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| Around 10% of the world's total fish species can be found just within the Great Barrier Reef. |
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| Starfish can re-grow their arms. In fact, a single arm can regenerate a whole body. |
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| Starfish do not have blood. Their blood is actually filtered sea water. |
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| Starfish don't have brains. Special cells on their skin gather information about their surroundings |
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| Not all animals with the word fish in their names count as fish. |
| Though their names may suggest otherwise, cuttlefish, starfish, and jellyfish aren’t actually fish. Generally-speaking, fishes must have skulls, gills, and fins. Surprisingly, though, not all fishes have proper spines. |
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| In three decades, the world's oceans will contain more discarded plastic than fish when measured by weight, researchers say. |
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| As of 2020, there were 34,000 known fish species around world. That’s more than the number of species in all other vertebrates: birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians combined. |
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| Just how man species of fish are there? |
| As of 2020, there were 34,000 known fish species around world. That’s more than the number of species in all other vertebrates: birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians combined. |
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| Even Catfish are finicky |
| Taste Buds ? Catfish have a more refined sense of flavor than humans. Our 10,000 taste buds may seem like a lot, but catfish can have as many as 175,000. This helps them find the exact location of their next meal. |
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| A bit of Humor |
| My brother has 2 German Shepherds named Rolex and Timex. You guessed it they are Watch Dogs. |
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From Jan 01, 1999 To May 07, 2024
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Jan 4, 2016; 11:48PM - GORDO BANKS PANGAS San Jose del Cabo December 27, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
December 27, 2015
Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to everyone
Many tourists have been arriving in Los Cabos this holiday season, compared
to last year, when the majority of local resorts were still closed and in
the process of rebuilding from the devastation caused by Hurricane Odile.
The relentless north winds finally resided mid-week and conditions were
feeling more like fall than winter. Warm sunny days, with calm seas, ideal
time for anglers to take advantage of the opportunities at billfish,
yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo, roosterfish and other available species.
Ocean temperatures have ranged from 75 degrees from Iman Bank to Los
Frailes to as warm as 79 degrees straight outside of Cabo San Lucas. Ideal
conditions now, if the winds stay moderate we do expect to enjoy excellent
fishing action into the coming new year. With the lack of sardinas
available, anglers have been relying on caballito, slabs of squid and
various artificial lures to entice the variety of gamefish now in the area.
San Jose del Cabo fleets were having to travel all the way to the Cabo
arches to find sporadic action for yellowfin tuna in the 10 to 15 pound
class, some boats catching six or seven fish, other none, lots of pressure
by the whole fleet, as well as hungry seas lions on this spot. Chance at a
single dorado or wahoo off of the Chileno, Santa Maria and Red Hill areas.
Though this action was very hit or miss. So we are glad that the wind has
diminished for the time being and this has opened up our normal fishing
grounds from the Gordo Banks to the Iman Bank. Crazy that black marlin and
larger grade of yellowfin tuna have been holding around the Gordo Banks, in
recent days the tuna action on these ground was very dead in the morning
hours, but would come alive in the afternoon, so some locals have been
packing 20 or more pounds of squid slabs and heading out for this late
afternoon action, tuna to 140 lb. were landed, many other even larger
yellowfin were lost, sea lions were a pesky problem on these grounds as
well. This action should last in to January, any day these yellowfin could
bite earlier in the day, full moon phase has feeding patterns mixed up as
well.
Iman Bank was holding tuna in the 20 to 40 lb. range, though without
sufficient chum and dealing with swifter cooler currents put this bite off
later in the week. Dorado continue to be scattered, but actually in recent
days we are seeing more of these fish than during the past week or two.
Same for wahoo, not many being landed, but they are in the area, with
conditions being as favorable as they are, anything could happen, these
elusive and highly sought after gamefish are definitely still around and we
expect them to become more active in the coming weeks.
This is the time when striped marlin appear on the grounds off of San Jose
del Cabo and this has been the case this week, straight outside of the
Puerto Los Cabos Marina, anywhere from two to four miles offshore, this is
where fleets are now concentrated, chasing feeding marlin and drift fishing
with baits down deep has produced good action on the striped marlin,
averaging 80 to 120 lb., with some sailfish are still hanging late into the
season.
Good numbers of smaller to medium sized roosterfish are now being
encountered closer to shore, anglers have been using live caballito to slow
troll for this action, not many sierra yet, the lack of sardinas will make
this a tough season for the sierra. Bottom action has showed improvement
recently, deeper water species around the Gordo Banks and other high spots.
