tanks, it is also common courtesy for people not to attempt spearing while other sport anglers, who were at the spot first and are fishing with rod and reel. Apparently some people just do not have good manners.

Thousands of people attended the activities of the grand Dia de la Marina fiesta located in the village of La Playita, with all night dances being the highlight. Sunday is the final day of these traditional events, with the annual dorado panga tournament being held, also a fishing contest for anglers off the beach.

The combined panga fleet from La Playita sent out approximately 61 charters for the week, with anglers accounting for a fish count of: 16 yellowfin tuna, 15 dorado, 46 roosterfish, 82 sierra, 9 dogtooth snapper, 11 amberjack, 19 jack crevalle, 4 mako sharks, 18 Mexican bonito, 5 golden jack, 25 cabrilla, 105 yellow snapper, 28 surgeon fish and 18 striped marlin.

Good Fishing, Eric