Cabo Fishing report for the week 14-20 February, 2011

 

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Fishing report for the week 14-20 February, 2011 courtesy of Picante Sportfishing http://www.picantesportfishing.com

With the changing water temperatures come conditions will exist that no matter what, will be interesting. Whether you like the changes depends on the fish you are targeting or want to target. Trying to catch a particular fish when conditions aren’t favorable is like bowling when there aren’t any bowling pins. You can roll all you want and no pins will fall down because they aren’t there. Or try this, roll blank dice and try to get a 7. The most important thing to do before you fish is to do some research and check out the variables. Are your fish available at that time of year, at that water temperature, are they in that area, and will they take the type of bait you are going to put in front of them.

Bait is an important part of your fishing. Artificials can work almost anytime, even though some times are better than others. Live bait can be an important part of your arsenal, but not always a necessary one. Check with you favorite charter company and see what they suggest.

Our water temperatures here in Cabo have been steadily dropping. On the Pacific side the temperatures are now in the mid and low 60’s F, while on the eastern side they are still in the upper 60’s to low 70’s F. Striped Marlin fishing is still holding on. But the excitement is hovering around Pacific Swordfish. Last week the first of the season was caught and, during one day last week, 4 were seen sunning on the surface. So that alone tells us that the water is cool.

 Besides the Striped Marlin that we are hooking and seeing, there are still Sierra around.

There were some nice catches of Dorado,  Wahoo and  Mako Shark.

Then on the Picantito fleet , our smaller 24 footers, some good catches of Mojarras, Triggerfish, Grouper and Snapper help to round out this first-rate Cabo fishing week.

 The young fishermen of all ages enjoyed the excitement and fast action of the fishing. Take a kid fishing, young or old.

 Again talk to your favorite charter fishing company and see what is available during your stay here in Cabo San Lucas.

late report

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Week of 7-13 February 2011. Report courtesy of PicanteSportfishing.com

The weather here at Land’s End is warming up. After a bout of mild days and cool nights, it is warming up again. High’s are in the upper 70’s F. with the evenings in the lower 60’s to mid 50’s F. The winds have been out of the North and Northwest. That has been bringing in the cooler waters. A little cooler would have been better, but now the water is a little cold. With the water temperatures moving around the focus has been on Jaime Bank and points east.

This week the fish has been the Striped Marlin. The Yellowfin Tuna catches have been dropping and the Marlin catches slowly inching up. There are Striped Marlin out there.  The boat captains have been seeing them, but the problem has been to get them to take a bait. Some boats have been lucky in hooking up several marlin. A few boats seem to be able to hook up when the fishing is tough. Blame it on luck, the boat, the crew or whatever you want, some fishermen are just better.

 

And speaking of fishing skill and luck, this week Captain Alex Collins, with mate, Fernando, aboard the Picante Expresso was able after a couple of tries to hook up a Swordfish of about 140 lbs. That made for some happy fishermen.

February Tuna Bite Continues!!

February Tuna Bite Continues!!

 

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Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. 31 January to 6 February fishing report courtesy of Picante Sportfishing http://www.picantesportfishing.com

 

It has been a cold week here in Cabo. Well at least the nights seem cold. Compared to what all our northern neighbors are experiencing, we are not doing too badly. Water temperatures are still hovering around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. And there are still fish biting. Most of the fishing has been targeting what is available, and that has been Yellowfin Tuna. Catches have been good. Of course, the Yellowfin Tuna fishing is best when fishermen want marlin. And then often when on the way out to look for tuna, Striped Marlin are seen.

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And with some luck are hooked up. You just have to get out on a boat and look.

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Inshore action continues with some good catches of Roosterfish. A few Jacks, also, are being caught, but the Sierra bite has slowed down. Again a lot has to do with what is being targeted. Not many Dorado are around, but when one is caught it’s been pretty nice. Also this week the fleet caught a shark. Again, there are always fish around to be caught. You just have to be at the right place at the right time. Sounds like life doesn’t it? Well, fishing is really just life on the water. You have to be ready to take advantage of an opportunity when it comes your way.

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The wishes of little and big kids can come true.  

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So plan your trip south to Cabo San Lucas and contact your favorite fishing charter business and talk to them.