Various snappers, cabrilla, grouper, triggerfish, rainbow runner and bonito.
Whales are now appearing in greater numbers every day and will soon be
peaking for their annual winter migration to Southern Baja California.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 84 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 5 sailfish,
2 black marlin, 38 striped marlin, 115 yellowfin tuna, 22 dorado, 11 wahoo,
14 cabrilla,
14 huachinango, 22 yellow snapper, 18 bulleye snapper, 3 amberjack, 12
rainbow runner,
24 bonito, 8 white skipjack, 55 roosterfish and 30 triggerfish.
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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Jan 4, 2016; 11:44PM - Gordo Banks Panga Report December 19, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric
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December 19, 2015
Holiday crowds have started to arrive in greater numbers this past week and
it appears that it will be busy during this year’s festive times. Weather
has been a been a bit crazy, relentless winds from the north much of the
week, before laying down for the weekend and actually feeling once again
almost like late summer, instead of winter. Whales are also being sighted
more frequently now, as this is just the start of the annual migration for
these mammals.
Ocean swells have been minimal, water temperatures have ranged from 76
degrees in the direction of Los Frailes and 79 degrees off of Cabo San
Lucas. Anglers have been relying on caballito or squid slabs for baits,
still no reports of anyone finding any schooling sardinas, hard to say what
will happen with this, we do believe that when water does eventually cool
off, that we will see these preferred baitfish return within our range.
The week started off with the most consistent action being found off the
areas of the Cabo San Lucas Arches to Sol Mar, within one mile or less of
shore, this is where there was a good bite going on for yellowfin tuna
while drift fishing with strips of squid. These ranged from 8 to 15 lb.,
some of these fish also hit on caballito. The bite was sporadic, but many
charters did account for their limits, there was a good chance at losing a
percentage of your hook ups to hungry sea lions that were patrolling this
same area. Lots of pressure on these grounds, since this was around the
only productive spot through most of the week, as north winds made it
almost impossible to fish on the grounds to the north. But over the weekend
as conditions changed from nearly gale conditions to flat calm, this had
charters heading north again and they did have encouraging reports,
especially considering all the wind, water clarity was surprisingly good.
Yellowfin tuna starting biting again on the Iman Bank, nicer sized fish to
30 lb.
Not much going on for dorado and wahoo, only an occasional fish being
landed, other strikes lost, but just no significant numbers of either of
these species. Nothing much going on around the Gordo Banks, but maybe the
calmer conditions will get this area back on track, as lots of skipjack and
other baitfish activity was reported. Also at least one 200 lb. class black
marlin was landed, another black, estimated to weigh close to 500 lb. was
hooked on a trolled caballito, only to be lost near the boat as the fish
got its head down, gaining momentum and heading deep and breaking the
lighter 130 lb. leader which had been intended for a cow yellowfin tuna,
not a late season el Nino black marlin.
Inshore there was some good action for smaller sized roosterfish off of the
San Jose del Cabo Hotel area, particularly near Holiday Inn and the
Estuary. Very little bottom fishing was going on now, more triggerfish than
anything else, we expect to start seeing more variety start to move in off
of the structure. Marlin action was scattered as well, a few striped marlin
and then the chance at a larger marlin around the Gordo Banks, no big
numbers though of any of these billfish. Will be interesting to see if
there is a good run or mackerel and in turn striped marlin his season, this
is the month when this normally occurs, starting on the Pacific Banks,
before shifting in the direction of the Sea of Cortez.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 74 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 1 black marlin, 8 striped marlin, 285 yellowfin
tuna, 16 dorado, 5 wahoo, 4 cabrilla, 22 pargo, 8 bonito, 35 roosterfish
and 18 triggerfish.
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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Jan 4, 2016; 11:41PM - GORDO BANKS PANGAS San Jose del Cabo Anglers – December 13, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric Brictson
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
December 13, 2015
Another quiet week for numbers of visitors arriving in the Los Cabos area,
another ten days or so we should see more holiday travelers. Weather
patterns were more like typical late fall season patterns, cooler mornings,
predominate north winds, relentless for days, before diminishing for a
period and then repeating the cycle. Air temperatures in the mid-80s and
the strength of the sunshine has felt surprisingly intense for
mid-December. Scattered clouds most days, threatening light rain later in
the week. Lighter winds early in the week, increasing by week’s end. Ocean
temperatures are ranging from 78 to 82 degrees, warmest currents being
reported straight outside of Cabo San Lucas and towards the Pacific Banks.
