Fish Report for 2-28-2013

The Billfish bite at Cabo declined this week for a number of reasons

2-28-2013
Larry Edwards

A dramatic combination of changes for Cabo San Lucas that have diminished the billfish bite this past week, including the full moon phase, cooler water temperatures and an enormous area of off-colored, greenish tinted water surrounding the lower end of the peninsula. In talking with Captain Roberto Marquez, owner of the Fish Cabo boats, he said, "we fished all over on the Pacific side this past week from Pozo de Cota to the Golden Gate and back to Cabo and saw/baited only 3 stripers, all in the Cabo Falso area and none that would bite. As we move into the first week of March, it appears that the fishing is going to turn typical when the winds start to blow from the north and billfish don't want to bite. The overall combined catches for a total of 25 days fished reflected 2 stripers, (1 released) 63 skipjack tuna, 9 yellowfin tuna, 4 yellowtail, 3 roosterfish, 3 red snappers, 35 dorado and 102 Sierra, (most of these fish were in the 8+ lb. range).

Cabo Climate: Cool mornings and evenings but very warm and comfortable days. A few passing clouds and light surface breezes during the early week that changed to 20-30 mph by week's end, all coming from the northerly directions.

Sea Conditions: Water temps for both sides of the peninsula are cooler, 69-71, and the entire area is off-colored, greenish tinted waters. Cleanest water conditions are out to the south, southwest of Cabo and beyond the 1000 fathom curve.

Best Fishing Area: The better billfish area remains around the Cabo Falso area, albeit, very few of the fish being seen and baited want to bite. The Sierra bite along the beaches from Pedregal to Cristobal.

Best Bait/Lure: The 2 billfish were both taken on live bait. Dorado taken on both, live bait and artificials. Sierra mostly on the hootchies.

Live Bait Supply: Remains very good, even through the full moon. Mixed bait, both caballitos and mackerel. Some mackerel still available on the yozuri's, fishing the Cabo Falso drop-off.


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