 

--  Why are some sport fishing charters head and shoulders above the others? Why are some fishing charters more enjoyable, while others are just glorified boat rides? Learn the secret and do as our returning customers do and book with Picante Sportfishing and see why. Come make some sportfishing memories with Picante Sportfishing. www.picantesportfishing.com  Proud corporate sponsors of the IGFA and The Billfish Foundation  Friendly, helpful staff and crews will make your trip memorable. 

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Weekly fishing reports for the week of 24-30 January 2011 from Picante Sportfishing

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Yellowfin Tuna are, again, the fish of the week down here in Cabo San Lucas. Cabo fishing is again showing its true colors with another fine week of tuna fishing. 

After the full moon the tuna bite started ramping back up. Schools of porpoise were holding tuna. Then just a few days later, the marlin were, again, biting.

We had some interesting happenings during this week. We had a Striped Marlin in the boat harbor a few days ago. Then a day later a 6 foot shark was seen swimming around the marina.  But  this last week, tuna still were king. Many boats were in double digits.

There was also a sprinkling of some other Cabo fishing favorites like a nice Dorado, some Roosterfish, Sierra and Snapper. We had a few cloudy days which may have helped the fishing. 

Why do fish start biting? How about tides, wind, barometric pressure and, of course, the moon?

There are lots of theories about the full moon’s affect on marlin fishing. There is even a scientific article done on the marlin fishing in Cabo San Lucas from October 1987 to June 1989. Their conclusions suggest that there is no real significant affect of the full moon on Striped Marlin Fishing. The information was gathered from 13 fishing boats totaling 3377 fishing trips. Other studies are referenced on sport fishing for billfish, commercial fishing for tuna, bait fishing, billfish in Florida, the Caribbean and the Atlantic ocean.  They concluded that only in some cases was there a relationship between catch success and the lunar cycle.

 In their study they assumed there was a relationship between the moon and Striped Marlin fishing.  But from their results they concluded there is, statistically, no significant difference between catches at different phases of the full moon. In other words there are small differences, but not that great. Just a short few notes from their study will illustrate their findings. During the full moon the average catches per unit effort were 1.8 fish per boat. During the waning moon 2.0 fish per unit effort, new moon 2.1 fish catch per unit effort, and during the Waxing moon 2.5 catch per unit effort. So there is slight difference, but not a significant difference.

What does that mean to fishermen?  There is a difference in catch rates among the different phases, but not enough to cancel a trip or even plan a trip. There are a lot more variables that can have affects besides the moon. So don’t plan your trip using just the one variable. Check with your favorite charter company to see how they are doing. Pick a reputable company and talk with them.

 

Fishing Report 10-16 January 2011

It’s Been A Mixed Bag This week.

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico. 10–16 January 2011. Weekly fishing report from Picante Sportfishing, http://www.picantesportfishing.com

Where is everyone?? Our catch numbers are being thrown off by the low numbers of boats going out. What the fishermen out there are experiencing is, again, a smorgasbord of fish. There are Striped Marlin out there, but there aren’t’ many biters. There are more being seen than caught. Not an unusual happening, but a few boats have been able to catch and release Striped Marlin.

 Cabo IS the Marlin Capital, but the marlin bite isn’t always great.  And besides that, it IS called fishing!!

But, there are plenty of other fish. Again, this week, Cabo fishing has been a hodgepodge. Yellowfin Tuna numbers are up again. There haven’t been any real big Yellowfin Tuna, but plenty big enough for eating. And there have been some nice catches. We had four boats in double digits this week.  And most of that was Yellowfin Tuna and one was with Yellowtail.

The Sierra bite continues to be good if the fishermen are willing to spend some time near shore. And there have been some decent catches of Jacks. Throw in a few Dorado and a Shark and the week has been pretty good.

The best news, for the fishermen when they are in Cabo fishing, is that even if the Marlin fishing isn’t  as hot as it should be there are plenty of other fish to keep the angler interested and busy. And don’t forget the whales that are migrating down our coast. When the marlin fishing is a little slow the captains are willing to change their focus to target some other interesting and sporting fish besides the glory fish. Get out and go fishing.