Overall ocean conditions are considerably warmer than what they normally
would be for this time of year, definitely results from El Nino.
Local fishing grounds are still attracting pelagic gamefish such as
yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo, skipjack, sailfish, striped and blue marlin.
We are anticipating on having summer and fall type fishing action lasting
into this winter season, this as a result of warmer than usual ocean
conditions. There are some cooler water species like sierra now appearing
along beach stretches and bonito off the structure. No reports of any new
resource for sardinas, we expect as the ocean temps eventually cool,
schools of sardinas will return, hard to predict what is going on with
these baitfish migrations, many factors involved. Whales are now arriving
on their annual migration, numerous sightings, this activity should only
increase in the next couple of months.
San Jose del Cabo fleets concentrated most of their efforts on the grounds
from the Gordo Banks to Iman Bank. Action was somewhat sporadic, no great
numbers of any particular fish, though there were some quality fish being
accounted for every day, again the pressure was light due to minimal crowds
of anglers at this time. There was good dorado action found early in the
day, straight out front of Puerto Los Cabos Marina, 2 to 4 miles out, slow
trolling caballito was the best producer, though some dorado also hit on
trolled lures or ballyhoo, for anglers that were able to find any of these
rigging baits. Most dorado were weighing in the 12 to 25 lb. range, nice
sized fish, charters accounted for anywhere from one or two, up to four or
five fish per day. On these same ground there were billfish, this past week
anglers hooked into sailfish, striped and black and blue marlin. There was
a story of a black marlin hooked later in the day anglers battled this fish
until 8 p.m. before breaking it off, no moon at all and the crew did not
seem to be making any headway.
Yellowfin tuna was a bit spottier, though in recent days this action did
show signs of improvement. The key to this action was finding sufficient
supplies of squid slabs, drift fishing while chumming was the method that
was working. Both Inner and Outer Gordo Banks were holding yellowfin of 40
to 100 pound class, most likely much larger, most of the fish being landed
from these grounds were in the 60 to 80 lb., we heard of a local pangeros
last week who caught a tuna that went 180 lb. Other heavy hook ups were
lost, included more than one big fish lost to cut lines, suspected that
some lost commercial set gear could be the problem. Anglers were lucky to
land one or two of these tuna and had to be specifically targeting these
fish. The Iman Bank produced a grade of tuna in the 15 to 35 lb. range,
also nice fish and chance at more numbers, some charters had as many as 5
to 8 of these yellowfin. These were the same grounds where wahoo have been
holding, the bite has been on and off, mainly on trolled baits, caballito,
skipjack or chihuil, not much reported on trolled lures recently, of course
more anglers are fishing the bait, compared to trolling lures.
Some sierra now mixed with mostly smaller sized roosterfish found close to
shore, inside the marina area locals are having a field day with the wide
open barracuda bite. Bottom action consisted mostly for smaller sized pargo
and triggerfish, a few bonito and cabrilla.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 56 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 11 sailfish 1 blue marlin, 17 striped marlin, 66
yellowfin tuna, 85 dorado, 18 wahoo, 4 sierra, 28 pargo, 1 pompano, 10
cabrilla, 16 white skipjack, 8 bonito, 12 rainbow runner, 14 roosterfish, 4
surgeonfish and 20 triggerfish
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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Jan 4, 2016; 11:38PM - GORDO BANKS PANGAS San Jose del Cabo Anglers – December 6, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric Brictson
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
December 6, 2015
This week like clockwork the numbers of visitors were far fewer than in
previous weeks, this is normal for immediately after Thanksgiving and prior
to the Christmas Holiday season. Last week we were all caught off guard by
the latest forming major Hurricane ever recorded in the Eastern Pacific,
Hurricane Sandra reached category four strength and initially was forecast
to pass very close to Cabo San Lucas on Saturday, the system followed a
unpredictable course, it then collided with a powerful wind shear from the
north, which stirred the storm further south and caused rapid weakening.
Southern Baja was spared of any devastation, there was a fair amount of
rainfall recorded in the Los Cabos, possibly up to three inches in certain
areas. Winds never reached much more than 30 mph gusts, but storm swells
did kick up to about four meters and both local ports were closed all day
on Friday and Saturday, rainy day schedule, finally opening Sunday morning.
Since the passing of this storm front there have been persistent northerly
winds, ranging 15 to 25 mph and this created choppy conditions on the open
grounds north of Punta Gorda. The winds did slack later in the week,
helping to settle seas, air temperature are still reaching into the 80’s
and lows dipped to 60 degrees. Ocean water temperature was now ranging
79/80 degrees throughout most of the region. North winds pushed in slightly
greener current close to shore.
The week started off with the wahoo being aggressive and very active early
in the day on the Iman Bank. Best action was on slow trolled baits, either
caballito or chihuil, not much reported on trolled artificial lures. Some
charters landed up to five wahoo, with that many other strikes lost,
weights for the ‘hoo averaged 25 to 40 lb. Not as many numbers of dorado
were found from these same grounds, though the other fleets fishing on the
Pacific did find more numbers of dorado, but not many wahoo or other
species, besides billfish.
Yellowfin tuna action became hampered by persistent winds, harder to find
porpoise activity, and not favorable for drift and chum style fishing.
Other days anglers could see tuna breezing on the surface, but these fish
were just not interested in striking any offerings. A handful of yellowfin
tuna have been landed, some smaller grade football, but other quality tuna
in the 40 to 120 lb. class were accounted for. The day before the recent
storm struck there was a report from commercial pangeros based out of Los
Frailes, who landed one yellowfin tuna that weighed 378 lb. while fishing
on the San Luis Bank with squid. If weather does cooperate we do expect to
have more quality yellowfin tuna action opening up.
The bottom action showing a little more promise in recent days, but again
you need calmer conditions to really have better opportunities. A few
species of pargo, bonito, amberjack, triggerfish and cabrilla, no big
quantities, but better than what we have seen off of the bottom for the
past month, we expect to see improved bottom action, though this will
depend on how persistent north winds prove to be. Normal fall/winter wind
patterns have been harder to predict this year, winds usually blow for
several days, then we have a few nice days and cycle repeats itself, not
like these seven to eight day blows we have had this fall.
Bait supplies remained plentiful for live caballito, not much else was
available, no ballyhoo or sardinas to speak of. With changing ocean
conditions we hope to see sardinas move back within our range.
Surely we will see the annual migration of whales start to arrive soon,
warner than normal water might delay this, but these mammals will arrive
soon enough. Great time to visit now, ideal climate, crowds of anglers are
light and fishing is liable to break wide open on any given day.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 78 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 1 blue marlin, 13 sailfish, 7 striped marlin, 34
yellowfin tuna, 39 dorado, 49 wahoo, 9 sierra, 46 misc. pargo species, 1
amberjack, 12 cabrilla, 13 bonito, 9 rainbow runner, 6 roosterfish and 25
triggerfish
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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Jan 4, 2016; 11:35PM - GORDO BANKS PANGAS San Jose del Cabo Anglers – November 29, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
November 29, 2015
This year of 2015 will be remembered for all of the rebuilding efforts
created from Hurricane Odile devastation in September of 2014. This year
there was record early forming hurricanes in May and now the Los Cabos area
has just dogged a major hit by one of the latest Hurricanes to ever form in
the Eastern Pacific. This storm named Sandra, follows Rick of last week,
which never impacted land, though Sandra strengthened to a category four
storm and appeared to be on a collision course with the Southern Baja, but
the system was pushed away by strong shear, which also caused Sandra to
weaken rapidly and pass far enough to the south to not cause any local
damage. Los Cabos ports were closed for at least Friday and part of
Saturday, by Sunday sportfishing fleets do expect to be back operating as
normal. Swells increased to 10/12 feet, though wind never amounted to much
and rainfall was not significant either.
We are now just winding down from our busy fall season, there always is a
slack period after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, family priority shift
directions. Though this past week was busy with visitors. The week started
off with persistent north winds limited options for anglers and making the
overall action more spread out, by mid-week, the conditions calmed before
the storm and we saw improved fishing action. The most common catches were
wahoo, yellowfin tuna, dorado, sailfish and striped marlin, also some
roosterfish found near shore. For the most part there were no large numbers
of any particular species, though there were some quality fish being
accounted for, many days charters would just account for two, three or four
fish in combination, though there were dorado to 25 lb., wahoo to 50 lb.
and tuna to 80 lb. all accounted for.
Dorado were harder to find compared to previous week, though wahoo became
more active around the Iman Bank, early in the morning was best and you had
to capitalize and make the best of the chances that you did have. Trolling
with caballito, chihuil and various lures all produced wahoo strikes.