Cabo San Lucas Sport Fishing Report for the week of 3 – 9 January 2011, provided by Picante Sportfishing, http://www.picantesportfishig.com

Cabo San Lucas Sport Fishing Report for the week of 3 – 9 January 2011, provided by Picante Sportfishing, http://www.picantesportfishig.com

 

It's a Mixed Fish Casserole Kind of Week

The ingredients are a big helping of Yellowfin Tuna, with some Sierras, a few Striped Marlin and an sprinkling of Dorado, Yellowtail, Roosterfish, Jacks, Snapper and some Grouper. The recipe is Cabo fishing with some diversity. Fishermen usually think of Cabo as the Marlin Capital. Well it is, but there are plenty of other fish available. This last week was a little slow on the Marlin fishing, but our Picante Sportfishing (www.picantesportfishing.com) captains put our clients on some great fishing anyway.

The Recipe was for fishing fun. The best fishing for the week was for Yellowfin Tuna, with well over 100 Yellowfin caught. There weren't any giants, but the little guys up to 35 pounds put up a good fight and are some fine eating. They have been found right outside the harbor out to 30 miles out, depending on the day.

On the inshore fishing the Sierra were keeping the fishermen busy with some good action and again some fine eating. Sierra are reputed to be one of the finest fish for Ceviche. So that kept a lot of people happy. A few Striped Marlin were released, but not as many as previous weeks. But we know it will pick up soon.  This is usually a good time to fish for Striped Marlin, but the bait hasn't been showing up like it should. There are still some warm waters hanging around the end of the Baja Peninsula. It is a ways out to the temperature breaks and it has been tough fishing.

The Dorado have been slow, but that is expected this time of year. With the Striped Marlin fishing being a little down some of our clients have been opting for our smaller boats and working closer to the shore and the rocks along the shores. With these tactics come better catches of Roosterfish, Jacks, Snapper and some Grouper. And there have been some Yellowtail in the area, too. So, all in all it has been a casserole type of week. Lots of different ingredients were used to serve up some great Cabo fishing.

Weekly Fishing Report by “Picante Sportfishing”,December 27th to January 2nd 2011

The holiday week between Christmas and New Years
seems to always draw vacationers to our desert
paradise here at Lands End. This year was no different.
Hotel occupancy was high and many of these folks wanted
their shot at a trophy fish. The Yellowfin Tuna bite
offshore and the Sierra Mackerel bite close to the beach
are the highlights for the week.

December 27th. proved productive for Mr. Helker and
his friends aboard our legendary 40' Tolleycraft
"Picante" with Captain Emilio Arenas at the helm. They
boated a nice 25lb. Dorado and released 2 Striped
Marlin to fight again another day. Total fleet production
was 7 Striped Marlin, 13 Yellowfin Tuna, 12 Sierra &
4 Dorado.

Mr. Eisenberg and his Family spent the holidays in
Cabo and decided to spend a day on the water with
Captain Juan Carlos "Brincos" Lopez aboard our
fast 35' Cabo Express "Salsa". After arriving late to
a school of porpoise and boating 1 Yellowfin Tuna,
the crew put them on Striped Marlin on the surface
and they ended up releasing 2 of these hard fighting
billfish to cap off their day. Total fleet production
was 4 Striped Marlin, 79 Sierra Mackerel, 22
Yellowfin Tuna and 3 Dorado.

Our old friend Mr. Anderson and his crew spent
the holidays in Cabo and fished 2 days on our 35'
Cabo Flybridge "Picante Dream". Captain Pablo
and Captain David put them on the fish both days,
but December 29th was their day to be boat of the
day releasing 3 Striped Marlin and boating a
big Dorado. Fleet production was 5 Striped Marlin,
43 Sierra Mackerel, 23 Yellowfin Tuna and 2 Dorado.

The crew of the "Picante Dream" seems to be hot and
are putting our clients on the fish. Mr. Durban and his
family spent the day with Pablo and David and were
kept busy all day. They found the porpoise in the morning
and boated 4 nice Yellowfin Tuna to 40 lbs. along with
releasing 2 Striped Marlin to fight another day. Fleet
production was 6 Striped Marlin, 47 Yellowfin Tuna, 1
Mako Shark and 1 Dorado.

We shut the fleet down for New Years Day and got back
to chasing the fish again on Sunday. Our 32' Cabo Express
with Captain Antonio "Nino" Romero at the controls
provided a fun filled day boating 14 Yellowfin Tuna and
releasing a big Striped Marlin for Mr. Hiatt and his Family
on January 2nd. Fleet production was 8 Striped Marlin,
50 Yellowfin Tuna, 22 Sierra and 1 Dorado.