Dorado were found scattered, no hot spot, though we did hear of more
numbers of dorado found on the Pacific. Ocean Temperatures were ranging 79
to 82 degrees through most of the region. Still no reports of any new
resource for sardinas, tuna action would be more consistent if this bait
was available, most tuna are still be taken on strips of squid. The Inner
Gordo Bank produced yellowfin tuna over 80 lb. and some days schooling tuna
to 100 lb. could be seen surfacing, but were very finicky to bite any
offerings. The action for tuna found under the porpoise became more
sporadic, but was still an options when anglers found themselves in the
right place at the right time.
More striped marlin appeared on local grounds, not always in the mood to
bite, as they can be near full moon. There were two black marlin reportedly
landed from private boats out of Puerto Lo Cabos Marina and there was a
blue marlin landed from a panga that was estimated to weigh close to 500
lb., this blue was hooked on a trolled caballito late in the afternoon
about five miles off of Red Hill and was not landed and brought back to the
docks until midnight. With the warm waters there are still quite a few
sailfish in the area for this late in the year, most of these in the 40 to
80 lb. class.
Not much off the bottom now besides triggerfish, small cabrilla and pargo,
also a few bonito. A few charters reports good success on roosterfish while
slow trolling caballito near Punta Gorda, surprising to see roosterfish at
this time, some of them to 20 lbs. Lots of barracuda keeping anglers busy
off the marina dock area, also a few sierra showing up.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 89 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 2 black marlin, 1 blue marlin, 15 sailfish, 19
striped marlin, 90 yellowfin tuna, 35 dorado, 39 wahoo, 13 sierra,, 35
misc. pargo species, 14 cabrilla, 22 bonito, 28 roosterfish and 44
triggerfish
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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Jan 4, 2016; 11:32PM - GORDO BANKS PANGAS San Jose del Cabo Anglers – November 22, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
November 22, 2015
With all of the major local gamefish tournaments now over we will see the
crowds of visiting anglers lighten up, as people are now preparing for the
Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays which are rapidly approaching. The
weather this week was dominated by the persistent northeast winds, which
picked up at the start of the week and never really laid down all week.
This created choppy seas and limited options for fleets launching out of
San Jose del Cabo, though twenty miles to the south, out of Cabo San Lucas,
the seas were much calmer, in areas which were more protected from north
winds, though action was still sporadic.
Tropical Storm Rick developed more than several hundred miles off to the
west of the Baja Peninsula and is forecast to stay far offshore and not
cause any impact on land. Overall we are feeling a cooling trend, though
daytime temperatures were reaching 85 degrees. Ocean temperatures dropped a
couple of degrees as well, most areas are now averaging 82 degrees, some
spots of 83/84 degrees, this trend should continue, maybe the cooling
currents will help normalize pre-El Nino currents for bait and gamefish
migrations.
Action proved to be more spread out and less productive this past week,
there were some quality fish accounted for, though numbers were down, no
particular place was hot, wind was a major factor on the grounds from the
Gordo Banks and to the north. Schools of yellowfin tuna up to 100 pounds
were seen surfacing while traveling with porpoise, but conditions were not
favorable for chasing these rapidly moving schools and not many of these
tuna were landed. A handful of fish in the 40 to 80 pounds were accounted
for, some striking on strips of squids, other on live chihuil. Still no
resource for sardinas, there have been caballito and ballyhoo available as
other options. Perhaps cooling currents and less angling pressure will
allow the sardinas to move within our range, which would be a great bait to
have at this time.
The wahoo were not as active this past week either, though on Monday there
was a 69 lb. wahoo landed out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina, this
trophy sized ‘hoo hit on a live skipjack, was part of an explosive double
hook up, which resulted in one nice wahoo landed and another one lost.
Wahoo were spread out throughout the area, though better chances still seem
to be north of Punta Gorda. Dorado action slowed was down in recent days,
though these fish are still in the area, the majority of charters finding
maybe one or two, or at least having a chance or two.
Billfish was spread out, though there did seem to be increased numbers of
striped marlin in local waters now, also some sailfish and at least one
blue was landed for the panga fleet out of Puerto Los Cabos. When the wind
does reside there should be better opportunities found.
More sierra are moving in with the cooling waters, these smaller sized
gamefish will provide bonus inshore action, especially when we start seeing
schools of sardinas move back into the region. It will not be long until
the annual migration of whales arrive for their winter visit to their most
southern calving and feeding grounds.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 138 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 1 blue marlin,
14 striped marlin, 12 sailfish, 66 yellowfin tuna, 13 wahoo, 96 dorado, 12
sierra, 14 rainbow runner, 76 misc. pargo species, 12 cabrilla, 14 bonito
and 50 triggerfish
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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Jan 4, 2016; 11:29PM - GORDO BANKS PANGAS San Jose del Cabo Anglers – November 15, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric Brictson
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
November 15, 2015
Large crowds of visiting anglers continue to arrive in Los Cabos, as we now
enter the second half of November, when the busy fall season comes to an
end. Weather patterns are shifting to predominately northern winds, ranging
up to 25 miles per hour mid-week and these winds were basically relentless
for most of this past week. Skies were mostly clear, with high temperatures
nearing 90 degrees, we do expect that we will be feeling cooler weather
arrive by this coming week. Hard to say what these northern winds will do,
normal pattern are several days of winds, then a couple calmer days, before
repeating the same cycle. This does not mean that sportfishing operations
come to halt, it does sometimes make for changing plans accordingly and
trying to fish in areas more protected if possible. Ocean water
temperatures are now at 84 degrees throughout the entire lower Baja zone,
no real temperatures breaks found. Swells have been moderate, choppy ocean
conditions found to the north due to gusting winds.
There are still no sardinas available locally, strips of squid continue to
be used for targeting yellowfin tuna, ballyhoo are now being sold in the
marina area, these have been working for dorado and chances at billfish or
wahoo, also available have been live caballito. Other options when weather
allowed was to try and catch your own chihuil off of the high spots. We
expect to see schools of sardinas move back within range as water cools and
heavy pressure resides.
The all-around fishing action was more limited this past week, mainly due
to windy conditions which limited where charters could comfortably fish.
The yellowfin tuna found associated with porpoise activity in the vicinity
of and north of the Gordo Banks, became less frequent as to when and if at
all the porpoise were even encountered, though some charters who
concentrated on this and stuck with it did account for yellowfin tuna in
the 40 to 70 lb. class, all of these fish hit on strips of squid. Other
tuna action was found closer to shore, off of Punta Gorda and now in recent
days reports of improved tuna action for a smaller grade of fish off of the
Santa Maria area. All this action was also found using strips of squid, as
there are no sardinas in the entire area now, with sardinas available this
action would definitely be wide open.
Dorado action was producing nice quality fish in the 15 to 25 lb. range,
some even larger. No huge numbers, but most charters were finding one or
two, or as many as six, the majority were nice sized fish. Striking on
various baits, particularly on rigged ballyhoo early in the day, as the sun
rose, the action was more sporadic. Off of the Red Hill and Palmilla area
there was good early morning action through most of the week, we heard of
quality dorado action off of Cabo San Lucas as well. Also some reports of a
handful of 200 lb. class yellowfin tuna being accounted for off of the
Pacific banks, have not heard of any real large tuna off of the San Jose
del Cabo grounds this past week.
There were some sailfish and striped marlin on the same grounds as were the
dorado and tuna, no big numbers, but everyday some of these billfish were
being hooked into. Wahoo action dropped off this past week, baitfish
schools were more scattered after the choppy seas, Iman Bank had been where
the wahoo were lurking, these fishing grounds were rough most of the week,
hopefully conditions will settle down in time for this weekend’s annual
wahoo event out of La Playita.
Bottom action included triggerfish, various pargo and snapper species, an
occasional leopard grouper or rainbow runner.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 152 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 17 sailfish marlin, 18 striped marlin, 168
yellowfin tuna, 12 sierra, 14 rainbow runners, 15 huachinango (red
snapper), 155 dorado, 18 wahoo, 16 yellow snapper, 95 triggerfish, 18
barred pargo, 8 bonito, 10 cabrilla and 6 roosterfish.
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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Nov 13, 2015; 01:41PM - GORDO BANKS PANGAS San Jose del Cabo Anglers – November 8, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
November 8, 2015
The weather patterns finally are starting to feel like Fall, though daytime
temperatures were still warm reaching up to 90 degree, early morning lows
are about 65 degrees, ideal climate actually. One drawback is that we are
also feeling the north winds in recent days for the first time this season,
up to 20 mph, this has made for choppy conditions on fishing grounds north
of Punta Gorda. Water temperatures are now in the 84 degree range, no
distinct area of a drastic temperature break. Swells have been moderate and
early in the day most days ocean conditions were nice. Crowds are heavy
this week, with the Won Tuna Jackpot Tournament having over 150 teams
participating, this is the season’s final high stakes event.
There continue to be no sardinas available, baitfish supplies now consist
of caballito, squid on most days, also ballyhoo starting to be available,
some charters are looking for chihuil for use as trolling baits. Seems like
during these big tournament events the bait situation becomes more limited,
lots of hoarding going on.
Fleets out of San Jose del Cabo have been concentrating their efforts from
the Gordo Banks to Vinorama, the action that had been productive for
several weeks close off of Punta Gorda slacked up and the grounds towards
Cardon, La Fortuna, Iman and Desteladera started to show more activity.
Yellowfin tuna were being found moving with porpoise and were hitting on
strips of squid, though this action was unpredictable as where and when the
porpoise and in turn the yellowfin, would be encountered, more often late
in the morning. The tuna being caught were mostly in the 40 to 65 lb.
class, no big numbers, but quality grade of fish, some tuna much larger
were also hooked into, but most were eventually lost due to lighter 50 lb.
leaders that were being used to entice the line shy yellowfin.
Dorado and wahoo were also being found on these same grounds, better bite
was first part of the week, before north winds played havoc. Wahoo were
striking best on various baits, such as chihuil, caballito or rigged
ballyhoo, also a percentage hit on trolling lures, sizes ranged up to 54
lb., most fish were in the 15 to 30 lb. range, charters landed as many as
five wahoo per morning, though most anglers were fortunate to land one or
two of these prized sought after gamefish. Finally we are seeing some nicer
sized mature dorado, it has been a long time, still no significant numbers,
but chances of finding two, three, maybe four of these fish, same grounds
as where the wahoo and tuna have been encountered.
Billfishing was mainly for scattered action on sailfish and striped marlin,
some marlin hooked into were unusually small, in the 20 to 30 lb. class,
not often do we such juvenile sized billfish, others were of normal size.
Not much inshore or bottom action now, though we did see some red snapper
action off of the San Luis Bank, closer to shore there were triggerfish,
some yellow snapper, pompano, bonito and barred pargo.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 149 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 12 striped marlin, 14 sailfish, 185 yellowfin
tuna, 8 sierra, 10 rainbow runners, 18 huachinango (red snapper), 66
dorado, 48 wahoo, 14 pompano, 18 yellow snapper, 75 triggerfish, 12 barred
pargo, 16 white skipjack, 3 surgeonfish, 18 bonito and 5 roosterfish.
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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Nov 13, 2015; 01:37PM - GORDO BANKS PANGAS San Jose del Cabo Anglers – November 1, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
November 1, 2015
It seems that our fall weather patterns have finally stabilized, no new
late season tropical storms have developed since last week’s incredibly
power Hurricane Patricia, which made land fall near Puerto Vallarta,
surprisingly the damage was not too extensive. Ocean water temperatures
have dropped a couple of degrees in recent days, now into the 84/85 degree
range, this cooling trend should continue as days are becoming
progressively shorter. Swells have been moderate, tides fairly extreme with
passing of the full moon, winds increased from the south and north winds
are starting to play havoc for the East Cape region. Daytime highs were
still into the low 90s, but now it appears we will have more comfortable
conditions in the mid 80s, with low of 65 degrees, time for long sleeve
t-shirts, sweatshirts and wind breakers.
Sportfishing fleets continue to be busy, with the Bisbee Tournament now
past, everyone is gearing up for the WON Tuna Jackpot scheduled for next
week. In recent weeks all of the larger yellowfin tuna encountered were
coming from the Pacific Banks, San Jaime or Golden Gate, just in recent
days with the change in currents, there have been tuna to over 200 pounds
found on the grounds off of San Jose del Cabo and to the north of the Gordo
Banks. These larger grade of tuna were traveling with fast moving porpoise
and were striking on strips of squid. Still no big numbers, but definitely
a chance at hooking into a tournament winner, one panga charter lost an
estimated 250 lb. tuna after a long battle, right as they were trying to
gaff the fish, talk about a heartbreak.
The action close to shore off of Punta Gorda that has been going on for the
past few weeks, continues, this is where tuna up to 40 lb. were
sporadically biting, best action usually early, then becoming spottier
throughout the day. Triggerfish, pompano and various pargo species rounded
out that action off the point, overall this bite is starting to fade out
and charters are now scouting out new grounds. Iman Bank is showing more
activity for wahoo, as well as chances at tuna or dorado, again no big
numbers, but with changing conditions, anything could happen on any given
day. Wahoo were ranging from 15 lb. to over 50 lb., striking on Rapalas,
skirted lead heads, as well as on chihuil or other rigged baits, including
flying fish, if you were able to obtain them, as some skippers were able to
a couple of weeks back when they ran into schools of these flyers in a
spawning mode and were able to scoop them up with their bait nets by the
dozens, of course this was a one day event.
Billfish has been mainly a mix of sailfish or striped marlin for San Jose
fleets, with higher chances for blue marlin off of the Cabo San Lucas and
Pacific grounds. Sailfish were found close to shore where the tuna action
was. With ocean temperatures still warm, there could be blue or black
marlin hooked late into the year, even early 2016.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 148 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 21 sailfish, 370 yellowfin tuna, 12 rainbow
runners, 2 amberjack, 18 dorado, 49 wahoo, 18 pompano, 16 yellow snapper,
145 triggerfish, 6 sierra, 19 barred pargo, 70 black skipjack, 14
surgeonfish, 16 roosterfish and 12 bonito.
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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Oct 26, 2015; 02:55PM - GORDO BANKS PANGAS San Jose del Cabo Anglers – October 25, 2015
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Category: Mexico Cabo San Lucas
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Author Name: Eric
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GORDO BANKS PANGAS
San Jose del Cabo
Anglers –
October 25, 2015
Now into the third week of October, only in the last couple of days we have
felt cooler temperatures into the 60s during early morning hours. Quite
pleasant conditions now, actually need a sweatshirt or light windbreaker.
Most sunny skies, we are expecting some more scattered cloud cover from the
distant bands of Hurricane Patricia. This latest storm is turning out to be
the most powerful system every recorded in either the Pacific or Atlanta.
Now situated offshore of the coast, between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta,
Patricia has reached category five status, has sustained winds of 200 mph
and gusts to 245 mph, sounds like data from a tornado. This incredibly
strong storm is following a path directly towards making landfall late
Friday, sure hope everyone in the path has taken necessary precautions and
evacuated to safer land.
Conditions have been fine locally in Los Cabos, only a few isolated rain
squalls reported through the week. Light winds in the afternoon, more
breeze and swells reported on the Pacific. Ocean temperatures are still
higher than average, ranging from 84 degrees on the Pacific side of Cabo
San Lucas, to 87 degrees in the direction of San Jose del Cabo and the Sea
of Cortez.
Some 121 teams participated in the world’s richest fishing tournament, the
Bisbee’s Black and Blue. This season fish migration patterns are all
confused, the unprecedented El Nino causing havoc. Fishing action has been
far more spread out and limited, not what we would normally expect for this
historically productive time frame. This year anything could happen, we
might see cow sized yellowfin on the Gordo Banks during the winter time.
Local fleets have been concentrated close to shore off of Punta Gorda, with
the lack of any resource for sardinas, anglers have been relying on using
strips of giant squid for bait. Main species being encountered have been
yellowfin tuna in the 10 to 40 lb. range. No wide open action, spotty most
of the time, fish coming up in flurries, often early, then less often later
on the morning. Drift fishing with the strip bait had been the most
productive technique. Off the bottom in this area there was a mix of
triggerfish, pompano, barred pargo and small snapper, though no significant
numbers of these. An occasional dorado, wahoo, striped marlin or sailfish
has rounded out the surface action.
Some charters scouted out other areas, inshore, offshore and further north,
looking for possible wahoo action and others, most of these scouting trips
did not produce and the best chance at getting a hook up was once again off
of Punta Gorda. Most of the wahoo strikes reported in recent days were by
anglers using the strips of squid off of Punta Gorda.
Blue marlin were scattered, no black marlin reported recently, a few
stripers and fair numbers of sailfish, up to 100 lb. Despite limited
options this past week, we do anticipate with the cooling weather patterns,
that we will see water temperatures cool and a change in currents should
help improve our all-around action, we look forward to a great late fall
and winter season.
The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos
Marina sent out approximately 128 charters for the week, with anglers
reporting a fish count of: 3 striped marlin, 14 sailfish, 260 yellowfin
tuna, 18 dorado, 6 wahoo, 16 pompano, 18 yellow snapper, 65 triggerfish, 4
sierra, 8 cabrilla, 12 barred pargo, 180 black skipjack and 16 bonito.
Good fishing, Eric
--
GORDO BANKS PANGAS
Eric Brictson / Operator
619 488-1859
Los Cabos (624) 142-1147
e-mail:gordobanks@yahoo.com
WWW.GORDOBANKS.COM
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